5 Juicy Tips for Building Your Luxury Travel Brand on Instagram
Here’s the truth: If you’re in the luxury travel industry and you’re not leveraging Instagram to its fullest, you might be missing out on tons of opportunities to connect with your dream clients.
For me, getting strategic with Instagram was a game-changer—at one point, it was responsible for a whopping 90% of my leads. That's right, 90%!
I am, however, a realist and if you're feeling like you’re spinning all the plates and don’t have time for a strategy, then you definitely need to keep reading on!...
In this blog, I share with you how you can elevate your Instagram game to stand out as the go-to luxury travel expert…without losing your sanity!!!
Why should I use Instagram for my travel business?
In the competitive world of luxury travel, Instagram isn’t just a platform for sharing pretty pictures (although we do love the pretty pictures!) —it’s a powerful tool for building a brand, attracting dreamy clients, and showcasing your expertise.
And, let’s talk numbers: with 2 billion active monthly users on Instagram, the opportunity to reach potential clients is HUGE!.
But it's not just about reaching a vast audience. Instagram is where visual storytelling shines! Instagram's visual nature and different content types, are perfect for driving a deeper connection and emotive response from your audience.
For luxury travel advisors, it’s the perfect stage to showcase breathtaking destinations, exclusive experiences, and high-end accommodations.
81%
of users turn to Instagram for research before making a purchase.
Do I need an instagram strategy for my travel business?
So, here’s the thing: to ensure that posting on Instagram isn’t a complete waste of your time, you need to be strategic in your approach.
Eeek, strategic! That sounds complicated, right?! No, do not fear. It’s just a fancy word for a plan, and without a plan, you are literally shooting in the dark. AND no one's got time for that!
The most successful brands on Instagram don’t leave their posts to chance. They understand the power of consistency and the importance of planning. Without a strategy, your content can easily become a mishmash of ideas that don’t serve your goals.
So, without further ado, let’s dive into some top tips to help you create a strategy that will position you as the go-to luxury travel expert on Instagram.
1 . Every Post Should Have a Purpose
First things first—every Instagram post should have a specific purpose. When you’re crafting your content, think about the goal behind each post. Are you aiming to showcase a stunning travel destination? Share a client testimonial? Offer travel tips? Whether it’s to inspire wanderlust, educate on luxury travel tips, entertain with your personal anecdotes or to promote your services, each post should align with one of these objectives:
Inspire: Share awe-inspiring travel photos, client success stories, or motivational quotes that stir the dreams and desires of your audience.
Educate: Offer valuable travel tips, destination guides, or behind-the-scenes insights that showcase your expertise and provide genuine value.
Entertain: Engage your audience with personal content that adds a touch of fun and personality to your feed.
Promote: Highlight your services, special offers, or glowing client testimonials to encourage your followers to take the next step.
Before posting, define the goal of each piece of content and before you hit post ask yourself, is this achieving this?
Remember, every piece of content you share should contribute to building an emotional connection with your audience and guiding them towards booking their next dream vacation with you.
2. Be Intentional and Never Post on the Fly
Ironically, there should be nothing “Insta” about posting on Instagram for business. Posting randomly or on the fly can not only dilute the impact of your Instagram strategy, but leave you feeling flustered and overwhelmed. Trust me, we’ve all been there.
Instead, be intentional with your content.
Create a content calendar that aligns with your business goals and resonates with your audience’s interests.
This means planning your posts in advance, considering the best times to post for maximum engagement, and ensuring that each post reflects your brand’s identity and values.
By being deliberate in your approach, you can create a cohesive and compelling Instagram presence that draws in dreamy clients.
3. Schedule Your Posts
As above, to maintain consistency, plan using a content calendar and then post your content using a scheduler like Later - my personal favourite.
This allows you to take a step back from your content and approach it strategically rather than sporadically. You can make sure you have everything included from your post checklist like captions and hashtags without the stress of posting “in-the-moment”.
Furthermore, by planning and scheduling your posts ahead of time, you can allocate specific times to work on this, which will then give you more dedicated time to focus on other aspects of your business. You’ll be able to maintain a steady flow of content, even during those hectic periods when you’re too busy to post manually. Whoop!
4. Don’t Post & Ghost!
I hate to break it you ya, but posting content is just the beginning. Engagement is where the magic happens.
Ok, so before you panic, the engagement part doesn’t take anywhere near as long as the content creation part, but you should make it a priority to interact with your followers by responding to comments, liking their posts, and joining in conversations.
Remember, social media is supposed to be just that - social! Not just a broadcasting channel! You will find that your Instagram efforts will go a lot further if you engage with people.
Engaging with your audience not only builds relationships but also increases your visibility on Instagram.
Show your followers that you value their comments and create a community around your brand. This will lead to deeper connections and more meaningful client relationships.
5. Use Your Content Pillars on Repeat
To keep your content varied and engaging, leverage your (ideally) five content pillars. These five pillars help you create a balanced mix of posts that resonate with your audience and showcase different and most important aspects of your brand.
Remember my first point about every post having a purpose? Well, this is where your content pillars have your back.
Your content pillars should be the foundation of your Instagram content strategy. They guide your content creation process, ensuring you maintain a balanced and engaging feed that resonates with your audience.
And remember, you don’t need to reinvent the wheel!
Once you’ve posted consistently for a couple of months, start repurposing like a boss! Recycling and repurposing your content not only saves you time but also maximises the impact of your message.
Yep, that’s right. Being repetitive is a GREAT thing!!
Don’t worry, if you need help nailing your content pillars, My Insta Travel Playbook, has you covered.
Remember, Instagram is not just a platform for sharing beautiful photos; it's a powerful tool to showcase your expertise, connect with your audience and attract those dreamy clients who align perfectly with your brand.
Hopefully, by following these tips and crafting a thoughtful content strategy, you'll not only elevate your Instagram presence but also create more space for what truly matters—enjoying the parts of your business you love.
So, take a breath, start planning, and watch as your inbox fills up with clients who can't wait to work with you. You've got this!
