Promote your business

List your business on our website, use social media wisely and work with others to reach a wider audience.

There are several key things you can do to promote your hospitality business and reach a wider audience.

List your business on White Cliffs Country

Promote your business across the UK and overseas on the White Cliffs Country website, which is viewed by thousands of potential customers and linked to by tourism industry partners and our social media accounts. All hospitality businesses in the Dover district, including  accommodation providers*, visitor attractions, experience providers, and places to eat and drink are eligible for FREE listing on the website.

Please complete the relevant online form and include high-quality photos that represent the best of your business: 

If you are already listed on the website, please check your details are up to date and let us know of any changes - email VIC@dover.gov.uk or phone 01304 201066. Thank you.

The hotel lobby of The Bell in Sandwich with wooden floors and armchairs.
Make sure your hospitality business is listed on whitecliffscountry.org.uk.

Visit Kent 

Make sure you are listed on Visit Kent channels. Any business in Kent that serves the visitor economy is eligible to be listed on the Visit Kent website. Note that accommodation providers must have valid accreditation. If you are listed already, please check your details are up to date. Email enquiries@visitkent.co.uk with any amendments or if you are not listed and would like to be.

The VK Marketing Hub contains loads of useful tools, advice and information for hospitality businesses.

England’s Coast 

Through White Cliffs Country’s membership of England’s Coast, businesses in the Dover district that serve the visitor economy and tourism may be listed on England’s Coast website. Business eligible for free listing are:

  • Accommodation providers with the ability for customers to book online in one single transaction either directly with you or through a third party located within 5 miles of the coast.
  • Places to eat, visitor attractions, landscape features, activities and local transport providers within 15 miles of the coast.

Find out more on the England's Coast website.

Visit Britain's Digital Marketing Toolkit

Learn how digital marketing can help even the smallest tourism business reach a global audience with Visit Britain's toolkit of resources.

  • Get to grips with the basics of digital marketing and learn how it encompasses everything you do to promote your tourism business online and effectively communicate to customers. 
  • What to consider when building a website for your tourism business.
  • Understand Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) to increase the likelihood of your website being seen and indexed by search engines.
  • Learn how to create the best content in order to market your tourism website.
  • How to use social media and email for digital tourism marketing.
  • Explore digital advertising.
  • Explore more about digital marketing channels such as Online Travel Agents (OTAs), online review sites and holiday booking as part of your digital marketing strategy.

Find out more on the Visit Britain website.

Other useful sources of information and free content are Visit Kent's Marketing Hub and various royalty-free websites (put 'free to use photos' into your search engine). 

A corner shop with a sign saying 'Effie McLean' and Christmas decorations in the windows.
High quality photography will help to promote your business. © KC Photography

Promote the area

White Cliffs Country has rich history and heritage, wonderful coast and countryside and is peppered with many treasures. Telling your guests and visitors about all the other great local businesses and attractions helps to enhance their stay and encourages them to return.

Here are some of the ways you can enhance your offer:

Work with other local businesses

Working together, either business to business or as a group/community, can encourage everyone to aim for a mutually beneficial goal and yield far greater results.

Are there complementary businesses or events nearby that could enhance your own offer to provide a superior package for your customers? For example, could you offer evening meals/packed lunches for a nearby accommodation provider that doesn't provide food?

  • Get involved and work with your local Chamber of Commerce or Town Team.
  • Get involved and work with the local tourism association WCCTA
  • Support your local community groups and feedback ideas for possible ways to increase tourism and economic benefit for your area.

Find additional business support at VisitKentBusiness.co.uk.