Facebook posts worth trying for hotels

Below are some ideas to help you increase fan engagement:

1. Link to guest comments from TripAdvisor - Let everyone know what others thought about your hotel. Research has found that online reviews can influence a person's purchasing decisions and online reviews are second only to personal advice from a friend as the driver of purchase decisions. Research has also found that user reviews are more influential than third-party reviews.
2. Surveys - Ask your fanbase about their opinion on menu items, names for new product, renovations etc
3. Lucky draws - Just ensure you use a fair system with chances to win for everyone. Be creative with what you offer as prizes and what you ask your fans to do to be able to win these prizes. Before you do any promotions or lucky draws on Facebook, make sure that you are aware of Facebook promotion guidelines and ensure you comply with them.
4. Keep a social calendar and post little comments or well wishes for holidays. Eg Easter, school holidays, events in your area etc.
5. Photos - Try to post photos with people on it (check if they are ok with it and avoid tagging unless they agree). If you post photos from staff events, your employees will be delighted and will spread the word. Additionally, the public can see what a great place to work your hotel is and makes it more personalised.
6. Encourage your fans to post something personal. Eg a picture of their pet, their favourite cocktail recipe or a photo of them on holiday or in your hotel.
7. Promote other businesses rather than your own. You can feature your suppliers, a partner hotel in another country, a restaurant/spa that you have tied up with, an event in the city or something you found while being online. Anything that seems worth sharing and that creates emotions.
8. Videos - make sure it's not too long. Record one in your hotel with a simple webcam or your smart phone and upload it to Facebook, your website and on YouTube.
9. Post job vacancies in your own hotel and make sure you encourage your fans to tell their friends as well. Or ask them for candidate recommendations they can send by e-mail to keep them private.
10. Post hotel promotions, such as F&B activities, special packages etc. Post it, link to your website, write a note, upload a video or create an event. But make sure that you stick to the 80/20 rule - only promote your hotel directly at a rate of 20 %. Fill the other 80 % with the above. 

For more tips on Facebook marketing, speak to one of the marketing consultants at TA Fastrack.