Social media marketing for hotels is an integral component of their strategy and helps engage and retain their target audiences – especially luxury hotel customers.
Create a business account on Instagram. This will give you access to data insights, allow branded hashtags to be used and allow republishing content from other accounts (with their permission) onto Instagram. Post frequently; too few updates and users become disinterested.
1. Engage with your audience
At any hotel, having an active social media presence is essential, but that alone won’t get results. Engaging with your target audience requires actively posting engaging content regularly – be it daily specials, upcoming events or simply informing followers of something new at your hotel.
An effective way of engaging with your audience is responding to comments, especially if they contain negative feedback or complaints. Furthermore, responding to posts created by followers can help create brand loyalty and keep the conversation flowing.
Finally, you can engage your audience by taking advantage of each platform’s features. Instagram Stories offers an easy way to share photos or videos with followers; while YouTube’s video feature offers a powerful way to highlight hotel facilities.
2. Create a blog
Blogging can help drive traffic to your website and social media pages while creating a content library you can utilize in the future. Staging “instagrammable” shots around your hotel or B&B can also draw interest online; for instance, serving iconic British breakfasts on an eye-catching table makes it hard not to take pictures for sharing online with followers.
Boutique hotels are enjoying incredible success in the travel industry as more travelers search for unique accommodations that will make their trips truly unforgettable and shareable with friends and family. Outstanding customer service, delicious dining options and engaging activities are among many differentiators that boutique hotels can offer to set themselves apart from competitors.
Blogs can be an effective way to connect with your target audience and help them find exactly what they’re searching for, from Rodin-inspired pastries to 24-karat gold facial masks. By sharing unique experiences such as these on your blog, luxury travelers who are willing to pay top dollar can find themselves drawn in by what seems like amazing and exclusive accommodations.
3. Use Instagram
Instagram can be an ideal platform to promote the distinctive features and amenities of your hotel. In addition to high-quality photos and videos, make use of creative captions that will entice potential guests – particularly millennials, known for their passion for visual content.
Instagram stands out from other social media platforms by emphasizing geotagging images taken of specific locations, making it a powerful way for boutique hotels to promote themselves and offer potential guests an insight into your property prior to booking their stay. This platform can provide your boutique hotel with great exposure and help potential guests become acquainted with it prior to making their decision to book a room there.
Not only should your hotel post beautiful images on Instagram, but you should also consider partnering with Instagram influencers whose lifestyle and photos align with that of your brand identity to increase credibility and engagement with followers. Don’t forget to include a link to your hotel website in your bio to make booking their stay at your hotel easier for followers, while Instagram stories allow your audience to experience life at your hotel firsthand.
4. Be consistent
Consistency is key, or so goes the saying, and being consistent on social media is no exception. Being consistent helps build real connections with your target audience while staying on-brand – assuring them of what to expect when engaging with you online.
One way of being consistent is by creating and following a content schedule, such as scheduling posts in advance. Another strategy for being consistent involves developing your brand voice and style; for example using specific fonts or tones when writing.
Consistent responses are also key when responding to comments and reviews. If multiple clients complain about your quality of service or booking system, be sure to address these issues immediately – this will demonstrate to your target market that you care about their feedback and are open to making necessary adjustments based on its input.
5. Use hashtags
Hashtags can help bring more eyes to your posts, but using them correctly is key. A hashtag should consist of one word without punctuation marks or spaces between words and be capitalized for maximum impact; using too broad of a hashtag could deter viewers from viewing and cause social media platforms to categorize it as spam content.
When selecting the appropriate hashtags for your business and industry, be sure to select ones which are directly applicable. It may also be beneficial to examine which ones your competitors are using as you can use this data to see which are working.
Hashtags are an invaluable way to share user-generated content and build brand recognition. You can use them to promote special offers or events as well as use trending hashtags on social media; doing this will increase visibility of your posts and foster community spirit by increasing engagement on your posts.
6. Be active
Social media has quickly become the go-to place for people to express themselves freely, connect with family and friends, stay informed, be entertained and find inspiration – it has also proven an invaluable asset for businesses such as hotels to reach and engage their target audiences.
Engaging your hotel guests on their preferred channels by regularly posting content is vital to creating a sustainable presence and expanding your audience. Responding to comments, reviews and private messages shows your dedication to bettering their experiences while showing that your services continue to evolve over time.
Sharing user-generated content like guest photos or videos on your social media pages is an effective way to draw in new visitors and drive engagement, while running contests and giveaways is another effective method to grow audiences and stimulate interaction. Furthermore, hotel brands should note that having an established social media presence impacts website SEO positively – meaning increased engagement will translate to improved search engine rankings for their websites.
7. Use video
Video can be an engaging and measurable way to engage your target audience on social media, helping build brand recognition. Plus, with measurement features built right in, it lets you see exactly who is viewing and sharing your content!
Utilizing video can also help your hotel stand out from its competition, showing audiences why they should select it over competitors. Furthermore, creating such videos allows you to connect more personally with customers while building trust and loyalty for your brand.
One way video can help your hotel stand out is to create short montage videos that capture the experience or ambience of staying there. This type of content is especially effective for inspiring their audiences to travel and experience new things – you could even post this type of boomerang-styled clip as Instagram boomerangs for added engagement! Another effective use for video is paid Facebook ads, as these can target specific demographics so your content reaches the right people.
8. Be authentic
Being authentic means making your brand and business seem more genuine to customers, which can build trust and increase customer satisfaction. People tend to trust people more than brands; thus humanizing your business will go a long way toward increasing customer satisfaction.
Being authentic means that your content must accurately represent your business and values, such as photos or videos that depict employees, guests, and local attractions. Being transparent in communications helps build trust with customers.
Instagram stories offer another avenue for authenticity by enabling you to post more candid images and videos for your followers to see, as well as text, gifs, and other features to personalize posts even further. Be consistent in posting schedule as this will keep your business at the top of followers’ feeds; and use hashtags related to your business in all of your posts.