Hotels are continually working on standing out from the competition. One way to do that is with great hotel social media campaigns.
Social media provides ample opportunity for hotels to showcase what sets them apart from all of the other options. Often, that requires a social media campaign that focuses on value add and brand awareness. After all, authenticity is what sells these days.
As a hotel owner, how do you know if you’re doing all the right things with your social media? Here are a few tried and true hotel social media campaign ideas that work.
Focus on what sets you apart
Aloft Hotels became a favorite of Millenials because of their willingness to step outside of the box and become a melting pot of tech and entertainment. To date, the hotel chain has hosted artists like Troye Sivan and Mala Rodriguez, not to mention several up-and-comers on the verge of radio stardom.
The success of their music program is thanks to their partnership with Universal Music Group. In addition to tapping into pop culture, they also offer guests state-of-the-art technology.
And how do guests know about this? It’s what they share in their social media campaigns. Whether it’s publicizing artists coming through their properties or highlighting a unique experience, they’re clear on why they’re different from other options.
Influencer marketing is still a necessity
While influencer marketing might not be what drives large quantities of bookings to your hotel, it’s all about brand awareness. With these campaigns, you measure the success in terms of engagement, such as Cost Per Engagement (CPE) or Engagement Rate (ER).
For smaller boutique hotels, having your brand in front of your target audience can put you on their radar (which means they might book with you next time).
While your entire hotel social media campaign shouldn’t be dependent on influencer marketing, it should be a portion of your strategy.
Immerse followers in your experiences
Recently, Langham Hotels & Resorts used footage from real guests as part of their “Celebrate The Everyday” campaign. Rather than sleek, scripted commercials, they opted for beautifully shot videos that capture real guest moments.
It was meant to reflect the whims of their guests and the playfulness of the resort itself. Using social media as an avenue to share unique experiences authentically makes you memorable.
If people can picture themselves sharing some of their best travel moments within the context of your video or photograph, it can sway guests to push that “book” button.
Don’t be scared to advertise
Not all social media needs to be organic. Tons of hotels and companies are using powerful advertising tools built into Facebook and Instagram to supplement their organic growth.
These platforms make it easy to build customer demographics and share personalized ads based on interests and activities. It’s one of the best ways to meet your audience where they already are, and it doesn’t have to cost you a fortune. Social Media ads can be affordable compared to the cost of Adwords.
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It’s easy to feel intimidated by social media. Understanding the platforms and developing a voice for each one might seem daunting. However, hotel social media marketing can be one of the best tools in your arsenal when the right strategy is in place.
