So I am starting a website that allows users to purchase groceries and then have them placed in the vacation rental that they will be staying at during their stay. I have been contemplating a lot of different ways of driving traffic to my website. 1 Content and blogging. 2. Links on popular vacation websites such as VRBO 3. Facebook Ads. What are some out of the box ways I could market my website?
I like your website's idea and believe this sounds like something with a great deal of potential if you can get it promoted right. I worked at a hotel for years and know the travel industry quite well, so here's what I would do if I were you... 1. Contact different vacation rental owners (property managers, even small hotels that have kitchens in their rooms) - and let them know about your service and see about putting up brochures, business cards or other print material up in there front office. Even getting a mention on their site about your website's service, as this is something they can also use to attract renters and guests, as it is something elderly people, or people with disabilities can really appreciate. Many of the hotels here in Florida have kitchenettes or regular kitchens, and when I worked at a hotel down here most of the tourist would come to stay for weeks or months at a time, and having their groceries delivered would definitely be something they would appreciate. So look into that! 2. Social media marketing - Focus on Twitter, FB and if possible, YouTube and Instagram as well. Just keep them updated, share content your followers would be interested in and stay relevant. Attract the same people who follow TripAdvisor, Expedia, and Vacation Rental companies. 3. Avoid PPC, unless its working well for you. I say this because I think you need to directly contact your target audience (people who manage the rental properties, hotels with kitchens, etc) and work out deals where they can use your website as a feature for their property. I am not saying you should limit your site's services to the people you made deals with, but you can offer them better rates, give them a partners badge on your site, or something of that nature. But maybe other people will want to sign up and become a partner? I don't know how your site works currently, please pm me so I can see it.
I would do a PR campaign and, specifically, I would do a story pitch to local travel newspaper/magazine editors. You have a unique business and I assume that it is limited to a certain geography, so focus on only the media that covers the market and pitch this as a new way for their readers to better enjoy their vacation or holiday.