Social Media Isn’t Dead—What I Learned
and Why It Matters for Us
Earlier this week I joined a webinar hosted by Neil Patel and his team at NP Digital, and it was packed with no-fluff, truly helpful insights on how social media works today—especially for small businesses like ours in the vacation rental, boutique hotel, and tourism space.
Let’s be honest: social media can feel like a time-suck. If you’ve ever asked yourself, “Is it even worth it anymore?”—you’re not alone. But here’s the surprising truth:
Social media isn’t dead. It’s just different.
People still discover your property or service through platforms like Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and Pinterest. The catch? They may not book the first time. But showing up regularly helps build trust—and that leads to bookings down the road.
🎥 Watch the Replay
I’ve embedded the webinar video below so you can watch it when you have time—it’s full of real talk, smart data, and quick wins:
📋 Cheat Sheet: Quick Wins for Hospitalty Folksa
I pulled together a simple cheat sheet for you too—just in case you want to save or print it.
🔑 What This Means for Us
1. People are finding your business on social—then coming back to book.
Even if they don’t book right away, they’re watching.
2. Short-form video is where the magic is.
TikToks, Reels, and Shorts catch attention and are algorithm-friendly.
💡 Idea: Film a quick clip of your morning view, your favorite hammock spot, or a s’mores kit setup.
3. Paid ads don’t have to cost a lot.
Even $5–$10/day can increase your reach.
📊 In NP Digital’s study, paid social drove almost 24% of revenue—organic content only brought in 2.3%.
4. Real people build trust.
Post photos or videos from guests (UGC) and your team (EGC).
These feel authentic and can be reused in other posts or ads.
5. Work with micro-influencers.
They get better engagement than big influencers and are more affordable.
🤝 Invite a local creator to stay in exchange for content.
6. Don’t overlook Pinterest.
It’s a planner’s dream. Share travel ideas, mini-itineraries, or packing lists.
📌 “3 Days in [Your Town]” could bring the right people to your door.
7. TikTok and Instagram = the new search engines.
People are literally searching “places to stay in [City]” right on these platforms.
8. Social shopping is taking off.
You can sell gift cards, merch, or offer a “book now” button—all inside the app.
9. LinkedIn is great for B2B partnerships.
Especially if you host retreats, events, or want to connect with travel pros.
10. Niche groups are gold.
Reddit threads, Facebook Groups, and Discord communities are where people plan their next getaway.
11. Use DMs for real conversations.
Comments can turn into bookings. Tools like ManyChat can help automate responses while still feeling personal.
✨ Final Tips Before You Log Off
✅ Combine organic posts with low-cost paid ones
✅ Keep video short, natural, and real
✅ Ask guests to tag you or leave a review
✅ Reuse the same content across platforms
✅ Don’t stress about being perfect—just start posting
✅ New features = algorithm bonus (think polls, reels, stories)