Using Instagram for Your Hotel

Instagram is a social networking service that engages it's users with photos and videos. On an average day, about 80 million photos and videos are shared on Instagram. You might be wondering, "Well, why should I use Instagram?" According to ReviewPro, since Instagram came out in 2010, there are a multitude of ways you can market yourself with just one program. It's a simple application that hotels can use to market themselves quite adequately. About 65% of people are visual learners. Using beautiful, authentic images of your hotel posted up on Instagram will increase your chances of getting new potential clients into your hotel. You're missing out on business so get started!

When it comes to the hospitality industry, being aesthetically pleasing is essential in attracting potential guests to stay at your hotel. Most hotels already have beautiful photos showcasing their hotel, so it's time to get those photos onto Instagram as well. Instagram provides users with the option of filters, but a recent study has shown that photos that are posted with no filters get the highest amount of likes per follower. Don't be afraid of filters on Instagram. Every Instagram profile is unique, so it's up to you how you want your photos to appear on Instagram.

It is also a great idea to create a custom hashtag so that guests can use the hashtag when posting about the hotel on Instagram. That way, potential guests can look through the hashtag feed to get a feel of what other people's experiences were like when they were staying at your hotel. Make sure that your users will allow you to re-post any photos onto the official hotel Instagram. Visitors on your profile will often enjoy seeing various types of pictures and not just the ones that showcase the hotel property. In addition to that, don't be afraid to post photos of the local environment surrounding the hotel. Most potential guests would like to see what they can get out of their trip if they choose to stay at your hotel.

According to Hubspot, the best time to post for the highest engagement is around 5:00 AM CDT from Tuesday to Friday. Posting from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM CDT during the weekdays also generates a lot of engagement because people are out to lunch. Posting too many photos will make your account look like spam so be authentic and post at prime times. Hashtags are essential. They will be the reason you post reaches your audience. You want your post to be one of the first things your audience sees. This will depend on four factors: frequency of usage, popularity, when it's shared, and the strength and size of your audience. This can make the difference between someone booking at your hotel or your competitors.

In conclusion, it's time for you to utilize your hotel's marketing skills and invest your time and efforts on Instagram. It's free, and it doesn't hurt. It will help you market your hotel visually, allowing you to create awareness and engage with a younger audience.