When it comes to marketing your hotel on social media, one of the most important things you can do to appeal to your audience is to create an experience they need to be a part of!
But how can I create an experience through social media? Great question!
In this blog, we’re going to cover what you should be posting to make your hotel stand out from the competition and how you can create an immersive experience through a screen.
#1 – Utilize Quality Photos
Before we get too far into this point, I want you to think like a potential customer.
When searching for hotels, photos can be a make or break for someone booking their stay. They want to know what the hotel looks like, including the rooms, amenities, event spaces and more!
So, what does this mean for your hotel?
You should focus on posting quality photos on your social media channels. Once a week, take a few minutes out of your day to take new photos to post during the week.
Instagram is a great social media platform to post your photos and create a visual experience for customers.
For example, if there’s an event going on or you switched up your lobby display, take photos of these changes and share them!
Also, take advantage of when hotel guests take photos and post them on their personal social media. They’re doing the work for you! All you need to do is share or repost the photo and give them credit.
Posting photos helps create an experience by giving potential guests the ability to picture themselves at the hotel. If you don’t post quality photos, customers may not consider staying at your hotel.
Remember, your local search strategy can also benefit from photos! Learn about it here.
#2 – Highlight Local Events and Attractions
Regardless of your business type, highlighting local events and attractions in your area on social media is a great way to bring in new customers.
As a hotel owner, you benefit when event visitors need a place to stay for the night!
Whether you are hosting an event, co-sponsoring an event at another location or partner with another business or attraction, make sure you share this on your social media, especially Facebook!
If you are hosting an event, make sure to create a Facebook event to get a sense of how many people are interested and to spread the word of your event.
Here's your chance to build relationships through the promotion of and involvement with local events and grow your potential hotel client base.
#3 – Vacations and Staycations
We all know that people traveling on vacation book hotel stays, but what happens if your hotel isn’t in a typical “vacation” spot?
Promote your hotel on social media with other options to get guests to stay for a staycation. Consider promoting your hotel as a great spot for a girls’ weekend, holiday visits, weddings and much more!
Staycations are a great way to inform guests of your amenities as well. For example, if you’re advertising your hotel for a girls’ weekend, make sure to promote the amenities this group of guests would use (spa, dinner, drinks – if applicable).
Bonus Tip: Don’t Promote a Service or Amenity You Don’t Have
Although this seems like common sense, make sure to be honest and transparent about the services your hotel offers. You want your hotel to stand out on social media, but don’t fib about the extent of your services.
Perhaps you offer room service, but you only offer it during certain time periods. Make these limited-time offers clear in your promotion, so your potential guests can plan and make the proper arrangements around these services.
The more potential customers know about your hotel upfront, the more likely they are to choose your business!
Final Thoughts
Social media is a great way to promote your hotel, especially to highlight all that you can offer through events, amenities and more!
As a local business, you have the opportunity to be unique and stand out by sharing quality, in-the-moment photos as well as highlighting what’s going on in your local community.
When potential guests see that you’re making an effort on social media, it’s likely they will choose you over a large, chain corporation because of the customization you offer.
If you'd like to learn more about digital marketing for your hotel, make sure to check out our blog, Here Are 2 Ways to Boost Your Hotel Business's Online Presence.
Or, if you need help creating a social media strategy, our team can help! Click here for more information or request a demo to get started.
This blog was created in collaboration with Jennifer Malone and Sarah Mikulec, two members of our Digital Content team.