It can seem as though there are too many social media portals to keep up with these days – and with Google+ a relative newcomer, it’s easy to see why some hoteliers might be holding back from joining.
However, with more than 1.15 billion users and Google’s power and dominance behind it, this is one tool that you really shouldn’t ignore. Using it is easy and having a presence could really boost your hotel’s profile and even revenues. Any brand can create a page and hotels are no exception – so why not learn what it has to offer and find out how you can use it in the most efficient way for your firm?
Here, we’ll go into some of the most useful features to provide a brief outline of why it’s so useful.
You can boost your visibility
Having a Google+ page means a quick link to Google Hotel Finder – and that means users will be able to find you, even if they’ve never heard of you before. Once people find your hotel, you can begin to collect +1 clicks (the equivalent of Facebook likes), which register within Google’s search engine and will raise your profile even further.
You can collect reviews
Through your Google+ Local Page, you can collect reviews from satisfied customers, which should act to encourage future bookings. This acts as a way of advertising cheaply by creating a word of mouth buzz, although you can’t pay for ads on this platform.
You can share useful content
One of the best things about Google+ is that it acts as an online brochure, so would-be guests can take a look at photos of your bedrooms and other facilities at a glance. You can also publish information on your page about nearby transport links etc, which could encourage people to make a booking rather than choose a competitor.
You can interact with users
Google’s Circles feature is enormously useful as it lets you share industry news, bulletins about events and much more with specific audiences. You can create separate Circles for business travellers, hen party-seekers and conference bookers, for example, then share content among them in just a few clicks. Aim to share pictures as well as text – and you can even post videos and do Hangouts for circle members.
The more you explore, the more you’ll realise what a useful tool Google+ could be for your hotel – and for the travellers who could become your customers.
