With nearly 90% of us using at least one social media platform, it’s a great way to keep students and parents up-to-date with your trip.
What can you use social media for?
Social media's great for:
- Launching your school trip
- Giving students and parents important info before the trip
- Issuing last-minute reminders to students and/or parents (like luggage limits)
- Giving parents updates during the trip (so they can their kids are having a great time)
- Updating parents on your ETA back to school (particularly useful if you get stuck in traffic or make an earlier Channel crossing)
Why use social media for your school trip?
It can be really scary for parents to send their kids abroad without them.
But you can reassure them they’re safe and happy by posting regular updates on social media (saving your phone being inundated with calls checking up on them).
You can use social media to get the kids excited about the trip too. Post photos and videos from past trips or share posts from accounts that are posting about the destination or activities - so they get a flavour of what to expect.
And you can share interesting articles about the places they’re going to visit, to start their learning journey even before you travel.
Social media’s also useful in the run-up to the trip.
You can use it to remind parents of payment deadlines, parents’ evening arrangements and where and when to drop off and collect their kids.
You can even use social media to remind them what to pack.
Which social media should I use?
Honestly, it really depends where your audience is and what you want to share.
X (formerly known as Twitter) is great for short updates. Facebook allows you to write longer posts (if you have time to). And Instagram is great for visual updates if you plan on taking lots of pictures and videos.
Should I set up an account for the trip?
This is totally up to you.
Generally, it’s probably easiest to use the school’s established social media accounts – parents and students are probably already following these.
But if you’re going to run the trip on an annual basis, you could set up a trip-specific account. You could then use this account to show future groups how much fun they’re going to have.
If you've never used a social media platform before, then the good news is that it couldn't be easier to set up an account. Just head to the relevant website (e.g. Instagram) and follow the on-screen instructions.
If privacy is a concern, most social media platforms allow you to change your privacy settings to allow your posts to be seen only by people you have approved (usually by accepting a friend or follow request).
If you do decide to do this, just be mindful that only the parents who have followed you will see your posts - and those who haven't won't see the information or updates you're sharing (so, you'll need to think of other ways to keep them in the loop).
Of course, if you do set up social media accounts for your trip, you'll need to let parents know about it, so they can choose to follow you. So, make sure you include this information in emails and other communications you send them about the trip. You should mention it at any parents' evenings and on any promotional posters.
When should I start posting about the trip?
Whenever you’re ready, is the short answer.
The slightly longer answer is that you can start posting as soon as you have something to say about your trip.
And that might be when you’re launching it and getting students signed up, or it might be just before you leave, when you have last-minute info to share.
Join us and win!
We spend months helping you to plan your school trips, so we love seeing your posts when you’re out on your trips (it reminds us why we do what we do).
And when you tag us (@HalsburyTravel) in your trip posts on social media, you'll automatically be entered into our termly social media competition, where you could win a £30 Amazon voucher.
Terms and Conditions
- Halsbury Travel must be tagged in the post (@HalsburyTravel).
- The post must refer to a trip booked through Halsbury Travel.
- Posts on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn will all be eligible for the competition.
- The draw will take place at the end of each term.
- Halsbury Travel will announce the winner on social media.
- Halsbury Travel will attempt to contact the winner via social media. If they are unsuccessful, they will attempt to contact the Group Leader at the email address provided at the time of booking.
- The Amazon voucher will be sent via email. Therefore, the winner will need to confirm the email address it should be sent to so that Halsbury Travel can send the prize.
- Please note that by tagging @HalsburyTravel in your posts, you are agreeing to us sharing your post across our social media channels.