As a travel brand or travel destination, it's essential to have amazing social media marketing photos that capture the essence of your company and attract potential customers. But what's the best way to get these perfect photos? And how can you make sure they help promote your online presence in the most effective way possible?
In this article, we'll give you a step-by-step guide to creating social media content that will help grow your travel brand and reach your target audience through digital marketing. We'll also discuss some ways to increase the "instagrammability" of your photos and ways to get more engagement.
Social Media Marketing Content
Your travel marketing strategy should always include a solid social media marketing strategy. One great way to get great social media marketing photos is to use user-generated content. This means featuring photos that have been taken by your customers and posted to their own social media accounts. To find these photos, you can simply search for the hashtag associated with your travel brand. For example, if you're a travel company called "Adventure Travel," you can search for the hashtag #adventuretravel on Instagram.
UGC, or user-generated content, is an excellent way to provide content to your followers, especially as a travel brand. People love to see photos of real-life experiences, and by reposting UGC on your social media channels, you're giving potential customers a taste of what they can expect if they book a trip with you.
Another great way to get social media marketing photos is to collaborate with influencers in the travel industry. You can reach out to bloggers or Instagrammers with a large following and see if they're interested in doing a sponsored post or Instagram take-over featuring your travel brand. This is an excellent way to get some high-quality content and can also help increase brand awareness among potential customers. You can usually find influencers in the same niche as your travel business, which can be a great way to reach a larger audience.
When creating social media content, it's essential to remember what type of content will perform well on each social media platform. For example, Twitter is all about short, real-time updates, so tweets with photos tend to do well. On Facebook, longer posts with more detailed information tend to perform better. And on Instagram, of course, photos are key.
How to Get the Perfect Social Media Marketing Photos
While user-generated content and influencers are a great way to boost your content marketing strategy, you can't forget about posting your own unique photos of your travel experiences. Here are a few step-by-step tips to ensure your photos are high-quality and attractive to potential customers.
Make use of natural light whenever possible. This will help your photos look more professional and polished. If you can't take your pictures outdoors, find a well-lit room and place your subject near the window. Take the photo with your back to the light source, so the picture isn't too bright.
Clean your camera lens - especially if you're using a cell phone to shoot your photos. Smudged lenses can affect picture quality.
The rule of thirds may be used to improve the visual appeal of your photographs and create more balanced and aesthetically appealing shots. When you snap a photo with your smartphone, you can turn on grid lines, making it simpler to adhere to the rule of thirds.
Use a tripod or selfie stick to avoid blurriness.
Use landscape mode rather than portrait. This gives you more options when editing and cropping your photos.
Edit your photos using filters or apps like VSCOcam to give them a consistent look and feel.
Don't zoom - instead, get closer to the subject. Zooming can reduce the quality of your photos.
Shoot from different angles. Try to take several photos from different angles to determine which looks best.
Use a creative but not distracting background. Your background should be soft-focused and not distracting.
Take advantage of Instagram's "stories" feature by posting behind-the-scenes content or short video clips. This is an excellent way to engage with your followers and give them a glimpse into what goes on behind the scenes of your travel brand.
Where Should I Post Social Media Marketing Photos?
Once you have some great social media marketing photos, it's time to start posting them on your social media accounts. But which social media networks should you use? Here are a few tips:
Facebook: For longer form content with more detailed information. Posts with photos tend to perform well. Try posting your perfect shot on your branded Facebook page, and remember to repost it on your personal accounts.
Twitter: For short, real-time updates. Travel agencies can use Twitter for short and sweet updates. Tweets with photos do especially well.
Instagram: The ultimate platform for visual content. Visual content is the type of content that will grab your potential clients, and Instagram posts are sure to satisfy them. Photos are key here, and using hashtags can help increase your reach.
LinkedIn: An excellent platform for connecting with potential clients and business partners. Try posting your photos on your company page and in relevant LinkedIn groups.
Pinterest: A visual platform great for sharing infographics, images, and other types of visual content.
How Travel Agents Can Use Social Media Marketing Photos
As a travel agent, social media marketing photos can be a great way to increase brand awareness and connect with potential clients. Here are a few ideas.
Use your Instagram account to share beautiful photos of the places you've been. Make sure to use branded hashtags; consider using Instagram Reels to highlight your stay.
Use Twitter to post short updates and pictures from your day-to-day work life.
Use Facebook to share longer-form content about your experiences in the travel industry. Blog posts are perfect for reposting on your Facebook page; ensure they have relevant and quality pictures.
Use LinkedIn to connect with other travel professionals and share your photos. LinkedIn groups exist for every profession; find the one that's right for you by searching LinkedIn's extensive group pages.
Use Pinterest to pin infographics, images, and other visual content related to travel.
No matter which social media platform you use or what type of content you post, social media management is critical for social media marketing. Creating a social media calendar can help you plan and schedule your posts, saving you time and energy.
When it comes to social media marketing for travel brands, photos are essential. By following the tips above, you can take beautiful social media marketing photos that will grab potential customers' attention and help increase brand awareness for your travel company.