Over the past decade, social media has had a tremendous impact on travel. The main reason is that people buy from brands they trust. As such, posts and referrals from friends and acquaintances, as well as customer reviews seen on social platforms, have become an important aspect of travel marketing. A strong and consistent social media presence can help Travel Advisors build their brand and drive sales.
Here are five tips from Travel Advisors who are successfully using social media to market their brands and products.
1. Be authentic.
The most important practice when marketing your business on social media is to be yourself and show that your desire to help people fulfill their travel dreams is genuine.
Authenticity is my number one strategy,” says Michelle Shrader, owner of InteleTravel affiliate Adventures Tours & Travel. “I want to stay true to who I am and what I can do for my clients. Post about destinations I’ve been to and destinations I know I share my experiences with the destination I travel in. Potential customers have a feeling that they can trust me and help them plan a great trip with local recommendations is needed.
Lesley Sawhook, owner and travel expert at Exclusive Travel Partners, agrees. First and foremost, you must be able to show potential customers who you are and what sets you apart from your competitors. “
2. Find a suitable platform.
Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Pinterest, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube and the list goes on and on. But which platform is best for travel agencies? Facebook continues to be the winner for most users, and TikTok is quickly gaining traction among young travelers.
“To start developing your social media brand, you need to choose the platform that’s right for you,” suggests Stacey McEwen CTA DS, Travel Planners International-Platinum Agent, Vacations Unlimited. “I mostly stick to Facebook. That’s where most of my clients are and the demographic of the people I book with.”
For Shrader, Facebook is also a go-to. My business has always been about relationships. Friends on the platform can tag me when someone asks for trip advisor. When clients see me highlighting a trip in a post, they may comment, have friends see it, or tag friends with similar travel interests. “
Sawhook said: I tried Twitter and didn’t find it easy to grow and engage with my travel audience. Launched in October 2020, the number of followers has exceeded 230,000. “
3. Post regularly and be consistent.
One of the most important and proven foundations for marketing your business through social media is consistency.
“We found that content needed consistency,” says Sawhook. “I always do my own narration, keep up with trends, use good music and hashtags. Recently, Instagram and Facebook started pushing the reels. to reach your audience.”
Sawhook explains: Once the video went viral, he received more than 2,000 inquiries about the destination within 24 hours. Our company name has become widely known, we have become known as a trusted travel company and our sales have skyrocketed as a direct result of social media. Social media is our storefront in this day and age and it’s important to show up to your customers every day. “
Shrader said: Daily posting is required. You don’t want people to look up your business and find out that you haven’t posted since 2019. I like to alternate between destination posts, informational posts, and interesting travel posts to maintain interest. “
Social media management tools like Hootsuite, Buffer, MeetEdgar, Sendible and Sprout Social are readily available to help with scheduling, monitoring and analytics.
4. Post only positive topics and comments.
In response to negative developments in travel, you may be tempted to speak out boldly on social media. But don’t do it. Please only post positive information.
Sawhook advises: That’s a big no-no for me. If prices go up, if a storm causes damage, if Disney raises prices, if flights are canceled, etc., I’m not going to highlight it on social media. Clients find me, earn their trust and book through me. They don’t follow me because of their negative travel experiences. “
Some advisors also post travel deals, but more and more people are avoiding them these days. I want people to know that they can plan trips on their to-do list or trips they thought were out of reach. “
5. Be active in social media groups.
Reaching your target audience by selecting the right groups, especially on Facebook, can greatly expand your reach among consumers who are inclined to the specific type of travel or niche you sell. By posting new content and commenting/liking/sharing other people’s posts, your name and travel brand will be known to more potential travelers.
McEwen has a very successful Facebook group. I now have two and it really allows for better and more direct communication with current and potential clients. “
All tips provided in this article can be done in-house by Trip Advisor. You just need to allocate your time and effort steadily. If you’ve already mastered the basics of social media, you might want to take the next step by advertising on Facebook to reach a wider audience. But first, Google it or contact a marketing consultant to brush up on the best strategy.
Most importantly, slow and steady beat the competition when it comes to social media.
From our sponsor:
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