Posts Tagged ‘sales’
Thursday, May 30th, 2013
Want clients to have all their eyes on you? Keep yourself and your brand visible online by using photos socially.
You’ve already got some great snaps to share with the world and now it’s time to put these photos to work for you!
Facebook Photos for Travel Pros
Did you know: the vast majority of content published on Facebook is pictures. Make yours stand out by using some of these creative techniques.
Hotels: post photos in a way that appeals to clients’ experiences. Imagine creative food photos, new staff photos, top guest photos. Give people a glimpse of the back of the house! Caption a photo of a room or a pool with a common experience in that area and ask for “likes” and “shares” in order to drive engagement.
Destinations: use photos as a method of updating clients on the status of your area: accommodations accepting bookings, weather, events, new attractions, etc. Set a day of the week to post such photo updates so that clients become familiar with the posting and are able to consistently engage with it. You may want to get creative with naming these days of the week; Museum Monday, Foodie Friday or Thursday Treats.
Travel pros: take advantage of the new ability to use text in your Facebook Page Cover Photo. Use a photo you have taken yourself or one that depicts your specialty. Then add a call to action or branding to it so that your cover photo truly represents you! You can now even invite people to ‘like’ your page within the Cover Photo. Be sure to check out the full guidelines and then check your work with this tool.
Here’s some examples from our industry:
And here’s some more creative ideas to make your cover photo really wow your clients.
How will you update your Facebook cover photo?
Next time: how to use images on Twitter!
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By Catherine Heeg
About the author, Catherine J. Heeg
Catherine Heeg is a travel, hospitality and tourism industry thought leader. As President of Customized Management Solutions and an international speaker and trainer she delivers customized interactive social media, marketing and communication workshops and webinars. Customized social marketing strategy design and coaching keep her driving results for the tourism, travel and hospitality industry.
Tags: Facebook, facebookfans, Facebookmarketing, facebookpromotion, hospitality, hotelsales, marketing, Photo Tips, photogr, Photos, sales, Social Media, tourism industry, tourismbusiness, tourismsalestips, travelindustry
Posted in Brand advocates, Branding, Facebook Marketing, hospitality, hotel industry, marketing, Photo tips, promotion, Social Media Marketing, tourism industry, travel industry | No Comments »
Thursday, May 23rd, 2013
Is seeing reallybelieving?
Photo tips for Travel & Tourism pros
Ever find yourself in a spot you just know your clients would love to see themselves?
Using photos online is an awesome way to strike up engagement with your clients and draw attention to the great experiences you have to offer them. And the good news? You can take these pictures yourself!
#1 Photograph Lighting
No matter what the subject of your picture is, the lighting can make or break the quality of your photograph. Always make sure that the main focus of your photo is easily visible, and when possible, try to make the subject the brightest part of the picture.
Hotels: to showcase your rooms, utilize both natural and artificial light. Watch for glare from reflections on windows and mirrors.
Destinations: take advantage of the hours of sunrise and sunset in order to give your destination an out of this world appearance. If you are taking a photo of a landmark when the sun is behind it, consider using the flash feature to fill in any unwanted shadows. You may have to use manual flash for this – many cameras on Auto will not flash during daylight.
Travel Pros: use natural light to make a landscape or landmark pop during sunrise when few people are around to interfere with your shot! Be sure the sun is not creating distracting shadows within your frame.
(image with glare from lighting)
(image free from glare)
#2 Photograph Framing
Lead all eyes right to the target of your photos by framing your subject properly. One way to frame your subject is to use the Rule of Thirds: dividing the photo into nine equal squares and placing the object of focus on or near an area where the lines intersect.
Image by John R. Daily, Source
Hotels: include multiple features of a room in one photo by placing them on opposite sides/corners of a photo. If you wish to only highlight one feature, place it in the center of the photograph to maximize attention.
Destinations: when photographing landscapes, keep the land/water level just below the center of the photo. Use lines in the landscape as “leading lines” to draw attention to a certain subject/area!
