Shawna LevetWhy travel agents need to be on social media
Did you know most travelers visit an average of 38 websites during their trip planning process? Or did you know that 52% of travelers use social media to guide their travel decisions? Having a strong online presence is no longer optional for travel professionals — it’s imperative!
When your travelers are spending so much time researching their trips online, you want to make sure you stay at the forefront of their minds. You’ve worked hard to earn their trust as their travel expert. Strengthen that trust by establishing yourself as a reliable online resource as well.
8 types of shareable content
So what kind of content are travelers looking for? Ideally, your posts will have high engagement rates and lots of shares. It can take a while to get a feel for what strikes a chord with your unique audience. You might have to test out a few strategies — that’s okay! Start with a plan and then reevaluate as you go.
Here are 8 types of highly shareable content that work well for travel agents:
- Travel tips
- Packing guides
- How to’s
- Destination inspiration
- Destination guides
- Travel quotes
- Quizzes or polls
- Travel news
1. Travel Tips
How much should I tip foreign cab drivers? What should I do if I lose my passport? If you think your clients would google it, write about it! Not sure what your clients want to know? Start writing down frequently asked questions as you hear them and turn them into amazing content.
2. Packing guides
Travelers love discovering new products that will help make their trips smoother and more enjoyable. Try creating listicle content such as, “Top 10 Products for Rainy Destinations” or “7 Items You Need for Your Trip to Europe.” Don’t forget to include links!
3. How to’s
An easy-to-read, step-by-step guide makes for some great evergreen content. If your “how to” is specific to your company, you can even use this content as a reference when answering your client’s questions in the future.
4. Destination inspiration
Have you just returned from an amazing FAM trip? Share your trip highlights and pictures with your followers. Sharing your own experiences helps bring a human or personal element to your brand.
5. Destination guides
This is where you really have a chance to prove your credibility as a travel expert. Try to provide high-level insider information that’s harder to find. Consider topics like “Tourist Traps to Avoid in Italy” or “Best Street Food to Try in Bangkok.”
6. Travel quotes
Travel quotes resonate with everyone and get lots of shares. These are best done with a simple, but visually-appealing graphic. If you don’t have access to a steady supply of travel images, check out these free stock photo websites inspired by travel.
7. Quizzes or polls
Not all of your content has to be information heavy! Try sprinkling a few fun quizzes or polls throughout your marketing calendar for a change of pace. You can use websites such as Playbuzz to create a quick poll or quiz.
8. Travel news
Capitalize on the trends of the day by posting about things people are talking about. Use common sense to ensure trending topics won’t draw negative attention to your niche. Be sure to use hashtags!
Questions to ask before posting:
❓ Is it relevant?
Is this something that is relevant to my niche or the travel industry as a whole? Does this content matter to my audience?
❓ What is the goal?
Why am I posting this content? Is it useful, inspiring or entertaining?
❓ Does it stand out?
Will this catch someone’s attention or has this content been overdone?
❓ Is it visually appealing?
Did I use high-quality images or graphics? Is my text large enough to read? How does it look from a mobile device?
❓ Is it factually correct?
Did I use reputable sources to find my information? Will this build my client’s trust in me as a highly-qualified travel advisor?
Get started!
Again, it might take a while to figure out a strategy that works for your brand. The important thing is to come up with a plan and start somewhere! Happy posting!
Very practical info – thanks!