Best Ways for Golf Courses to Increase Social Media Engagement
It has been reported that by 2023, the number of individuals using social media in the United States is expected to reach 257.4 million. With such a high usage rate, it’s easy to understand the importance of a strong social media presence for your golf course, which can help to increase brand awareness and conversions.
Shares, likes, followers, comments: these are all examples of social media engagement, and they are essential for growing your golf course’s social media presence. Some of the best ways that golf courses can increase social media engagement include:
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Sharing useful content
Make your social media platforms the go-to source for members when it comes to helpful, informative content. This can include news updates, daily links to online tee-time registration, hole flyover videos that clearly outline your courses for golfers looking to plan their shots, and so on. Content with a purpose will encourage more frequent traffic to your social media channels, and it will help to boost engagement.
Mixing up your posts
One of the best ways to keep people engaged on social media is to post interesting content, but this also means not being repetitive. Remember, your target audience is interested in golfing, but your content doesn’t have to just focus solely on your golf course.
Create a content calendar with a good variety of relevant topics that will appeal to your audience: links to new golf gear, new food and beverage offerings, reviews of golf equipment, golf tournament coverage, and other information and news that’s trending in the world of golf.
Investing in video ads
Ads are a terrific way to cast a wider net when it comes to reaching your target audience, which will almost inevitably translate to more engagement. Take your paid social media campaigns to the next level by creating engaging video ads that show off your golf course. People are twice as likely to share video content with others than any other type of content, ensuring that video ads result in an even wider reach than anticipated.
Not only can paid ads that utilize video result in more engagements, but it can also increase conversions. In fact, 93 percent of brands report that videos they posted on social media resulted in new customers.
Putting the “social” in social media
Before businesses started taking advantage of social media for marketing purposes, the core of social media was about connecting family and friends. Most golf courses and country clubs host an array of events throughout the year, from members-only parties to tournaments. Providing ample coverage of these events through photos and video is a great way to boost engagement, as anyone attending these events will likely be eager to view and share those posts.
Also, remember that a significant number of your followers are members who likely have seen a lot of the same people when they’re at the club, but may not know much about each other. Photos and videos that feature members and staff can be a fantastic way to personalize your posts. Have a one-on-one interview with a long-time member about his or her passion for golf, or perhaps highlight a staff member’s achievements and share more personal details about him or her with your audience. These types of posts can help to bring people together, encourage more online socialization, and ultimately drive engagement.
Hosting a giveaway
If you’re looking for a quick way to drive social media engagement, consider hosting a giveaway. Your prize could include a free round of golf, a coveted item from your pro shop, a free meal for two at your country club’s restaurant, and so on. A significant number of giveaways on social media include instructions that, in a nutshell, require engagement. Prizes are often the ultimate motivator when it comes to social media engagement.
Going beyond the fairways
While your social media content should be heavily focused on golf, this shouldn’t be your entire focus if your golf course is just one element of your country club. Perhaps your club also offers tennis, top-notch restaurants, and a lavish swimming pool. Keep your followers interested, and attract an even bigger following, by also sharing videos that showcase your other amenities.
Always responding to comments and questions
Whether you were asked a question about green fees or someone leaves a negative comment about their experience on your golf course, it’s important to always address all questions and comments on social media–both good and bad. This shows other followers that you’re responsive and that you care about your customers, and because they know they’ll get a timely response as well, they will also be more likely to ask questions and leave comments.
This also involves elements of social listening, which means not only addressing the feedback your golf course is directly receiving on social media, but what people might be saying about your golf course on their own newsfeeds. For instance, someone may have tweeted about their golfing experience at your country club. Whether it was good or bad, it is highly recommended to publicly address that feedback by responding to that individual’s tweet on your own account.
Getting the best videos of your golf course for social media
Whether you need videos for organic social media posts or paid campaigns, you’ve come to the right place. At FORE Golf, we provide a wide array of video marketing needs. Specifically tailoring our services to golf courses and country clubs, we provide the types of videos that we know your members (and prospective members) are looking for. Contact us today to learn more!
Are you looking to learn more about creating video footage of your country club or golf course? From comprehensive hole maps to high-quality video for commercials, FORE Golf can provide your organization with a wide range of video content services that will perfectly showcase your golf course. Contact us today for more information and to book a shoot!