Travel Pros: use the “Grid” option on your camera to more easily follow the Rule of Thirds with your shots. Use distance to your advantage by allowing an object or line to travel diagonally across the shot, such as a stream or pathway!
These two tips will help you get some sensational snaps of your own to show off to your clients online!
Next in the Photos in Social Media photo tips series: How to Use Photos on Different Platforms. Stay tuned!
Thanks to Ruby Murphy for her research and input.
Other posts you may enjoy:
2 Photo Tools for Travel Pros
5 Powerful Pinterest Tools
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Join me socially: Facebook, Twitter , LinkedIn, Google+ and Pinterest
When you ‘like’ my Facebook page you’ll have access to Free Resources just for travel pros!
By Catherine Heeg
About the author, Catherine J. Heeg
Catherine Heeg is a travel, hospitality and tourism industry thought leader. As President of Customized Management Solutions and an international speaker and trainer she delivers customized interactive social media, marketing and communication workshops and webinars. Customized social marketing strategy design and coaching keep her driving results for the tourism, travel and hospitality industry.
Tags: marketing, marketingplan, Photo Tips, Photography, sales, salestips, Selling, social engagement, tourism industry, tourismbusiness, tourismsalestips, touroperator, tourwholesaler, travelagent, travelindustry
Posted in Branding, hospitality, hotel industry, ITMI, marketing, NACTA, National Tour Association, NTA, OASIS, strategy, tourism industry, Tourism Sales Tips, Travel Consultant, travel industry | No Comments »
Tuesday, May 14th, 2013
FACT or Fib: Social Success Will Happen Overnight
Success in athletics takes years of training. Success in business can take a lifetime. Social media success doesn’t happen overnight.
Key takeaway: Tracking, optimizing and keeping up to date on communication trends will ensure your social success. Don’t make the common mistake of assuming that just because you have a social media presence your clients are connected. Check your social demographics to see if they match the demographics of those you reach with traditional marketing.
Key tracking tools: Facebook Page Insights (see below), CrowdBooster and TweetWhen.
CrowdBooster provides additional demographics and stats that enable you to learn more about your fans. Once you find a communication style that’s generating likes and shares, be sure to replicate it to increase your reach. On your CrowdBooster dashboard you’ll learn which is your most popular tweet and/or Facebook post along with suggestions on what times to reach your audience. There is a nominal fee for this service.
TweetWhen is a free service that gives you stats on when your tweets will get the most re-Tweets. Armed with this information you can plan your strategy and schedule your tweets for the greatest reach beyond your followers.
Travel pros: These tracking tools can be used to reach a wider audience and build your fan base. Remember to market your social presence using every tool in your toolbox; e-blasts, your blog, any printed materials you produce.
Time and patience do pay off when you have a plan.
Want more fans?
While we all strive to gather as many fans, followers and contacts as we can, we still need to focus on keeping these people engaged so they remain loyal, revenue-generating clients.
Key takeaway: We need to be vigilant about responding, listening and being pro-active to create new business. Remember, people do business with those they like—really like, not simply ‘like’.
Key listening tools: Social Mention, Google Alerts
Gaining the inside scoop on your unique audience will help you give your fans what they need and want from you. Transform your tool box and propel your presence to new levels that will help your business.
Which tools to you use to track and monitor your social presence?
Other related posts:
2 Social Metrics Tools + Tips
3 Social Monitoring Tools
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Join me socially: Facebook, Twitter , LinkedIn and Pinterest
When you ‘like’ my Facebook page you’ll have access to Free Resources just for travel pros!
By Catherine Heeg
About the author, Catherine J. Heeg
Catherine Heeg is a travel, hospitality and tourism industry thought leader. As President of Customized Management Solutions and an international speaker and trainer she delivers customized interactive social media, marketing and communication workshops and webinars. Customized social marketing strategy design and coaching keep her driving results for the tourism, travel and hospitality industry.
