Sunshine Matters

VISITFLORIDA.com, already the most trafficked destination marketing organization website in the country, experienced a record year in 2011.  The site had nearly 6.3 million visits, a 13 percent increase over the previous year, generating more than 18.5 million page views.  Last year, VISITFLORIDA.com also experienced a 13 percent increase in international traffic, with 990,000 visits to the site.

And 2012 is getting off to an incredible start as well, with January and February becoming the highest trafficked months in the history of VISITFLORIDA.com.  In February alone, the site had more than 800,000 visits and nearly 2 million page views – an increase of 44 percent more visits than February 2011 and a 9 percent increase in page views.

In partnership with Miles Media, VISIT FLORIDA undertook several initiatives in 2011 that have enhanced our web and mobile visitors’ travel planning experience. Here are some highlights of those improvements:

VISITFLORIDA.com Insider Section

The VISIT FLORIDA Insiders are a team of experts who engage tourists with consumer-oriented news in videos, on their blogs and in social media.  The site now boasts a redesigned Florida Insiders landing page and the launch of the “Insider Q&A Center” offering answers to frequently asked questions, access to all the Q&As posed by previous visitors and the ability to ask questions of each Insider.

Mobile Version of VISITFLORIDA.com

The second phase of VISIT FLORIDA’s mobile site was completed, including redesigning the home page and adding additional map functionality upgrades. Mobile traffic to the site grew rapidly with more than 590,000 visits and 1.3 million pages being viewed on tablets and smart phones.

Social Media Updates

VISIT FLORIDA launched several Facebook initiatives, leveraging the social media giant’s influence to drive traffic to the site.  One feature allows users to post their vacation photos and videos to VISITFLORIDA.com directly from Facebook. Another makes it possible for visitors to get travel advice by connecting directly with their Facebook friends from any page on the website.

FishingCapital.com

The second member of the VISIT FLORIDA family of websites also received updates in 2011 with the completion of the second phase of FishingCapital.com.  In coordination with the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission, this site is aimed at boating and fishing enthusiasts with content to help anglers get the most out of their next Florida fishing trip. Changes to the site included mapped hot spots, detailed fish species information and tips on places to fish.  Other site changes included an updated home page and inclusion of regional captains’ fishing reports.

VIVAFLORIDA.org

The third site in VISIT FLORIDA’s web family explores ways to celebrate the many cultures that call Florida home.  In partnership with the Department of State, VISIT FLORIDA launched a revamped VIVAFLORIDA.org website in 2011. Enhancements to the site included bringing on a Spanish-language editor and a bi-lingual Insider who update content in both Spanish and English throughout the year.  This initiative provides an opportunity for tourism businesses to tap into a hub of cultural heritage content by showcasing their own local historical stories and events.

To learn more about all the opportunities Florida tourism businesses have to tell their story through exposure on VISIT FLORIDA’s websites, please contact the toll-free Industry Hotline at (877) 435-2872 or email Partner@VISITFLORIDA.org.