Most restaurant owners and hoteliers think their Facebook and Twitter accounts are enough to supplement their social media presence, but you should know better. There’s one more way to draw customers in, especially the increasing number of vacationers who do rigorous planning and research online before going to their destination. The hospitality industry can benefit a lot by using the fastest growing social media platform, Pinterest. Here are some tips to help you do it right:
1. Place keywords in your Pinterest name
It’s not enough to simply put your hotel or restaurant’s name; you might also want to add crucial keywords like “Canada hotel” or “best Montreal restaurant”. This way, your Pinterest account will turn up right at the top of the search results when someone looks for hotels and restaurants with the said keywords. Don’t forget to add your location, too, using indicator keywords.
2. Create topics for what tourists can do
Pinterest allows its users to create boards or categories for anything under the sun! Check out the Four Seasons Hotel in Austin. They’ve created a variety of boards for what people can do in the area—from 2012 wedding trends to Bucket List Adventures to the Ultimate Austin PinTrip to Travel Tips and Tools. What can tourists do in your area?
3. Whet your audience’s appetites
Whole Foods Market does this by creating boards for their plant-based recipes, New Year’s eve offerings, and their other succulent dishes. Try it yourself—whip out your amateur photography skills and bring your restaurant’s menu to life!
4. Engage; don’t promote
Remember: you are in a social networking site! While there’s really nothing wrong about linking back to your website, doing so in every single photo will likely cause other users to disengage. Provide them with valuable information, travel tips, and attractions. This way, you’ll gain your audience’s loyalty!
5. Find the time OR find the right people to help
If you’re too busy to manage Pinterest with your other Facebook Accounts, find a company to help. There are plenty of Social Media Management companies out there so it is important to find one that will work with you to promote and protect your online reputation.