Facebook, Instagram and Twitter – they’re the three social media powerhouses connecting the world today and each are absolutely necessary components of successful social media campaigns for hotels, destinations and travel brands. Our travel PR agency works closely with our hotel clients to develop creative synchronized social media campaigns that allow our clients to directly reach and connect with their target demographic.
With social media now an essential component of a well-rounded public relations program, it is imperative to understand the different uses for each platform, in addition to the ways a campaign can be synchronized across all three. Below we breakdown the best uses for Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and offer simple tips to maximize the impact of your social media program.
- Facebook – Now eleven years post launch, Facebook has completely revolutionized the way people and companies connect around the globe. A hotel, destination or travel company’s Facebook profile is the most detailed and lasting (in social media terms) version of its online identity. Use your hotel’s Facebook page as a portal for branding and a social extension of your own website – a place where you can connect with travelers to both encourage repeat business and captivate potential new guests. Tips: Facebook offers the most versatility in terms of what you can and should share. From compelling, timely images of your property to news articles and links to special offers, Facebook is the place for it all. Remember, unlike Twitter and Instagram, Facebook is presented in a more manageable fashion via its newsfeed, so it tends to have a cross-generational appeal and thus a broader audience.
- Instagram – The power of compelling photography to inspire travel decisions cannot be stressed enough. Now under the Facebook umbrella, Instagram has exploded to revolutionize travel culture with an entire online community dedicated to following world travelers to find inspiration for future trips. Tips: View your Instagram profile as a visual expression of your brand. Engage with your followers and encourage posting by reposting your guests’ best images. Around holidays like Valentine’s Day and Christmas pose questions to your followers encouraging them to tag other Instagram users, whom they would like to experience your property with. Instagram photo competitions and incentives for posting (i.e. Casa Bonita Tropical Lodge’s current #TravelBank program) are also, excellent ways to engage followers.
- Twitter – A constant stream of news, Twitter is best used as a platform for sharing news and engaging in popular chats. For instance, major travel publications will often engage in #ttot (Travel Talk on Twitter) chats that you should monitor and engage in. Tips: Share all relevant news coverage pertaining to your property or travel brand via a link, while also posing a question to spark discussion. Research the most popular hashtags related to your product and use them, as you post related content. Monitor popular twitter chats or partner with a publication to set up your own via their Twitter portal. For instance, a management company specializing in properties in Central America could potentially take over Fodor’s Twitter account for a chat on “Tips of Travel to Central America.”
What social media platform do you find most influential in influencing your business? Sound off in the comments.