Posts Tagged ‘Timeline’
Wednesday, January 30th, 2013
Did you know that your Facebook fans only see about 16% of your posts? I was appalled when I learned this.
Here’s the secret to boosting your exposure and reaching more of your fans.
#1 Get Notifications
To ensure that your hard work, research and frequent posting gets you the most mileage possible your fans now have to take one more step to get information from you. The secret tool in your toolbox is to ask your fans to check ‘Get Notifications’ and ‘Show in News Feed’ once they ‘like’ your page. Here’s how it works:
You may want to post this graphic (see the smaller version below) on your page and then include a post showing people what benefit they’ll get when the check “Get Notifications”. (To save this image to your page, please right click on the image below, choose ‘save link as’ then choose a place on your hard drive to save this graphic. Then go to your Facebook page and select “Photo Video” > Attach Photo> browse your hard drive and select this graphic that you saved >Post.)
With this graphic you may consider saying something like this:
Travel pros may want to say “For the latest travel info, please remember to check “Get Notifications” so you’ll be sure to receive the most up to date destination info from me.”
Destinations—consider posting a brief note like this…”Do you LOVE ______________(fill in your destination name)? Check “Get Notifications” so you’ll be the first to hear what’s hot and happening here in ___________(fill in your destination)
Hotels can easily mention a benefit that’s provided on their Facebook page and create a post like this….”If you’re looking for more great recipes and fun events at _________ (fill in your hotel name), don’t miss a beat. Click “ Get Notifications” and keep up to date!
Remember to do this yourself as well! This way you’ll continue to get the information you need from the business pages you’ve ‘liked’ right in your newsfeed. This will keep you up to date on all the news from your own suppliers, destination partners and services that you depend on to provide the best service for your clients.
Hint, Hint….you’re invited to click ‘Get Notifications’ on my page. Here you’ll find relevant social media and marketing tips for travel and tourism pros.
#2 Interest Lists
Are you finding it hard to sort thru all the great information you receive every day on your Facebook page? Here’s a way to sort thru it quickly and easily while capturing a snapshot of what’s top of mind in our industry.
When you set up “Interest Lists” on your personal profile, you can easily manage your news feed by creating a customized newspaper for yourself. Here’s how to set up interest lists on your personal page.
First: On the navigation bar on your personal page scroll down to Interest Lists, then click “Add Interests” (See #1 below in the screen shot)
Second: Name your “Interest Lists” and add interests as related to your business and the topic of the list.
Travel Pros may want to add an Interest List for each specialty; Cruising, Adventure Travel, Top Hotels, Tour Operators, etc. They may also want to create Interest Lists for their top destinations. This will give you a birds-eye view of what businesses you’ve ‘liked’ are talking about .
Destinations can create Interest lists on the personal page that’s associated with the business page. You may consider adding Interest Lists for Entertainment, Dining, Attractions, etc. This will give your page manager a chance to easily scroll thru posts and share information relevant to your Destinations page fans.
Hotels consider creating Interest Lists for attractions, restaurants, shops and services in your locale. Like Destinations this will give you easy access to relevant posts that can be shared on your Hotel page.
In #2 on the screen shot below you’ll see how to add business pages to your customized Interest lists. Facebook also provides suggestions for you to subscribe. These new subscriptions will appear in your customized Interest List feed.
This simple step makes it easy for you to curate and assemble your own customized newspaper so you can easily see what’s happening and share relevant info with your fans.
Taking this one step further you may want to also encourage your fans to add your business page to their own Interest Lists. This will give you even greater exposure and opportunity to build a stronger relationship with your fans.
These 2 tactics are part of a marketing strategy to bring you more buzz and biz!
What other tactics do you find helpful in growing your following?
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When you ‘like’ my Facebook page you’ll have access to Free Resources just for travel pros!
Tags: Facebook, facebookfans, Facebookmarketing, facebookpromotion, marketing, marketingplan, Networking, Questions, sales, salestips, social engagement, Social Media, Timeline, tourismbusiness, tourismsalestips, touroperator, tourwholesaler, travelagent, travelindustry
Posted in Facebook Marketing, hospitality, hotel industry, marketing, Networking, promotion, Social Media Marketing, strategy, Tourism Sales Tips, Travel Consultant, travel industry | No Comments »
Friday, November 9th, 2012
FreeDigitalPhotos.net
What’s the secret to fan engagement?
