How to use backlinks to boost your hotel's SEO
One link, a thousand opportunities
You've redone your rooms, taken care of your breakfast and put an elegant website online, yet your establishment only appears on the second page of Google. Travellers, on the other hand, almost never get past the first page. The reason for this? Often a lack of Backlinks These are links from other sites that point to yours. Google interprets them as votes of confidence. The more of them and the better they are, the more credibility your hotel gains... and the higher it climbs in the results. In this article, we'll look at how a simple link can make all the difference, how to obtain one without technical jargon, and why... Hotel Web Design is with you every step of the way.
Why Backlinks Matter
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Confidence signal Google still ranks links among its three key ranking factors. ahrefs.com
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Quick discovery A good network of sites talking about you helps Google to explore your pages more quickly. developers.google.com
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Offline awareness When a tourist office or travel blog mentions you, it also lends credibility to your brand.
Trends
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The rise of local media Travellers are looking for authenticity, so regional blogs carry more weight than a generic directory.
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Videos and podcasts YouTube or Spotify descriptions contain valuable links.
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Sustainable partnerships Google now values the regularity of publications rather than the sheer number of links created in a single day.
Hotel Web Design is the web agency 100% dedicated to the hotel industryWe can help you with all aspects of digital communication for your accommodation: booking websites, natural referencing specialising in the hotel industry, Google Ads referencing and Google Hotel Ads, social networking campaigns, graphic charters and logos for hotels.
Make an appointment today for free advice on how to optimise the digital management of your accommodation.
Current good practice
Quality before quantity
A single link from the tourist office website is better than fifty dubious directories.
Geographical relevance
An article on "Weekend in Brittany" pointing to a hotel in Quimper has more impact than a general American site.
Editorial context
The link should appear in text that makes sense, not at the bottom of the page with a hundred other URLs.
Descriptive anchor
Prefer "hotel with spa in Lyon rather than "click here It's clearer for the reader and for Google.
Essential features for success
| Function | Why it's useful | Hotel Web Design Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Internal blog | Welcome guest articles and strengthen your local expertise | Blog module integrated into each site. Here's an example: Hotel Victoria in Châtelaillon-Plage |
| Easy image sharing | More chance of being picked up by the press or influencers | Downloadable HD gallery |
| Monitoring links | Check which sites are talking about you | SEO dashboard included |
| Connected booking engine | Blog readers book in one click | Discover the engine |
Practical steps for obtaining quality backlinks
Step 1: Draw up your "map of allies
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Tourist offices
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Regional travel blogs
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Local events associations
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Restaurant partners
Step 2: Offer useful content
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48 hours at..." PDF guide
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Guest article "Top 5 secret beaches
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Chef's recipe to download
Step 3: Make things easier for your partner
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Provide an HD visual and a ready-to-copy-and-paste summary.
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Insert the link to your page now: less effort, more chance of them keeping it.
Step 4: Follow up and say thank you
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Monitor new mentions from the dashboard.
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Say thank you publicly on your networks: it's a win-win situation for your partner too.
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Examples that speak for themselves
Working with a local festival
- You're offering a night for two.
- The festival website publishes an article entitled "Where to sleep", quoting your hotel.
- Result: a relevant backlink and customers who stay longer.
Signature cocktail recipe
- An online gastronomy magazine tests your bar.
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He quotes your website to book an afterwork.
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Double benefit: targeted traffic and social buzz.
Common mistakes to avoid
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Buy links risk of penalties and lost money.
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Copy and paste a generic press release every partner deserves a personalised message.
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Forget the follow-up A broken link needs to be mended quickly.
Hotel Web Design is a Google partner with the Google Hotelsincluding our customers enjoy every day: information about your accommodation, availability and prices is sent continuously to the search engine, which displays booking links free from Google search, directly to your booking page. These free links represent around 15% of additional commission-free bookings for our customers in 2022! Read our article on free booking links from Google
Focus on Hotel Web Design support
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Free audit Backlink opportunities for your establishment.
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Editorial calendar Seasonal topics ready to be offered to the media.
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Express training How to contact a blogger in three e-mails.
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Integrated monitoring tool Monthly graph of new links won.
To find out more, read our detailed article on the hotel referencing or test our connected booking engine.
Frequently asked questions
Are backlinks still important after Google updates?
Yes, Google confirms that links are still a major signal of relevance. developers.google.com
How many do I need?
There's no magic number, but aiming for one new relevant link per month is a good start.
Can I do everything on my own?
Yes, but a partner like Hotel Web Design saves you time and avoids missteps.
Ask for a quote
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Request your free Backlinks audit A Hotel Web Design expert will get back to you within 48 hours.
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Try our demo site See how an optimised blog and a booking engine create a winning duo.
Conclusion: a little link goes a long way for your visibility
The Backlinks are neither magic nor a privilege reserved for the big chains. With local partnerships, authentic content and the right tools, you too can climb Google and welcome more travellers directly. Every quality link is another step towards a stronger brand, less dependent on OTAs and closer to its guests. The team at Hotel Web Design is ready to support you: your success starts with a click.
Booking / reservation website
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Direct booking for your accommodation
- Bespoke booking/conversion site delivered turnkey, with training on the administration interface on delivery
- Adapted logo and graphic charter. Possibility of using your existing elements
- Specific referencing for holiday lets
- Integration of reservations module internal
- or integration of an external booking engine (Reservit, D-EDGE, MisterbookingRoomcloud, etc)
- Integration of specific HTML elements (review portals, customer reviews, weather, press, pop-ups, direct chat, etc.)
- Secure SSL / HTTPS
- Multilingual website & booking engine
- Simple, intuitive user interface
- High-availability hosting and domain name
- Delivery usually within 30 days
