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TikTok has taken the world by storm, boasting over 1.7 billion active users globally.

For tour operators, this presents a golden opportunity to tap into a vast and engaged audience. But how can you effectively harness the power of this platform to elevate your tour business?

Dive into our comprehensive guide where we unveil proven strategies, creative video inspirations, and insider tips to make your TikTok content not just viral but also profitable. Let's embark on this TikTok journey together!

What is TikTok?

TikTok is an incredibly powerful and popular short-form video app and visual platform, targeting a generally younger audience and female travelers.

It allows users to create and share creative short videos with their followers.

For example, TikTok influencers have used the platform to create cool content through short videos of their travels. This has resulted in a surge of interest in certain destinations among their followers.

Understanding TikTok: A Brief Overview

It's a great platform for tour operators to take advantage of when marketing their tours, as it has an audience of millions around the world! Operating on a unique algorithm, many TikTok users go viral with their content. One factor is if their TikTok videos are deemed particularly entertaining or worthwhile.

The U.S. takes the top spot with 150 million users active on TikTok.- TikTok Statistics To Know in 2023 by Infulencity

On top of that, its easy navigation and simple user interface make creating and editing videos a breeze for beginners.  

Getting to know how TikTok works and some best practices can help tour operators promote their tours on the app through short clips.

Know how to make TikTok travel videos | Travel TikToks

Wondering where and how to start? We've got you covered!

Keep on reading and at the end of this blog post, you'll get to kickstart your TikTok social media strategy with a bang!

Let's begin with the steps on how to start making video content creation and ideation.

Leveraging TikTok for Tour Promotions

TikTok has been gaining a lot of popularity among many social media users and can be an effective tool for tour operators to promote their tours in more engaging ways than ever before.

Creating TikTok videos involves understanding how the app works, how to start making videos, and how best to promote them.

Know how TikTok works

Explore the TikTok feed and get inspiration from other content creators

Firstly, get familiar with how TikTok works by creating an account and scrolling through your feed. Scan the home feed and explore more videos and see how you can incorporate their styles when you upload videos.

Once you understand how different content styles work together and how videos are seen by viewers, then you can create content that meets their expectations and grabs their attention.

Get creative

Secondly, have an idea of what kind of videos you want to make before starting recording; the key is to keep the content creative and not just a sales pitch.

Tip: To start, using TikTok's search bar, key in the type of tour you are selling. For instance, "safari tours", "city tours", "cape town tours", or "Canada travel"- start with the main thing, the type of tour you are selling and the place where you are operating. Then, you will see how tourists and other tour agents film their tours, by these you will get an idea of how you can sell your tours too.

What are some good TikTok ideas?

Share different angles of your tours
Show off your tours with eye-catching photos

You are not restricted to the type of content you can share, so get creative and give your viewers a 360-degree view of what you offer.

Share your local and traditional cuisine to die for
Bring your tours to life with the fantastic foods your tours serve

They say "The best way to get a man's heart is through his stomach" - so try creating a video that introduces viewers to the traditional dishes at a local restaurant, whether you grow your own produce or shop for the best crops. By sharing the food you serve in your food tour business, you can spread the vibe of what makes you unique.

A 'get-ready-with-me' reel
Let them visit the backend, and record cool behind-the-scenes of your team cleaning or preparing tours.

You could also create a behind-the-scenes video of your team prepping for the tour, and cleaning your space, and share it with viewers to give them an exclusive look at what goes on.

Share historical and interesting facts
Share interesting facts of the site or trip you are offering

You can share the story of how the castle or the arch you are visiting was built or the significance of the museum you are touring.

Feature recent tour groups
Share the fun- capture happy tourists while they explore your tours!

In addition, you can create a reel of your tour group hiking up a mountain, taking in the scenic views, and having a great time.

After all, many people love being filmed and featured! They can share their travel experience on their own profiles and generate word-of-mouth marketing to their followers, family, friends, and friends of friends!

What are the most popular TikTok topics?

