Since launching in late 2010, Instagram has managed to capture the imagination and creativity of social media fans everywhere. It has evolved to become much more than just another photo-sharing app and has become a fundamental marketing channel for businesses across different industries.
While food, fashion, and fitness brands are some of Instagram’s biggest users, the travel industry is another sector that is a picture-perfect match for what the platform offers. After all, the social media network’s image-centric functionality is more than ideal for photos of exotic and distant locations, tropical beaches, and the nightlife of big cities.
If you own or manage a travel agency, it would be a shame to overlook what Instagram can do for your business. Statistics show that 48% of people pick a travel destination based on photos from Instagram while 35% use the app to become aware of new tourist destinations.
Want to make Instagram work for you? Here are seven ways to capitalize on Instagram:
1. Be Consistent
Consistency means coming out with regular posts and maintaining the same look and feel across your content. You can mix things up once in a while but ensure that most of your posts remain aligned with your brand and the services you offer.
A good way to be consistent is to create a list of attributes that you want your photos to have. You should also create an Instagram calendar so you can map out how often you’ll need content and plan for them in advance.
2. Keep Your Content Fresh
Fresh content is relevant and updated content. If you’re posting outdated information about a travel destination that you provide services for, you can lose credibility with your followers and it may frustrate viewers visiting your profile.
Before posting anything, always ask yourself, “What do I want to accomplish with this post?” and “How does this help me accomplish the objectives of my marketing plan?” You should never post just to meet a certain quota or to tick it off your checklist. Always make sure that your content is relevant for your audience and takes you one step closer to meeting your marketing goals.
3. Post High-Resolution Images
When you’re scrolling on Instagram, what’s the one thing that can make you stop and pause for a while? More often than not, it’s the quality and beauty of an image. Since Instagram is a visual platform, the quality and resolution of your images are paramount to getting more followers.
You could also share pictures of your staff’s own travel experiences to humanize your brand and connect better with your followers.
If you’re looking for high-quality templates for Instagram posts, PosterMyWall has over 150,000 social media templates, including templates for Instagram posts and Instagram stories. These templates are sized to fit the ideal resolutions of social media platforms like Instagram.
4. Leverage Stories
Stories are a great way to interact and engage with your followers while achieving brand awareness.
You can use stories to collect feedback from your followers through polls, sliders, quick response emojis, or quizzes.
You could also use this feature to post real-time content of you or your colleague’s travel experiences and give your followers more insight into your business and services or share your travel poster designs for people to learn more about what you offer.
5. Use the Right Hashtags
People generally use hashtags to find out more about a particular place or topic of interest. When leveraged correctly, hashtags can maximize your account’s reach tremendously by reaching target audiences who may not necessarily be your followers. You can also create a unique hashtag for your account and request your clients to use them in their posts when sharing their experience on Instagram.
6. Use Videos
Videos are a great way of pitching your content to a wider audience. While IGTV is a great way to share longer video clips, reels are all the rage on Instagram. When presented appropriately with the right audio, it has the potential to boost engagement within minutes.
Use videos to post travel tips, travel guides, or recommended destinations to grab hold of your followers’ attention.
7. Leverage Influencers and Paid Advertisements
Advertising your brand and services is a great way to promote your travel agency. You can do this by collaborating with a well-known influencer who has a large following or by using Instagram Ads.
Conclusion
These are some of the best ways to promote your travel agency on Instagram. Increasing your followers is a key factor that can make or break your marketing efforts. Engaging with your followers, posting regularly, and using high-quality content are some of the best ways to build your Instagram presence organically.
If you’re looking for top-quality images and templates for your posts, PosterMyWall has several that are easy to use and customize according to your needs.