Tags: CrowdBooster, Facebook, facebookfans, Facebookmarketing, facebookpromotion, Google Alerts, marketing, marketingplan, Page Insights, Polling, sales, salestips, Selling, smallbusiness, social engagement, Social Media, Social Mention, Social Metrics, tourism industry, tourismbusiness, tourismsalestips, touroperator, travelindustry, TweetWhen, Twitter
Posted in Facebook Marketing, marketing, Mistakes to avoid, Monitoring tools, NACTA, National Tour Association, NTA, OASIS, Social slip-ups, strategy, Tourism Sales Tips, Travel Consultant, travel industry, Twitter | No Comments »
Tuesday, April 30th, 2013
freedigitalphotos.net
Maybe it will go away.
Social media’s really not that important to my clients.
I don’t want to make any mistakes, so I just won’t do anything.
These are common concerns I hear whispered at the back of the conference room. Guess what, when I spoke at NTA in 2009 to a capacity filled room, social media was in its infancy. Now in 2013, it’s growing exponentially and changing constantly. Are you harnessing it for your business?
Key takeaway: Survey your clients to find what social platforms they use, then decide how to leverage your time and talent. Social media is the new search engine. When you have a consistent voice and presence you’ll find your SEO will grow and clients will help you market by becoming your brand advocates.
Free Survey Tools
There are a number of simple, free tools to use to survey your clients. You may want to check out Survey Monkey, Kwik Surveys, and Poll Daddy.
Travel pros, you may want to ask your clients 3 quick questions; 1) What social sites do you visit? A. Facebook, b. Twitter, c. other, d. none. 2) How often do you check your social pages? A. daily, b. weekly, c. other. 3) Do you read on-line news and travel info? YES, NO.
Tour Operators, you may be interested in polling your tour participants about their social photo album use by asking something like this; 1) What social sites do you upload your vacation photos to? a. Facebook, b. Instagram, c. other d. none. 2) How likely are you to photo tag your friends in your vacation photos? A. always, b. when I remember, c. other 3) Do you capture your memories on video? YES, NO
Here’s what it looks like on Survey Monkey:
You can easily reach your audience in a variety of ways:
Social Tip
Remember to use the powerful polling and questioning tools on Facebook and LinkedIn. Don’t forget the instant power of a question on Twitter.
With these tools you’ll leverage the power of knowledge. You’ll be amazed at the many ways you’ll be able to apply your new knowledge and reach your clients, potential new clients and brand evangelists where they ‘hang out’ in the world of social media.
Tip: Start simple. Keep at it. Evolve. Focus on the 1 platform where most of your clients are, then branch out from there. Here are 9 Key Tactics to avoid Social Media Missteps.
How many social sites do you invest your time in?
Another social slip-up to avoid is to think it’s just about business. Read more
Connect with me online
Join me socially: Facebook, Twitter , LinkedIn, Google+ and Pinterest
When you ‘like’ my Facebook page you’ll have access to Free Resources just for travel pros!
By Catherine Heeg
About the Author, Catherine J. Heeg
Catherine Heeg is a travel, hospitality and tourism industry thought leader. As President of Customized Management Solutions and an international speaker and trainer she delivers customized interactive social media, marketing and communication workshops and webinars. Customized social marketing strategy design and coaching keep her driving results for the tourism, travel and hospitality industry.
Tags: Facebook, facebookpromotion, LinkedIn, marketing, marketingplan, Mistakes to avoid, sales, salestips, smallbusiness, social engagement, Social Media, Social slip-ups, Survey Monkey, Survey tools, Surveys, tourism industry, tourismbusiness, tourismsalestips, touroperator, travelagent, travelindustry, Twitter
Posted in Branding, Customer Service, hospitality, hotel industry, LinkedIn, marketing, Mistakes to avoid, promotion, sales, Social Media Marketing, Social slip-ups, strategy, Suvey, Travel Consultant, travel industry, Twitter | No Comments »
Friday, April 19th, 2013
Fact or Fib: 19% of travelers visit a blog site when planning their trip. 
