MAKING FACEBOOK “CLICK” | Travel Research Online

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MAKING FACEBOOK “CLICK”

I’m certainly no expert at marketing my travel practice. However, I have found that using Facebook and other social media networking sites are extremely beneficial to the success of my practice. I started working with facebook around the end of 2008 but didn’t begin to really use it until mid-2009. I started with about 20 friends in about 30 days. When I really thought about what I had, it clicked in 2009 and I “worked” it. Sixteen months, over 1,670 friends and over 300 fans later, I see the success! The trick is you must interact with your friends/fans about topics OTHER than travel on a regular basis. Doing that, they get to know YOU and that’s when you begin to build relationships and trust.

What is my success? Right now for 2011, I have 15 group cruises, 5 individual cruises and more vacation packages than I can handle alone. I also have 2 group cruises already for 2012. Two of those groups include a 500 passenger and a 1500 passenger group. Where did they come from?? Facebook.

Most of my life has been the same story. When it comes to many of my skills, they are self-taught. In other words, I did not learn them in a classroom. Such is the case with social networking. Let’s be real; I’m part of the baby-boomer generation – toward the end of the generation! Technology is not easy to learn, but its something that I love and I know it can be successful for any business.

As I do lots of research and take lots of classes, I find differing opinions on the proper use of social networking. Some I follow and most I don’t because I’ve found what works. Just having an account doesn’t work. I talk to many agents who tell me they have an account/page and don’t see anywhere near the success I’m having. My first question to them is “how and how often do you use it”? Their responses are varied, from posting a couple times a month to posting once a week.

CLIA defines social media networking as “using the internet to meet people to whom a brand or product can be exposed”. How often do you see the green gecko? Do you know what brand he represents? That’s exactly how you have to be to expose your brand and product. If people don’t know what you do and aren’t familiar with who you are, guess what? They more than likely will not support you. Your goal has to be to get people to think of you first when it comes time for them to travel.

I actually use seven (7) different applications/methods every day and many more than that less frequently. But here are 10 tips to guide those uses:

1.         You have to use multiple applications to be successful, including blogs

2.         Your goal is to establish credibility

3.         Promote your brand and website everywhere you can

4.         Don’t discontinue your use of traditional marketing; maintain the human touch

5.         Follow routines and stick to them!

6.         Keep your posts short and simple; no one wants to or has time to read a short story or novel

7.         Monitor what colleagues are doing

8.         Use photos and/or videos to capture attention

9.         Ask questions and offer opinions to maintain interaction

10.       Be honest!

Be successful!

Denyse H. Turner is the Owner of Rx 4 Fun Travel based in Paterson, NJ. For more information, you can contact Denyse at rx4funtravel@ymail.com or visit www.facebook.com/Rx4FunTravel

  11 thoughts on “MAKING FACEBOOK “CLICK”

  1. Kasey says:

    Denise – Great Article & Fantastic Tips!

  2. Anonymous says:

    Denyse,
    You’re an inspiration for all of us!

  3. Denyse,
    You’re an inspiration for all of us!

  4. denyse says:

    Thanks so much! This was my first time and I was as excited about writing it as I was about inspiring you all!

  5. Joanne Hunt says:

    Glad to read of Denyse’s success. As a newcomer to Facebook it is great to hear
    how well it is working for our peers.

    Since it is almost impossible to properly run a quality agency and still be out and about “meeting and greeting” in the community social media may be the best method to create and
    maintain a presence.

  6. Shandelle Johnson says:

    Great article Denyse! 🙂

  7. Nikki Lewis says:

    You are such inspirational person! You are a woman of intergrity and sincere; God brought you in my life for good reasons. Thank you for all you do and keep up the good work! Now let’s book some travel!! 😉

  8. Suzi Nelsen says:

    My daddy always use to say, take your eyes off yourself and help someone else. You Denyse, are a master at that. You have sown amazing seeds, and are seeking the just rewards. Your article was so enlightening and inspiring. Thank you so much for being who you are, and giving hope to all of us.

  9. Denyse,

    Excellent tips. I have seen your facebook page, and it is awesome. You have really done a great job. Congratulations on your success and I hope that it continues to go well for you.

    Just curious…how do you handle 1500 passengers? Wow!

  10. You GO GIRL!! you never seem to amaze me. I just stumbled upon your article while checking out TRO for a destination article. You truly are an inspiration for all of us out there. I’m VERY impressed, but you knew that.

    You rock girl. Great article.

    Judy

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