One of the biggest markets out there in the world is airline companies and air travel. We have become so advanced in technology that we could fly halfway across the world in less than 24 hours — that is a big step up from when air travel was first invented.
Today, there are over 59 airline companies in the United States alone, 18 of which are classified as major airlines carrying over $1 billion in annual revenue. You’d think with that much revenue and people choosing American-based airlines, they would be good to go in their business ventures. That is not always the case, though. The competition for airline companies is tougher than you might realize. One audience that most airlines forget to target is the local ones, but they are just as important as the international audiences!
In this article, we will find out what local SEO is, why it matters for airline companies and what its benefits are, and how to find an aviation marketing consultant.
What Is Local SEO for Aviation?
One of the most important terms in the world of online marketing is search engine optimization (SEO). Local SEO for aviation is exactly what it sounds like. It is a marketing strategy designed to target location-specific search results on the Internet. An example of a location-based search would be “aviation services near me.” If the user searching this was in the geographical location you were targeting, your aviation company would appear on their search result page.
Since everyone shops for their airline tickets online, that makes the Internet the number one place for airline companies to execute their marketing strategies for local SEO. Maybe your aviation company has a lot of business in one area, but not as much in another area. This is where local SEO for aviation can help you out by targeting prospective customers in your area.
Benefits of Local SEO for Airline Companies
There are many reasons airlines should participate in local SEO. These are just some of them.
Higher Reach
The first benefit of aviation local SEO implementation in an airline company’s marketing venture is organic search results that will result in higher reach. At this stage in the process, users have the full intention of buying a plane ticket, it is just down to which airline they pick. Having your airline come up as an organic search result allows for your site to reach the maximum number of users. Google will take into account what the user was originally searching for as well as their search history. These two factors will help lure users into your sales funnel.
So, make sure to use specific keywords and phrases in your aviation SEO implementation because Google will then reinforce your search engine result page (SERP) position to the user looking up that keyword or phrase.
Competitiveness
Airlines have always been competitive because there are so many to choose from. But since the pandemic, the competition has never been tougher. Airline companies have had to reduce prices to account for the economic changes, provide more travel bonuses, and take optimization opportunities just to get more bookings placed.
That being said, local aviation SEO implementation is quite useful in promoting your airline’s position against competitors. This means getting to the top of the search engine result page of Google because then your airline will be the first thing users see. When someone searches for local airline services, yours needs to be the very first one.
To aid in this goal of being at the top of the search engine result page, you will need an extensive online marketing strategy for your airline company. This includes SEO, blogging, social media, instant messengers, and email marketing. SEO Design Chicago can help you achieve a higher local SEO ranking.
Lead Generation
Local aviation SEO will aid in strong lead generation. However, for this to work, your airline will have to be at the top of the search engine result page. How this works exactly is, for example, if a user finds your airline under their own circumstances, visits your site and starts a search, you can use a lead magnet like Exit-Intent Pop Up. What an add-on like this does is when the user initiates leaving your website, the add-on will offer them to subscribe to the price update. It is a one-and-done deal now because you have gotten their email address and it increases the chances of purchase should the price decrease.
Not to mention, having a user’s email alone has its own benefits because you can add them to your airline’s email campaigns. They will be more exposed to your airline’s offers, news, and promotions.
Personalization
Do you get the cookies pop up every time you click on a new website? Well, now is when they would come in handy in marketing. Cookies allow you to analyze your users’ experience and behavior on your site. You can use these data-driven insights to enhance your marketing strategy and send the exact offer users are looking for.
Behavioral insights are also very helpful in measuring demand. You can cut costs or resources where the demand is not as high.
Building Brand Reputation
The best way to make sure your brand has a good reputation is by making it as easy as possible for the user to find your website and to close a deal just as quickly. That is what will keep them coming back every time.
Also, websites placed at the top of the search engine result page are perceived as more reliable and “better,” so the higher up on that SERP you are, the better. The way Google decides what sites show up first is through indexing the website’s SEO data as well as real users’ behavior when using the site.
You can improve your SEO strategy with Google Ads through paid advertising. This is a very effective way to get more traffic to your airline’s website, generate leads, and send Google behavioral data. Ad campaigns, like Google Ads, are very flexible and you can personalize it in almost every way possible to fit your needs and budget.
