Home > Starting a themed destination business and using the internet to promote it


Shelagh Caudle

Guide to Starting a themed destination business and using the internet to promote it

Weddings, corporate training, film locations all need unique locations.If you have an unique property then you too can use the internet to promote it.


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The demand for unusual and unique experiences is growing stronger all the time.It's not just couples getting married who are looking for unusual venues, but also producers looking for new film locations and corporate trainers looking for ways to entertain and train their staff or customers.
If you have an unusual location then you can turn it into a themed destination.
However you will need a business plan which spreads the risk and you should study the way other businesses have grown in this market.
Marketing on the internet usually requires professional help, but you need not pay a fortune for this. If you are clear what you want and you seek support from firms with a good track record then the internet can be a great way to reach customers who are interested in what you have to say.



Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Establish your credentials.


It is important that the uniqueness of your property is recognised in the key online resources. Having a professionally written entry on sites like wikipedia will help to establish your credentials.

I recommend: Writing an article in wikipedia and then linking back to your own website. If your property has a historical connection or an architectural heritage then find a society which is interested in this and give them enough information to talk about your property.
For instance look at this website dedicated to Pugin ,the architect ,who changed so much of his industry.

Make your property attractive for your potential customers.


This is much more than just making it customer friendly. You have to think as if you are a customer and try to anticipate their wishes. Special interest groups, film producers, couples getting married, they all have their own unique list of requirements. You need to anticipate these and ensure that you are ready.

I recommend: Look at what other themed destinations have done and seek to emulate and better this. Good examples to look at might include looking at these websites:-
Scottish weddings, beach weddings and  medieval weddings.
For corporate training run a web search on "corporate training, james bond" and you will be amazed at the breadth of offers.

Create and market your own website.Appoint a web design and marketing firm to do this.


This is absolutely critical. Themed events , by their very nature,do not attract everyone. Your potential customers might be a small percentage of the whole population, but when the population is big enough then this is still more than enough to satisfy your business needs.

I recommend: Seek recommendations by word of mouth and look for examples of success.Web design and marketing companies which are local and have a proven track record with themed sites are a good starting point.
 Visit sites like SEOMOZ which allow their members to advertise their services.

Create international content on your website to draw your customers in from far and wide.


Do not restrict yourself to just the customers in your own country. There are many more people abroad who are looking for services like the ones you offer.

I recommend: Creating web pages which are written in a foreign language.It is often a good idea to identify and link to these through flags for specific countries.These are typically on the index or home page of your website.
The actual page , written in a foreign language,should always have an obvious link back to the home page just in case the reader ended up there by mistake. For instance see this ice cream recipe page in Chinese.

Activate google analytics on your website


Google analytics allows you to see where your visitors are coming from. You can identify specific countries as well as referring sites , all these can give you a better grasp of where your potential customers are coming from.

I recommend: Go to Google analytics. Create your own account and register your website. Pass the code to your web designer.

Use Google adwords until your website starts to rank with the search engines.


Very often it can take up to six months for a new website to start to appear on the first page of the search engine rankings. Longer if the terms are very competitive. You might need to pay a search engine like Google to advertise your web site.

I recommend: Try and limit your advertising to specific times of the day or week when you think it is most attractive to your potential customers.
Make sure that you set a daily limit and keep to it.
Create a unique webpage for people who visit your website through paid advertising.

Tips & Tactics
Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

  • Establish credibility.Then spread the word. What you have to offer might well be unique and there will be groups who are interested in it,
  • Try and appeal to more than just one special interest group. This spreads your financial risk and will help see you through the early years.
  • Research,research and research. Make sure that you understand the needs of whatever special interest group you wish to attract.
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