In this exciting episode of the Tourism Hub Podcast, host Despina Karatzias embarks on a transformative journey with the launch of a seven-part series, celebrating the release of her new ebook, “Top 25 Marketing Mistakes Small Businesses Must Avoid to Thrive.” This episode is the first in a series designed to equip tourism professionals with the foundational tools needed to excel in 2025.
Despina delves into the intricacies of crafting a robust marketing plan, distinguishing it from a business plan, and emphasising its role as a strategic backbone for customer acquisition and engagement. She highlights the importance of a documented marketing strategy, noting that businesses with such plans are significantly more likely to succeed. Despina provides actionable insights into setting SMART goals, understanding target audiences, and leveraging digital marketing to create a customer-centric approach.
Listeners will learn how to conduct a SWOT analysis to assess strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats, ensuring a proactive and strategic approach to marketing. Despina also shares her personal experiences, offering practical steps to build a consistent and engaging social media and content marketing strategy, tailored to resonate with today’s value-driven consumers.
The episode underscores the importance of competitive research, encouraging tourism operators to understand market trends and differentiate their offerings. Despina wraps up with guidance on budgeting and tracking results, emphasising the need for data-driven decisions to maximise marketing impact.
Tune in to discover how to lay the groundwork for a successful 2025 with a clear, focused, and strategic marketing plan that aligns with your business goals and meets the evolving expectations of your audience.
02:30 – A well planned marketing strategy is one of the most powerful tools in your business
08:36 – Using the SMART framework is the first step in creating a strong marketing plan
10:18 – Understanding your target audience is crucial to effective marketing
16:25 – Using a SWOT analysis can help you identify your strengths and weaknesses
18:04 – Building a social media and content marketing strategy within your marketing plan is crucial
29:14 – A successful marketing plan requires a realistic and intentional budget and target
32:26 – Download our free ebook 25 Marketing Mistakes to Avoid in 2025
Connect with Despina Karatzias:
Website: Institute of Excellence
LinkedIn: Despina Karatzias
Instagram: @despinakaratzias
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Facebook: Institute of Excellence | Tourism Hub Podcast
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YouTube: Institute of Excellence | Despina Karatzias
Show hosted by Despina Karatzias and brought to you by Tourism Hub in association with Institute Of Excellence.
Let’s make 2025 your strongest year yet!
