At 808 Agency in Maui, Hawaii, we make it our mission to help small businesses optimize their Hawaii tourism marketing strategies. Recently, we shared three non-negotiables in a search engine optimization company in Hawaii.

2024 keeps moving through the calendar, which means companies should create their marketing strategies right now. Unfortunately, only half of American small businesses do this,  which means the other 50% have no formal marketing strategy at all. This may not seem like a big deal, but after working with hundreds of companies, I can tell you that a formal marketing strategy makes the difference between growing and closing your doors. Without a marketing strategy, you might as well leave the success of your business up to the roll of a dice.

We notice that having a Hawaii-based business makes this even more true. You need a Hawaii tourism marketing strategy to reach your audience. Without one, you’ll quickly lose to your competition and fight for what’s left. The businesses that see yearly growth embrace a Hawaii tourism marketing strategy. Otherwise, you might as well throw spaghetti at a wall in a pitch black room and see what sticks. Growing without a formal strategy just doesn’t make sense.

Also read: 3 Top Qualities to Look For in a Digital Marketing Agency in Hawaii

Why a Formal Marketing Strategy Matters

No matter what audience you serve, you need a formal marketing strategy to ensure your business grows. It serves as a guide for what works and what doesn’t to help you gain customers. Every year throws new curveballs, so having a strategy provides clarity and direction throughout the year. This becomes even more important when you market in a tourism destination like Hawaii. Hawaii has a very particular market, so its consumers demand very specific qualities in the companies they trust.  

If you don’t create a Hawaii tourism marketing strategy, you could miss your market—or market to the wrong crowd. This could halt your growth and close your business.

That’s why your Hawaii tourism marketing strategy must appeal directly to what Hawaii tourists look for. 

Also Read: Transform Your Website a Powerful Marketing Platform

4 Components of a Successful Hawaii Tourism Marketing Strategy

What should you have in your Hawaii tourism marketing strategy? After years of formulating strategies for businesses, we’ve found it comes down to a few key components. If you want to know how to create the ideal Hawaii tourism marketing strategy for your business, you need these four elements.

1. Authentic Storytelling

When tourists visit Hawaii, they look for more than just the “touristy” options. They want to be captivated and engaged with the local customs. When you design your Hawaii tourism marketing strategy, tell the real stories of Hawaii. Include the history of the islands, stories of its people, and insight on the local customs to make your marketing compelling and impactful. Tourists don’t look for corporate fakery—they want the real Hawaii.

2. Consistent Engagement

What’s the worst thing you can do in your Hawaii tourism marketing strategy? Leave the viewer hanging. Your marketing doesn’t stop once your prospects book their trip, so you want your marketing to consistently engage your audience during their travels and beyond. Do this with targeted email campaigns and social media ads, showcasing the real stories and awe-inspiring landscapes of Hawaii.

3. Fruitful Partnerships

You’ll find endless opportunities to partner with the local Hawaii community. When you join with local Hawaii businesses, you raise brand awareness for both you and your partner, design mutually beneficial promotions, and generate more traffic than if you had done it alone. Hawaii loves connecting tourists with the local community, so don’t forget about this demographic . Establishing local partners to gain a broad range of benefits.

4. Activist Business Ventures

When you formulate your Hawaii tourism marketing strategy, include activism. We’ve seen endless opportunities to raise awareness for important causes across the islands, which will build trust in your brand and widen your business’s impact. You won’t find a shortage of noble causes to support, and you’ll grow your business at the same time.

If you want help designing your Hawaii tourism marketing strategy, but you don’t know where to start, reach out to us today! We’ve helped hundreds of businesses formulate their Hawaii tourism marketing strategies that repeatedly deliver record-breaking results. We offer a FREE SEO audit of your business to help you get started.

Further Reading: Top 4 Growth Strategies for Maui Web Marketing

Photos Courtesy of Jakob Owens, Nong, and krakenimages