Questions are the oldest yet most effective way to get people’s attention! Posting questions on your Facebook page will double comment rates over other types of posts.
Essential Types of Questions
1. Multiple choice
- Remember many people will be viewing your posts on their mobile device so keep the answers options simple.
- Tour Operators may ask “What’s your favorite thing to do on a motor coach? A) talk with fellow travelers B) watch a movie C) Sleep
- This critical knowledge will help your tour directors understand your unique clients’ needs.
- Hotels may ask “What’s most important to you? A) a hearty breakfast B) evening cocktail hour. See LaQuinta Inns and Suites as an example.
Bonus Tip: The Question feature on Facebook is under-used and provides a graphic look that will encourage engagement. You’ll find this in your ‘Status/Share’ box:
2. Fill in the blank
- Learn insights to influence your marketing and delivery tactics and combine with other demographic data for a broader picture.
- Attractions could ask “My favorite exhibit is _________________. Fill in the blank”. “I love to visit with a/my _______________. Fill in the blank”.
- Travel agents find success with “My favorite cruise ship is__________” “What one thing is always in my suitcase________”
- Tour Operators Tauck has great examples.
- Research shows that this type of post receives 9 times more comments than other posts. Source:
3. One word
- Intriguing! These posts are similar to Fill in the Blank questions, but strive to gain a one-word answer.
- Tour Operators or destinations might want to post something in this style; “New York City makes me feel….”
- Hotels may post “Like it or Leave it…Hot breakfast….” (ok, it’s 2 words yet filled with impact
4. Open-ended questions
- These questions take a bit longer for your fans to answer but provide an invaluable emotional connection.
- Tour Operators consider these “My favorite thing about motor coach travel is…..” Or how about “What’s at the top of your travel bucket list?”
5. Photo with a question
- Post a series of 3-5 photos on your wall and in an album then ask people to ‘like’ their favorite photo.
- For more info on photos and editing images, click here.
- Tour operators can have some fun by posting different destinations, attractions or restaurants that are components in past or future tours. Imagine the market research you’ll gain when planning your next group departure.
- Attractions can intrigue people by posting photos of different features of their venue. Consider choosing a couple of highly popular exhibits as well as some often-missed or little known.
- Hotels can post 2 photos with slight differences and ask fans to tell what’s different in each photo.
- How about bringing your Pinterest boards into this equation. Check out Visit Savannah.
Quintessential tip: Create compelling posts with a call to action. This simple formula targets fans interests and provides you with all-important activity on your page. Choose a topic that you think the majority of your fans like or agree with. Then compose a post in this format: “Click ‘like’ if you’d love to…. visit Colonial Williamsburg. Try this: “Click ‘share’ and let your friends see this great photo.” How about this: “Love Girl Getaways, click ‘share’ and spread the word to your gal pals.
Using questions to boost your ‘likes’ and ‘comments’ and ‘shares’ will increase the likelihood (based on Facebook’s EdgeRank methods) that more of your fans will see your content. Why not increase traffic and comments to your Facebook page?
What question has brought you the most response?
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When you ‘like’ my Facebook page you’ll have access to Free Resources just for travel pros!
Tags: Facebook, facebookfans, Facebookmarketing, facebookpromotion, hospitality, marketing, marketingplan, NACTA, NTA, Pinterest, Questions, sales, salestips, Selling, smallbusiness, social engagement, Social Media, Timeline, tourism industry, tourismbusiness, tourismsalestips, touroperator, tourwholesaler, travelagent, travelindustry
Posted in Branding, Facebook Marketing, hospitality, hotel industry, marketing, NACTA, National Tour Association, Niche Marketing, NTA, OASIS, Pinterest, promotion, Social Media Marketing, strategy, tourism industry, Tourism Sales Tips, Travel Consultant, travel industry | No Comments »
Tuesday, July 31st, 2012
Have you just returned from a fam trip and been awarded another specialist certification?
Has your hotel just earned another award?
Will your attraction be featured on a new Top 10 list?
As a tour operator, have you just booked your 10,000th client?
