How to create the best social media marketing strategies for hotels
Social media marketing strategies can be developed on a global level or tailored specifically to each individual channel. It’s important to have a team dedicated to social media marketing that is deeply connected to your brand, knows the ins and outs, and is able to transmit this dedication when designing the strategy.
Most important social media channels
1. Facebook
Facebook may have gone out of fashion for millennials, but it remains an important channel for hoteliers because there are no limits in terms of words or video size. Plus, now that Instagram and Facebook have fused, you can create paid campaigns and promote them between both channels.
Use pictures of the hotel’s interior and exterior, post stories, live videos, special offers and promotions on Facebook. Encourage guests to put location tags or to tag you in their photos and videos in exchange for a reward so that you can boost engagement. You can also run contests to keep guests interacting.
2. LinkedIn
LinkedIn is a great channel for sharing professional content that’s relevant to the hospitality industry. Why should you use LinkedIn? Because it’s where the business professionals are. You can use it as a tool to promote your space for special events and conferences. Plus, you can connect with businesses in order to form partnerships. Additionally, LinkedIn allows you to showcase industry expertise through thought leadership posts and articles, as well as get involved in the latest industry trends and opportunities.
3. TripAdvisor
TripAdvisor is a must as part of your strategy. As the website receives 463 million unique visitors each month and has a huge community of followers, it’s a tremendous tool for your marketing efforts. The more bookings you have, the more reviews you’ll get, so it’s a great way to spread word of mouth organically.
4. Instagram
Instagram is without a doubt one of the most important channels today. It’s a great tool for keeping your users constantly engaged with your brand.
You can use it to answer questions, repost user content, give updates about your hotel and highlight key things such as discounts, deals, polls, and behind-the-scenes videos. It can help to have a unique hashtag too, as prospective guests will rely on this in their pre-trip planning phase. Finally, make sure you have a business account so you can reach a larger audience and take advantage of Instagram’s advanced analytics and promotional tools.
5. YouTube
YouTube has 2 billion users monthly and is the second largest search engine after Google. No social media marketing strategy is complete without designing a plan for YouTube. You can use YouTube to drive traffic to direct channels and reach potential guests by posting video tours, testimonials, timelapse videos, or even a special hotel music mix like the Buddha Bar Lounge. It’s a key tool to give a better feel for the amenities and services offered and creates a sense of excitement about the hotel experience.