Fact or Fib: 65% of daily internet users read a blog.
Are you making the most of your fam trip knowledge? Does your destination reap the rewards of guest bloggers? Is the expertise you glean from webinars working overtime for you?
Blogging is a proven way to set yourself apart from the crowd and enthrall your fans with your experiences.
Blog Best Practices
#1: Clear specific topic ideas
Travel Consultants—strategically plan your blog schedule around what’s hot in your marketplace at the time the blog will go live. For example, during Wave Season write consistently about cruising.
Tour Operators – How about rotating your blog posts based on your top selling destinations. Make sure to use tags and categories so that readers can easily find information specific to the destination they’d like to see.
Destinations – Consider rotating your posts based on activities that appeal to a variety of demographics. Foodies, adventure seekers, wine lovers, outdoor enthusiasts, art lovers, etc. Look outside your organization for guest bloggers who specialize in a niche market and have a base of raving enthusiasts.
#2: Work from an outline
Your outline will ensure you stay within the magical word count of 200-500 words. Tip: Add photos … you know what they say. “A photo is worth 1000 words”
#3: Market your blog socially
Travel Consultants –your blog is the perfect vehicle to boost your credibility. Gain new eyeballs and potential new clients by marketing your blog on your social sites as well as on blog directories. Check out Technorati, AllTop, Bloggeries, Blog Catalog, Trail of Ants.
Tour Operators – Blog posts can be repurposed from your brochure and itinerary content. Then recycle thw great content you’ve written as a newsletter or e-blast.
Answer: Both are FACTS!
Leverage your blog to be a marketing asset to showcase your credibility and boost your revenues.
Happy Blogging! Enjoy the infographic below.
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When you ‘like’ my Facebook page you’ll have access to Free Resources just for travel pros!
Other posts you may want to read:
30 + 3 Proactive Promotional Tips for your Blog
5 Key Blog Marketing Tactics
By Catherine Heeg
Tags: blog, blogging, Facebook, facebookfans, Facebookmarketing, marketing, marketingplan, nichemarket, sales, salestips, Selling, social engagement, Social Media, tourism industry, tourismbusiness, tourismsalestips, touroperator, tourwholesaler, travelagent, travelindustry
Posted in blogging, Branding, Facebook Marketing, Infographics, marketing, NTA, OASIS, promotion, Social Media Marketing, tourism industry, Tourism Sales Tips, Travel Consultant, travel industry, Uncategorized | No Comments »
Sunday, March 31st, 2013
Choosing your words wisely will help you close more sales!
Luxury Words that Sell
Travel pros: here’s a selection of words that will attract, entice and enthrall luxury clients. Imagine being able to sell more travel by simply adjusting the words you use in your conversations, blog posts, social media posts as well as your written communication.
Social Media for Travel Pros–Luxury Words that Sell!
What are your favorite luxury words?
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By Catherine Heeg
Tags: Facebook, Facebookmarketing, marketing, sales, salestips, Selling, smallbusiness, social engagement, Social Media, Words that sell
Posted in E-mail, Facebook Marketing, Google +, hotel industry, marketing, Niche Marketing, NTA, OASIS, Social Media Marketing, strategy, tourism industry, Tourism Sales Tips, Travel Consultant, travel industry, Uncategorized | No Comments »
Friday, March 22nd, 2013
What are you risking in your social media presence with a misstep? Reputation? Loss of the social element? Marketing socially is changing so quickly, yet we all make mistakes as we find our voice and audience. Here are 4.7 common mistakes in our industry and ways to ward them off.
freedigitalphotos.net
Mistake #4 – Social Media is Just Business
Our industry is FUN! When you create a mini-vacation for your clients on your social sites, you’ve connected and they will love you for it. Many businesses focus their posts only on their own sales, promotions and news updates while forgetting to add the personal touch, a bit of frivolous fun and whimsy.
