Travel Social Media Marketing

When it comes to social media, what are some of the most prevalent topics people tend to discuss?  I can assure you their travel experiences, travel plans and travel dreams are at the top of the list.  Whether it is an experience on a business trip or on a vacation trip people around the world enjoy telling their stories, commenting on travel services and reaching out to friends and associates to hear about their travels.

The rapidly evolving world of online social media has opened the door for us all to exchange our travel stories, recommend travel services and accommodations and to reach travel service suppliers in a more personal way.  Hopefully, a way that will help the service providers maintain or improve their services and the value for the customers.

The ease with which we can now take a picture or even a video on our mobile phone has proliferated the use of social media regarding travel.  Much like the evolution of phones, internet and television over the past years, social media is bringing service suppliers and their customers together in a more personal way prior to the purchase and after the purchase of the service.

Here is an trend report to show how businesses are and will apply social media as part of their marketing strategy.

Currently, the social media channels with the greatest influence on the travel and hospitality businesses are YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Google Plus and Blogs.  LinkedIn is valuable for personal and professional networking, but not for expressing your opinion or sharing travel experiences.  It is important for all travel services to have a clear marketing strategy and an internal policy for how to engage your customers both when recommending social networking to customers and online in a public social network. 

Your online reputation and networking success is all about your responses to customer comments, engaging with customers or potential customers and sharing interesting or helpful information.  Always in a professional manner!