[su_heading style=”default” size=”13″ align=”left” margin=”20″]Instagram has such a large pool of active users yet it is still a largely untapped corner of the social media world by the hotel industry. There are some big players that do engage within the Instagram community (Thomson Hotels, Four Seasons Hotel and Morgans Hotel Group to name a few), that generate a lot of interest in their hotel via the pictures that they upload.[/su_heading]
It is often said that a picture is worth a thousand words and this statement is becoming more apparent in the digital age we live in. Retaining information is significantly increased via what people see and do, compared to what people hear and read. Studies show that people remember 80% of what they see and only 10% of what they hear, a statistic in itself that could persuade you to take advantage of Instagram.
But with that statistic in mind, you still need to have a strategy in place that will help you conquer the visual world of Instagram.
Interactive Photo Gallery
Most people will agree that having a photo gallery on your hotel’s website is a pretty good idea. A gallery allows you to show off your hotel’s amenities. It is also the place that the majority of your guests will gather their first impression of you.
Instagram is not only is a great place to extend your hotel’s photo gallery, but it also offers the chance to interact with your existing and potential guests.
Its should be noted that you shouldn’t just upload all your websites images to Instagram. Keep it fresh, unique and entertaining and your followers will appreciate it.
Food Is King on Instagram
Food brings people together no matter where you go in the world, and the digital world is no different. This is clearly evident by the fact that the hashtag ‘#food’ is in the top 25 hashtags of all time on Instagram with 109,703,016 posts. So it would be fair to say that food is quite popular on the photo sharing network.
Not only can you personally take stunning images of your hotel’s food to share with your followers, but you can also encourage your guests to do the same. If people are aware that your hotel has a vibrant Instagram account, they are sure to tag and share images with you and their followers.
Transparency is Key
In many hotels across the world, managing to have a look at the back room staff that keep the hotel afloat may land you in a spot of bother. Sharing photos of ‘unseen’ places of your hotel will not only provide for some interesting content but it will also help keep your hotel transparent. The unsung heroes of the hotel industry will have a chance to show off their work while in action (such as the chefs).
Keep your followers in the loop of the day-to-day activities of running a hotel and your hotel will feel more like home on their next visit.
A Visual Tour Guide
Getting involved in your local town will always be a hit with its residents and people who plan on staying in the area. Use Instagram to highlight local events, attractions and hidden gems to show your followers what they could be missing out on.
By doing this, people may start planning their next trip around your hotel’s location to see the sights of its local town.
Viral Power
The power of a hashtag is astonishing. Encouraging your guests to use a specific hashtag related to your hotel can be a great way to get people snapping those pictures.
Sydney’s 1888 Hotel went a step further with this idea and offered guests with over 10,000 Instagram followers a free night in their hotel. One of their guests that found themselves with a free night’s stay, courtesy of their 650,000 Instagram followers, also took a photo in the hotel’s appropriately named ‘selfie space’. It received 35,000 likes, creating fantastic reach and exposure for the hotel.
With so much encouragement on taking pictures within the hotel, guests can also connect their smartphones to in-room media hubs to review their pictures on a beautiful 40-ich LED TV, before uploading to Instagram via their Wi-Fi.
Interested in learning more about how Instagram could benefit your hotel? Contact us!
Author Bio: Matt is a writer for HotelContractBeds.co.uk, focusing on travel tips and social media marketing.
Follow Matt on Twitter: @Mattjpierce