Do you find that your groups aren’t filling as quickly as they used to?
Are you interested in adding younger clientele to your groups?
What if you could shake up your battle-worn sales and marketing strategies to help you add some extra pizzazz to your plans? Social pizzazz!
Trying new tactics can be tricky at first! Let’s explore some ways to gradually add social into your traditional marketing tool box. Together we’ll re-imagine 5 steps of the group marketing process and tweak them a bit to add a social slant.
Marketing Your Group Tour
Traditionally we have a plethora of possible marketing tools; brochures, flyers, consumer travel shows, in-house marketing events, in person sales calls and email marketing. These tried and true marketing initiatives can be reinvented with the addition of social marketing options.
Let’s get social:
- Brochures and flyers are the mainstay of marketing. Whether you produce a print or on-line brochure adding videos will create more interest and inspiration. In your print brochure, include a link to a related tour or destination. In your on-line brochure, embed video so that it plays directly.
- We all participate in consumer travel shows in our communities. Wow consumers with a video slideshow highlighting your upcoming tour. Create your video slideshow using tools like Animoto, iMovie or MovieMaker then play the slideshow loop on your laptop at your booth. Post this slideshow socially as part of your pre-show marketing and advertising. Here’s how to create your own video slideshow.
- At an in-house marketing event or consumer night the normal routine is to chat about the group tour and show a short video. How about getting social and broadcasting live from your event so out of town prospects can join in and learn more about your group tour.
- Set up a sign-up process that enables people to sign-up in advance for the live broadcast by providing their contact information in exchange for a downloadable free lead magnet. Lead magnet ideas here.
- Making in-person sales calls to pied-pipers and potential group leaders becomes even more powerful with a video presentation to support your tour. After the meeting send a video thank you email using Loom.
- Email marketing is key to staying top of mind and tip of tongue with potential clients. Enhance your e-mail with video. Embed video from the DMO or your own library. Consider creating a quick video with Zoom or Loom. While many e-blast platforms don’t support video, simply create a video thumbnail, add the player arrow to it, then hyperlink the thumbnail graphic to your video channel.
Pro Tip: What will you talk about on your next video? Find video content tips and ideas here.
Embedding a social aspect into your traditional marketing strategies will really give your group tour bookings a boost. The social pizzazz that comes hand in hand with adding visuals will help you to attract even more clients to your tours!
How will you be adding Social into your marketing strategy?
By Catherine J. Heeg, Customized Management Solutions
