Community

Welcome to the North York Moors Tourism Network online forum. This is a place for you to ask questions, get help and share ideas.

You are really welcome to jump in with new posts and your questions.

Please note, it's not for promotional posts (they'll be removed) as the other members are all businesses like yours!

Please be kind and supportive to each other! 

Webinar on new Detailed Access Guides

Don't miss VisitEngland's webinar (no charge) on 13 February highlighting new accessibility initiatives. 

Learn more about how they are improving the holiday planning experience for visitors with a wide range of accessibility requirements plus the new searchable Detailed Access Guides from AccessAble.   

Speakers include Anna Nelson, AccessAble’s CEO, and Ross Calladine, VisitEngland’s Accessibility and Inclusion Lead, who will answer questions submitted in advance. 

For those businesses that we…

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Don't miss VisitEngland's webinar (no charge) on 13 February highlighting new accessibility initiatives. 

Learn more about how they are improving the holiday planning experience for visitors with a wide range of accessibility requirements plus the new searchable Detailed Access Guides from AccessAble.   

Speakers include Anna Nelson, AccessAble’s CEO, and Ross Calladine, VisitEngland’s Accessibility and Inclusion Lead, who will answer questions submitted in advance. 

For those businesses that were part of VE's North York Moors Accessibility project, you should have had an email from Scott explaining what's going to happen next.  

Register for the webinar here.

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Quick tips to increase facebook engagement

Your facebook followers won't all see all of your facebook posts. Sometimes they're just not online but more often it's because facebook only shows posts from people/businesses they've interacted with, or posts that facebook things they'll be interested in. It actively chooses to show posts from facebook accounts with high engagement. This means that you might have a low number of followers but if many of them like, comment and share your posts you have high engagement. 

Likes are good but com…

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Your facebook followers won't all see all of your facebook posts. Sometimes they're just not online but more often it's because facebook only shows posts from people/businesses they've interacted with, or posts that facebook things they'll be interested in. It actively chooses to show posts from facebook accounts with high engagement. This means that you might have a low number of followers but if many of them like, comment and share your posts you have high engagement. 

Likes are good but comments and shares are much better. if someone comments on your post, their comments may be shown to their followers who in turn might then come to your facebook page. So getting comments and shares is very powerful and can help build followers more effectively. 

Here are a few things you can do to increase engagement: 

1. Try to post a little more frequently - facebook wants to know you're active

2. Try to make a series of posts complete in themselves, without links to your website or elsewhere. This will keep people on your post and increase the change of commenting there. If you constantly send followers to your website, they might be interested but won't then go back to your facebook page to comment or share

3. Think about how you can attract attention with each post. One large photo or video has a lot more impact than a collage of several. 

4. Ask questions. Word your posts so it gets a response e.g. 'which do you like better - swimming in hot or cold weather?' Simple questions work best. Or you could ask for information or memories, or invite followers to add something to the post. 

5. Consider how you can provide some kind of added information or advice, something that might intrigue or excite. What sort of things do you like, or comment on yourself? What would make you share a post? Try to post the sort of info that would work for you.

6. You'll need to post about your business, and there's nothing wrong with sales messages (that's why you're on facebook) but it's also good to build some 'foundation' posts that create interest, build engagement and followers. These could be posts about the wider area, something you've noticed, recommendations about other businesses (who may then share your posts) or short anecdotes. 

I'm going to be launching something new in early 2024 and so want to build engagement on one of my facebook pages ready for that. I recently 'resuscitated' a page that I'd left dormant for 3 years (I couldn't bring myself to delete it but was no-longer working in that area) and started by posting a 'Some news' update, together with a very short shaky video filmed at the end of my garden on a wintry but sunny day. People like 'some news' updates so it did well for that reason and then it got shared because the video was calming and positive. It's still being shared and I'm getting views from Thailand, Vietnam, New Zealand and US, with comments and more shares. They're definitely not my target audience for the future but their interactions tell facebook that they need to prioritise my facebook posts again. 

If you do something like that, make sure you stay 'on brand' for your own business and don't get too off-track. I've since posted each day about different elements of local distinctiveness so I know the followers I'm building are more my market. Some of these 'foundation' posts have been incredibly popular. One of the posts was about the lynchets seen in fields in the Yorkshire Dales, and the reasons why they're there, together with the origin of the phrase 'do your stint'. So an attractive photo + info + a short anecdote that people can pass on - this led to some pretty impressive responses, shown below. 

Of course not every foundation post will do so well. That particular page doesn't have an incredible number of followers but they're building. And this is a good time of year to experiment a little. For example, I've tried posts about particular topics to guage the response and then also tested posts that are a little more heart-felt, such as one about a sense of community, and found they do well.

