---
title: "The Evolution of Online Search: SEO, SEM and Keyword Bidding"
description: "The Evolution of Online Search: SEO, SEM and Keyword Bidding"
image: https://info.trackhospitality.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/seo-wordle-e1387402212330.jpg
---

[![ResortsandLodges.com For Business](https://info.trackhospitality.com/hubfs/ResortsAndLodges_Dec_2016/image/ResortsAndLodges.png)](https://business.resortsandlodges.com/)

- [Home](https://business.resortsandlodges.com/)
- Business Types 
    - [Resorts](https://business.resortsandlodges.com/resorts/)
    - [Lodges](https://business.resortsandlodges.com/lodges/)
    - [Vacation Rentals](https://business.resortsandlodges.com/vacation-rentals/)
    - [Inns & Villas](https://business.resortsandlodges.com/inns-villas/)
    - [Bed & Breakfasts](https://business.resortsandlodges.com/bed-breakfasts/)
    - [Ranches](https://business.resortsandlodges.com/ranches/)
    - [RV Parks & Campgrounds](https://business.resortsandlodges.com/rv-parks-campgrounds/)
- Products 
    - [List & Advertise](https://business.resortsandlodges.com/list-advertise/)
    - [Websites](https://business.resortsandlodges.com/products/website/)
    - [TRACK Call Center | CRM](http://www.trackhs.com/)
    - [TRACK Property MGMT](http://www.trackhs.com/)
- Insights 
    - [Case Studies & Articles](https://business.resortsandlodges.com/resources/articles-case-studies-white-papers/)
    - [E-Books](https://business.resortsandlodges.com/resources/e-books/)
    - [Press Releases](https://business.resortsandlodges.com/resources/press-releases/)
    - [Webinars & Events](https://business.resortsandlodges.com/resources/webinars-events/)
    - [Partners](https://business.resortsandlodges.com/resources/partners/)
    - [Customer Testimonials](https://business.resortsandlodges.com/resources/customer-testimonials/)
- [About Us](https://business.resortsandlodges.com/about/)
- [Contact](https://business.resortsandlodges.com/contact/)
- [Blog](https://business.resortsandlodges.com/blog/)

# Resorts and Lodges

# The Evolution of Online Search: SEO, SEM and Keyword Bidding

[Putting a New Face on the Same Old Brand](https://info.trackhospitality.com/resorts-and-lodges/putting-a-new-face-on-the-same-old-brand) [Raising the Bar in a Multi-Channel Travel World](https://info.trackhospitality.com/resorts-and-lodges/raising-the-bar-in-a-multi-channel-travel-world)

![seo-wordle](https://info.trackhospitality.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/seo-wordle-e1387402212330.jpg?width=600&height=300&name=seo-wordle-e1387402212330.jpg)

Search engine optimization and search engine marketing can be very effective ways for hotels to reach prospective guests, but as the “keyword world” changes, hoteliers need to keep pace.  As online search features continue to change, there must be a greater focus on developing higher quality content for guests to compete against online travel agencies.

OTAs' ads outnumber hotel brands’ ads on Google, Bing and AOL, but not on Google Mobile according to a recent BrandVerity study titled “Hotel Brands, OTAs and paid search: How do these relationships unfold on the SERP?”

According to the study, each Google Search Engine Results Page included almost two OTA ads.  Bing and AOL had considerably more, with 4.77 and 5.27 OTA ads per SERP, respectively.  The number of OTA ads per SERP on Google Mobile was only .49.

It is important to nail down the art and science of keyword bidding, and this is evident in the case of Expedia. They spent a substantial amount of time studying the science, and as a result their “quality score” translates to less expensive cost-per-click prices.  You can learn more about keyword bidding here.

Budgeting for SEO and SEM can vary across the spectrum of hotels.  Budget and economy hotels do not need to spend as much time on SEO because they rely more heavily on brand traffic, walk-in traffic and ratings and reviews sites.  However, If the return on ad spend is positive and you are getting better returns than spending with OTAs, meta-search, meeting planners or travel agents, the investment should be considered worthwhile and continued.

