Resolution: Make Social Media a Priority

Social media seems simple on its surface but can be truly time-consuming. To post consistently engaging content, find guest user-generated content, respond to reviews, and keep your listings up to date can take a lot of time and effort. And we often see the outcome all the time of hotels that don’t prioritize this task: business social media pages with daily posts for a month, followed by a year of neglect until someone on the property remembers to pick it up again. 

To avoid this, which will lose followers and loyal guests, you need a plan to prioritize social and not leave it as an afterthought. Your plan needs to be two-fold.

First, the best way to consistently post is to make it a part of your schedule. Block off time on your calendar and set reminders to proactively manage your social media. Whether it’s for fifteen minutes twice a day or an hour a week, you have to get in the habit of posting to your accounts, checking your messages and notifications, and searching for UGC about your hotel. 

Secondly, you need to plan out the content that you’ll be posting about. If you know that you’ll be running a spring break special, plan out when and what you need to post in February and March to promote it. Here are a few posts to help you get started:

• Content Ideas for Extended Stay Hotels
• Content Ideas for Adventure Destinations
• Content Ideas for Beach Hotels
• Content Ideas for Economy Hotels
• Get Local: Find Rich Social Media Content in Your Backyard

Resolution: Work Smarter, Not Harder

If you’re still navigating to Twitter, Facebook, Google My Business, and TripAdvisor separately, it’s time to adopt a social media program that will let you manage all in one place. Many business owners put this step off because they think it’s time-consuming, complicated, or not worth the cost to set up. It’s easier than you think, and the time you’ll save immediately after you switch will make it worth it.

A dedicated social media technology solution is much more than just a posting tool. You’ll be able to set up alerts when other people post about your hotel on social media or review websites. Plus, you can update your profiles all at one time. If you want to promote a special or a season on your social media banners or publish new property photos, you can upload and change all of them in one click. 

Resolution: Improve Time Management

Even with the added benefits of creating your plan and using time-saving technology, social media is still a big commitment. Who is the best person to manage it? Does it make sense for them to be spending time away from their job priorities? 

Just like you may choose to send out your linens instead of washing them in-house, consider outsourcing some or all of your social media management. After all, great guest interactions and effective staff management are what will help you stand out from your competition.

By using services like Social Media and Respond & Resolve, you can get away from the computer and get back to focusing on managing your property. 

Many people make resolutions each year that fade out within a few months. However, when you see the impact that well-managed social media can have on your hotel, properly managing your accounts will be a habit you’ll want to stick to.