The Ultimate Guide to Social Media Strategy for 2024: A Focus on Hospitality Businesses in County Kerry

@olli_wah

As we enter the final stretch of 2024, it’s crucial for hospitality businesses in County Kerry—including hotels, restaurants, tour operators, and B&Bs—to revamp their social media strategies. The right approach can significantly boost engagement, drive bookings, and keep your business top-of-mind for both locals and visitors. From visual storytelling to leveraging user-generated content (UGC) and seasonal promotions, this guide will help you master your social media game through the rest of the year.

Whether you’re a cosy restaurant in Dingle, a luxury hotel in Killarney, or a tour guide showing off the stunning Ring of Kerry, these strategies are tailored to help you maximize your online presence.

1. Highlight Seasonal Experiences: Embrace Kerry's Year-Round Appeal

County Kerry offers something special every season, and your social media should reflect these changes to keep your audience engaged year-round.

• Restaurants:

@porterhousekillarney

Show off your seasonal menu items, from hearty winter stews to autumn-inspired cocktails. Highlight locally sourced ingredients like fresh seafood, artisan cheeses, and farm-to-table produce. Run social campaigns promoting specials or events like food tastings, wine pairings, or live music nights.

• Hotels/B&Bs:

@killarneypark

Use your social platforms to promote off-season deals and showcase the appeal of visiting Kerry in the quieter months. Whether it’s autumn walks in Killarney National Park or cosy winter escapes, highlight the unique aspects of your property throughout the year.

• Tour Operators:

@brendanvacations

Focus on seasonal tours—autumn foliage hikes, winter wildlife tours, or festive events. Showcase the changing landscapes of Kerry, promoting activities like storm watching on the Wild Atlantic Way or festive markets during the Christmas season.

Pro Tip: Create a seasonal content calendar. Align your posts with local events and holidays like the Dingle Food Festival, Listowel Races, or Christmas markets to keep your followers informed and inspired throughout the year.

2. Utilize User-Generated Content (UGC) for Authenticity and Trust

@blasketislandsealifetours

User-generated content is a powerful way to build trust and connect with potential guests. When your visitors share their experiences, it’s more authentic than traditional marketing—and it costs nothing!

• Restaurants: Encourage diners to share their dining experiences on Instagram and Facebook, tagging your location and using a custom hashtag like #TasteOfKerry or #DineInKerry. Incentivize UGC with small discounts or a chance to be featured on your official page.
• Hotels/B&Bs: Ask guests to post photos from their stay and tag your location. You can then share their content on your own channels, giving your audience a more personal look at what your property offers.
• Tour Guides: Guests love to share their outdoor adventures, especially when surrounded by the beauty of Kerry. Ask them to tag your business when they post images from hikes, boat tours, or cultural excursions.

Pro Tip: Run a UGC campaign where you ask guests or customers to share their favourite memories of Kerry using your specific hashtag. This not only provides you with content but also builds a community around your brand.

3. Leverage Instagram Stories and Reels: Perfect for Visual Storytelling

@aghadoeheights

• Restaurants: Use Stories to post daily specials, behind-the-scenes kitchen shots, or polls on which menu item followers would love to try. Use Reels to show time-lapse videos of your chefs preparing meals or diners enjoying their food in a vibrant setting.
• Hotels/B&Bs: Create Reels that capture the tranquil beauty of your hotel grounds, morning sunrises, or cosy interiors. Consider videos like “Day in the Life” showing a guest’s journey from check-in to relaxation by the fire.
• Tour Guides: Capture the beauty of your tours with quick, engaging Reels. Show snippets of the dramatic coastal cliffs, historical landmarks, or wildlife in action. Post updates in Stories about upcoming tours, tips for the best sightseeing spots, or even real-time weather conditions.

Pro Tip: Use Instagram Highlights to save key content, such as food reviews, guest testimonials, or iconic Kerry locations, so that visitors can easily view your top posts at any time.

4. Optimize Your Content for Local SEO and Hashtags

Optimizing your posts for local SEO helps ensure potential customers find you when they’re searching for places to eat, stay, or explore in Kerry. Additionally, hashtags allow your content to reach a wider, more relevant audience.

• Restaurants: Use hashtags like #KerryDining, #KerryRestaurants, or #FoodieIreland. Also, incorporate location-specific tags like #DingleDining or #KillarneyEats to ensure tourists and locals alike find your posts.
• Hotels/B&Bs: For accommodations, use hashtags like #KerryStay, #LuxuryStayIreland, or #CozyGetawayKerry. Geo-tag your location and promote posts with your town’s name to help you appear in local searches.
• Tour Guides: Use tourism-driven hashtags like #DiscoverKerry, #WildAtlanticWay, #ExploreIreland, and location-specific tags like #RingOfKerry or #SkelligIslands to help traveller’s find you.

