Archive for May, 2011

How to find time for Social Media Marketing

Tuesday, May 31st, 2011

Do you ever think about cloning yourself?  Every Friday I look at my schedule and think…”if there were only 2 of me I could finish more blog posts, update my podcasts on my Facebook page and tackle those things on my to-do wish list”.  In this new communication era how are you finding the time?

Here are a couple of things that I’ve found useful:

1.   Carve out a bit of time each day to focus on your social networking conversations for your business.

2.   Eventually you’ll be able to scan your social media sites, respond to messages and build new content in about 2-3 hours per week.  This is the average most users in our industry spend on social media.  Granted, at the start you’ll spend more time learning and getting used to the new systems.

3.   Develop a media calendar and plan it out 4-6 weeks in advance.  Consider what destinations you’re selling, what product seminars you’ll attend and then plot out your social networking conversations around these focal points.

4.  Use a management tool like Hootsuite or Tweetdeck to preschedule your posts.  This way you can load pre-scheduled content in advance and mix it with live posts.

As tourism professionals, can we afford not to be a part of these conversations?  These conversations are already taking place and when we’re involved we’re adding value for our clients and discovering opportunities.

What helps you find the time for social media marketing?

Join the conversation….. Connect with me on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

How to Integrate social and traditional media to market your events

Wednesday, May 25th, 2011

Integration of social media and traditional marketing methods is top of mind for many of us in the tourism and hospitality industry.  Wouldn’t you love to have a clear method to mesh your marketing plans and gain awareness, engagement and exposure…while still having a life beyond work?  Well, I sure would so I’ve put together a number of ways that I’ve found to make marketing more efficient and effective. 

Traditional Marketing

For proactive key tactics to integrate your new and traditional media and market your event across more channels you may want to consider:

  1.  List an event URL in your e-mail blasts
  2. Print this link on your brochure, flat sheet and postcards
  3. Provide a value-add for people once they connect
  4. Create a QR code

For more in depth info on this, please see my blog post that goes more indepth on each of these topics. 

Toolbox:

Ow.ly http://ow.ly/url/shorten-url Shortens links
Slide Share http://www.slideshare.net/ Share documents, slide shows and video.  Available as an application on LinkedIn
LinkedIn http://www.linkedin.com/ Professional networking site.
  http://ca.linkedin.com/in/catherineheeg Find the screen shots here as well

 

 

This is such a captivating topic with huge potential for our industry.  Check my blog for more tips to integrate your blog posts into your planning process as well as ideas to keep an event or tour alive in the minds of your clients and future clients.  Think about marketing after the event or tour in order to sell for the future. 

How have you successfully blended social and traditional media?

I look forward to connecting with you to learn of your success and clarify your plans for the future.  Join the conversation….

2.7 Essential Tips to Market your next Event

Tuesday, May 17th, 2011

LinkedIn Events + Twitter = Powerful event marketing for Travel pros.

Events applications on Facebook and LinkedIn are powerful ways to spread the word of your upcoming group tours, special events and training workshops.  Choosing the right application for your specific event is critical.  In an earlier post we worked thru the benefits of using Facebook Events as a marketing tool to bring you a greater critical mass of awareness and exposure.  Here we’ll delve into the distinct advantages of LinkedIn Events when marketing on a B2B level.  In a subsequent post we’ll explore proven ways to blend social and traditional media. 

LinkedIn Events

Are you targeting professionals for your upcoming event?  Is your next tour designed with history professors in mind?   Does your city need to attract more architects to your new Skyscraper Museum? Yes?  LinkedIn provides the answer to niche marketing.

Creating an event on LinkedIn starts in the ‘MORE’ tab. (for a step by step guide, please see the screen shots and advice at  http://ow.ly/3Mumv)

Even if you’re not the event organizer you can still create an event and include the organizers contact information.  Once created, you’ll see a URL that you can use in your e-mail blasts and blog posts.  At this point you can also invite your connections who will then see the invite on their weekly update as will all of their connections.  Think how this could spread.

Twitter

Twitter is fabulous for getting the message out quickly!  Consider the hotel that’s hosting a gourmet wine pairing event or the tour company planning an exclusive demonstration of Thai music at their next consumer evening.  How about tweeting small details to tempt and tease potential clients.

Tips: 

  1. Include photos and links to your event pages and web site. 
  2. Ask people to re-tweet to gain momentum immediately.
  3. Consider using a media calendar to plan your tweet strategy and timing

Twitter’s search capability grows infinitely when you include a # (hashtag).  You can start your own # simply by beginning to use whatever word you’d like to describe your event and then using other common # to increase your visibility.  Let’s use the Thai music example, you could create a hashtag #thailand, #thaimusic, #thaitourism.  This idea will draw people passionate about this topic to your event page while garnering you new clients on your tour to Thailand.

Advanced tip:  If your event is large enough you may want to start a new Twitter account just for the event.  Think about the NTA Convention (#NTA2010).  This will allow you to amass passionate followers and generate conversations.  From here you may want to consider a live Twitter feed being shown on a large screen during your event.

What strategies have you used to market your tourism events? 

Join the conversation….. Connect with me on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

Get in Touch with Catherine

Catherine welcomes you to phone or e-mail her with your needs and interests. A preliminary discussion will help determine whether Customized Management Solutions may help you drive the results you’re looking for.

Contact Catherine Heeg