In today's digital age, social media has become an indispensable tool for businesses to connect with their target audience, create brand awa

How to use social media to boost your bookings

Social media is an indispensable tool for businesses to connect with their target audience, create brand awareness, and drive traffic to their websites. For an outdoor activity business based in the UK, understanding how social media algorithms work can shape your strategy to attract potential customers and increase your bookings. In the current economic climate, actively increasing your reach is critical to success. In this blog, we will explore various strategies that will help you harness the power of social media algorithms to boost your bookings.

The first step to creating an impactful social media strategy is understanding your target audience. Research your potential customers' demographics, interests, and preferences. Tailor your content to match their needs and aspirations. Whether it's families seeking adventurous weekends, solo travellers seeking thrilling experiences, or corporate groups looking for team-building activities, align your social media content accordingly to appeal to their interests.

While social media offers a plethora of platforms, it's essential to focus on those most relevant to your business. Each platform has its unique algorithm that determines what content appears in users' feeds. For an outdoor activity business, the following platforms are great choices:

Facebook: The Facebook algorithm prioritises content based on engagement, relevance, and timeliness. Posts with more likes, comments, and shares are favoured, so focus on creating engaging content that resonates with your audience.

Instagram: Instagram's algorithm aims to show users content they are likely to engage with the most. Consider posting high-quality images and videos of your outdoor activities and encourage interactions through likes and comments.

LinkedIn: For corporate groups, LinkedIn's algorithm promotes relevant and engaging content. Showcase your outdoor activities in a professional light and interact with your connections.

We have not included Threads or TikTok in this post as we are still researching how their algorithms work and their impact on the activity industry. If you have insights on this please let us know by sending an email to hello@eola.co. We have not included Twitter as we see its relevance decreasing with the growth of Threads.

Compelling content is the heart of your social media strategy. Share high-quality images and videos of your outdoor activities, showcasing the excitement and beauty your customers can experience. Encourage your customers to share their own content using branded hashtags, which will increase your reach and credibility. Engage with your audience through posts, comments, and messages, building a sense of community and fostering a positive online reputation.

Partnering with social media influencers who have a substantial following in the outdoor or travel niche can significantly impact your business. Seek out influencers whose values align with your brand, and collaborate with them to showcase your activities to their followers. Influencers can provide authentic reviews and experiences, increasing your credibility and widening your reach.

Contests and giveaways are a fantastic way to create excitement and engagement around your brand. Organise creative contests that encourage people to share your content, tag friends, or participate in fun challenges related to your outdoor activities. Offer enticing prizes, such as free activity sessions or discounts, to incentivise participation and drive traffic to your website.

Optimise your posts by using relevant local hashtags. This tactic can significantly increase your visibility among potential customers searching for outdoor activities in your region. Research popular hashtags related to your location and industry, and incorporate them into your posts to attract users interested in exploring the great outdoors.

Example: When promoting activities in the Lake District, use hashtags like #LakeDistrictAdventures to reach adventure-seekers in that area.

Positive customer experiences are invaluable for building trust. Share testimonials, reviews, and user-generated content that highlight the exceptional experiences your customers have had with your outdoor activities. Potential customers are more likely to book an activity if they see real people enjoying it.

While organic growth is essential, consider allocating some budget to social media advertising. Platforms like Facebook and Instagram offer targeted advertising options, allowing you to reach specific demographics or locations that align with your target audience. Paid ads can help amplify your reach and drive potential customers to your website.

Understanding how social media algorithms work is essential for maximising the impact of your social media strategy. By knowing your audience, creating engaging content, leveraging influencers, using local hashtags, and incorporating customer testimonials, you can drive traffic to your website and increase bookings.

While social media offers a plethora of platforms, it's essential to focus on those most relevant to your business. Each platform has its unique algorithm that determines what content appears in users' feeds...

Boost your bookings with social media

Discover how Big Green Adventures doubled bookings & revenue with eola's activities booking platform. Read their success story now. #Cornwall #watersports

Big Green Adventures doubles bookings in Cornwall

After years of surfing and coaching around the world Dale Unnuk founded Big Green Adventures in 2011, delivering water sports activities and camping hire in the beachy village of Crantock, Cornwall. Before eola, the team relied on paper diaries and spent countless days running up the sand dunes trying to get signal to avoid missing bookings.

“We were growing year on year, but it was obvious that we were missing a lot of potential business.”

A collaborative approach to recouping lost business

Having previously tried many booking system providers it was clear they couldn’t supply a service that worked well for the Cornwall business. eola offered an activities booking platform that was quick and easy to set up and see results. They provide a collaborative relationship, where “there is always someone at the end of the phone willing to help”.

“The whole business cares about what we’re doing and the transition was really easy.”

Dale praised eola’s easy-to-use online booking widget, which has replaced telephone and email transactions and allows customers to book online 24 hours a day, growing the business financially. Since COVID and the shift to online, customers now prefer to book in advance contactless, via mobile. Another huge benefit is coaches can access lessons through eola’s dashboard, which saves an abundance of time and prevents errors.

eola increased bookings during off peak, as well as made life easier during the busy peak season. Dale loves having a clear system his whole team can use, allowing him more time to run the business and take time off. He said “with eola bookings, enquiries and activities run smoothly even when I’m on holiday!”

“Working with eola allows us to spend more time doing what we actually enjoy and what we’re actually good at knowing the administrative side is taken care of.”

With eola we  doubled online bookings and revenue and grew on average 36% growth year-on-year over a 4-year span

After years of surfing and coaching around the world Dale Unnuk founded the Big Green Adventures in 2011. Before eola, the team relied on paper diaries and spent countless days running ...

How Big Green Adventures saved time and doubled bookings with eola

Riding the waves to Cornwall

A collaborative approach to recouping lost business

Even during a quiet winter eola works

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