Search Travel Market Report

mainlogo
www.travelmarketreport.com
  • News
  • Packaged Travel
  • Cruise
  • Hotels & Resorts
  • Destinations
  • Retail Strategies
  • Niche & Luxury
  • Air
  • Training & Resources
  • Who We Are
    • Brian Israel
    • Briana Bonfiglio
    • Dan McCarthy
    • Dori Saltzman
    • Jennifer Arango
    • Kelly Fontenelle
    • Keri-Anne Slevin
    • Louis Intreglia
    • Tom McCarthy
Sponsored By ALG
Sponsored By ALG
windstar

5 Tips to Develop Your Personal Travel Brand on Social Media

by Denise Caiazzo / November 07, 2022

Social media made a tremendous impact on travel over the past decade, and it is here to stay. The main reason is that people buy from brands they trust, which is why posts and referrals from friends and acquaintances, as well as customer reviews seen on social platforms, have become a critical aspect of travel marketing. Travel advisors can build their brand and increase sales with a strong and steady presence on social media.

Here are five top tips from travel advisors who are successfully using social media to market their brand and products.

1. Be authentic.
The most important practice when marketing your business on social media is to be yourself and to show that you are authentic in your desire to help people make their travel dreams come true.

Authenticity is my top strategy,” says Michelle Shrader, owner of Adventures Tours & Travel, an InteleTravel affiliate. “I want to be true to who I am and what I can do for clients. I post about destinations I have been to and those that I am knowledgeable about. I share my experiences in destinations when I am traveling. Potential customers must have a sense of trust in me and a feeling that I can help them plan an amazing trip for them with local recommendations.”

Lesley Sawhook, owner and travel professional, Exclusive Travel Partners, agrees: “Your brand is your identity. First and foremost, you must be able to show potential customers who you are and what sets you apart from competitors. You need to portray who you serve and how you help them.”

2. Find the right platform.
Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Pinterest, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, the list goes on and on. But which platforms are best for your travel agency? Facebook continues to be a winner for most, with TikTok quickly gaining ground with younger travelers.

“To start developing your social media brand, you really need to choose the platform that works best for you,” suggests Stacey McEwen CTA DS, Vacations Unlimited, Travel Planners International-Platinum Agent. “I primarily stick to Facebook. That’s where most of my clients are and the demographic of people I book.”

For Shrader, Facebook is also the go-to: “Demographics play a huge part in choosing the best platform for your business, and for me, Facebook has been a great connection point with both clients and potential clients. My business has always been about relationships. Friends that I have on the platform can tag me when someone asks for a travel advisor. Then it becomes a referral and a new connection on Facebook. When clients see me highlight their trip in a post, they will comment, their friends will see it, or they may tag a friend who would be interested in a similar trip.”

Sawhook says: “I have found great success in Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. We have tried Twitter but have not found that it has been as easy to grow or engage with our travel audience. TikTok has also been huge for me and our business this year. I started it in October of 2020 and have grown to over 230,000 followers.”

3. Post regularly and be consistent.
One of the most essential and time-tested foundations for marketing a business through social media is consistency.

“I have found that my content needs to be consistent,” says Sawhook. “I always do my own voiceovers, keep up with the trends, use good music and hashtags. Recently, Instagram and Facebook have started pushing Reels, and we have seen great success with those now, too. I will post the same video across multiple platforms to reach my audience.”

Sawhook goes on to explain: “Social media has been a game-changer for me and our business. When a video goes viral, we have had over two thousand inquiries for a destination within a 24-hour time period. Our company name has gotten out there, we are known as a trusted travel company in travel, and our sales have grown exponentially as a direct result of social media. Social media is our storefront in this day and age, and it's important to show up for our customers daily.”

Shrader says that “consistency is key on any social media platform in order to stay relevant. Posting on a daily basis is necessary. You never want someone to look up your business and find that you haven't posted since 2019! I like to alternate between destination posts, informational posts, and funny travel posts to keep it interesting.”

Social media management tools - like Hootsuite, Buffer, MeetEdgar, Sendible, and Sprout Social - are readily available to help with scheduling, monitoring, and analytics.

4. Post only positive topics and comments.
It can be tempting to boldly voice an opinion on social media in response to negative developments in travel. But don’t do it. Only post positive information.

As Sawhook advises: “I see a lot of travel professionals who will post negative things. That is a big no-no for me. If prices have increased, a storm has caused damage, Disney has hiked prices, flights are being canceled, etc., that is not something I am going to highlight on social media. My goal for social media is for potential clients to find me, gain trust in me, and book through me. They are not following me for negative travel experiences.”

Some advisors also post travel deals, but more are staying away from that these days. As Shrader says: “I avoid posting hot deals and promotions because it feels too salesy for me, it doesn't fit who I am. I want people to know that I can plan that bucket-list trip or a trip they thought was out of reach. I don't ever want them to feel like I only do discount vacations.”

5. Be active in social media groups.
Choosing the right the group(s), especially on Facebook, to reach your target audience allows you to greatly expand your reach amongst consumers who are predisposed to the particular type of travel or niche that you sell. By posting new content and commenting/liking/sharing other people’s posts, your name and travel brand become known to many more prospective travelers.

McEwen has had good success with Facebook groups: “I love Facebook groups. I now have two and they really allow for better and more direct communication with current and potential clients. They give me a place to be creative and fun, while connecting with travelers.”