Here’s your chance to make your business milestones work hard for you! Facebook offers a fabulous tool to showcase your company achievements and boost your credibility…for FREE! Beats taking out an ad!
Milestones are similar to highlighted (starred) posts and will enable you to show off a bit, without being a show-off. When you add a Milestone you’ll be defining a recent event or story so that your fans will better understand your business. Remember people do business with those they know and like. This gives your clients and potential clients a chance to know you and like you better.
Here’s how it works:
First. Log-in as your business page.
Second. Hover over the share box and click on Events and Milestones
Now you’re ready to create your Milestone
Third. Complete the info in all the drop down boxes. See below.
Fourth. Upload photos either from your Facebook Photo albums (Choose from Photos) or from your hard drive (Upload Photos). Tip: Add photos that tell the story of your Milestone. Multiple photos are great as they will appear as a film strip beneath your main photo.
Fifth. Complete the story box. Remember it expands so that you can include as much info as you feel is relevant to your audience.
Sixth. Remember to click SAVE! Your Milestone will become a part of your Timeline and stay in chronological order
Here’s how it looks.
Bonus Tip. You can Pin or Highlight your Milestone so that it shows up more prominently.
Hint: You may want to crop your photos in advance of uploading them if you want to Highlight your Milestone. This will eliminate heads being cut off! Also, remember to upload as many photos as you have because you’ll have space for 7 photos when you Highlight.
Travel & Tourism pros, here’s how to use this.
Travel Consultants:
Fam trip: Showcase your new expertise with photos
New Destination Specialist Award: Add a photo of your certificate along with destination photos
Hotel:
Renovation: Show off your newly renovated rooms, restaurant or lobby.
New Menu: Take photos of your new menu as well as the chef preparing the food
New event décor: Include photos of new tablescapes, new trade show set-up, wedding décor
Anniversaries: Create a milestone for the anniversary of your opening
Attraction:
New events or shows: Upload photos of guests enjoying the new features of your attraction
Restaurants: Show off your newest restaurant or food outlets. Include room and food photos.
Tour Operator:
New travellers: Take a photo of your 10,000th client along with them enjoying the trip they’ve booked with you.
New Staff: Upload photos of your team, tour directors, reservations team, etc.
New Destination: Include photos of destinations you’re just beginning to offer along with your ground handling team, hotels, attractions. Make this a virtual tour of your newest destination.
Anniversaries: Have you been in business for 10 years? Create a Milestone!
Association:
New Staff: Include photos of your staff in their offices, res staff at their desks. This will put a personalized face out there for your members.
Events and meetings: Upload your candid shots and event highlights. Then Highlight the Milestone for even more exposure.
Member awards: Include photos of awards you give to your members. Include a photo of the award and of the person.
Monthly new members: How about including photos of the members that have joined over the past month. Tag them in the photos and bring even more exposure.
What other ideas do you have for using this powerful new tool to engage your fans?
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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!
Tags: Facebook, facebookfans, Facebookmarketing, facebookpromotion, Focus, marketing, marketingplan, NTA, sales, salestips, Selling, smallbusiness, Social Media, Timeline, tourism industry, tourismsalestips, touroperator, tourwholesaler, travelagent, travelindustry
Posted in Branding, Customer Service, Facebook Marketing, marketing, NACTA, National Tour Association, NTA, OASIS, sales, Social Media Marketing, strategy, Tourism Sales Tips, Travel Consultant, travel industry | No Comments »
Friday, July 13th, 2012
Do you want to attract Facebook users to your page? In order to do so, you will want to engage your audience through original, fun, and creative means!
Custom apps are an essential way to make your page POP! This section of your Facebook page used to be fairly stagnant. Now you have the option to customize the caption and photo that accompanies each.
Custom apps can be created using companies like Involver, Scribd, Sprout Social, Wildfire apps.
Once you’ve created your app here’s what to do to leverage it’s appeal
1 .Move it to a position that will always appear on your page
2. Customize the caption and image. Try a catchy word pairing. Think about: New, Free or Win.
a) Remember if you do sponsor a contest or even mention a sweepstakes you need to use an approved platform to market it on Facebook. This applies to photo and video contests as well. Consider Wildfire apps or Offerpop for your contests.
b) A photo speaks a thousand words. When you upload a custom image to your new tab, make certain you own the rights to use this photo. The best option is to upload a photo you’ve taken. Otherwise consider a photo purchasing site like I-Stock, Fotolia or Dreamstime.
