Most Competitive Search Terms - How Profitable?

As related to the travel industry

[theposter]

Hello,

Have you ever targetted top search terms like say 'seattle hotels' and other such city name + hotel kwds?. If you did and were successful, then how did you fare in terms of business?.

As these are very high volume search terms, what were your conversion ratios?.

Did you fare better while targetting specific properties?. I think that these general kwd searches are too research oriented and do not convert greatly. what has your experience been?.

[linkshark]

>Have you ever targetted top search terms like say 'seattle >hotels' and other such city name + hotel kwds?.

Yes. Every town/city in every state.

>If you did and were successful, then how did you fare in >terms of business?. Did you fare better while targetting >specific properties?. I think that these general kwd >searches are too research oriented and do not convert >greatly. what has your experience been?.

IMHO - Travel "buyers" are perhaps some of the worst "tire kickers" on the web. You know, everyone shops for the best deal. They try expedia, travelocity, priceline, etc.... looking for best rates. Conversion rates vary greatly with seasonality, destination, current events, etc.....

I try to offer all of these options on the town/city specific pages (expedia, travelocity, priceline, etc.....) So if someone has a preference or wishes to shop for the best deal I can give them these options and hopefully make the sale.

[eljefe3]

From what I recall on past topics about this and from my own personal data, the conversion ratio is +/- 1%. As linkshark says, there are a lot of tire kickers out there.