even Vrbo have already appeared , giving people the real , personal content everyone is craving while they ’ re planning their travels from home .
But big organizations like zoos and vacation rental companies aren ’ t the only ones creating engaging travel-related content on TikTok . Travel advisors are , too , using the platform to showcase their knowledge and services . So which travel advisors are doing it the best ?
Alyssa Soileau , a travel advisor at A Pair of Ears Travel in Louisiana , is always looking for new ways to market herself and to share her love of travel . In December 2020 , she turned to TikTok to do just that .
“ People have gotten past just reading posts on other social media ,” she says . “ Sometimes , reading a long post can seem like a bother . Short videos are highly popular , and it seems that the trend shows videos are the way of the future . It can encompass older and younger generations — a great addition to other platforms already in my marketing plan !”
And she ’ s already gone viral on TikTok . Her video of the Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater Restaurant at Walt Disney World has more than 30,000 likes and has been viewed more than 126,000 times .
“ The video I shared wasn ’ t of a typical restaurant you would visit in your hometown . It was more of an experience that I wanted to expose to my audience . I try to share videos of unique things that not all guests know exist in the parks to generate engagement .” She believes she also boosted her engagement on the video by interacting with a lot of the comments she received on it .
TikTok can be used for more than sharing travel experiences — though it really is a great tool for that . It can also be a strategic way to myth bust misconceptions that travelers may have about travel advisors .
“ I have been able to display my knowledge for these destinations and share what services I offer , and it is all complimentary to my clients ,” Soileau says . “ The biggest myth is
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that travel agents add to the cost , which is hard to dispel . I ’ ve been able to show that I am not just a robot answering questions . I ’ m a real person , who will give real advice and experienced answers .”
Learning how to use yet another social media platform can be intimidating , but Soileau says travel advisors shouldn ’ t be afraid to try something new . “ Social media is constantly changing . If you use social media
to advertise and market , you need to adapt and change with the times ,” she says . “ I believe TikTok is part of the times and should be a part of your overall marketing plan . This will allow users to see and hear your voice , which gives a sense of realism . Take the time to respond to the people who leave comments as well . It gives a sense of personalization to your followers .”
Find Alyssa on TikTok at @ travel _ with _ alyssa .
S�MMER 2021 / THE COMPASS / 27