If you’re not on Facebook, you basically don’t exist. Almost 70 percent of Americans use Facebook. That equates to 225 million users. This mind-bending number is expected to increase by another 10 million within the next five years. Why are we bringing this up? If you own a hotel, bed & breakfast, or vacation rental company, you should already know your customers are using social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram all the time. They even use social media to plan their vacations. If you want to learn how to capture guests through social media, turn likes into cash, and grow your business, keep reading below! To find out more about digital marketing from our team of marketing, design, and content specialists, don’t hesitate to reach out.
4 Tips to Attract More Guests Through Social Media
Update Your Profile Page
Bringing more guests to your social media account won’t do you any good if you’re not converting those followers into paying customers. Your profile page plays an important role in making that happen. First things first, make sure you’re setting up a business account rather than a private one. Business accounts have special features that allow you to add links and CTAs like a “book now” button to your page.
Next, make sure there is a link to your website, a current phone number, address, and a short but detailed description of your property. Finally, make sure your cover photo and profile images make a good first impression. Getting a professional photographer to take photos of your property is an excellent idea.
Know Your Audience
Cater to the demographic that will generate the most business for you. Are most of your guests between the ages of 24 and 35? Then share pictures of local breweries, information about high-speed internet, and directions to nearby attractions on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest! Additionally, you can read our blog about Millennial and Gen Z travel trends to get up to speed. This isn’t to say you shouldn’t be trying to dip your reach into other age ranges, but the majority of your posts should be geared toward the majority of your followers and customers.
Geography is also an important factor to consider when it comes to capturing guests through social media. Are most of your guests coming from within driving distance? Share information about exciting road trips, points of interest, or pit stops on the way from popular nearby cities.
Share Photos
According to Kissmetrics, Facebook posts with photos generate 53 percent more likes, 104 percent more comments, and 84 percent more click-throughs than posts without photos. 93 percent of Facebook’s most engaging content includes a photo, video, or some sort of graphic. It’s clear that pictures reign supreme on social media, but what kind of pictures should you share? If your property is in a scenic area, share photos of the landscape or changing leaves. To drive bookings, try sharing a three-panel photo of your most attractive room! Or, if a particular room is still open before a busy weekend, a well-timed post with a last-minute discount can go a long way.
Pay for Reach
If you have a seasonal offer or are running a special, the best way to give that promotion the extra push it needs is to pay for clicks or reach. On Facebook, for instance, you can “Boost” a post for as little as one dollar a day! It’s not a great tool to use on a daily basis, but running paid campaigns on Facebook and Instagram is effective for getting bookings and new followers. It may not even cost as much as you think.
Trust Q4Launch to Manage Your Social Media
Still not sure if you’ve got what it takes to put together a successful social media strategy or the resources to make it happen? Don’t worry! Q4Launch has over a decade of experience designing and executing social media campaigns that drive bookings on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest. Reach out to our team today to learn more! If you’re new to social media, try out our Social Media Grader for free, and receive a detailed report in no time at all.