Do you use Facebook to stay in touch with friends and family? So do 2.5 billion other people. It’s possible to say that “word-of-mouth” advertising now happens mostly on social media. People use sites like Facebook and Instagram for more than just social contact. An online search for business information could provide a Facebook page as a search result. This article will show you the basics of how to share content on your Facebook Business page to attract your ideal guest house or boutique hotel visitor using these simple tools and tips.
What to post on Facebook.
The posts with great photos are the ones that get the most attention on Facebook. Get your creative shoes on as you will need to capture your audience and make them want to click on and engage with you. Post on topics you think your “type” of guest would like. (That’s where it helps to know which target market you’re trying to attract.) .
If you offer meals, post about those. You can win the hearts of many South Africans with a great photo of your braai in progress. Show the nooks and crannies of your garden. Share some travel tips from your guests. Post some trivia about your area or your nearest attractions.
Here’s a long list of ideas from fueltravel.com : 80 Social Media Post Ideas.
Using hashtags.
Some of us know the hashtag (#) as something we would use dialling on a mobile device or a telephone. Today, it’s used every day to tag a word or group of words and link them to a google search. What does this mean for you? You can gain new followers when they are searching for something completely unrelated to your property.
Use relevant hashtags in your posts. In the current situation, hashtags like #travellater and #visitlater are used regularly in posts around the impact of the pandemic. Words like #southafricasunset, #rugbyworldcup or even #holidayrentals will show up your property when people search on those terms.
Learn a bit more about the mystery of the hashtag and how to use it here.
Pre-scheduling posts.
It is a great idea to pre-schedule some posts during quieter times. In other words, write them now, but post them later, automatically.
In the Publishing Tools on your Facebook page, you will be able to schedule posts to go live while you are busy with other duties needed to run your establishment.
A very cool feature that Facebook has is showing you in your Activity Log how many people interacted with your Facebook page. This helps you know what type of content is working or not.
Read more:
How do I schedule a post and manage scheduled posts for my Facebook Page?
Facebook Messaging.
Facebook has a messenger where your guest can ask you direct questions that will not be shared on your public page. It is important to respond to enquiries quickly to stand out from your competition. To help you manage this, you can set up instant replies on Facebook, or turn your Facebook messaging status to “away” outside business hours so people know when to expect a response. If you have a response time of 15 minutes, you can even get yourself a “Very responsive to messages” badge on your Facebook page.
For more on messaging: Facebook Messaging Help page.
Connect your Facebook page to Instagram.
Did you know that Facebook now owns Instagram? This is good news for us as it means that we could get more exposure and do the same amount of work. If you connect your Facebook page to Instagram you can post from Instagram to Facebook or vice versa. It helps reach a bigger market in the same amount of time.
Read more:
Facebook Page Settings: How do I connect my Facebook Page and Instagram account?
Don’t have a Facebook page yet?
As a property owner, one of the easiest ways to get started with social media is to create a Facebook page for your business. One of the biggest bonuses of having a Facebook page is to get commission-free bookings using a call-to-action button.