1. International marketing advice
  2. Reaching the consumer
  3. Guide to social media channels

Guide to social media channels

Over 3 million Facebook followers. Award-winning social media campaigns. Our leading social media presence plays a key role in our marketing strategy. Tap into our digital know-how and make social media part of your business strategy too.

Use our know-how to find out how your business can broaden its digital reach by getting social.

Facebook

With over 1.1 billion users, Facebook is one of the most popular social networking sites, and its fastest growing demographic is the 45-54 age bracket.

  • Post updates, offers and competitions for your customers
  • Share relevant, fun daily updates, photos and video clips to keep your content fresh and engaging
  • Interact with customers and respond to feedback

Connect with VisitBritain on Facebook – join our ever-growing community of over 3 million followers.

Twitter

With 288 million active monthly users, Twitter is one of the most popular social networking sites. It enables users to send 140-character tweets to connect with consumer and trade audiences.

  • Build travel industry contacts
  • Share updates and relevant quirky facts with consumers in real time
  • Stay up-to-date with industry news

Don’t forget to mention us on Twitter if you have any product updates. With over 200,000 followers @VisitBritain is officially one of the most influential tourist boards in the world on Twitter. Also, you can keep up-to-date with industry news by following @VisitBritainBiz

YouTube

A video-sharing site with over 1 billion active monthly users, YouTube is the second largest search engine in the world after Google.

  • Create quality short videos to showcase your product or tour to consumers
  • Capture unusual elements of your guest experience to inspire viewers to visit
  • Use keywords in the title of your video to help people find it through search

Explore GREAT Britain on YouTube – to see how we’re showcasing Britain as the world’s leading destination.

Google+

All users with a Google account are automatically given a Google+ account, the social network created by Google.

  • Share updates and images with consumers on your company page
  • Signpost customers to your website and YouTube content
  • Help drive up your search engine rankings

Connect with us on Google+  – join our community of over 141,000 followers for updates showcasing all the things that make Britain a GREAT place to visit.

​Pinterest

A virtual pinboard, Pinterest allows users to post and share interesting, inspiring images on particular themes, such as travel destinations.

  • Set up a business page to visually represent your product or region to consumers
  • Capture people’s interest with creative, unusual images
  • Create themed boards using high quality images from a range of sources

Follow Love GREAT Britain on Pinterest – we’ll follow you back and repin your pins on our boards where applicable, helping your business get noticed by our 27,000 followers.

​Instagram

A fast-growing social media network, Instagram allows users to share photos and videos.

  • Communicate your offering to consumers through photos and 15 second video clips
  • Share snapshots of your product or region in real time
  • Use fun, original images to keep your content engaging

Discover us on Instagram – working with industry and government departments and agencies that promote Britain overseas we’re creating and sharing original, informative, inspiring content.

​LinkedIn

A business-to-business social networking site, LinkedIn has over 225 million users.

  • Network business-to-business with travel industry colleagues and leaders
  • Share relevant blog posts and articles, positioning your business as an expert in its field
  • Join relevant groups to take part in discussions, exchange knowledge and share tips

Follow our LinkedIn VisitBritain company page or take part in the discussion on our LinkedIn VisitBritain group 

​Weibo and WeChat​

China has the highest number of internet users in the world and social media is a highly influential medium in the country. However, due to government restrictions, many popular western social media sites aren’t available in China. Sina Weibo has over 503 million users. Similar to Twitter, it allows users to post 140-Chinese character messages. WeChat, called Weixin in China, is a chat app similar to WhatsApp, with around 500 million active users.

  • Share messages, videos and photos with consumers
  • Interact by posting and responding to comments
  • Build connections with Chinese consumers – 95% of Chinese customers trust a company more that is engaged and active on Weibo (Digital Index)

Find VisitBritain on Weibo – join a community of over 400,000 fans.

Search our marketing opportunities for more ways to boost your business’s online presence.

Read our research to understand what role social media plays and how we can best use this channel to generate bookings for the UK. Published 2011

 

Our consumer social media channels

Social media is a vital component of our marketing strategy. We’re strongly positioned on the channels below to engage actively with our target audience, ensuring they feel part of an active community: