How to marketing tour

Of course! Marketing a tour is about telling a story and reaching the right people. Here is a comprehensive, step-by-step guide on how to market your tour effectively, from the ground up.

Phase 1: Build Your Foundation (Before You Market)

You can't market a weak product. Get these things right first.

1. Define Your Unique Selling Proposition (USP)

Ask yourself: Why should a tourist choose my tour over all others? Don't just be "a food tour." Be:

"The only food tour that ends with a cooking class in a local's home."

"The smallest group history tour for a personal experience."

"The city's first-ever eco-friendly electric bike tour."

"The 'hidden gems' photo tour led by a professional photographer."

Your USP is your core marketing message.

2. Know Your Ideal Customer

Who are you trying to reach? You can't target everyone. Be specific.

Budget Backpackers (18-25): They want value, social experiences, and fun. They use TikTok and Instagram.

Families with Young Kids: They want safety, engaging activities for children, and convenience. They use Facebook and travel blogs.

Luxury Travelers (45+): They want exclusivity, comfort, deep knowledge, and seamless service. They read high-end travel magazines and rely on hotel concierge recommendations.

Adventure Seekers: They want a challenge, adrenaline, and unique experiences. They follow adventure influencers on Instagram and YouTube.

Knowing your audience dictates everything—your pricing, your marketing channels, and your tone of voice.

3. Get High-Quality Photos and Videos

People buy with their eyes. This is the single most important investment you can make.

Hire a professional photographer for one day to get stunning shots of your tour in action.

Get photos of smiling, engaged guests (with their permission!).

Shoot a short (60-90 second), exciting video that showcases the best moments of your tour. This is perfect for your website and social media.

Phase 2: Build Your Online Presence (Your Digital Storefront)

This is where people will find you and make a booking.

1. Create a Professional Website

This is your most important asset. It must have:

A "Book Now" Button: Use a booking system like FareHarbor, Peek Pro, or Rezdy. This allows for direct, commission-free bookings 24/7.

Stunning Visuals: Your great photos and videos go on the homepage.

Compelling Descriptions: Use your USP. Detail the itinerary, what's included, and what makes it special.

Clear Pricing & Availability: No one wants to hunt for this information.

An "About Us" Page: Tell your story! People connect with people.

Mobile-Friendly Design: Most travelers will browse on their phones.

2. Master Local SEO (Search Engine Optimization)

You want to appear when people search for "things to do in [your city]."

Google Business Profile: This is critical and free. Set it up completely with your address, hours, phone number, and website. Add your best photos. Encourage every single guest to leave a review here. A high rating on Google is pure gold.

Keyword Research: Think like a tourist. What would they type into Google?

"best walking tour in Paris"

"family friendly activities in Rome"

"private guide for the Grand Canyon"

Use these keywords naturally on your website's pages, in your tour descriptions, and in blog posts.

3. Choose Your Social Media Channels Wisely

Don't try to be everywhere. Master one or two platforms where your ideal customer hangs out.

Instagram/TikTok: Perfect for visually stunning tours (food, nature, art). Use Reels and short videos to show the experience. Use relevant hashtags like #[yourcity]tours, #[yourcity]foodie, #travel[yourcity].

Facebook: Great for reaching families and older demographics. Create a community, share behind-the-scenes content, and run targeted ads.

Pinterest: A powerful search engine for travel planning. Create beautiful pins with titles like "10 Must-See Spots on a London Walking Tour."

Phase 3: Active Marketing & Promotion (Getting the Word Out)

Now it's time to actively reach people.

1. Partner with Local Businesses

This is a powerful, low-cost strategy. Build relationships with:

Hotels & Hostels: Offer the concierge or front desk staff a commission for every booking they send your way. Give them flyers and a QR code.

Local Cafes & Shops: Ask to leave flyers in places where tourists go.

Other Tour Operators: Partner with a company that offers a different type of tour. You can promote each other. (e.g., A food tour partners with a bike tour).

2. Leverage Online Travel Agencies (OTAs)

Sites like Viator (TripAdvisor), GetYourGuide, and Klook have a massive audience.

Pros: Huge visibility to tourists who are already looking to book.

Cons: They charge a high commission (often 20-30%).

Strategy: Use OTAs to get your first bookings and reviews. However, always try to encourage future direct bookings on your own website to save on commission. Some operators give a small business card with a discount code for their website at the end of the tour.

3. Content Marketing

Establish yourself as a local expert.

Start a Blog: Write helpful articles on your website. This is fantastic for SEO.

“5 Ways to Avoid Tourist Traps in [Your City]”

“The Ultimate Guide to a Weekend in [Your City]”

“What to Pack for Your Trip to [Your Region]”

Create free guides (e.g., a PDF map of your favorite local spots) in exchange for a visitor's email address. This builds your email list.

4. Email Marketing

Once you have an email list, you can market to them directly.

Send a monthly newsletter with updates, stories from the tour, and special offers.

Send a "thank you" email after a tour with a link to leave a review and a discount for their next booking.

5. Collaborate with Influencers and Bloggers

Find travel bloggers or Instagrammers who have an audience that matches your ideal customer.

Offer them a free spot on your tour in exchange for a blog post, Instagram stories, or a post. This provides social proof and great content you can re-use.

Phase 4: Manage Your Reputation & Build Loyalty

Marketing doesn't stop after the booking.

1. Actively Ask for Reviews

Social proof is everything. A tour with 500 great reviews will always beat one with 10.

During the tour: If guests are having a great time, your guide can say, "If you had a wonderful time today, we're a small local business and a review on Google or TripAdvisor would mean the world to us."

Post-tour email: Send a follow-up email with direct links to your review pages.

2. Respond to ALL Reviews (Good and Bad)

Good reviews: Thank them personally.

Bad reviews: Respond professionally and politely. Thank them for the feedback, apologize that their experience wasn't perfect, and briefly state your side of the story or what you'll do to improve. This shows other potential customers that you care.

Simple Action Plan to Start

Define: Clearly write down your tour's USP and your ideal customer.

Get Visuals: Hire a photographer or spend a day taking incredible photos/videos.

Go Live: Set up your Google Business Profile and a simple website with a "Book Now" button.

Partner Up: Visit 3 local hotels and offer them a partnership.

Get Reviews: Make it your #1 priority to ask every guest for a review.