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It wasn't that long ago when you had to book a holiday from a newspaper ad or, if you were a real chancer, from the Tourist Information Centre when you arrived at your holiday location. Many holiday cottages were old, tired, rustic, can I say it?... Very 80's! It's a completely new world out there now and social media is free with the opportunity to boost your post for a small fee, if you want to get extra some coverage. I'm aware of 4 main Social Media Platforms: Pinterest: - great for sharing and viewing photos - You maybe to gain some motivation and inspiration for your own holiday accommodation but you'll be unlikely to get many bookings from posting there. I personally just don't feel it's a platform that everyone looks at when they have a spare minute during the day. Twitter: In my option you'll be wasting your time. Twitter is great for publishing figures, events or even having a political rant but I don't think it's for us in this industry. Facebook: Now we are talking. People use Facebook every day - you can create a page for free, join groups set up for people looking for their perfect staycation and freely communicate with them. Highly recommended. Instagram: People don't like to read lots of text (good tip for your website) and then you have the old cliche "A Picture is worth more than a thousand words" No matter how "Cliche...esk" it is, it's very true and this is where your power lies. I always suggest my clients use a mix of professional and their own day to day images on Instagram - it shows their personality - the personality that put together and designed their beautiful Holiday Accommodation. It's Fun, all Free and gives you a chance to be a little creative - or go crazy and be as creative as you can! Some days , you may feel as if you're getting nowhere but, in reality you really are getting somewhere. It's not about likes, it's about impressions. Not everyone who see's a post will like it. But the fact that they have seen it, a seed is planted inside their head. When they see your property for the 2nd, 3rd, 4th time then the more likely it is that it will stick in their head. If they love it and is suitable for their family holiday then the chances are they will investigate further. The more someone sees your name and photos, the more they will stick. For example, you get some pretty serious industries (Like Banking and Finance etc) showing some pretty silly adverts on TV - But they stick in your head. That's good Branding for you! Post regularly about how beautiful your holiday cottage (and the area) is, what a guest could be enjoying and make them want to rent the place. In the, take a look at mine? Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/siranshawphoto/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SiRanshawPhotography/ Will they stick on your head too?

And what a year it was! I expected it to be quieter than the previous one but it wasn't - it was another crazy one but I loved every minute and got to see some more amazing parts of the UK. On the 10th December I wrapped up my last shoot of the year and sent the images to a very happy client, when suddenly 3 more bookings came in - all needed to be turned around before Xmas. So, I still managed to get all my Christmas shopping done by 22nd December which is a real achievement and a record for me! So, here I sit at my desk on the last day of 2023, with a pile of quotations for get out before the end of the day and hoping 2024 will be a great year for all my clients, past, present and future. Keep an eye out here for some more blogs in 2023 where hopefully I'll be producing some really interesting articles that I hope you'll love if own or manage Holiday Accommodation in the UK, or anywhere in the world. Check me out on Instagram too @SiRanshawPhoto Have a great one and see you on the other side. HNY! Si x The Lake House on the edge of the beautiful Breacon Beacons. Photographed for LuxuryCottages.com, Autumn 2023. #HolidayCottage #LakeHouse #Lakeside #LakeHouse #Photography #Photographer #HotTub #Wales #BreconBeacons

So, with the Christmas Holiday season upon us, I've a couple quiet weeks from shooting so I thought I'd put together a blog. (Wix recommended I do too) Hopefully this won't be a one way blog so please don't hesitate to ask questions in the comments and I'll do my best to help you out. (for free of course and there's no obligation at all) Please note that I won't use this as a selling machine - I don't do any hard selling either. Nor do I collect data or use any to send out unsolicited emails trying to persuade you to book a professional photoshoot with me. That's not the way I work. Hopefully my work sells itself. Please do keep an eye out on this blog and maybe join up so you can see updates. There may be a flurry of posts in the next few weeks but, as the days get longer from Saturday - I might go quiet in the spring when I start travelling all over the UK again shooting some lovely properties. Best wishes and have a great Xmas everyone. Si