Key takeaway: Remember to let your personality and that of your business shine thru. Give your clients the chance to indulge in their travel dreams and they’ll reward you with their loyalty and hard earned money. A general rule of thumb is that a business page is successful when relevant information from others is shared 80% of the time. The balance can be focused on selling and marketing your travel products. This means sharing links, photos, video and content from suppliers, clients and destinations. This tactic will keep your fans interested and SOCIALizing with you.
Tip: Social media platforms are conversation starters.
Key takeaway: Variety is the spice of social media. Here are some ways to keep your fans engaged
- ** Use photos of your clients enjoying their travels
- ** Upload photos of your and your staff in your office working. People like to be able to put a face behind that great voice on the phone.
- ** Polls and questions will help you understand your unique audience
- **Use humor; photos, captions, quotes
Stat: Did you know… Emoticons can increase ‘likes’ by 57% and comments by 33%.
Emoticons can increase 'likes' by 57%
3 additional social slip-up’s will follow. Stay tuned.
What slip-up’s have you recently avoided?
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Tags: Emoticons, Facebook, facebookfans, facebookpromotion, hospitality, marketing, marketingplan, Mistakes to avoid, Photos, Polls, sales, salestips, Selling, smallbusiness, social engagement, Social Media, Social slip-ups, tourism industry, tourismbusiness, tourismsalestips, touroperator, tourwholesaler, travelagent, travelindustry, video
Posted in Branding, Facebook Marketing, Google +, marketing, Mistakes to avoid, promotion, sales, Social Media Marketing, strategy, tourism industry, Tourism Sales Tips, Travel Consultant, travel industry | No Comments »
Friday, March 1st, 2013
Are you ready to add even more pizzaz to your LinkedIn profile?
Adding video to your LinkedIn Profile
In a recent webinar I hosted for travel pros the biggest question your colleagues had was how to add video and showcase their specialties and niche market. The process is quite simple and gives you the chance to stand apart while providing a unique component to your professional profile. Talk about a great branding opportunity.
Adding video to your LinkedIn profile
(Slide show below. Please note the first slide will change automatically in 4 seconds, the rest of the slides can be changed manually by clicking the forward arrow beneath the slide. This will give you a chance to complete the information on the slide before manually moving to the next slide. I wanted to be certain you have the right amount of time to capture this valuable information.)
Marketing your LinkedIn profile
** Include your LinkedIn address on all printed materials; business card, invoices, itineraries, promotional materials and social sites
** More tips on the slides below.
Where to find video for your LinkedIn profile
** Supplier videos. Tap into the resources of your top travel industry suppliers.
** For more tips please refer to the slide show below.
What tactics have you found helpful to stand out from the crowd on LinkedIn?
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By Catherine Heeg
Tags: branding, LinkedIn, marketing, marketingplan, sales, salestips, Social Media, tourism industry, tourismbusiness, tourismsalestips, touroperator, travelindustry, video
Posted in Branding, Facebook Marketing, Google +, LinkedIn, marketing, promotion, Social Media Marketing, strategy, tourism industry, Tourism Sales Tips, Travel Consultant, travel industry, Video | No Comments »
Friday, February 22nd, 2013
Travel pros are always searching for new ways to reach untapped markets.
Leverage your LinkedIn Presence
LinkedIn is the opportunity to reach new potential clients in a different channel and meet them thru a business networking situation. That’s great news for both leisure and corporate travel consultants, hoteliers that focus on both markets, as well as tour operators and receptive operators.
LinkedIn has been called the ‘red-headed step-child’ of social media. As a red-head growing up with dark haired parents, I always thought that maybe I was the step-child. When LinkedIn came along I had to check out this new ‘Red Head’. So I jumped on the band wagon and have found great connections and new ways to communicate with colleagues.
Marketing tactics
Travel consultants
Think of the possibilities of marketing yourself to distinct groups of professionals by giving them the gift of time and relaxation in their next vacation. Consider reaching small business owners and providing them expertise for their corporate travel planning.