Here’s how you can make this happen on your page:
•Log into your Facebook page as an Admin
•Hover over the app you’d like to customize
•Click on the pencil that appears
•Select Edit Settings
•Custom Tab Image, click change and browse your library of images and upload
•Save when you’re finished
Creative examples in our industry:
DMO’s are leveraging their blog posts and maximizing their social engagement
Tour Operators are using these apps to highlight new contests and video libraries
Tour Operators are also editing the Events app to showcase their niche
Hotels are maximizing this powerful tool with booking options and showcasing features and contests
Cruise Lines are focusing on bookings and creating sharing tools
Attractions are focusing on new events to build excitement. If they have other associated pages, they are creating a tab to lead fans to other Facebook pages.
Large agency groups are creating business opportunities with ‘find an agent’ apps that search by location. Notice the Survey Monkey app here?
Check out this business building app.
Associations are using surveys in their apps line-up
Travel agents are showcasing their blog by using Networked Blogs app
Notice the custom caption below the blog app?
To change the caption beneath the app here’s what you do:
•Log into your Facebook page as an Admin
•Hover over the app you’d like to customize
•Click on the pencil that appears
•Select Edit Settings
•Custom Tab Name, enter the name you’ve decided on for this tab
•Save when you’re finished
•Click OK to finalize
Strategy Tip: Select a catchy, descriptive name and graphic for your apps.
These essential features continue to make Facebook a key marketing component for tourism and hospitality leaders. Are you making the most of your page?
What apps have you added to your Timeline?
For more information on Timeline, click here. And here!
Additional Timeline tips and strategy can be found:
7 Steps to a Powerful Timeline Pin
8 HOT Highlight Tips for Tourism Pros
Connect with me online
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!
Tags: blog, blogging, Convention & visitors bureau, custom apps, CVB, DMO, Dreamstime, Facebook, Facebookmarketing, facebookpromotion, Fotolia, hospitality, hotelsales, Involver, marketing, marketingplan, NTA, sales, salestips, Scribd, Selling, smallbusiness, Social Media, Sprout Social, Survey, Timeline, tourism industry, tourismbusiness, tourismsalestips, touroperator, tourwholesaler, travelagent, travelindustry, Wildfire
Posted in blogging, Celebrity Cruises, Facebook Marketing, hospitality, hotel industry, marketing, NACTA, National Tour Association, Niche Marketing, NTA, OASIS, Social Media Marketing, strategy, tourism industry, Tourism Sales Tips, Travel Consultant, travel industry | No Comments »
Wednesday, June 27th, 2012
Highlight on your Timeline
Have you ever noticed a large, expansive billboard that can’t help but grab your attention? Highlights are that billboard on Facebook Timeline.
Wouldn’t you love to have your latest photos spread across the entire width of your Facebook page? Highlights lets you showcase posts, photos and articles. When you ‘Highlight’ a post by clicking on the star it enlarges the post so it spreads across the entire 2-column width of your page. Talk about attention-grabbing!
How about Highlighting a series of photos that showcase an upcoming tour or your niche market.
Here’s how it looks:
Showcase your niche market or new menu items
Get more ‘likes’ when you highlight a video
Consider highlighting a preferred supplier or a new product. This is a great way to shine the light on a group departure.
Highlight a supplier or market an upcoming group.
Showcase an event – from NTA’s Facebook page
Here are some examples you’ll want to put to work for you today:
- •Hotels: Are you renovating, updating your pool, or rolling out a new lobby look? Post the photos to a new photo album then write a post about it and highlight it. Notice the photos look like a film strip?
- •Tour Operators: Do you have some great new photos related to your next group tour?
- •Attractions: How about giving people a visual tour focusing on a new experience each week.
- •Restaurants: Here’s a great way to feature new menu items, updated facilities or new décor.
- •DMO’s: Explore ways to highlight different facets of your destination while showing people enjoying unique experiences.
