Why Focus on Facebook and Reels for Travel Agents
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Looking to skyrocket your business? As a travel agent, why should you focus on Facebook, and more specifically, REELS, to gain new clients?
Did you know, social media now has the greatest influence on travel destination choices?
75% of respondents to a recent American Express study said social media is their #1 source for all things travel. This ranks above TV, news, movies, family and friends, EVERYTHING!
Another fun fact: nearly 83% of North Americans are on Facebook.
Of any media, Facebook Reels generate the most engagement on the platform.
To learn more, check out the podcasts from Kha Ly at the bottom of this post.
- Facebook is the LARGEST social media platform in the world.
- With 2.989 billion monthly active users, Facebook provides unparalleled visibility.
- Facebook is pushing Meta AI across all its brands and products, which is where YOU and your services can be found.
What are the best ways to use Facebook to gain new clients?
- Use Facebook Reels to market yourself and your services. Read this article to learn how to post a Facebook Reel
- Make sure you are using a Facebook Creator Account - Read our article on this here: Should You Switch To A Facebook Creator Account?
- Use the best techniques to ensure your Reels are ranking high in Meta AI / Facebook search - Read our article on this here: How To Rank High In Facebook Reels
- Embed your Reels in your website blog to ensure they are found in Google searches - Read our article on this here: Add Your Facebook Reels to your Blog and Website Pages
Why Should You Focus on Facebook Reels?
Facebook is exploding.
Among other things, it’s taking over:
- The AI market (think ChatGPT)
- The search market (like Google)
- The video market (like YouTube)
- Social Commerce (like Amazon)
- Digital Payments (like PayPal)
- and LOTS MORE
It's becoming the #1 source for travel inspiration and research, continuously innovating with features like Marketplace, dating, games, VR, online education, etc.
Facebook's strategic acquisitions and innovations position it for continued growth into new markets.
As a travel agent, Facebook Reels enables you to:
- - Showcase stunning destinations and resort amenities through engaging visuals.
- - Share customer testimonials and reviews.
- - Offer valuable travel tips and advice.
- - Create immersive experiences.
- - Drive bookings and increase revenue.
Read more ideas on our article: Tips For Facebook Reels That Include Talking To The Camera
Also, Facebook Reels integrate seamlessly with Instagram.
Everything has SHIFTED
Social Media belongs to the Creator Economy - NOT USERS!
Your Feed is no longer made up of your high school friends or your prom date from 20 years ago.
It's made up of:
Amateur / Professional Skilled Creators who are:
- Entertaining You!
- Educating You!
- Engaging You!
Social Media Services are becoming "Distribution Platforms rather than Follower Platforms”
Al can help you create the kind of Content that can be "Distributed" on today's Platforms.
The "Travel" Hashtag has amassed over 675 Million posts and 223.1 Billion views, giving Social Platforms the greatest influence on Travel Destination choices with 75%, ahead of TV/News/Movies (64%) and Family and Friends (47%).
People discover where to travel more from Social than from ANYWHERE ELSE!!!
Social Media's Influence on Travel Destination Choices
American Express Study:
- 48% of travelers choose destinations to showcase on social media.
- 49% travel to destinations that look great in photos/videos.
Conversion Statistics
- 62% of travelers under 55 say they converted due to social media content.
- Frequency of Travel impacts the likelihood to convert through Social Media with Frequent Travelers using more digital tools for trip decisions.
This is a fascinating stat as the more Travel you do and the more content you upload about Travel, the more Travel Content you see and therefore the places you want to go!
Social Media Rules for Travel
- 1. Social Media Rules the Travel Game: 67% of travelers use social channels for trip planning and recommendations.
- 2. Creators Inspire the Journey: 80% of social users follow travel creators for expert tips and advice.
- 3. Video Leads the Way: 65% of travelers prefer video content for travel inspiration.
- 4. User-Generated Content Boosts Brands: 5X engagement increase from user-generated content.
- 5. Travel Posts Soar: 3X more engagement than other types of posts.
- 6. Travelers Love Travel Vlogs: 68% of travelers watch travel vlogs before booking.
- 7. Brands Build Loyal Followings: 60% of travelers follow travel brands on social media.
The Future of Meta AI & Travel
Travel content is expected to overtake fashion/beauty content in AI recommendations by 2025, partly due to legal concerns over beauty standards.
- Meta AI surpassed 500 million users and is projected to overtake ChatGPT by the end of 2024.
- Meta is developing its own search/answer engine.
Use ChatGPT and Meta AI to:
- Meta AI can help you generate ideas and keywords for content that can surface in Meta's recommendations.
- Create engaging 30-second Reels with a strong hook to maximize visibility and reach.
Meta AI has also been working on its own Search/Answer Engine for the last 8 months.
Facebook / META will eventually be in all major online services.
Massive Al Infrastructure Investment
Meta excels at seamlessly integrating AI into its digital advertising, enhancing ad targeting and effectiveness. This drives soaring revenue and user engagement.
Unparalleled Data Advantage
Meta's vast user base and abundant data give it a formidable edge for training robust AI models and deploying them efficiently.
Reels Dominance
Highlight the dominance of Reels in AI Recommendations, emphasizing the need for Advisors to prioritize this format to maximize visibility and engagement.
Reels account for over 95% of Meta AI Recommendations.
Tips for Surfacing in Facebook Reels Recommended Content
As a travel agent, use these strategies to help new clients find you on Facebook Reels.
Optimization Strategies
- Use relevant keywords in captions and hashtags.
- Tag travel-related businesses and destinations.
- Include location tags for targeted reach.
- Post consistently to increase visibility.
- Engage with comments and responses.
Content Creation
- High-quality visuals (images, videos).
- Informative and engaging captions.
- Short, concise Reels (60-90 seconds).
- Showcase travel experiences and destinations.
- Customer testimonials and reviews.
Hashtag Strategy
- Research popular travel hashtags.
- Use niche-specific hashtags (e.g., #luxurytravel).
- Create branded hashtags.
- Mix popular and niche hashtags.
- Limit hashtags to 30.
Engagement Boosters
- Ask questions or request feedback.
- Host Q&A sessions or live streams.
- Collaborate with influencers or travel experts.
- Run contests or giveaways.
- Share user-generated content.
Timing Strategy
- Post during peak hours (7-9 am, 4-6 pm EST).
- Experiment with different timing.
- Utilize Facebook's scheduling feature.
Facebook Reels Features
- Shopping tags for booking integration.
- Call-to-action (CTA) buttons.
- Polls and quizzes.
- Live streaming.
Analytics and Tracking
- Monitor Facebook Insights.
- Track engagement rates.
- Analyze reach and watch time.
Additional Tips
- Cross-promote on Instagram Reels.
- Share Reels on Facebook Groups.
- Utilize Facebook Stories.
- Leverage travel industry events.
- Offer exclusive promotions.
Recommended Content Types
- "Top 5 Travel Tips"
- "Destination Spotlight"
- "Resort Tour"
- "Customer Testimonial"
- "Travel Q&A"
Podcasts
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