SEO remains one of the best ways to direct more traffic to your airline’s website and it will be around as long as the internet remains relevant. We suggest taking a deeper look into your aviation SEO efforts to ensure you are putting enough effort into getting the best SERP answers you want. A thoughtful and improved aviation SEO strategy will only push your airline to the front of the line. Check out our article about airline marketing and advertising for even more tips and advice!
Aviation Marketing Consultant
If you have looked at reports and seen your bookings are not as high as you want them to be, it’s time to hire an aviation marketing consultant. However, finding a marketing consultant can be stressful and frustrating if you have never needed to have one before. Also, if the industry you work in is specialized, like aviation, it can be even more difficult to find a consultant. Searching for an aviation marketing consultant may seem daunting, but here we have done the first steps for you.
Goals and Objectives
First, determine your aviation company’s short-term and long-term business goals. What is it you want to accomplish? Do you want more bookings and higher sales, to build awareness, increase market share, or a combination of these? Your local SEO airline goals should be measurable and reasonable within a set time frame. Having a clear idea of where you want to go is the first step in getting there.
Marketing Consultant Services
The second step is to figure out what marketing services you want to utilize. This will help you choose the right aviation marketing consultant for your business. Do want help launching a new product or do you need to develop a strategic marketing plan? Do you need marketing research to ensure you have the correct target audience?
Once you have addressed what strategic approach you want to follow, you must decide what marketing tools you want to use that will be the most effective in achieving your goals. Here is a list of the most-used marketing tools and tactics you may find useful:
- Advertising (TV, print, billboard, Radio)
- Content Development: Writing of blogs, articles, and other content for marketing communications
- Digital Marketing: Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Google AdWords or a similar site, banner ads, Pay-Per-Click Advertising, and Facebook Ads
- Direct Marketing: Direct mail and email marketing campaigns
- Marketing Communications: Brochures, catalogs, and other printed sales materials
- Public Relations: Press coverage, writing press releases, supervision of press events, conferences
- Web Development: Creation of functional, effective websites
- Video/Photography: Filming of video material to add in digital campaigns, broadcasts, and social media marketing
Industry Expertise
The aviation marketing consultant you find has to understand the aviation business. What type of consultant you use will depend on what aviation company you have. Marketing for a big-name, international airline is a lot different from marketing for a private air charter. It is important you find someone with understanding and expertise in the strategies and tactics it takes to successfully market an aviation business. Agencies that specialize in your type of aviation will be better equipped to help you.
The downside to finding an expert agency is they may not be local because they are so specialized. Obviously, you must take into consideration your budget and account management needs. Otherwise, travel expenses and time considerations could hamper your airline company if face-to-face meetings are imperative. Remember, you are a business looking to make more bookings, so you don’t want to waste your time or theirs.
Target Audience or Region
As with any business, it is so important to know your target audience inside and out. In the case of your aviation company, you must know the region you want to reach. Where are they located? Is it local, regional, national, or international? The aviation marketing consultant you hire should have the knowledge and infrastructure to tackle any target audience, no matter the size.
Marketing Consultant Size
Your first instinct is to probably choose the bigger aviation marketing consultant, but bigger is not always better. Bigger aviation marketing consultants are often much more expensive than smaller ones. We’re talking in the six or seven-figure range. You will most likely be assigned several junior account executives and teams whose main priority is not helping your business.
However, hiring a small aviation marketing consultant may not be the best choice either. They might not have the capacity or resources to manage your account successfully. Look for an agency with accounts and budgets similar to your own and the ability to handle another account.
Aviation Marketing From SEO Design Chicago
SEO Design Chicago has aviation marketing experience and could be the perfect fit for you. We have worked with airlines in Chicago, the United States as a whole, and even Canada, providing them with advertising and consulting services to enhance their local SEO efforts. We can help get your booking numbers up and your website looking refreshed and organized. Check out SEO Design Chicago today for expert advice on aviation SEO today!
FAQ:
- What is local SEO in aviation?
- Why do local businesses need SEO?
- Is local SEO still relevant?
- How do you choose a marketing consultant?
- Why is SEO important for airline companies?
Contact Us Today!