Social Media is the fastest growing category of Internet Marketing in terms of attracting new users. For example, Facebook has more than 1.5M users (source: Statista). It is the next generation of Internet marketing and can drive traffic to your website and blog from different social media channels.
Social Media allows you to establish a relationship with your customer like no other media has previously allowed. It enables you to establish a 1-1 relationship where you get regular feedback on how your customers are reacting to your marketing messages.
Social Media offers an opportunity for you to establish yourself as an expert in your market. Use of Twitter, Youtube, Facebook, Yelp, etc. can help you establish yourself as an expert in your destination. People like to buy from experts and like to follow experts on their blogs post, tweets, etc.
All the efforts that a hotel puts into social media marketing can be bundled into the following 3 categories.
Top 10 Ways to Promote on Social Media
A. CREATE
1. Create and Upload Custom Facebook Pages
Facebook allows the hotel to customize the tabs to tailor it to your specific hotel or business.
- Integrate Contact & Booking widgets
- Have an events page
- Create custom tabs to highlight hotel-specific items such as meetings and conferences, things to do, etc.
2. Create/Promote Destination Blogs showcasing local events, news, and specials. Information posted on the blog gets index right away.
3. Search Optimized Video
Create and promote a search optimized video about your destination, local attractions and upload them on Video Search Engines such as YouTube. YouTube is the fourth largest search engine and drives significant traffic.
4. Photo Sharing
Create a channel or an account on photo sharing sites like Pinterest or Instagram, then post hotel and destination photos. Tag the pictures with relevant keyword phrases.
5. Twitter
Create a custom Twitter profile with the hotel’s phone number and website address in the background.
B. MANAGE AND PROMOTE
6. Integrating and Cross-Linking Channels
Once your channels are set up, it is crucial to integrate and cross network all your channels. Make sure that the social media icons are displayed clearly on your website so that consumers can get to those channels.
7. Grow Fan-base
Facebook – Become friends with organizations which are most important for your business
Promote Facebook Profile Page – Upload email list of your customers, business associates and ask them to become friends with you on Facebook
Convert your friends on Facebook by offering time sensitive specials
Network with local organizations and grow your fan base
Twitter Follow – Stay connected and current by finding out relevant businesses in your area and following them
8. Articles – Using online news channels such as Business Wire and PR Web to release Articles and news information enhances search engine optimization and web.
C. MONITOR
9. Create a Social Media Reviews platform on your website to encourage users to upload viral content on your website.
10. Monitor Social Media Channels and Review Site
We recommend hotels should actively monitor social media channels and review sites.
There are many options available for hoteliers to monitor social media activity.
Analytics – hotels can integrate Google Analytics codes on blog pages, etc. and track the activity on these channels. In addition, YouTube and Flickr provide reporting tools that can help you gauge activity on those channels.
Social Media is an integral part of the real-time search algorithm. Social media creates real connection between companies and customers, and that connection equals purchase intent. Manage your online reputation it is by far the most accessible marketing option for every company, by inviting guests to post reviews on TripAdvisor, Yelp and other review websites. Make sure you also respond to all reviews and that you manage your profile on these sites.
Invite guests to join your Facebook page, and ask them to post pictures of the hotel and their trip. Panoramio is also a great site to have guest post pics as it is linked to Google Earth & Maps.
Be funny and original. A sense of humor works better than a formal and conventional approach. What is the last thing you really clicked on or read on Facebook? I am sure it was funny or original… it’s what works…These simple steps will help you grow your fan base and create interaction with your guests. Engagement is not easy online, but these tips and best practices should help your hotel’s social media marketing strategy.
Social Media continues to grow in importance. It has not only become a critical tool to interact with customers, but is also a key element that impacts organic search rankings for your hotel. Hotels that take advantage of this hot trend are seeing significant benefits in terms of online placement and revenue.