Many properties are jumping into social media and with the help of a little technology, are developing a fantastic fan base. From random coupon codes to snatching up personal data for email newsletters, it’s no secret that the number of fans or followers you have can seem like a great way to gauge your social media success.

But what do you do with all those followers and fans once you’ve got them?

Bothering your online visitors to press release after press release or simply relying on coupons and discounts to keep them interested doesn’t work anymore. Take a hint from several online savvy brands including the Wynn and Kimpton Hotels, and go the extra mile to ensure that your visitors turn into enthusiasts and spread your message for you.

Here are a few basic tips you should remember:

1. Make them feel special with personal incentives. When Emily Cavalier stayed at Kimpton’s Hotel Palomar, she fell in love with their funky vibe, including snazzy animal print bathrobes. After following the brand on Twitter, she noticed a contest they were running: reply to their tweet and fin a fuzzy bathrobe. Besides being convenient to Emily’s taste, the brand made a positive move by forgoing the typical “5% off” messaging and tapping into what their visitors love about the brand. Though they probably have thousands of bathrobes in storage, waiting to go out to rooms across the country, giving away 20 was a simple effort that made a difference. If you’re wondering, Ms. Cavalier did win one, and did post a photo of it on her blog, sharing it for all of her friends and fans to see.

2. Create an open and transparent dialogue. The Roger Smith Hotel is a tiny boutique sitting among New York City’s numerous hotels. What makes the Roger Smith a Stand-out destination for travelers, however, is their commitment to service and open engagement with their visitors. Not too long ago, Brian Simpson, Director of Social Hospitality, ran across a blog post from an unsatisfied event planner naming several reasons she had a difficult time booking at the popular restaurant in the hotel. Instead of pushing it under the rug, Simpson took the initiative to reach out to the patron, find out what the situation was, and work to correct the error. Though the event worked out as planned, making the visitor happy, she was most impressed that Simpson had taken the time to contact her personally and even requested that she not delete her blog post, after all, it was her initial feeling. She did, however, follow it up post event.

3. Give fans and followers the tools to spread your message. It’s fantastic to have a fan base, but how can they tell their friends and family if you don’t make it easy? Even a luxurious 5-star resort like the Las Vegas Wynn takes the time to create enthusiasm. Among general tweets and discussion, the Wynn takes the opportunity via Twitter to seek out hotel visitors and recommend everything from entertainment to meals to drinks. “Nice to have you back! Thanks for checking in on Foursquare!” reads one tweet. “What are you looking to drink tonight?” reads the next reply. Arming visitors with this information leads to accessible retweets and information sharing, all with the click of a button.

See the full article at HotelMarketing.com