Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Flipboard 0 There’s no denying that the internet has altered aspects of the travel industry. As capabilities increase online, more opportunities emerge for both professionals and consumers – with social media playing a vital role in it all. Social media is important within nearly every industry – but especially so within travel and hospitality. It allows for companies to connect with consumers in new ways, as well as communicate and share pictures and information more effectively. This digital and social branding provides profitable reach potential. Connecting consumers with each other, social media has evolved “word-of-mouth” recommendations. For example, vacation pictures posted on Google+ by one user can pique the interest of many more – leading to increased search inquiries and traffic. Social media is an excellent discovery and research tool. TripAdvisor recently conducted a survey to determine the top social sites consumers turn to for travel research and planning. Google+ was second only to Facebook, with 40% of consumers citing G+ as their go-to resource. 22% of those respondents found Google+ to be the most useful network – far above others like Twitter or Instagram. This is largely due to the valuable integration of Google’s search and social features. When a consumer conducting travel research turns to Google+ as opposed to another social network, they reap the benefits of the world’s top search engine. On Google+, those consumers will find travel articles, photos, brand or business details, destination facts or statistics, and Zagat reviews. The unique combination of professional and user-generated information, G+ streamlines SEO and social efforts. Together, these work to increase visibility and traffic. When consumers search on Google, they are also shown Google+ results on the right side of the page. Social results for the Phoenician resort are shown below: The above information improves brand credibility, increasing the likelihood of customer acquisition. For those in the travel industry, Google+ is the ideal resource to attract consumers and influence decisions. Social networks often lead consumers to search engines for more in-depth research, and in this case, it will lead them right back to Google’s social side. To optimize your presence on Google+, contact ZOG Digital for an SMO audit today. Twitter Tweet Facebook Share Email This article originally appeared on Social Media and Search Marketing Blog and has been republished with permission.Find out how to syndicate your content with B2C Author: Kane Pepi Kane Pepi is an experienced financial and cryptocurrency writer with over 2,000+ published articles, guides, and market insights in the public domain. Expert niche subjects include asset valuation and analysis, portfolio management, and the prevention of financial crime. Kane is particularly skilled in explaining complex financial topics in a user-friendly … View full profile ›More by this author:VoIP Basics: Everything Beginners Should Know!Bitcoin Investment, Trading & Mining: The Ultimate Guide for BeginnersIs This a Better Way to Set Your 2020 Goals and Resolutions?