Local link building is how aerial tour operators get credibility, climb Google rankings, and attract customers in their service area. Unlike national companies with massive budgets, you can compete by earning links from hyperlocal sources that actually send qualified leads. Here's exactly how to do it.
Why Local Links Matter for Tour Operators
Google treats location-based signals heavily for tours and experiences. A link from your city's chamber of commerce or a regional travel blog carries more weight than a random national directory. Local links also drive referral traffic—real people who know your area and trust the source recommending you.
Partner with Local Tourism and Visitor Bureaus
Every region has a destination marketing organization (DMO). Contact your city or county visitor bureau and ask about their business directory. Most bureaus maintain websites that list attractions and tours, and getting listed there brings both a link and visibility to travelers actively planning trips.
Call them directly or email. Mention specific tours you offer (sunset helicopter rides, hot air balloon experiences over vineyards, etc.). Be ready to provide:
- Your business name, address, phone, website
- A 50-100 word description of your tours
- Service area and operating season
- Any unique angles (private charters, photography flights, wedding experiences)
Expect to either get listed for free or pay $200–$500 annually. The link is real, and the referral traffic often justifies the cost.
Build Relationships with Local Event Organizers
Weddings, corporate retreats, and festivals need entertainment. Reach out to local event planners, wedding coordinators, and corporate event venues in your area. Offer them a commission or partnership on group bookings.
If an event planner links to you from their "recommended vendors" page or includes you in their resource guide, that's a relevant local link. More importantly, they'll send you actual bookings—a helicopter tour for a destination wedding or bachelor party is high-ticket revenue.
Start with 10–15 venues or planners in your area. A brief, personalized email works better than mass outreach.
Get Listed in Niche Tourism Directories
Beyond your local visitor bureau, there are regional and niche directories specifically for adventure tours and experiences:
- GetYourGuide, Viator, and Klook: These are major booking platforms with strong domain authority. Getting listed takes time but generates both backlinks and direct bookings.
- Regional outdoor and adventure directories: Search "adventure tours near [your city]" and "balloon rides in [region]" to find smaller but highly targeted directories.
- Chamber of Commerce: Local chambers almost always have business directories. Membership typically costs $300–$1,000 annually and includes a web listing.
Partner with Complementary Local Businesses
Identify businesses that serve the same customers but don't directly compete. Hotels, resorts, wedding venues, restaurants with views, photography studios, and tour guide companies all benefit from recommending you.
Propose a simple link exchange: you link to them on your "partners" page, they link to you from their site or customer guides. If they have an email list, ask if they'd include you in a monthly newsletter (this builds referral relationships, not just links).
For balloon tours specifically, partner with local farms, wineries, or bed-and-breakfasts that might host pre- or post-tour meals.
Create Local Content That Attracts Links
Write blog posts about local landmarks visible from your tours. A "Best Views of [City Name] from the Air" post attracts local bloggers, journalists, and tourism sites to link back to you.
Similarly, if you offer glacier tours, canyon flights, or coastal helicopter rides, create guides for those specific geographies. Local tourism boards and outdoor blogs will naturally link to useful, original content.
Monitor and Pitch Media
Local news outlets cover tourism businesses, especially unique experiences. When you hit milestones (1,000 flights completed, new aircraft added, award won), send a brief press release to local TV, radio, and newspapers.
You won't always get coverage, but links from local news sites carry significant weight and drive immediate traffic spikes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How long does local link building take to show results? A: Most operators see measurable traffic increases within 2–4 months after acquiring 8–12 solid local links. Google's local algorithm rewards location signals relatively quickly, especially for smaller service areas.
Q: Should I pay for directory listings, or only pursue free links? A: A mix of both works best. Free links (chambers, tourism boards, partnerships) are valuable, but paid directories like Viator and GetYourGuide deliver booking volume that justifies the cost—expect to pay 10–20% commission per tour sold through them.
Q: How do I know which local websites are worth linking to me? A: Check their Domain Authority (use MozBar or SEMrush), whether they rank for local search terms, and if they actually drive referral traffic to competitors already listed there. A link from a site with 10 monthly visitors isn't worth pursuing.
Start building your local link profile today—list your aerial tours on Mercoly to increase visibility, attract qualified leads, and sell experiences directly to customers in your area.