Popular topics center around gaining knowledge (perhaps of a foreign language and cultural differences) and sharing experiences as well as travel tips on preparing for eco-friendly travel experiences: from innovative packing strategies to reusing materials while traveling, TikTokers have been delivering all kinds of unique travel ideas. There's never been an easier or more exciting way to get creative with travel and share one's discoveries!

There is so much you can film about travel! Ideate and get your mind out of that box and share whatever makes your tours and activities unique.

Use hashtags strategically

Finally, use trending hashtags or collaborations on TikTok when necessary while also taking advantage of other channels like Instagram and Twitter to spread the reach further toward your desired market.

Let your target market discover your tours with the right hashtags

Reach local audiences

TikTok hashtags are a great way for tour content creators to boost their local SEO.

To properly leverage hashtags on TikTok, it’s important to use them strategically. Here are some tips for doing this:

  • Research trending hashtags in your industry and related industries.
  • Use relevant hashtags that accurately describe your post.
  • Come up with multiple themed hashtag lists to use for different videos.
  • Avoid using too many hashtags in one post, as it can lead to being flagged as spammy.
  • Include hashtags in your caption, as well as on the videos.
  • Use popular tourism industry hashtags to help increase visibility.

By using relevant hashtags, your videos can be discoverable to audiences interested in the services you provide, increasing engagement and visibility.

How do you make a good travel video?

To make great travel posts and reels (a viral video), make sure to pay attention to small details such as sound levels, framing, cool transitions, and lighting as they can help take your travel video from mediocre to mesmerizing!

For instance, using natural lighting for outdoor shots can help create a more dynamic and vibrant look for your video, while using a microphone to record sound can help make your footage stand out from the crowd.

Final tip: Use editing software (TikTok has its own editor) when you're putting together clips to show viewers the uniqueness of each travel destination. From there, use strategic placement of music, text, voiceovers, and transitions to bring it all together and make the finished product professional and engaging.

Best Practices for Tiktok Video Creation

Whether you are a travel blogger or selling travel brands, here are some best practices for creating effective travel-related content on TikTok:

  • Focus on one topic or destination at a time
  • Keep your videos entertaining and informative
  • Be creative and use different angles to show off your services
  • Interact with followers in the comments section
  • Make sure you have a good audio quality
  • Post consistently
  • Use trending songs
  • Use hashtags strategically for maximum visibility
  • Share behind-the-scenes footage
  • Encourage viewers to share their feedback
  • Use timely content
  • Try adding text and text-to-speech features to engage viewers
  • Optimize viewing experience for social media

Creating opportunities on TikTok doesn’t happen overnight. It takes patience, research, and a bit of creativity to get your content in front of the right people.

Talking about getting your TikTok video in front of the right people, aside from creating authentic content, you should know how to promote your content.

The key? Distribution.

How to promote your Tiktok videos

When it comes to promoting your video content, there are a few key TikTok tips that can help enhance the visibility of your content. The first and most effective way is by leveraging hashtags and collaborations.

Use hashtags

Hashtags are an important tool for helping your video stand out and reach a wide audience on TikTok. When utilizing hashtags, it’s important to research trending tags within your industry, as well as related industries.

You can also create your own hashtag that is relevant to the content of your videos and use it consistently across all platforms. This will help increase brand awareness and attract more viewers to your profile.

Connect with Instagram

Instagram, the world's second most downloaded app, is more than a social platform; it's a marketing powerhouse with a whopping 2.3 billion monthly users.

Leverage Instagram to boost your content and captivate a broader audience. Your videos could reach millions when you engage creatively and collaboratively on this platform.

Remember, compelling, shareable content is key. It's also worth exploring influencer marketing, a surefire way to amplify your TikTok visibility. So, tap into Instagram's massive audience and watch your impact soar.

Repurpose content across channels

In addition, one of the best ways to promote your TikTok videos is to repurpose your existing content across other platforms, like into your travel website and social media channels.

This means taking some of your best-performing TikTok videos and posting them on other social media websites like Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and Facebook. This will help increase the visibility of your profile and reach a wider audience. Additionally, it can help drive more followers to your TikTok page.

