What is social media?
Social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and LinkedIn are free tools that let you connect with potential customers by sharing photos, videos, promotions, and updates.
For Kayakomat, we recommend focusing on:
- Instagram – great for inspiring photos, videos, stories, and reels
- Facebook – useful for events, updates, and sharing in local groups
We also have central accounts on TikTok, LinkedIn, and YouTube, where you can tag or mention us to be featured.
Paddling is naturally visual, so it fits perfectly with social media – sunsets, smiles, and adventure on the water are exactly what people love to see online!
⚠️ Important :
If you are not planning to post regularly or respond to messages, it is better not to create a social media page at all. An inactive account with no content can make people think your station is closed or abandoned.
Instead, you can send us your photos, updates or news and we will share it on Kayakomat’s central channels. That way, you still get visibility – without the need to manage your own page. Otherwise, you can always use your personal account – it works just as well!
How can it help grow your business?
On social media, you can reach potential customers organically. People of all ages spend hours on these platforms, seeking inspiration for new activities and brands to explore.
- Increase visibility – reach locals and tourists looking for outdoor activities
- Build trust – an active profile shows you are open and engaged
- Free exposure – promoting your station does not have to cost anything
- Boosts bookings – the more people see you, the more likely they are to book
- Creates community – engage with locals, customers, tourism accounts and influencers
Not ready to run a full account ? You can still use your personal profile or team up with nearby operators for a shared regional account !
How to get started
Step 1: Decide if you will be active
If yes – great ! If not, skip the account and send us content instead.
Step 2: Create Instagram and/or Facebook page
- Name your account @kayakomat [city/station name]
- Use the Kayakomat logo as your profile picture
- Update your business description/bio. Example of a facebook description :
- Explore the water your way with Kayakomat 🚣♀️
- Self-service kayak and paddle rentals, open 24/7 at [Location].
- Book, unlock, paddle
- Book online at [Link to your booking page]
- Example of an instagram bio (150 characters max) :
- Self-service kayak rentals 24/7 🚣♂️
- Book, unlock, paddle
- 📍[Your City/Location]
- Tag us #Kayakomat
- Add in the link box your booking page
- Follow our central accounts: Facebook: @Kayakomat Instagram: @Kayakomat
Step 3: Start posting and connecting
- Share inspiring photos and videos
- Post stories or reels during events or good weather days
- Post different kind of format posts : reels, carousel, image, videos, stories etc.
- Use relevant hashtags (eg. #kayakomat, #kayaking[city])
- Mention @kayakomat so we can share your content
- Respond to comments and messages
- Join local facebook groups to promote your page (add links)
Check our activity calendar for content ideas and seasonal campaigns (add links)
To go further : Boost your visibility and attract more customers by posting content on TikTok! It’s a great platform to showcase behind-the-scenes moments, share authentic content, and engage with your audience. To get started, check out this helpful guide: https://support.tiktok.com/en/getting-started
💡 Bonus tips :
- Invite friends and family to follow your account
- Partner with local hotels, cafes, campings and local influencers to cross-promote
- Encourage customers to tag you in their posts and repost their content
- Be active and comment on other profiles – it will give you more visibility !
- Always show life jackets in water-related photos
⚠️ Boost your posts from time to time – gaining visibility on social media can be challenging, but a small advertising budget can help increase your reach, connect with more people, and grow your presence more quickly – here is a quick guide on how to boost your post on facebook and on instagram.
Resources
Templates and best practices
We have made it easy with sample content,, templates and a calendar to follow
- Content calendar with Canva templates – easily editable for your location and promotion. New posts to use for each month!
- Image and video bank – high-quality visuals
More social media tips
Most towns have several local Facebook groups where people share what’s happening in the area. These groups are a powerful, free way to reach potential customers—whether you have a business account or not!
Find the right groups – Go to Facebook, search for local groups, and request to join. Look for community groups, tourism groups, and activity-based groups like “Outdoor Adventures in [Your Town].”
Stay organized – Make a list of relevant groups so you remember where to post.
Post regularly – Throughout the summer, share updates about your kayak rentals, events, and promotions. A simple post can bring in new bookings!
Ask friends to share – Even if you don’t have a brand account, friends or family can post for you.
Explore niche groups – Many areas have special interest groups like “Outdoor Singles in [Town]” or “Buy & Sell Kayaks in [Region].” These can be great places to share your business.
It’s an easy, free way to get your kayak rentals in front of the right people! 🚣♂️
Making sure people see your content is key to social media success. Algorithms decide who sees your posts—and they favor active accounts with engaging content. Here’s how to boost your reach:
Post different formats – Reels get the most organic reach, but mix in photos, carousels, and stories to keep your feed interesting.
Encourage engagement – The more likes, comments, shares, and saves your posts get, the more the algorithm will show them to others. Ask questions, use polls, or post something fun to spark interaction!