- [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share)

[Content Writing](https://info.trackhospitality.com/resorts-and-lodges/topic/content-writing), [Hotels](https://info.trackhospitality.com/resorts-and-lodges/topic/hotels), [Mobile Marketing](https://info.trackhospitality.com/resorts-and-lodges/topic/mobile-marketing), [Online Resources](https://info.trackhospitality.com/resorts-and-lodges/topic/online-resources), [Search Engine Marketing](https://info.trackhospitality.com/resorts-and-lodges/topic/search-engine-marketing), [search engine optimization](https://info.trackhospitality.com/resorts-and-lodges/topic/search-engine-optimization)

 December 12, 2013  in [Content Writing](https://info.trackhospitality.com/resorts-and-lodges/topic/content-writing), [Hotels](https://info.trackhospitality.com/resorts-and-lodges/topic/hotels), [Mobile Marketing](https://info.trackhospitality.com/resorts-and-lodges/topic/mobile-marketing), [Online Resources](https://info.trackhospitality.com/resorts-and-lodges/topic/online-resources), [Search Engine Marketing](https://info.trackhospitality.com/resorts-and-lodges/topic/search-engine-marketing), [search engine optimization](https://info.trackhospitality.com/resorts-and-lodges/topic/search-engine-optimization)  by [admin](https://info.trackhospitality.com/resorts-and-lodges/author/admin) [Leave a comment](https://info.trackhospitality.com/resorts-and-lodges/the-evolution-of-online-search-se#comments-listing)

Search this site on Google

Search Google

### Recent Posts

### Archives

- [January 2014 (28)](https://info.trackhospitality.com/resorts-and-lodges/archive/2014/01)
- [February 2014 (26)](https://info.trackhospitality.com/resorts-and-lodges/archive/2014/02)
- [December 2013 (21)](https://info.trackhospitality.com/resorts-and-lodges/archive/2013/12)
- [May 2014 (16)](https://info.trackhospitality.com/resorts-and-lodges/archive/2014/05)
- [April 2014 (14)](https://info.trackhospitality.com/resorts-and-lodges/archive/2014/04)

### Categories

- [Hotels (125)](https://info.trackhospitality.com/resorts-and-lodges/topic/hotels)
- [Online Resources (119)](https://info.trackhospitality.com/resorts-and-lodges/topic/online-resources)
- [Social Media (77)](https://info.trackhospitality.com/resorts-and-lodges/topic/social-media)
- [Mobile Marketing (52)](https://info.trackhospitality.com/resorts-and-lodges/topic/mobile-marketing)
- [Travel News (50)](https://info.trackhospitality.com/resorts-and-lodges/topic/travel-news)

