Note: While a presence is important, even more critical is engaging and developing a pipeline that pumps fuel in your engine while the boat is docked.

During a training session I led with a group of travel agents, we explored ways to leverage social media boost their business. 30 ideas emerged that I wanted to capture on paper in a two-part post.  Feel free to add to the list.

PART 1 (1-15)

1. Forget about publicizing your agency and focus on giving people an experience every time they interact with you.
2. Share travel tips.
   Everyone wants advice and reminders, so be the first to put them out there.  Be the go to travel resource for your community.
3. Check out competitor sites.
   You may find your target audience hanging on their every word.
4. Highlight the scoop in hot destination spots.
   This may be a great opportunity to shape consumer opinions if mainstream news has obscured the beauty of a great place to visit.
5. Blog about it.
   Online blogs are not as regulated at print media.  You have the opportunity to shape consumer opinion, so be sure to sound your voice!
6. Video.
   Start carrying your flip-cam when you do site inspections – we want to see what you see.
7. Reviews.
   Include live interviews with your connections at the airlines, resorts, and the like.
8. Client testimonials.
   Encourage your clients to post videos while they are on their vacations – great way for someone else to publicize your brand and expertise.
9. Post industry news and deals.
   i.e. If the airlines are running a web only deal, why not tell your peeps about it?  So what if they don’t buy it from you, they will thank you and remember you had their best interest at heart.  The next time they need a family vacation planned, they’ll be ringing your phone.
10. Digital brochures.
    Chances are your clients may not get into your brick and mortar offices as often as you would like, so you’ve got to lengthen your reach.  Digital downloads or online brochures are the way to go. Post the links or send the latest brochure in your newsletter.  Point to the page where the deals are inside!
11. Destination and point of origin news.
12. Weather updates.
    If it’s the middle of February, why not entice your audience with the tanning weather forecast of the Dominican Republic?
13. #Hashtags
    If your clients are booked for a great vacation, create a hashtag that they can follow and use while on vacation.  This could be a great opportunity for them to have an experience with you and “their” friends and family while away.  You may also be a virtual tour guide for them!
14. Articles.
    If you want to be found online in searches, then you’ll have to create tags for your posts.  If you are using the Notes feature in Facebook, or are a blogger, be sure to use tags that will cause your topic to bubble up when searched.   Think in terms of keywords.
15. Extend mainstream media placement to your social networks.
    i.e. If you are an Account Exec at The Columbus Dispatch, and you want to demonstrate the extent of your “reach” then you’ll want to publicize the placements in upcoming print articles within your social networks.  Your clients will be loyal raving fans.

If you liked these tips, and want more, be sure to subscribe to this blog for instant notification of subsequent posts.

Oh, by all means, if you have questions or want to add to this list, add it to the comments section below.

P.S. Last night attendees of the session left with a copy of my book for only half the price.  I wanted to extend the same deal to readers of this post!  Yup, you got it, purchase the book from this post and you’ll get it at 50% off!

© 2011, TiffanyO.. All rights reserved.

Scenario (pulled from Reddit, with a few tweaks):

You are frustrated because you run a service business and now you require your associates to keep the Facebook Page updated.  You want all associates logged on, locked in, and engaged!  You want to set the system so that whatever they post or write in there automatically gets posted to the Facebook fan page, which has loads of fans but is so easily neglected.

Is this simple?

My Solution:

Totally understand the frustration.

First, I agree with the other recommendations about using Tweetdeck.  But ultimately, it’s time to consider what your business really needs.  Perhaps it’s time to consider a solution like what Awareness Social Marketing Software provides.  Check it out here.

However, here are list of other options:

1. I would also add they can can us ping.fm.  They just have to have access as a page admin, then they can add it to their status updates.