Be active in your community – Follow other accounts, comment on their posts, and reply to messages. The more you engage, the more people will find you.
Try a contest – Ask people to comment or tag friends to enter a giveaway. Just make sure to follow GDPR rules when collecting any personal info.
Boost key posts – Use the ‘Promote Post’ feature to reach more people. You can set a small budget and target users likely to follow your account.
Use hashtags – Mix trending hashtags with local ones to help people in your area find you.
It is important to interact with your followers to show that you’re active, approachable, and ready to help. A personal and professional approach makes a big difference!
Respond to comments – A quick reply makes people feel valued and keeps the conversation going.
Answer DMs – Potential customers often message with questions. A fast response can turn interest into a booking.
Acknowledge tags and mentions – Like, comment, or share when people tag you—it encourages more engagement and spreads the word.
Building strong relationships with your followers boosts trust and makes your business stand out! 🚀
Managing social media doesn’t have to be a solo job! If multiple people want to run a Facebook page or Instagram profile, you can add them as administrators. See how for Instagram and Facebook. This is especially useful if you’re teaming up with other operators on a shared account.
New to social media marketing? Don’t hesitate to ask for help!
A student might enjoy managing your page as a summer project.
Let someone temporarily take over—maybe a young paddler in your circle can create and share fun content in exchange for a free paddle session.
Getting extra hands involved makes social media easier and more effective! 🚀
One free and easy-to-use tool for designing social media content is Canva—and many operators already use it! With Canva, you can:
Upload your own images and videos or choose from our image library.
Easily add text, animations, and effects.
Use templates to create Reels, posts, and stories in minutes.
Design eye-catching graphics, like a Facebook event cover or a discount promo (e.g., overlay “20% off with code SUMMER20” on an image).
No design experience? No problem! Canva makes it easy to create professional-looking content in just a few clicks. 🎨🚀
Your paddlers can be your best marketers! Encourage them to share their experience by tagging your account in their posts and stories. You can even add a note in your bio like: “Tag us in your paddles!”
When customers tag you, their content becomes free promotion—plus, you get the option to reshare their posts to your own profile, showing real people enjoying your rentals. This builds trust and inspires more bookings!
Running a contest on social media is a great way to boost engagement and attract more followers. Keep these key points in mind:
1. Set Clear Rules
Who can participate? Define any age or location restrictions.
Contest duration: Clearly state the start and end dates.
Winner selection: Will it be a random draw or based on the best entry?
Prize delivery: Explain how the winner will receive their prize.
2. Follow Platform Rules
Here are Facebook & Instagram’s key contest guidelines:
Mandatory disclaimer: “This contest is not sponsored, endorsed, or administered by Facebook or Instagram.”
No mandatory sharing: You can encourage participants to share the post but can’t require it as an entry condition.
Stay GDPR-compliant: Clearly state how any collected data will be used and when it will be deleted.
👉 See an example post here:
🚨**Giveaway Alert!**🚨 We’re giving one lucky adventurer a summer pass for kayak and SUP paddling, worth 300 euros, at a KAYAKOMAT self-service rental station of your choice! 🛶
Here’s how to enter:
1️⃣ Follow us @kayakomat
2️⃣ Like this post 👍
3️⃣ (optional) Tag two friends who love the great outdoors 🌿
📅 Contest Duration: [9 July] to [19 July]
🏆 Winner Announcement: [19 July]
Good luck! 🍀
This contest is not sponsored, endorsed, or administered by Instagram/Facebook.
Terms and Conditions:
Eligibility: People from all countries are allowed to participate, but please note that the majority of our stations are located in Sweden, France, and Germany. To find a KAYAKOMAT rental station in your country, please visit kayakomat.com.
Winner Selection: The winner will be chosen at random from all eligible entries.
Notification: The winner will be notified via direct message on Instagram by [19 July].
Redeeming the Prize: The winner will be provided with instructions on how to redeem their prize.
📜 Privacy & Data Protection:
The winner’s name and contact details will be collected solely for contest administration.
This data will not be used for marketing purposes and will be deleted after prize delivery.
By participating, you agree to these terms.
It’s better to focus on fewer social media platforms and keep them active, rather than spreading yourself thin across many. While new platforms like TikTok can be tempting, remember that you can reach many of TikTok’s users through Instagram as well.
We recommend starting with Facebook and/or Instagram. These platforms have a broad audience, and you can use a mix of photos and videos to engage them effectively.
Each social media platform requires a tailored approach:
Facebook & Instagram: These are great for building your brand, posting photos, and sharing short-form or long-form content.
TikTok: While it’s easy to gain followers, the challenge is keeping them engaged. To succeed, your content needs to be fun, engaging, and often personal—think clever, quick, and entertaining videos to make users stop scrolling.