So what are your tips for increasing engagement on facebook? What's worked well for you? 

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Celebrating Accessibility in the North York Moors - Featured in Support Magazine Netherlands Holiday Edition!

We're thrilled to announce that our beloved North York Moors National Park has been featured in the prestigious Support Magazine Netherlands's Holiday Edition! This article shines a light on the exceptional efforts made to ensure the national park is accessible to all, highlighting the beauty and inclusivity of this stunning region.

In the article, readers will discover the breathtaking landscapes of the Moors, from heather-covered hills to serene coastlines. It emphasises the region's commi…

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We're thrilled to announce that our beloved North York Moors National Park has been featured in the prestigious Support Magazine Netherlands's Holiday Edition! This article shines a light on the exceptional efforts made to ensure the national park is accessible to all, highlighting the beauty and inclusivity of this stunning region.

In the article, readers will discover the breathtaking landscapes of the Moors, from heather-covered hills to serene coastlines. It emphasises the region's commitment to accessibility, showcasing various attractions and accommodations that cater to the needs of all visitors, including those with mobility challenges.

The article features each of the business that have shown their commitment through the North York Moors Accessibility Project, adding to the range of overseas promotion gathered through this project.

This feature is not just a celebration of our picturesque landscapes but a testament to our ongoing commitment to inclusivity and accessibility. It's a reminder of how important it is to create spaces where everyone can experience the joy of nature, regardless of their physical abilities.

We encourage everyone to take a look at the article (although it is in Dutch) and share any comments. Let's continue to support and advocate for accessible travel and inclusive experiences for all!


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Elevating Accessibility in English Tourism: VisitEngland's New Toolkit

Big news for tourism in England: VisitEngland has launched its 'Accessible and Inclusive Toolkit for Tourism Businesses' as of 30 November. This innovative resource aligns with the UK's goal to become the most accessible tourism destination in Europe by 2025, a vision outlined in the government's Tourism Recovery Plan.

Toolkit Highlights

This toolkit is a treasure trove of practical advice for creating an inclusive and welcoming environment. It covers areas like accessible facility design, empl…

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Big news for tourism in England: VisitEngland has launched its 'Accessible and Inclusive Toolkit for Tourism Businesses' as of 30 November. This innovative resource aligns with the UK's goal to become the most accessible tourism destination in Europe by 2025, a vision outlined in the government's Tourism Recovery Plan.

Toolkit Highlights

This toolkit is a treasure trove of practical advice for creating an inclusive and welcoming environment. It covers areas like accessible facility design, employing disabled people, and providing clear accessibility information. The toolkit is practical, offering top tips, case studies, and checklists to help businesses make meaningful improvements.

Access the Toolkit

Tourism businesses can access this valuable toolkit for free on the VisitEngland website. Developed with input from over 30 organisations, it's a step towards a more inclusive and accessible travel experience in England.

Click here to access the toolkit.

Enhancing Accessibility in the North York Moors with VisitEngland's Toolkit

Businesses in the North York Moors Accessible Project can utilise VisitEngland's 'Accessible and Inclusive Toolkit' to further improve accessibility. Implementing its practical advice can elevate the visitor experience, making the region a model for accessible rural tourism. Sharing this toolkit's strategies with other businesses can also encourage a broader adoption of inclusive practices, contributing significantly to the region's tourism appeal and aligning with national goals for accessibility.

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Celebrating Purple Tuesday 2023

Did any of you see Purple Tuesday 2023 (7 November), a national initiative supporting businesses to improve their offer for their disabled customers and a chance to highlight the value of the purple pound. VisitEngland are one of the founding partners.
 
It gave us a great opportunity to revisit Life of Pippa, one of the influencers who visited the North York Moors as part of the VisitEngland Accessibility Project - and our various #PurpleTuesday posts had a reach of over 130,000 that day.

If…
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Did any of you see Purple Tuesday 2023 (7 November), a national initiative supporting businesses to improve their offer for their disabled customers and a chance to highlight the value of the purple pound. VisitEngland are one of the founding partners.
 
It gave us a great opportunity to revisit Life of Pippa, one of the influencers who visited the North York Moors as part of the VisitEngland Accessibility Project - and our various #PurpleTuesday posts had a reach of over 130,000 that day.

If you've not yet had a chance to look at our new Access for All section on our website, then do! It features not just all of the amazing businesses who took part in the VisitEngland accessibility project here in the North York Moors but also our wider offer. The National Park is packed with accessible things to do from countryside to coastline that you can tell your visitors about. 

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How much time do you need to spend on marketing?

We're going to focus on a different topic each week. This week's discussion: how much time do you spend on marketing? Do you try to spend chunks of time getting it done, or drip-feed activity whenever you can? What are your greatest frustrations? Anything that makes it easier?