Collaborations

Collaborations are another way to increase visibility on TikTok.

These can be done with other tour operators, influencers, travel bloggers, digital content creators, or even local businesses that you partner with.

Collaborations are great for expanding your reach and getting more eyes on your content. It’s also a great way to build relationships and gain exposure for both parties involved.

Finally, it is important to engage with your followers on TikTok.

Engage with your audience

Commenting on other people’s posts and replying to comments on yours will help you build relationships and create a loyal following.

You can also run contests and giveaways that encourage people to follow you or use a specific hashtag. This will not only help you increase engagement on your profile but it can also be used as a way to funnel potential customers toward your services.

Wrapping Up

TikTok's meteoric rise offers a golden opportunity for tour operators to captivate a global audience. It's not just about creating videos; it's about telling compelling stories that resonate.

While the journey to TikTok mastery involves experimentation and learning, the rewards—increased visibility, engagement, and bookings—are immense.

Stay consistent, be authentic, and leverage the power of cross-promotion. And remember, behind every successful TikTok campaign is a robust digital tool ...

Discover how TicketingHub can amplify your efforts and transform your tour business. Ready to elevate your tour business? Request a demo with us today!

FAQs

How do I become a TikTok travel content creator?

  1. Define Your Niche: Start by identifying a specific travel niche or theme that resonates with you. Whether it's solo travel, eco-tourism, or culinary adventures, having a clear focus will set you apart.
  2. Showcase Authentic Experiences: Share genuine moments, from awe-inspiring sunsets to road challenges. Authenticity resonates with audiences.
  3. Embrace Continuous Learning: Stay updated with TikTok trends, features, and tools. Attend workshops or online courses to enhance your video-making skills.
  4. Innovate and experiment: While it's important to have your own style, don't shy away from experimenting with creative content formats, music, or editing techniques.
  5. Engage with Your Community: Respond to comments, collaborate with fellow content creators, and participate in trending challenges to increase your visibility.
  6. Build Strategic Partnerships: Connect with travel agencies, hotels, and local businesses. Offer to showcase their services in exchange for unique experiences or sponsorships.
  7. Stay Consistent: Regular posting keeps your audience engaged while also signaling the TikTok algorithm about your account's activeness.
  8. Optimize Your Profile: Ensure your bio clearly describes your travel niche and includes a professional email for collaborations and inquiries.

What do you need to make travel videos?

  1. Quality Camera: A DSLR, mirrorless camera, or even a high-end smartphone with advanced camera capabilities.
  2. Stabilization Tools: Consider a gimbal or tripod to avoid shaky footage.
  3. Microphone: External mics can significantly improve audio quality, especially in windy or noisy environments.
  4. Editing Software: Video app top choices like Final Cut Pro, Adobe Premiere Pro, or free alternatives like DaVinci Resolve.
  5. Backup Storage: External hard drives or cloud storage to backup raw footage.
  6. Accessories: Extra batteries, memory cards, lens cleaners, and protective cases.
  7. Music & Sound Effects: Royalty-free music platforms like Epidemic Sound or Artlist.
  8. Storyline: A rough script or storyboard to guide your shooting and ensure you capture the necessary shots.

How do I promote my TikTok travel?

  1. Engage with the Community: Respond to comments, collaborate with fellow creators, and participate in trending challenges.
  2. Cross-Promote: Share your TikTok videos on other social platforms like Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter.
  3. Use Relevant Hashtags: Incorporate trending and niche-specific hashtags to increase your videos' discoverability.
  4. Collaborate: Partner with travel influencers or other content creators, brands, or local businesses for shoutouts or joint content creation.
  5. Consistent Posting: Maintain a regular posting schedule to keep your audience engaged and attract new followers.
  6. Engaging thumbnails: Use eye-catching cover images to entice users to click on your video.
  7. Host Giveaways: Organize contests or giveaways with simple rules, like tagging friends or sharing your video, to increase its reach.
  8. Engage in TikTok Ads: Invest in TikTok's advertising platform to promote your content to a broader audience.

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