Pro Tip: Don’t just rely on popular hashtags—also target niche ones like #IrishAdventure or #IrelandInAutumn to stand out in specific searches.

5. Partner with Local Influencers and Collaborate with Other Businesses

Collaborating with local influencers and neighbouring businesses is an effective way to grow your following and expand your reach. Influencers and local partnerships can help you connect with a wider audience and add credibility to your brand.

• Restaurants: Partner with food bloggers or local influencers who can dine at your restaurant and post reviews. Host influencer dinners where you showcase your menu and ambiance, generating buzz around your establishment.
• Hotels/B&Bs: Collaborate with travel bloggers or photographers who are popular in the Irish tourism space. Invite them for a complimentary stay in exchange for a blog post, Instagram stories, or a YouTube video.
• Tour Guides: Consider partnerships with local hotels or restaurants to create packages—like a stay and tour combo. This encourages cross-promotion, where both businesses promote each other on social media.

Pro Tip: Micro-influencers, who have smaller but more engaged audiences, can be more effective than larger influencers in local campaigns. Focus on influencers with a genuine connection to Kerry.

6. Utilize Facebook Ads and Instagram Ads to Target Travelers

@dingledistillery

Investing in social media ads can significantly boost your reach and bookings, particularly when targeting specific demographics like tourists planning trips to Kerry.

• Restaurants: Use Facebook and Instagram ads to target food lovers and tourists. Focus on demographics that match your ideal customers, such as families, couples, or groups looking for a meal after a day of exploring.
• Hotels/B&Bs: Advertise limited-time offers or seasonal discounts using targeted Facebook Ads. Retarget users who’ve visited your website but haven’t booked yet with tempting offers and beautiful visuals of your rooms and amenities.
• Tour Guides: Create ad campaigns aimed at adventure seekers or history buffs, focusing on traveller’s interested in unique experiences. Include booking links in your ads and use stunning visuals from your tours to grab attention.

Pro Tip: Run retargeting campaigns for visitors who’ve previously engaged with your site or social media. Retargeting ads are more cost-effective and encourage undecided traveller’s to take action.

7. Engage with Your Audience and Build a Loyal Community

Social media is more than just a broadcasting platform—it’s about building relationships. Consistent engagement with your audience helps build trust and encourages repeat business.

• Restaurants: Engage by asking followers what new dishes they’d like to see, share customer reviews, and respond to comments quickly. Show appreciation to repeat customers by featuring them on your Stories or offering special discounts.
• Hotels/B&Bs: Post polls asking guests what their favourite part of staying with you was. Feature photos of returning guests, and always reply to comments or questions about availability or amenities.
• Tour Guides: Encourage your followers to share their favourite moments from your tours, and engage by sharing tips or fun facts about Kerry. Share reviews and customer feedback in your Stories and posts to highlight positive experiences.

Pro Tip: Be consistent. Posting regularly and responding to comments or DMs quickly will help you create a more engaged and loyal community.

8. Tell Your Business’s Story: Authenticity is Key

One of the best ways to connect with your audience is through storytelling. Share what makes your business unique—the people, the history, the experiences you offer. For hospitality businesses in County Kerry, authenticity is everything.

• Restaurants: Post about your chefs, your ingredients, and the inspiration behind your dishes. Share the story of your restaurant, whether it’s a family-owned spot with generations of history or a new eatery making waves in the Kerry food scene.
• Hotels/B&Bs: Highlight your property’s history, local partnerships, or the team that makes everything run smoothly. Share guest stories—what brought them to Kerry, and what their experience was like.
• Tour Guides: Share your passion for Kerry’s natural beauty and rich history. Tell the story of why you started your tour business and what drives you to show visitors the best of the region.

Pro Tip: Don’t just focus on what you offer—focus on why you offer it. Use authentic storytelling to create deeper connections with your audience.

Conclusion: Drive Growth with a Strong Social Media Strategy in 2024

Whether you run a restaurant in Dingle, a hotel in Killarney, or a tour company showcasing the breath-taking landscapes of County Kerry, a well-executed social media strategy is essential to your success in the final months of 2024.

By focusing on seasonal content, leveraging user-generated content, collaborating with local influencers, and utilizing Facebook and Instagram ads, you can significantly enhance your brand's visibility and engagement.

Remember to engage with your audience consistently, tell authentic stories, and offer experiences that capture the essence of Kerry’s beauty and hospitality. With these strategies, you can not only attract more guests and customers but also build long-term loyalty that will carry your business into 2025 and beyond.

Ready to elevate your social media presence?

EDGE is here to help your hospitality business develop and implement a tailored strategy that drives results. Contact us today to get started!