Google’s recent algorithm updates have really changed things for online travel publishers. These changes, which began in 2022 and their subsequent refreshes, have resulted in a widespread and severe decline in organic traffic for many websites.
Some sites, including travel websites, that once thrived have reported traffic drops. This is creating a climate of frustration and uncertainty.
These updates are not random events, but they are designed to tackle “parasite SEO.” This is a strategy where low-quality articles try to get a good ranking by exploiting bigger websites. Its aim behind this is to make sure the search engine delivers helpful and reliable results for users.
Algorithm updates happen often, and they can hit even the best sites. But you don’t have to just sit back and wait. Here are a few tips to help you get your travel website traffic back on track.
#1 Use Pinterest As An Additional Search Engine
Pinterest is often mistaken for a social media platform. However, it’s a visual search engine.
In 2024, 8 out of 10 weekly users looked to the platform for planning their summer escapades. This is why it is so valuable for travel content. Pins can bring in visitors for months or even years after you first create them. This provides a reliable traffic stream that does not rely on Google’s algorithm.
Don’t use a normal account; create your Pinterest Business Account. This will allow you to access valuable tools, such as analytics and Rich Pins.
Claiming your website is also important. This verifies that you are the owner of your site, which ensures that pins originating from your blog are properly attributed to you.
Since Pinterest is a visual platform, your Pins need to be high-quality and eye-catching to grab attention. It should also feature a clear, well-lit image and a bold, readable text overlay with a catchy title. It is also important to maintain consistent branding, using the same colors, fonts, and logos across all your pins to build brand recognition over time.
#2 Improve Your Site’s User Experience
Google’s algorithm wants to reward sites that provide a satisfying experience. Core Web Vitals are three numbers Google watches. It measures how a user feels on your site.
LCP, or Largest Contentful Paint, measures how fast your main content shows up. Aim for less than 2.5 seconds. INP, or Interaction to Next Paint, measures how fast your site reacts to a click. Aim for less than 200 milliseconds.
CLS, or Cumulative Layout Shift, measures how much content on a webpage unexpectedly moves around while you’re viewing or interacting with it. Aim for a score of less than 0.1.
Improving these scores requires compressing images, tweaking mobile layouts, and fixing menus. But doing it all manually can eat up hours and lead to frustrating mistakes.
Save yourself the hassle and use an AI-powered website builder. Instead of spending weeks tinkering with code or design, you can relaunch your site with AI tools that automatically optimize for speed, responsiveness, and mobile-friendliness.
Not all website builders are created equal. This is why Hocoos advises choosing one that is easy to use, offers excellent customer service, a user-friendly interface, and rich functionalities.
#3 Add Your Content To Flipboard To Grab More Website Visits
Flipboard is a content discovery platform. People use it to find and curate content that they are interested in.
The platform’s algorithm is designed to surface relevant and compelling content, allowing creators to gain a significant audience even without a pre-existing follower base. Flipboard has over 100 million active users. That is what makes it an excellent platform to get your content in front of a targeted audience.
Getting started on Flipboard is easy. Create a public profile and then establish magazines to curate content around specific topics or themes.
For a travel website, this could include magazines for “Budget Travel Tips” or “Destination Guides” for a specific country. The platform offers a browser extension or bookmarklet that allows you to flip your own published articles into these magazines.
Flipboard’s strength lies in its powerful algorithm. The platform automatically scans new content. If it’s high-quality, it can be featured in a user’s feed or in a specific topic.
This can provide a huge traffic boost for around two days after a new article is flipped, offering a quick win and an immediate influx of new visitors.
To maximize this effect, content should be flipped as soon as it is published. This strategy also allows a creator to re-flip older, evergreen content that remains relevant. This way, it gets a second life and generates renewed traffic from content that has already been created.
Take a Step, Stay Consistent
Algorithm updates can feel like an uninvited detour, but they often push businesses toward better content and a better user experience.
So, don’t try to fight the algorithm. Rather, aim to build a strong, human-first brand. Follow these tips to bring your travel website back to life and even make it stronger than before.
Remember that Google wants the same thing you do: to give travelers the best possible answers. Align with that, and you’ll be back on the map in no time.