If you went on holiday and didn’t post anything about it on social media – did you go on holiday at all? According to Social Capital Seekers, the answer would be a resounding no… or at the very least, it’s a wasted opportunity that could have been used to boost social influence and reap real rewards.
With a sixth sense for identifying potential for spreadable content, this Traveller Tribe has blurred the boundaries between the physical and virtual self. This goes far beyond boosting their egos with a whole lot of “likes” – Social Capital Seekers are business savvy and adept at finding ways of turning their social influence into tangible benefits.
The mobile revolution sweeping across Africa, along with the exponential growth expected in terms of those using their devices to access the internet, means we can expect to see the emergence of a generation of African Social Capital Seekers. Just last year, Facebook announced that it has over 100 million active users on the continent– an astounding 50% of all Africans connected to the internet, and a vast audience that travel brands can tap into via social influencers.
So how can you reach this Tribe, and even more importantly, inspire them enough to get access to their valuable followers?
Social Capital Seekers are just as likely to consult with their audience and trusted peers in the travel decision-making process as they are during their actual journey. Clever marketing of destinations and brands will be required to give them the “bucket list” status that gets this Traveller Tribe excited.
It won’t be enough for travel agents to simply have a social media presence – they will need to be trained and equipped to handle all kinds of queries on public platforms and in real time, from price negotiations to complaints and even actual bookings.
In the future, you can expect to see third-party expert researchers acting as an intermediary between Social Capital Seekers and travel companies, conveniently taking care of negotiations on behalf of travellers.
Personalisation is crucial to Social Capital Seekers, and at every step throughout the journey, from cabin options to hotel rooms and features, experiences and entertainment. This tribe will volunteer feedback easily, but will also expect you to take it on board.
The greatest challenge to get right (but also a tremendous opportunity), will be creating “feed-friendly experiences” that boost the traveller’s clout and influence. In other words, exceptional moments that simply have to be shared. Travel companies need to find ways of inviting customers to move between social media and physical spaces seamlessly to capture and promote these moments.
Expect this to come at a cost. Customers are unlikely to engage without getting something in return – better deals, upgrades, VIP services and even cash back.
For Social Capital Seekers, WiFi is like oxygen, and it should be free, fast and available everywhere.