- •Travel Agents: Showcase a recent fam trip to maximize your credibility. Shine the light on an upcoming group departure or niche market tour you’re arranging.
- •Association: How about using Highlights to showcase a recent conference, meeting or educational tour. What an amazing way to build membership by showing potential new members the reasons to join.
What will you Highlight on your Facebook page?
Highlights generate inspired, attractive Timeline Facebook pages. Be creative as possible and have fun choosing what you want to Highlight on your Timeline.
For more information on Timeline, click here. And here! More here!
Connect with me online
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!
Tags: CITC, Facebook, facebookfans, Facebookmarketing, facebookpromotion, Focus, hotelsales, marketing, marketingplan, nichemarket, NTA, sales, salestips, smallbusiness, Social Media, Timeline, tourismsalestips, touroperator, tourwholesaler, travelagent, travelindustry
Posted in Branding, Facebook Marketing, hospitality, hotel industry, marketing, NACTA, National Tour Association, Networking, Niche Marketing, NTA, Pinterest, sales, Social Media Marketing, strategy, tourism industry, Tourism Sales Tips, Travel Consultant, travel industry, Video | 1 Comment »
Wednesday, April 4th, 2012
Have you made the switch to Timeline on your business page yet?
How about some inspiration?
Here are some industry leaders who have already updated their Facebook business page to Timeline and are showcasing their credibility, niche and specialty while increasing their exposure. Enjoy!
Upgrade tip:
- Choose wisely. Consider a product shot, gorgeous photo of your niche market or top selling destination. Think about what will attract your perfect clients.
- Think Inspriation and Aspiration.
- Be certain to use photos that are yours, are royalty free or that you’ve purchased from a reputable on-line source.
- Consider I-Stock or Fotolia
- There are a few things Facebook doesn’t allow in your Cover Photo:
- Price or purchase information, such as “40% off” or “Download it at our website”
- Contact information, such as web address, email, mailing address or other information intended for your Page’s About section
- References to user interface elements, such as Like or Share, or any other Facebook site features
- Calls to action, such as “Get it now” or “Tell your friends”
Tips for Travel and Tourism Pros:
- You may consider changing your cover photo to highlight destinations during their peak selling period. For example, in fall when you’re selling sun vacations change your cover photo to sunny destination photos you’ve taken, purchased or acquired the rights to use.
- Travel Agents & Tour Operators may want their cover shot to speak to their current clients as well as potential new clients by using photos of people enjoying a focal point of your business. For example, if you provide cultural tours how about a photo of group participants enthralled by a private docent led museum tour. If your focus is culinary tours, how about a photo of a group entranced by a chef-led cooking demonstration. As a travel agent, you may consider showing yourself or your clients enjoying your top selling destinations.
- Highlight the destination you’re focusing on in your regular Facebook posting calendar. For example, if you’re talking about Italy on your page and highlighting things to do, fabulous museums and cycling tours, change your cover photo to match the theme and show guests of yours pedalling thru the beauty of Tuscany.
- Travel agents may also want to focus on aspects of their marketing mix. Perhaps feature a photo of a bride during the prime wedding booking season.
- Consider focusing on photos of people enjoying the main parts of an attraction or resort with family and friends. Be certain that you obtain any releases you may need to use photos of people.
- If you sell dinner shows or specific venues you may want to show groups of people participating in and enjoying the entertainment. Future clients will be drawn to people who look like their demographic laughing and participating in the fun.
Encore Destination Weddings and Honeymoons
Rome with Us Travel
Cruise Planners
Linda Dancer
Jazz On The Road
Donna Salerno-Travel
Sherry Laskin
Cruise Maven
Journeys by Jo
Travel Tidbits by Carol (Thomas Cook Escape Travel)
Global Travel & Cruises
Sun and Dreams Travel
Central Travel
Tselana Travel
The New Breed of Travel Agents
Sports Travel and Tours
What does your new page look like? I’m interested in hearing and seeing your successes. Connect with me on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. You’re welcome to post your photos on my Facebook page and I’ll make my best effort to comment and shed some light on your choice.
