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Social Media Member Toolkit Maximize Your Visibility on Visit Dorset's Socials

We love working with our members to showcase the very best of Dorset! Here’s how you can make the most of our platforms and get your business featured.

Our Social Media Account Handles

Why Get Involved?

  • Reach thousands of potential visitors every day.
  • Increase visibility for your business.
  • Drive visitors to your website and social channels.
  • Strengthen Dorset’s reputation as a must-visit destination.

Top Tips for Engagement

  • Tag our social media accounts in your posts and stories using our account handles - this is the best way for us to notice you.
  • Use #VisitDorset so we can find and share your content.
  • Follow and engage with our posts - comment, share and join the conversation.
  • Collaborate with us on seasonal campaigns, competitions and influencer features.

Sending Us Video Content

We’d love to feature more of our members across Instagram, TikTok and Facebook, and your video clips help us bring Dorset to life in a real, authentic way. Short-form video (videos under 3 minutes long) is currently the top-performing way to reach potential visitors on social media, and it’s one of the best ways for potential visitors to discover both your business and our beautiful county.

What to Send:

Video Style

  • Portrait orientation - hold your device vertically when filming. 
  • 10 to15 seconds is ideal (up to 30 seconds is absolutely fine - we’ll trim highlights)
  • Smartphone footage is great - keep it steady and well-lit

Content

  • Sweeping views
  • Exterior shots of property in its setting 
  • Drone footage
  • Seasonal snapshots (festive decor, autumn leaves, walking through daffodils, crackling log fire)
  • Food and drink closeups (cheers, plate being served, barista making a coffee, bartender pouring a pint)
  • People enjoying your establishment (please remember to get consent)
  • Hidden gems and unique details
  • Did You Know clips - little stories about the place
  • Local recommendations and tips
  • Shots of your town or village

Why It Helps:

  • Reels (videos with music or voiceovers added) can reach 30% to 40% more people than standard posts with photos
  • Authentic, member-created content performs better than polished adverts
  • Video is one of the strongest drivers of bookings and trip planning

By sending us your video clips, you’ll help us grow Dorset’s online reach and shine a spotlight on your business.

How to Send:

Email your video clips to tourism@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk
If you have photos of your business, you can email us those as well. For larger files, feel free to use WeTransfer or Dropbox websites to send files over 20MB in size.

Please include your business name and a quick note describing the video clip so we can feature it accurately. We’ll review your content and may edit clips together into Reels or seasonal showcases. If we share your video, we’ll tag or credit your business wherever possible.

What Works Best on Social Media

  • Short-form video (Reels for TikTok and Instagram).
  • Authentic, engaging visuals.
  • Topical or newsworthy content (newsjacking).
  • Film/TV location tie-ins.
  • Carousel posts with listicles (e.g., “5 Hidden Gems in Dorset”). These are multiple numbered photos rather than a video.
  • Stories with strong hooks and calls to action.

See @visitengland for some great inspiration!

Collaborations

We often partner with members for:

  • Seasonal campaigns (eg: top 5 autumn gardens in Dorset, top 5 cosy cottages in Dorset)
  • Social media influencer visits.
  • Competitions and giveaways.

Please let us know if you would like to work with us on a competition or influencer campaign. 

Extra Tips

  • Keep an eye out for our content call-outs via email.
  • Align your posts with our seasonal themes (e.g., Spring into Dorset, Summer by the Sea).
  • Encourage your customers to tag our social media accounts and use #VisitDorset.
What does your Dorset look like? Adventures on our epic coastline? Visiting attractions with family? A walk through the beautiful countryside? Or perhaps a chilled out evening eating and drinking with friends? Discover a sample of your #VisitDorset images below and share your love for Dorset using the hashtag on Instagram.   
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