Improve Charter Social Media!
1. Facebook
Some refer to it as a dying platform. However, don't discount its effectiveness just jet. Currently counting over 2.9 bilion users with the majority in the 25 - 35 age group - this is the demographics with the purchasing power.
One of the Facebook main advantages is that you don't need to create content for this platform specifically but rather use it to draw eyeballs by sharing the content from your own website. Whether you do new Sailing itineraries, blog posts with Sailing tips and tricks or celebrating a significant milestone, make sure you share it on Facebook.
Another must is creating photo albums to display your offer. Dedicate one to the base, yachts, destination and user-generated content. Make sure your company's Facebook is an extension of your website and displays all the critical information your website does.
One of facebooks features that need to be more utilized is Facebook events. No other platform does this as well as Facebook, so be sure you share your activities, such as Boat Show exhibitions, regattas, and so on.
2. Instagram
Undeniable is the platform that serves as the best marketplace for charter services. Scheduling a professional photoshoot of your fleet would be the easiest solution. Still, if time/budget leaves little space for it, you can easily snap a few pictures of the yacht set up before your clients board the yacht. Don't get discouraged by "picture-perfect" Instagram feeds, as this is something you can emulate if you put a little time and effort into it.
Stories are your best friend. This feature helps you connect better with your audience without spending hours editing a picture or writing a perfect caption. Stories are a fantastic tool to share special offers, last minutes or one ways. Share behind the scenes, introduce your employees and crew, display your offices and share fun moments.
Instagram users are used to influencers sharing their custom Promo codes, so make sure you use them to promote your discounts. You can easily create Promo codes with Booking Manager and share them on your platforms.
Reels are the latest of instagram updates and algorithms favouring it over other content, so now is the time to start posting reels. Most users avoid video format, but once you get the hang of it, it is entertaining to create, and the best part is that you can use the same video content on Tik Tok.
How to create Promo Code with Booking Manager:
3. Tik Tok
Many dread the "silly dancing app", but the fastest-growing social media platform in the world is one you don't want to sleep on. The best thing about this platform is the possibility of going viral regardless of the size of your audience, and going viral usually translates into sales going through the roof. Now that you are convinced to install Tik Tok let's discuss the technicalities.
Trend is one word you must get familiar with. TikTok is all about trends, in the most straightforward terms - trend is something prevalent at the given moment, it can be a filter, sound or just a video template. It is crucial to jump on the trend as it is gaining traction. This is an opportunity to let your imagination run wild and adopt the trend to fit your yacht charter business.
Storytelling is another trendy style of video and an excellent opportunity to connect with future customers on a personal level. Use it to tell a story of your destination, how you founded the company or film "a day in a life of a fleet manager" even the most mundane tasks you do, might be relatable to so many people.
While you can easily edit the videos in Tik Tok directly, ti is clever to use apps like InShot or CapeCut to avoid the TikTok watermark and be able to repurpose the video for Instagram Reels and Youtube Shorts.
Learn more about strategies for specific Social Media platforms:
4. Youtube
Many still only use YouTube for music videos, but this platform has so much potential once you use it correctly. Youtube videos are more complex than Instagram, and TikTok due to the level of production users are accustomed to. Still, there are ways to work around it. A more current phone camera will do just fine.
The research shows internet users tend to prefer Youtube over Google search engine when purchasing a Holliday, so make sure your video is SEO optimized. An excellent video idea that could get you many views regardless of your budget is the so-called "Sit down videos" you can repurpose your FAQ page content and translate it into a video format.
Another fun style to use is the display of "top 5 beaches to visit in your destination", or "3 things you must try the first time you go sailing" - you get the picture. Youtube algorithm tends to prefer the longer video format, so aim for over 10 minutes of duration to increase your viewing time.
Thumbnails are essential to attract clicks on YouTube. Just be sure to make your thumbnail on brand and create an eye-catching photo version of your video title. Free tools such as Canva will allow you to do wonders.