Tags: Facebook, facebookfans, Facebookmarketing, facebookpromotion, marketing, sales, salestips, Selling, smallbusiness, Social Media, Timeline, tourismsalestips, travelagent, travelindustry
Posted in Facebook Marketing, marketing, NACTA, Niche Marketing, sales, Social Media Marketing, Tourism Sales Tips, Travel Consultant, travel industry | 1 Comment »
Thursday, March 29th, 2012
Are you ready to make the switch to Facebook’s new Timeline?
How about some inspiration?
Here are some industry leaders who have already updated their Facebook business page to Timeline and are showcasing their product and increasing their exposure. Enjoy!
Upgrade tip:
- Choose wisely. Consider a product shot, gorgeous photo of your property or people using your service. Think about what will attract your perfect clients.
- Be certain to use photos that are yours, are royalty free or that you’ve purchased from a reputable on-line source.
- Consider I-Stock or Fotolia
- There are a few things Facebook doesn’t allow in your Cover Photo:
- Price or purchase information, such as “40% off” or “Download it at our website”
- Contact information, such as web address, email, mailing address or other information intended for your Page’s About section
- References to user interface elements, such as Like or Share, or any other Facebook site features
- Calls to action, such as “Get it now” or “Tell your friends”
Tips for Travel and Tourism Pros:
- You may consider changing your cover photo to highlight destinations during their peak selling period. For example, in fall when you’re selling sun vacations change your cover photo to sunny destination photos you’ve taken, purchased or acquired the rights to use.
- Tour Operators may want their cover shot to speak to their current clients as well as potential new clients by using photos of people enjoying a focal point of your business. For example, if you provide cultural tours how about a photo of group participants enthralled by a private docent led museum tour. If your focus is culinary tours, how about a photo of a group entranced by a chef-led cooking demonstration.
- Highlight the destination you’re focusing on in your regular Facebook posting calendar. For example, if you’re talking about Italy on your page and highlighting things to do, fabulous museums and cycling tours, change your cover photo to match the theme and show guests of yours pedalling thru the beauty of Tuscany.
- As a hotel, you may consider capturing the attention of visitors by showcasing a different property each week or month based on selling patterns and/or availability.
- Hotels may also want to focus on aspects of their marketing mix and feature a photo of a bride during the prime wedding booking season. How about focusing on corporate meetings, conventions or conferences during the time you’d like to boost this business.
- Attractions can focus on photos of people enjoying the main parts of the attraction with family and friends. Be certain that you obtain any releases you may need to use photos of people.
- Restaurants and dinner show venues may want to show groups of people participating in and enjoying the entertainment. Future guests and group buyers will be drawn to people who look like their demographic laughing and participating in the fun.
- Edit the names and graphics of the apps/tabs that appear on your page.
Industry Timeline Examples
Starwood
A Loft Hotels
Ritz Carlton
Barcelo
Globus
Tauck Tours
Sports Travel and Tours
- Discover Hawaii Tours
Tags: Facebook, facebookfans, Facebookmarketing, facebookpromotion, hospitality, hotelsales, marketing, NTA, Social Media, Timeline, tourism industry, tourismbusiness, tourismsalestips, touroperator, tourwholesaler, travelindustry
Posted in Facebook Marketing, hospitality, hotel industry, National Tour Association, NTA, promotion, Social Media Marketing, strategy, tourism industry, Tourism Sales Tips, Uncategorized | No Comments »
Tuesday, March 13th, 2012
Exciting changes travel quickly! Facebook’s Timeline for business pages is HOT news!
As a travel pro, here are 3 tips and tricks, plus an important bonus tactic, to keep you ahead of the game. I know, you’re probably overwhelmed by bookings, accounting and keeping up with supplier changes. Now you wonder how you’ll manage to tackle another Facebook change. I’ve put together a quick update for you with how-to’s and strategy designed for the travel and tourism pro.
#1 – Your new Cover Photo
This exciting change gives you the opportunity to showcase your specialty visually! From a marketing standpoint this is awesome news! You can now highlight:
- •Your best-selling destination
- •Upcoming group departure
- •Your latest fam trip destination and focus on your credibility
- •Photos of people enjoying your services (you may want to get a release from those pictured)
Tech stuff: This new cover photo needs to be 851 pixels wide and 315 pixels tall. Most people choose a high-definition photo that captures the essence of their brand, the business model and their key specialty.
