How to Streamline Essential Info Using Facebook Groups

Picture this: Your next group tour is all put together and nearly sold out—a great accomplishment!

Now, do you find yourself continually answering the same questions via email or phone? Imagine if there was a way to provide a sense of community and a way to relay information and ensure the itinerary is available for all participants, 24/7.

This scenario of keeping your "group in the loop" is no longer a dream.

Building a sense of camaraderie and community before your group even departs can be a key part of its success on the road and in terms of future bookings. While the pre-group meeting and document party is a mainstay in our industry, what if there was another way to keep growing that sense of community?

Group Tours and Facebook Groups

Facebook groups are a perfect tool for building a sense of belonging amongst group members, before, during and after the tour.

Simply start a private or closed group on Facebook and add each group member. They'll have the opportunity to communicate with each other by asking and responding to questions and posting photos.

Here are a few key ways to use a Facebook Group for your next group tour.

1. Include only group tour passengers in this group. This will keep the focus clear and help build relationships within the group.
2. As the group coordinator, post the itinerary as a document in the group, so each group member will have 24/7 access to the itinerary.
3. Before the tour, a Facebook group is a perfect place for people to ask questions. As the group coordinator, you can answer a question one time, rather than fielding the same question via email and phone. Your answers can be seen by all group members.
4. Group members will naturally ask and answer each other's questions. As the group coordinator, you can always seed that conversation with questions to get it rolling.
5. During the tour, people can share photos within their group.

Streamlining important information and creating an atmosphere of community and enthusiasm are key to the success of your group tours. Facebook groups are the perfect tool! For individual tours, they'll give your clients an air of having the inside scoop, while also providing a platform for delivering essential information.

Which tools are you using to assist your group tours?

Written by Catherine Heeg, an international speaker and trainer who focuses on social media marketing strategies for the tourism and hospitality industry. Join the conversation and connect with her at www.cmsspeaking.com and socially.