Why social media?

Is it really that important to utilize social media nowadays?



It is everywhere and everybody uses it. Using social media is now easier than ever before. We can access all the apps easily through our mobile phones that we carry everywhere. There is an app for almost everything; food, transportation, hotels, maps, the list goes on and on.

Though, because it appeared quickly, social media has developed a reputation of being a passing trend (DeMers, 2014).


So why is it important for tourism business as well?

Source: Pixabay

Tourism business lives from social media. Travellers are looking for places where they can take the best photos for Instagram and Facebook and make their friend and family jealous about the time they are having. But are they actually having the time of their lives or just making it seem like it? That is a question that everybody needs to consider themselves, but for the businesses it is always better the more the guests interact and share through social media using their tags and locations.



Nowadays companies with the most attractive social media platforms are controlling the tourism business. People are literally Intagramming the location they want to visit and they choose the spots based on the most attractive photos they see. This is a challenge for the Pöykkölä Local heritage Museum, since they are lacking an attractive platform like this. Most of the companies have employees working just on social media platforms.

Pöykkölä Local Heritage Museum should start developing their social media platforms and this way they could develop their company as a tourism destination. As mentioned before, social media is an inexpensive tool that has a major effect on people.

The most used social media channels. Source: Pixabay

Building a trust

Source: Pixabay

How likely would you visit a destination, if your family member or a good friend recommended you to visit it?
Likely, I reckon.
Friends and family affect our decision making majorly, because we trust them. We have a bond with them. Social media is a good tool in creating bonds between everybody. Let's say your friend posts a nice photo, you get an emotion that you would like to visit that spot or you would rather pass.


To conclude, social media has already changed the tourism industry majorly. I will list some of the aspects that it has changed during its existance.

1. Travel research

• It is simplier than ever to look up a destination with your mobile device before booking a holiday or contacting a travel agengy. Social media and digitalization have both made researching must faster.

2. Social sharing

• Sharing with your frineds and family via social media platforms is an effective way to create bonds, but also show interest.

3. Advanced customer service

•  Also customer service has improved via social media. Giving feedback is easily done via a mobile device and this way the companies can improve their services (Carnoy, 2017).

References

DeMers, Jayson. Forbes. 2014.  The Top 10 Benefits Of Social Media Marketing. Accessed 15 March 2018.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/jaysondemers/2014/08/11/the-top-10-benefits-of-social-media-marketing/#6c5d7dd1f80d

Carnoy, Juliet. 2017. The Entrepreneur. 5 Ways Social Media Has Transformed Tourism Marketing. Accessed 15 March 2018.
https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/286408