There are millions of posts that are collected on Instagram using the #ExploreBC hashtag. In order to help locals and tourists alike discover even more of the beauty of British Columbia, Canada, the 'BC Explorer' website was set up to collect these inspiring Instagram posts from adventure-seekers across the Canadian province.
As well as being a great place to look for awe-inspiring landscapes and landmarks, the site serves as a place where people can find out more about each location and even create trips based on the photos they see.
To refine the results that appear on the BC Explorer page, users are abele to filter the images that they see by region, city and themes like "places to eat" or "cities on the edge of wilderness." This tourism website shows exactly how a branded hashtag can be used in the creation of crowdsourced content.
Social Tourism Sites
British Columbia's 'BC Explorer' Site Collects #ExploreBC Instagram Posts
Trend Themes
1. Crowdsourced Tourism - Creating a platform that curates user-generated content on social media creating a crowdsourced experience for tourists can lead to a more personalized and authentic travel experience.
2. Hyper-local Travel - Filtering social media posts by region and city allows for more geographically specific travel recommendations and itineraries, which could be a new niche that appeals to travelers who seek a deeper cultural experience.
3. Brand Marketing Through Social Media - Creating branded hashtags like #ExploreBC encourages user-generated content, curating real experiences for potential tourists and expanding your brand reach beyond conventional marketing campaigns.
Industry Implications
1. Travel & Tourism - By using crowdsourced content on social media, the travel and tourism industry can create more personalized travel experiences for customers, hence increasing customer satisfaction, retention and footfall.
2. Social Media - Opportunities exist here for social media to expand their business-to-business marketing strategy alongside nurturing collaborations with the tourism industry.
3. Digital Marketing - Crowdsourced content on social media curated by brands generates value and authenticity for a campaign beyond conventional marketing techniques, opening up opportunities for businesses to reach their target market effectively.