Tip: don’t use a photo that doesn’t belong to you and follow Facebook’s rules on cover photos.
How to add your cover photo:
If you don’t have a cover photo yet, log into your business page and you’ll see a bar at the top that will walk you thru setting up your new page. You can choose where to upload a photo from, see example
If you already have uploaded a cover photo and would like to change it, hover over “Change Photo” when you’re logged in as an Admin on your page.
Tip: you can reposition the photo up and down, but not sideways. Be certain to do any cropping prior to uploading your photo. See example below:
How to change a cover shot
Here’s an example of a travel consultant who has used the cover photo extremely well to highlight her business:
Journey’s by Jo example of Cover Photo
Tips for Travel Pros:
- You may consider changing your cover photo to highlight destinations during their peak selling period. For example, in fall when you’re selling ski vacations, change your cover photo to ski photos you’ve taken, purchased or acquired the rights to use.
- Highlight the destination you’re focusing on in your regular Facebook posting calendar. For example, if you’re talking about Italy on your page and highlighting things to do, fabulous museums and cycling tours, change your cover photo to match the theme.
#2 Messages
Great news! Your clients can now send you private messages in addition to posting on your Wall. This gives you a chance to have a private conversation about bookings, dates or concerns without the Facebook world knowing.
You can turn this feature on or off from your Admin dashboard by clicking Manage Permissions.
How to change the Message Feature
The message feature is enabled by default. To disable it, click and remove the check-mark. As a page Admin you can reply to a message, but not send one to a fan.
The reverse of this is also true, you can now privately message another page owner. Think of the power of messaging a supplier.
#3 Highlight posts on your Timeline
Imagine your best photos and videos you’ve included in posts being spread out across the width of your wall. What a great way to showcase photos from your last fam trip and visually entice clients to book with you.
When you ‘Highlight’ a post by clicking on the star (see example below) it enlarges the post to the size of the bottom post in this example. (see arrow) Talk about attention-grabbing!
How to Highlight a post
Travel pros love the benefit of being able to showcase upcoming group departures, packages that are hot-sellers as well as unique destinations that will excite and inspire clients.
BONUS! Pin to the top of your Page
Do you ever wish your best posts could stay at the top of your page? Leverage that article you’ve written about an upcoming group departure so it doesn’t get hidden in the flow of other posts.
Now you can ‘Pin’ a story to the top of your page for a week. Making it stick to the top of your page gives you the chance to fully market a unique product, highlight a new destination or a special you’re providing to your clients.
Here’s how it works:
- •Find the post you’d like to appear at the top of your page.
- •Hover and click the pencil icon at the top of the pos
- •Click ‘Pin to Top’
- •A small ribbon-like graphic will appear at the top of your post indicating it’s been ‘Pinned’
How to Pin a Post
Savvy travel marketers are using this feature to Pin stories, promotions, offers and events to maximize their visibility. Only 1 pinned story is allowed at one time. You can change the pinned messages at any time.
The potential for pinning is powerful!
Imagine:
- pinning a top suppliers’ newest product to the top of your page
- prominently featuring your next group departure
- showcasing an article you’ve written about your latest travel discovery
- providing a link to your website or on-line booking engine
This is just the beginning of a series of articles on these changes at Facebook and how they will affect you.
For a quick cheat-sheet, Facebook has put this together to highlight the newest features.
If you run out of time for your own social media presence, remember I’ll do the work for you!
Build your site? YES
Maintain your site with multiple postings? YES
Coach you on your social marketing? YES
Connect with me online
Join me socially: Facebook, Twitter , LinkedIn and Pinterest
Tags: Cover Photo, Facebook, facebookfans, Facebookmarketing, facebookpromotion, Highlight on Timeline, hospitality, marketing, marketingplan, NTA, Pin to Timeline, sales, salestips, Social Media, Timeline, tourismbusiness, tourwholesaler, training, travelagent, travelindustry
Posted in Branding, E-mail, Facebook Marketing, hotel industry, marketing, NACTA, National Tour Association, NTA, promotion, sales, Social Media Marketing, strategy, tourism industry, Tourism Sales Tips, Travel Consultant, travel industry | No Comments »