All the tips provided in this article can be accomplished in-house by travel advisors - it only takes a steady allotment of time and effort. Those who have already mastered the basics of social media might want to progress to the next step of taking ads on Facebook to reach a larger audience. But first, brush up on the best strategies by searching Google or connecting with a marketing consultant.

Most importantly, when it comes to social media, slow and steady wins the race.

FROM THE SPONSOR:
ALG Vacations led the pack this year as they launched their “ Ask a Travel Advisor” annual campaign. This campaign opened the doors for travel advisors across the U.S., giving them customer leads, driving traffic to their businesses, and showcasing the true value a Travel Advisor brings to consumers everywhere. The strength in this campaign centered on social media, travel and celebrity influencers, and the launch of multiple trending social handles. So, get social and find engaging shareable posts, talk travel with prospective customers, and be inspired to create your own content when you follow ALG Vacations®  @AskATravelAdvisorALGV on Facebook and TikTok. You can also tune into our ALGV ‘Travel Beat’ Podcast with fresh travel tips shared weekly. Download from your favorite store today!

  12
  0
windstar
Related Articles
Consultative Selling for Travel Advisors: Why It is Important and How to Do It
The Most Fabulous Foodie Experiences at Sea
What Every Travel Advisor Should Do to Prepare for the 2024 Travel Boom
Why Every Travel Advisor Needs a Business Plan…And How to Start One
9 Reasons to Book the Caribbean for This Winter’s Holiday Season
How Consumer-Centric AI Delivers More Satisfied Customers
What Travel Advisors Most Need to Know About Using AI Tools
Insider Tips for Selling Groups & Destination Weddings
5 Unforgettable Seasonal and Themed European River Cruises
Former Cruise Director Harnesses Social Media to Sell Singles Sailing Trips

MOST VIEWED

  1. The Best Black Friday and Cyber Monday Travel Deals for 2023
  2. The Ten 'Most Christmassy' Towns in the U.S.
  3. U.S. State Department Warns Travelers About GPS Dangers in South Africa
  4. The Worst Airports for Holiday Flight Delays
  5. What Will Be the Biggest Travel Trends of 2024?
  6. Royal Caribbean Monitoring Haiti Violence


  1. Here Are the New Cruise Ships Debuting in 2024
  2. Dondra Ritzenthaler to Join Azamara as CEO
  3. Iceland Travel Update: Southwest Earthquakes Heighten Risk of Volcanic Activity
  4. The World's Most Expensive Flights
  5. CBD Gummies Result in Lifetime Passenger Ban for Carnival Cruiser
  6. Southwest Pilots Set Up Regional Strike Center in Preparation for a Strike
TMR Subscription

Subscribe today to receive daily in-depth coverage, analysis of industry news, trends and issues that affect how you do business. Subscribe now for free.

Subscribe to TMR

Top Stories
Villatel Orlando Resort – Orlando’s First ‘Villa Hotel’ – Is Now Open
Villatel Orlando Resort – Orlando’s First ‘Villa Hotel’ – Is Now Open

The new hotel is centrally located in Orlando’s tourism district.

Read...
Vail Resorts to Expand in Europe with New Switzerland Acquistion
Vail Resorts to Expand in Europe with New Switzerland Acquistion

This is the Colorado-based ski resort brand’s second Switzerland property.

Read...
15 Exciting New Hotels Opening in 2024
15 Exciting New Hotels Opening in 2024

Here are the new hotels that we’re most excited to see open in the new year.

Read...
New Margaritaville Island Reserve Resort Announced for Honduras
New Margaritaville Island Reserve Resort Announced for Honduras

The new resort is a partnership between Margaritaville and Karisma Hotels & Resorts.

Read...
Big News at Montana’s Big Sky: New Tram and One&Only Resort
Big News at Montana’s Big Sky: New Tram and One&Only Resort

One&Only recently announced its opening for the next ski season at Big Sky.

Read...
How Rental Escapes Creates Personalized Villa Experiences for Travelers and Advisors
How Rental Escapes Creates Personalized Villa Experiences for Travelers and Advisors

TMR caught up with Rental Escapes' Willie Fernandez to talk about luxury villas and what makes Rental Escapes different.

Read...
OUTLOOKS & WHITE PAPERS
Trends in River Cruise, 2023
European Travel Trends 2023
Winning in The Tech Era: Essential Insights for Travel Advisors
View All
Advertiser's Voice
//services.travelsavers.com/AMGService.svc/REST/GetImage?ImageID=c0852062-a67c-ee11-adc6-005056a855ed
Swan Hellenic: Beyond Ordinary
windstar
About Travel Market Report Mission Staff Advisory Board Advertise
TMR Resources Webinars Calendar of Events Outlook/Whitepapers Previous Sponsored Articles Previous This Week Articles
Subscribe to TMR
Select Language
Do You Have an Idea Email
editor@travelmarketreport.com
Give Us a Call
1-(516) 730-3097
Drop Us a Note
Travel Market Report
71 Audrey Ave, Oyster Bay, NY 11771
News |Packaged Travel |Cruise |Hotels & Resorts |Destinations |Retail Strategies |Niche & Luxury |Air |Training & Resources |Who We Are
© 2005 - 2023 Travel Market Report, an American Marketing Group Inc. Company All Rights Reserved | 243 South Street, Oyster Bay, NY, 11771 USA | Telephone (516) 730-3097| Terms and Conditions
Cookie Policy Privacy Policy