This document provides an overview of using social media for tourism marketing. It discusses that social media is an important way to showcase a business's human side, curate engaging content, and build interactive relationships with visitors. Key platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter are examined in terms of their user demographics and best practices. Facebook is noted as good for sharing resources, encouraging engagement, and reaching baby boomers. Instagram is ideal for photo sharing and finding new content, especially among millennials. Twitter works well for sharing updates in the moment. The document stresses focusing efforts on a few high-quality social media channels rather than trying to use them all.
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Tourism
Social Media 101
A presentation to complete the Tourism
Marketing Professional Certification through
the Southeast Tourism Society
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What is Social Media?
Free and easy way to get the
word out about your business!
…Right?
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Why is Social Media important?
! Great way to show the human side of your business
! Great way to curate content to draw in visitors
! Fastest way to create an interactive relationship with your
visitor
! Fastest way to show you aren’t concerned with visitor’s issues
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Why is Social Media important?
! 48.1% of travelers used social media for travel planning
! 45.5% of travelers used user-generated content to plan
! Not just Millennials! GenX and Baby Boomer stats grow each
year
Data from The State of the American Traveler published in July 2015
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Facebook
! 71% of adult internet users / 58% of entire adult population*
! Baby Boomers are primary audience
! Be seen as a resource
! Encourage shares, likes, & engagement
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Hashtags & tagging
! Use @ and name to “Tag” someone: @visithopkinsville
! Be sure to tag and credit those who’s photo you share
! Hashtags
! Be sure to check the hashtag first! Don’t jump on a popular tag
without checking the meaning or in use in a negative way
! Proofread hashtag for misleading interpretation
! Use relevant hashtags but don’t go overboard
! Use partner hashtags (#visithopkinsville, #travelky)
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Twitter
! 23% of adult internet users / 19% of entire adult
population
! Mixed generation
! 140 character limit
! Best for use “in the moment” for changes and live tweeting
during events
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Other Platforms
! TripAdvisor – Be sure to upload photos, respond to reviews &
address any issues brought up in reviews; check message
boards for opportunities to help visitors; keep data updated
! YouTube – Top search engine behind Google; more hits on
“behind the scenes” and of the moment videos versus
professionally produced; Smartphones can make decent
content
! Pinterest – use to pin your content (blogposts, events,
photos); interact with influencers
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Remember!
! It is better to have fewer channels that are well done than
trying to have an account on every network.
! Your business page is separate from your personal page.
Keep content appropriate and on-brand
! Experiment with posting types and times
! Watch what others are doing
! Don’t be afraid to try new things!