Hoteliers
Consider LinkedIn as a way to reach out to conference planners and corporate-stay decision makers.
Tour Operators
Have you thought about maximizing your connections with industry leaders and keeping up with your suppliers.
I love the Infographic below as it brings focus to 10 ways to make the most of your social networking.
Positive Positioning Statements
My favorite tip is #2: Optimize your positioning statement. This is a critical piece of your LinkedIn success when members are searching for a skill set or expertise.
Travel pros may want to list their title as “Cruise Expert” or “Vacation Pro” to aid in search results both within LinkedIn as well as in organic internet searches.
Tour operators may find success listing their key destinations in their title. It may look like this; “New York and Washington DC inbound receptive expert”.
What successes have you found on LinkedIn?
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Join me socially: Facebook, Twitter , LinkedIn and Pinterest
When you ‘like’ my Facebook page you’ll have access to Free Resources just for travel pros!
Here are other marketing articles for travel & tourism pros:
5 Creative Ways to Market your Social Presence
3 + 30 Proactive Promotional Tips for your Blog + Infographic
5 Key Blog Marketing Tactics+ Infograhic
By Catherine Heeg
Tags: hospitality, hotelsales, LinkedIn, marketingplan, Networking, sales, salestips, Selling, smallbusiness, social engagement, Social Media, tourism industry, tourismbusiness, tourismsalestips, touroperator, tourwholesaler, travelagent, travelindustry
Posted in Branding, hospitality, hotel industry, Infographics, LinkedIn, marketing, Networking, promotion, sales, Social Media Marketing, strategy, tourism industry, Tourism Sales Tips, Travel Consultant, travel industry | No Comments »
Friday, February 8th, 2013
Google +. Is it worth paying attention?
With 400 million registered users and more than 100 million active users visiting the service every month it’s hard to ignore the impact on the tourism, hospitality and travel industry.
With the introduction of Brand pages, Google+ leverages another marketing channel to connect, inspire and compel brand advocacy…plus maximize revenues and relationships.
Here are some clear reasons to get involved today!
- Hangouts. Free video conferencing is available for up to 10 other Google+ members. Tap into social interaction that can be recorded and viewed by others on demand. Imagine group planning sessions, media interaction, guest relations and internal communication all via video chats.
- Hotels consider using a Hangout with staff members from around the country.
- Attractions can use a Hangout to let sales people and tour operators know of new developments.
- Tour Operators can Hangout with key clients or group leaders.
- Circles. Similar to lists on Twitter and groups on Facebook, Circles takes you one step deeper into your marketing efforts. A business can now easily market directly to segmented audiences by sharing content only with selected Circles. Business pages can Circle other businesses, but not people…at this point in time.
- Hotels can pass along rate information only to tour operators, not their entire list of followers on Google+
- Attractions can target the drive market with promotions to geo-based Circles.
- Tour Operators can create a Circle of potential group leaders (who have a business profile on Google+) and learn what is needed to build the perfect package.
- Note: When people add you to their Circles they will always see your brand’s posts.
- SEO Ranking. Google is proven to give preference in search rankings to content shared in Google+. This means that your business is more likely to rank higher in Google searches and that ranking increases for people who have added your business into one of their Circles.
- Search. When your company is searched using “+your company name” it stands out immediately as the company logo is shown and the real estate is larger for Google+Businesses. See this example for Tauck Tours:
Searching Tauck on Google+
What do you like about Google+ brand pages?
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Tags: Google + Brand pages, Google Plus, Google+, hospitality, hotelsales, marketing, marketingplan, Networking, sales, salestips, Selling, social engagement, Social Media, tourwholesaler, travelagent, travelindustry
Posted in Branding, Google +, hospitality, hotel industry, marketing, Mobile marketing, Networking, promotion, Social Media Marketing, strategy, tourism industry, Tourism Sales Tips, Travel Consultant, travel industry | No Comments »