2. Hootsuite.com would be my first choice because you retain control of the account.  When an associate leaves or quits, you do NOT have to change your passwords.  Just remove them as “managers” from within hootsuite.  The beauty here, is as the account owner, you can “see” who posted what.  Yes, their icon is visible to you on posts and updates.  Manage both status updates and engagement for your facebook page. You can have as many people as you want to have access to your account in Hootsuite.  Just add them as a “manager”.

3. Leverage the Page Admin feature inside Facebook Page settings.  Here’s why this can be helpful:

• You retain control of the page, never having to give out the password!
• They can update the status of your fan page and just put who they are “Posted by Jonny @ Front Desk” OR “JP – Front Desk”…

4. Why not consider having them update their status from their own page, and “tag” the fan page in their post.  Lots more visibility created by allowing the associates individual communities to have visibility to the fan page.

5. You might also consider, depending on how many associates you have, adding different applications to the page and assigning one posting service per associate. Most apps only allow one instance of the app on your page (FBML is an exception to this rule). So in theory:

• Front desk manager:  Selective Twitter – assign to their Twitter profile.  When then add #fb at the end of a post, it will automatically update Facebook Fan Page.  That way, the associate controls which posts hit the fan page (again, tightly consider your company’s policies for associates using social media).
• Night clerk:  Ping
• Staff 1:  Tweetdeck
• Staff 2:  etc. etc.

Only challenge foreseeable with any of these options:  you must have a corporate policy for conduct so that your brand is not potentially embarrassed later.

Lastly, and I make this comment, because I see it often…and I know you probably know this:

Really hope this helps.  If you have found other solutions, please share them!

Toodles!

Tiffany-O

© 2010, TiffanyO.. All rights reserved.

© 2010, Tiffany Odutoye (@virtualpartner). All rights reserved.

I don’t know about you, but the hype over having large communities might be a little over rated.  That is if you look at sheer numbers to determine influence.

Here’s what I mean, if you have recently received a “Facebook Friend” request, then ask yourself:

1) How does this person know me?

2) Why do they want to connect?

3) Do I really care?

4) What will I give back?

5) Have I tossed the ping-pong ball back by visiting them and giving a meaningful “shout-out” or acknowledged their presence?

It’s so easy to accept a request, only later to find out that you’ve been fooled by a spammer! Or worse, that you’ve become a “taker” and not a giver.

That applies to Twitter too!  Really, any community that you commit to joining expects something of you–engagement.  Will you “bring it” when you join?

Here are five tips to being a “giver” and not a taker while social networking:

1) Listen first.  Try get a sense for what your audience likes.  If it doesn’t work for you, swap out a friend or two to improve the quality of your network and relationships.

2) Think about what they need.  Give them both what they want and need.  You’ll only know this if you’ve grown your community in a targeted way.

3) Mix it up a little by making the shift from “marketer” to “problem solver”.  Stop pushing your stuff and pull a little to figure out a solution you can respond with.

4) Stop looking for your angle.  You know what I mean…you’ve got a favor “you” need.  STOP!  Put agendas aside and just “be here now”.

5) If you feel you have nothing of value to say, then be okay with contributing a “ditto” via RT (re-tweet).  Imitation is still the greatest form of flattery. Oh, and saying nothing at all might be the wise course too.

Ultimately, never forget that social networks are just platforms, and that we must humanize the tools.  A case in point, not long ago I noticed that Starbucks had a post on Twitter for a talent opportunity. Notice the human touch after I contributed a response…

Saw this while online

Thought of who in my network would fit.

They provided a human response. Notice the initials.

At the end of the day, people care about, and want to do business with people that the know, like and trust.  So be more than a “friend” or a “follower” taking up space on someones profile – be engaged and watch your influence shoot through the roof!

Related articles by Zemanta

• Growing a new community is hard work and may not change people’s habits (socialmediatoday.com)
• How to build your following on social sites (solutionset.com)
• 10 Ways to Measure Social Media (howtospoter.com)

© 2010, Tiffany Odutoye (@virtualpartner). All rights reserved.