The hospitality industry has continued to be disrupted by the increasing presence of social media and online forums. The power is no longer in the hands of the brand, but the customer.
So many businesses in the industry rely heavily on reputation and word of mouth recommendations, it’s and it’s as ever-present than ever before.
Your customers will help to support the reputation of your business; social media users will check in to your bar or restaurant. They will share reviews on Facebook, share images of their food on Instagram whilst also tagging their location as your business. Now that these customers are your raving fans, they have also become part of your marketing strategy.
We’re delighted to have clients in the hospitality sector and here are my tips:
Consistency
Make sure your brand is consistent throughout all social media platforms. For example, use your brand logo throughout all profiles. Consider updating your cover photo with up-to-date promotions or events – it’s the first thing customers see when visiting your page.
Keep Updating
Social media pages that are never updated will definitely seem off-putting to potential customers. If you’re struggling, an easy way to maintain your accounts is to share your Instagram posts directly to your Twitter and Facebook feeds, that saves time!
Expand Your Reach
Ask your followers to like/share/re-tweet your message in return for a free meal, bar tab or night’s stay. Perhaps you have a new autumn/winter menu, consider a competition to coincide with the new menu launch. As a result, you’ll see your brand reaching others who like to go to similar places to eat and drink.
Run an Event
Perhaps you an upcoming event, make a page for it on Facebook. People will express their interest, and this will then show up on the timelines of their friends who may not know about the event.
Don’t be put off by using social media for your business, it doesn’t have to be complicated. However, it certainly is a necessity in the hospitality industry.
I hope you have found my tips useful. Please contact me via my website or by telephone on 0161 826 7181 and I will be happy to discuss your future marketing requirements. Alternatively, check out our client testimonials page.
By Ann Davies, Director