Your website isn’t a digital brochure—it’s your 24/7 storefront. In this episode of Marketing Sensibility, Faruk breaks down how to turn social media clicks into confirmed bookings and loyal guests. From intuitive design and instant messaging to mobile-first experiences and 24/7 availability, we’re unpacking the essentials of a frictionless guest journey.
If you’re in hospitality or any service-based business, this one’s a must-listen. Conversion starts with clarity—and loyalty begins with trust.
Listen now and make your guest experience seamless, smart, and bookable.
#MarketingSensibility #GuestJourney #HospitalityMarketing #BookingStrategy #CustomerExperience #DigitalConversion #FarukSpeaks
“Beyond the Brochure: Visual Storytelling for Hotels and Spas”
Welcome back to Marketing Sensibility, the podcast where we unpack everyday challenges with clarity and insight. I’m your Faruk and today we’re stepping beyond the glossy brochure and diving into something far more powerful:
visual storytelling. If you manage a hotel, spa, or guesthouse—or work in hospitality marketing—this episode is for you. We’ll explore how to use visuals to create emotional connections, drive bookings, and build brand loyalty.
Let’s start with a simple truth: people don’t book rooms—they book experiences.
A brochure shows amenities. A story shows why they matter. Visual storytelling is about using images and video to evoke emotion, showcase authenticity, and invite your audience into a narrative.
Here’s what it’s not:
Instead, it’s:
These moments build trust and curiosity—and they convert browsers into bookers.
Now let’s talk strategy. How do you build a visual story?
1. 📸 Start with your brand identity
What makes your property unique? Is it luxury, wellness, adventure, sustainability? Your visuals should reflect that. A rustic lodge shouldn’t look like a corporate resort.
2. 🎥 Use real moments
Authenticity wins. Feature your staff, your guests (with permission), and your local surroundings. User-generated content is gold—encourage guests to tag you and reshare their stories.
3. 🧠 Think in sequences
Don’t just post random images. Create a visual arc:
4. 📱 Optimise for platforms
Instagram loves vertical video and reels. Facebook favours albums and live streams. TikTok thrives on humor and personality. Tailor your content to each platform’s strengths.
Here are a few I recommend:
And if you’re ready to level up:
Before we wrap, a quick caution: don’t let AI dilute your authenticity.
Large Language Models like ChatGPT are amazing for brainstorming and drafting—but they don’t know your brand like you do. Avoid:
Use AI as a creative partner, not a substitute for your expertise.
#MarketingSensibility #HospitalityMarketing #SmallBusinessAI #HotelMarketing #SpaMarketing #RestaurantGrowth
AI Tools For:
1. 📝 Content Creation & Publishing
2. 📊 Competitor Monitoring & Market Alerts
3. 💸 Dynamic Pricing & Revenue Optimisation
4. 🔍 Customer Insights & Automation
https://www.canva.com/magic-write/
https://www.crayon.com/our-expertise/data-and-ai-solutions/overview/
https://www.zoho.com/crm/login.html
#MarketingSensibility #HospitalityMarketing #SmallBusinessAI #HotelMarketing #SpaMarketing #RestaurantGrowth
Welcome back to Sensibility—now reimagined as Marketing Sensibility.
When I first launched this podcast during the pandemic, face-to-face engagement was nearly impossible, and businesses were navigating uncharted territory. We explored marketing challenges, business pivots, and the realities of a world in flux.
Since then, I’ve had the privilege of working closely with lodges, boutique hotels, and service-driven businesses across the hospitality and tourism sectors. These experiences have deepened my understanding of what truly drives guest engagement, brand loyalty, and sustainable growth.
And Now, in the age of AI, Marketing Sensibility returns with a sharper focus: marketing strategies that apply across industries, powered by insights from the hospitality frontlines.
Whether you're a hotelier, restaurateur, or service entrepreneur, this podcast is your guide to avoiding common pitfalls and unlocking smarter, more human-centered marketing.
In this episode, we’re diving into “5 Hotel Marketing Mistakes That Are Costing You Guests (and How to Fix Them)”.
Aimed at small businesses, professionals and individuals, Episode 15 unpacks the major social media platforms and will help you leverage them as effective business and personal tools.
Tiktok, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram & Twitter are unpacked in a digestible and easily understood manner, to help you decide which one makes sense for you and your business.
Enjoy!
Ps. Your feedback is always welcomed, so drop me a note with your thoughts, ideas, suggestions and questions, farukwaja@gmail.com
Many non-professionals are starting small home-based businesses, as a result of losing their jobs due to the pandemic. This podcast provides some insight into how to identify opportunities, initiate a business venture, leverage your strengths, and solicit the help of others, in order to fast-track the process.
Enjoy!
