TripAdvisor advertising is simply the act of advertising on TripAdvisor, one of the world’s leading travel platforms. It offers native advertising on both its website and app via a tool called TripAdvisor Ad Express, which lets hospitality businesses set up their own TripAdvisor ad campaign then monitor and manage it to ensure it drives a return.
NB: This is an article from SiteMinder, one of our Expert Partners
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TripAdvisor isn’t one of the most well-known travel websites in the world for nothing.
The travel giant is always optimising user-generated content, helping restaurants, hotels and vacation rental properties maintain their reputations, and acting as a fully-fledged booking supplier for consumers visiting the site.
For hoteliers, it’s just as important in driving direct bookings as Google or their own website.
And earlier this year TripAdvisor made an announcement putting it in the same advertising field as Google – with the launch of Sponsored Placements.
Here’s how Tripadvisor advertising works, what it means for hotels looking to drive traffic, and the latest updates.
How much is advertising on TripAdvisor?
In Standard Access mode, TripAdvisor Ad Express lets you set whatever advertising budget you feel comfortable with. Your TripAdvisor advertising cost is entirely in your hands, and will depend on your finances and marketing goals.
If you want to level up your advertising on the platform, you have the option of the Preferred Access Business Advantage tier, which starts at $499 per year, and offers a number of benefits beyond those enjoyed by Standard Access customers, such as exclusive tools and data, and the ability to make direct contact with users.
Is TripAdvisor advertising worth it?
There’s no questioning the popularity and power of TripAdvisor as a platform. Attracting 400+ million unique visitors every month, it is one of the most popular destinations on the internet, and unlike other large platforms like Facebook and Google, almost every TripAdvisor visitor has some form of purchase intent. All in all it’s a compelling advertising proposition.
As with any marketing effort, advertising on TripAdvisor is a matter of getting out what you’re willing to put in. If you avoid setting and forgetting a campaign, and commit to monitoring, managing and optimising your advertising (perhaps with the help of a professional), you’re far more likely to drive a return on your investment.
Ways that hotels do advertising on TripAdvisor
Now we know the what and why of advertising on TripAdvisor, let’s take a look at the how.
TripAdvisor advertising comes in a few forms:
TripAdvisor Ad Express
TripAdvisor Ad Express is an easy to use self-service advertising tool that gives a hotel control over its own destiny on the platform. Previously called TripAdvisor Media Manager, it grants you access to a wealth of user data that helps you target a precise audience. It also makes it easy for you to reuse advertising creative, removing the need to continually get creative approved for ad use.