#### PAGES

- [About Us](https://business.resortsandlodges.com/about/)
- [Bed & Breakfasts](https://business.resortsandlodges.com/bed-breakfasts/)
- [Blog](https://business.resortsandlodges.com/blog/)
- [Business Types](https://business.resortsandlodges.com/business-types/)
- [Careers](https://business.resortsandlodges.com/careers/)
- [Contact](https://business.resortsandlodges.com/contact/)
- [Convert Leads Into Sales with The Funnel & The Path](https://business.resortsandlodges.com/convert-leads-into-sales-with-the-funnel-the-path/)
- [Demo Contact](https://business.resortsandlodges.com/demo-contact/)
- [Driving Visitors to Your Website](https://business.resortsandlodges.com/driving-visitors-to-your-website/)
- [Home](https://business.resortsandlodges.com/)
- [Hudson Valley Ranch Resort Case Study](https://business.resortsandlodges.com/hudson-valley-ranch-resort-case-study/)
- [Inns & Villas](https://business.resortsandlodges.com/inns-villas/)
- [Job Board](https://business.resortsandlodges.com/job-board/)
- [Leveling The Playing Field in Hospitality Marketing](https://business.resortsandlodges.com/leveling-the-playing-field-in-hospitality-marketing/)
- [List & Advertise](https://business.resortsandlodges.com/list-advertise/)
- [Lodges](https://business.resortsandlodges.com/lodges/)
- [Products](https://business.resortsandlodges.com/products/) 
    - [Business Solutions](https://business.resortsandlodges.com/products/business-solutions/)
    - [Hospitality CRM Software](https://business.resortsandlodges.com/products/hospitality-crm-software/)
    - [Property Management Software](https://business.resortsandlodges.com/products/property-management-software/)
    - [Website](https://business.resortsandlodges.com/products/website/)
- [Ranch Story](https://business.resortsandlodges.com/ranch-story/)
- [Ranches](https://business.resortsandlodges.com/ranches/)
- [Resorts](https://business.resortsandlodges.com/resorts/)
- [Resources](https://business.resortsandlodges.com/resources/) 
    - [Case Studies & Articles](https://business.resortsandlodges.com/resources/articles-case-studies-white-papers/)
    - [Customer Testimonials](https://business.resortsandlodges.com/resources/customer-testimonials/)
    - [E-Books](https://business.resortsandlodges.com/resources/e-books/)
    - [Partners](https://business.resortsandlodges.com/resources/partners/)
    - [Press Releases](https://business.resortsandlodges.com/resources/press-releases/)
    - [Webinars & Events](https://business.resortsandlodges.com/resources/webinars-events/)
- [RV Parks & Campgrounds](https://business.resortsandlodges.com/rv-parks-campgrounds/)
- [Stout’s Island Lodge Customer Success](https://business.resortsandlodges.com/stouts-island-customer-success/)
- [Testimonials](https://business.resortsandlodges.com/testimonials/)
- [Vacation Rentals](https://business.resortsandlodges.com/vacation-rentals/)
- [Websites](https://business.resortsandlodges.com/websites/)
- [Wisconsin Water Park Resort Case Study](https://business.resortsandlodges.com/wisconsin-water-park-resort-case-study/)

#### WELCOME TO OUR BLOG

This is a blog page, it displays your latest or selected posts. You can choose from various post types, layouts and options. It is fun to write with Quince.

#### VIDEO

- [Home](https://business.resortsandlodges.com/)
- [About Us](https://business.resortsandlodges.com/about/)
- [Webinars & Events](https://business.resortsandlodges.com/resources/webinars-events/)
- [Contact](https://business.resortsandlodges.com/contact/)
- [Careers](https://business.resortsandlodges.com/careers/)
- [Blog](https://business.resortsandlodges.com/blog/)

- [Resorts](https://business.resortsandlodges.com/resorts/)
- [Lodges](https://business.resortsandlodges.com/lodges/)
- [Vacation Rentals](https://business.resortsandlodges.com/vacation-rentals/)
- [Inns & Villas](https://business.resortsandlodges.com/inns-villas/)
- [Bed & Breakfasts](https://business.resortsandlodges.com/bed-breakfasts/)
- [Ranches](https://business.resortsandlodges.com/ranches/)
- [RV Parks & Campgrounds](https://business.resortsandlodges.com/rv-parks-campgrounds/)

- [Website](https://business.resortsandlodges.com/products/website/)
- [Property Management Software](https://business.resortsandlodges.com/products/property-management-software/)
- [Hospitality CRM Software](https://business.resortsandlodges.com/products/hospitality-crm-software/)

- [Facebook](http://www.facebook.com/resortsandlodges)
- [Twitter](http://twitter.com/ResortsLodges)
- [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/resortsandlodges-com)
- [Google+](http://plus.google.com/110504733787056281026/posts)
- [YouTube](http://www.youtube.com/user/ResortsandLodges)
- [Pinterest](http://www.pinterest.com/resortslodges/)

© 1998-2015 ResortsandLodges.com® All rights reserved. ResortsandLodges.com® is a trademark of TravelNet Solutions, Inc.™ | [Terms of Service](http://www.resortsandlodges.com/static/terms-of-use/)