Ps. Your comments and suggestions are always welcome, so please drop me a note on farukwaja@gmail.com
'Now or Never' is a myth, and as many successful people have demonstrated, it is never too late to contemplate a career change, to bring you a step closer to your goals and lead a life that is filled with purpose and enjoyable. This episode will help you help yourself through the process.
Enjoy!
Ps. Your comments and suggestions are always welcome, so please drop me a note on farukwaja@gmail.com
Additional listening to help you https://podcasts.apple.com/za/podcast/hbr-ideacast/id152022135?i=1000434511028
Episode 11 will help you deliver a compliment, with the understanding of how to frame it, phrase it and understand the impact a genuine compliment has on yourself and others.
Enjoy!
Ps. Your feedback, comments and suggestions are always welcomed, so please drop me a note on farukwaja@gmail.com
Since we all make mistakes and often say “I’m Sorry” this episode gives you a three-step method to apologise effectively, to your partner, spouse, parents, kids, siblings, colleagues and peers.
Enjoy!
Ps. Your comments and feedback are always welcome, please drop me a note on farukwaja@gmail.com
https://www.amazon.com/Apology-Aaron-Lazare/dp/0195189116/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=on+apology&qid=1604053375&sr=8-1
Planning a holiday during a pandemic raises more questions than we have answers to. Episode 9 will help you plan your holiday, and keep you safe over the festive season.
Enjoy!
Ps. Your feedback is always welcomed and appreciated, so please drop me a note on farukwaja@gmail.com with any suggestions you may have.
https://english.elpais.com/society/2020-10-28/a-room-a-bar-and-a-class-how-the-coronavirus-is-spread-through-the-air.html?ssm=whatsapp
http://www.health.gov.za (South Africa)
https://abc13.com/holiday-coronavirus-covid-19-season-thanksgiving-christmas/6718705/
https://www.businessinsider.com/safe-vacations-during-covid?IR=T
https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/holiday-travel-safety-2020-pandemic/index.html
Episode 8 unpacks the differences between skills and qualifications, and will allow you to take stock of your strengths and identify areas for further development.
As the effects of the pandemic ripple through our business landscape, organisations are finding a skills gap that’s not formally communicated back to applicants. This episode will help you understand what skills organisations value, so you’re able to build them into your CV, your replies to questions posed during interviews, and what you should showcase about yourself, rather than list a set of qualifications.
Enjoy!
Ps. your comments and suggestions are always welcome, so please drop me a note on farukwaja@gmail.com.
Fake News no longer arrives on 1 April. We get it every other day! This episode will help you understand where it originates, how to spot it and what to do when you get it.
Enjoy!
As always, your feedback is welcomed, so please drop me. aa note with any suggestions you may have on farukwaja@gmail.com
This episode will give you a structure to formulate an eating plan while working form home.
A discussion with Nazly Vania, that was most enjoyable. If you’re experiencing higher levels of stress as a result of working from home, spending less time at the office, gaining weight or just feeling less enthusiastic about life, this will help pick you up.
Enjoy!
Ps. Your feedback is always welcome, so please drop me a note on farukwaja@gmail.com with any thoughts, suggestions or ideas you have.
The pandemic has has forced many people to work from home. And those of us accustomed to working from home, face additional challenges; our homes are more distracting and as things return to normal, we struggle to get back into our work-routines.
This podcast will help you look at things differently and see possibilities to increase creativity & productivity. I had a few technical issues during the recording session and hope you’ll overlook the tonal variations. 🙏🏽
Enjoy!
Ps. Your feedback is always welcome, so please drop me a note on farukwaja@gmail.com with any thoughts or suggestions you may have.
This episode gives you some practical advice on how to be more productive & enthusiastic. Take back your life and free up the time to do the things that make you happy!
Enjoy!
Ps. Your feedback is always welcome, so please drop me a note farukwaja@gmail.com
We all take photos, and after a while, have no room to store them. This episode will help you take better pictures, improve your selection criteria when deciding which ones to keep, store them safely and keep more of the precious storage space on your phone free.
Enjoy!
Ps. Would love to hear from you, so please drop me a note with any feedback or suggestions you may have farukwaja@gmail.com
Episode 2 gives you some practical advice on how to approach companies you'd like to work for. Take ownership of the process and drive it to a positive outcome, cultivate your network and present yourself with impact.
Enjoy!
Ps. Your input is always welcome, leave a voice-note or send a message to farukwaja@gmail.com
In the pilot episode we look at ways to manage your digital footprint by tweaking smartphone settings and making adjustments to the way you conduct yourself online.
Enjoy!
Ps. Please leave a comment or a review. It helps me find my way and improve the quality of future published material. Thank you for listening. :-)
