Demand for hotels is always there, but even then, with the market being saturated by a number of options and choices, you are going to need to be competitive to stay afloat in the industry. In today’s generation, there are a lot of things you can do. Out of all of them, the one you must first venture into is social media marketing for hotels. It is cheap and does not require any extensive technical expertise in order to implement it. The question is, what should you be doing?
Table of Contents
1. Identify Your Social Media Preference
The first step in social media marketing is knowing the platform you will be using. There are a lot of choices and the top three are Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. One has its benefits over the other. Choosing which one to start on is going to be overwhelming. In addition, you also have more choices beyond those three. They may not be the top social media platforms but depending on your market, they can be as effective such as Pinterest and LinkedIn.
You can opt for more than one social media platform. As a matter of fact, the more the better. Increasing your digital presence is never a bad thing. The more you put your name out there, the more likely for your hotel to be found and considered as a choice. Just make sure that enough detail and attention is given to provide quality social media experience to potential customers.
2. Understand Your Market
Not all hotels are the same. One has a certain theme and aesthetic along with having specific services and amenities. You don’t have to win every potential customer, you just need to make sure that those who are in the market for you, actually find you.
Capitalize on what you have to offer as a hotel. What is your aesthetic, whom does your services specifically cater to, and so on. The sooner you understand who you should be marketing to, the easier it is for you start creating your marketing material. Mold your posts based on your target audience.
The problem with most social media marketing campaigns is that it is usually very vague. Hotels want to win as many potential customers as possible, so they market their prices and offers instead of the hotel itself. Remember that travelers look for the best experience for them, the budget is only a second consideration.
3. Social Media Marketing For Hotels is About Showing Off
People who are looking for hotels want to know what they are getting into. The most dreaded part for every traveler is realizing that a hotel is not what they expect it to be. Most of the time they find the place too small or aesthetically unappealing. Things are a lot worse for families when they see that the place is not as family-friendly as they expect it to be.
You don’t want to create a bad experience for your new customers. In addition, you want to assure potential customers of what they are paying for. So, what you are going to want to do is show off your hotel. Post as many photos as you can. If possible, do a video walkthrough of your rooms and amenities. If you have nothing to hide, you can show off your hotel as it is.
The better the image that a customer gets about your hotel, the more confident they get. They are able to know what they are paying for. Ultimately, they make an informed decision when choosing your hotel. Creating trust and exposing the great things you have to offer is a guaranteed way to win the hearts of potential customers.
4. Use Reviews to Leverage Your Credibility
Finding things to post on your social media pages can get exhausting. There are just going to be days that there is nothing else to show off. During times like these, it is best to use the feedback of prior customers. As a matter of fact, you should make it a habit. Potential customers are likely going to trust what other people are saying about your hotel than your marketing materials. If a lot of people are saying that you have great service, that is more likely going to influence the decision of potential customers.
Your credibility is entirely based on the feedback of your customers. As a result, never underestimate whatever they have to say. Promote good ones and address the negative. Depending on how you respond to negative reviews, it can possibly turn into a positive selling point for your hotel.
5. Social Media Marketing For Hotels is About Being Active
The hardest part about social media marketing is always being active. When you are not creating a post for an entire month, it could mean badly on how potential customers view the business. It creates the impression that it is not prominent and is not able to cater to the needs of the customers. As a hotel owner, you should accept the fact that the activity of your social media platforms delivers a sense of luxurious and quality experience.
6. Improve Your Followers
When people see your total number of followers, it also influences their decisions. The more there are, the more credible you become in their eyes. Apparently, people associate followers with the impact of a business to a population. What this means is that if you don’t have many of them, it creates the impression that you are not prominent and not worth taking a look into.
It is common sense. The more followers you have, the more prominent you are in the hotel industry. It is something that a lot of customers look into. As a matter of fact, nobody wants to put money on a business that has not yet proven itself.
7. Be Accommodating and Reachable
Social media is a platform where people can connect and is not specifically intended for marketing. What this means is that there are a lot of uses for it. Be versatile enough to use all the avenues that are available for the platform of your choosing.
Take for example the messaging feature. Don’t ignore it. When people have concerns, message them. If they leave you a message, make sure to reach out and give them the answers they want. There are a lot of situations that potential customer just needs something. The sooner you answer, the bigger the chances that you secure their decision.
Most people look at social media pages of business as a way to reach out to them. It has been like that. If you don’t play along with the standards set by society, you are going to trail behind the competition. People expect businesses to answer inquiries, if you don’t, the next one is guaranteed to be better than you.
8. Market the Place, Not Just the Hotel
There are a lot of things you can include in your social media marketing for hotels. You can talk about the location and the different things that can be done in the city. In this way, you are appealing to a specific audience which would be travelers and adventurers. These are people who are finding places to go to and things to do.
9. Small Details Matter in Social Media Marketing For Hotels
Even the slightest features in your hotel can make a huge difference in attracting customers. Small details such as design and whether or not you have a restaurant or bar can make you stand out over the competition. When marketing in your social media platforms, you don’t necessarily have to show off only the big things. Keep in mind to value even the smallest details, even to the tightest corners of your hotel. You never know that the views and aesthetic which you thought were not a big deal, means a lot to others.
10. Integrate Occasions in Your Social Media Marketing for Hotels
The demand for hotel accommodations is daily, but things are much busier during specific days. More people are on a vacation during the holidays such as Christmas and New Year. In addition, there is higher demand even on smaller occasions like Valentines and Halloween. If you want to stay relevant, you need to be active during these occasions. Moreover, be able to go along with it by posting related content on your social media platforms.
Final Words
Even if social media marketing for hotels is all the fad these days, it is easier said than done. Despite sounding simple, it is overwhelming. There are a lot of things you can do. There are also a lot of things that you should not do but you think is right. Nevertheless, sticking to the common approaches will at least get you started on the right track, allowing you to learn things and adapt along the way.
If you think that this is too much. If you think that social media marketing for hotels is not something that you can do on your own, we can help you. As an online marketing agency, we can guide you from start to finish. Contact us today to get a free strategy consultation.
