These days you can find convenience in every faction of life. We can order food, send money, and communicate with people around the world by using our phones and other mobile devices. We're also able to research trending vacation destinations and book flights and hotels, all within a mobile app.
Despite the ever-growing conveniences that consumers have to book their own travel, travel agents still have their place in the industry, but it's up to you to prove your worth. Here are 6 tips if you want to keep business booming while increasing your profits.
1. Have a Niche
Not only is the travel industry saturated with travel agents, consumers have endless access to all sorts of information. If you want to sell more, you'll need to make a niche for yourself. Take a step back and figure out what made you want to become a travel agent. Was it a trip to a Caribbean island? Did Europe blow your mind and make you want to share the experience with others? Finding your travel passion will help to pinpoint a profitable niche.
If consumers are looking for a travel agent, they're looking for an expert. Once you've selected your niche, learn as much about it as possible. This way you can offer a unique experience for each of your clients.
2. Use Social Media
There are an estimated 2.77 billion social media users around the world. It’s safe to say that social media is a goldmine of potential clients. As a travel agent, you’ll want to get heavily involved into social media networking. Set up a Facebook, Twitter, as well as an Instagram account. This way you can connect with as many prospective clients as possible.
But, having an account is just the first step. Once you’re signed up and your accounts are filled out with contact information, the next step is to get and stay active! The best way to get your name out there is to get involved. Post updates, share photos, comment on posts, and know what’s going viral.
Make sure you add a picture to your posts, too. Pictures are a great way to boost social media engagement.
“Tweets see 150% more shares on average with a picture, and Facebook sees over 2.3x more engagement for picture posts. With numbers like that, adding images to every post is sure to raise your engagement and drive new traffic.”
3. Don't Neglect Past Clients
While it's exciting to bring new customers on board, you never want to lose sight of those who have helped build your success thus far. Your past clients are one of your best chances for boosting sales, especially through referrals and word-of-mouth communication. To show your past clients some love, entice them to refer you to friends and family members. For each referral, offer clients an entry into a gift card raffle. This builds excitement for your clients while also boosting your visibility. Other ways to keep your past clients involved includes:
- Sending daily or weekly newsletters
- Hosting competitions on social media
- Offering savings and discounts
With these practices, you can maintain your existing customers while also enticing new ones to give your services a try.
4. Be Active in the Community
Online communities are definitely the go-to place for locating potential clients, but there’s also value in getting active in the community. Stay informed about upcoming local events, such as festivals, vendor shows, and fundraisers. By participating, attendees can learn about the services you provide as a travel agent. Being able to meet and talk with clients in person allows you to create a direct connection with them.
Since there’s likely going to be plenty of other vendors available at local events, be sure you stand out. Hand out free marketing items such as pens, t-shirts, post-cards, and other fun keepsakes. This way once the event is over, your name isn’t forgotten.
5. Focus on Responses
One of the keys to being a long-time successful travel agent is to perfect your initial communication with clients. From the first second you pick up the phone or respond to an email inquiry, your pitch needs to be well thought out. You should have two or three specific points that you make to draw in interested customers.
The timeliness and method of your responses is also important. As a travel agent you want to:
- Use out of office email responses
- Be available as often as possible
- Maintain your online contact information
The right initial conversation may have a client hooked for years to come!
6. Be Different
At the end of the day, the success of any business relies on its ability to be different from its competitors. As a travel agent, you need to differentiate yourself from the dozens of other agents in your local area. Look at what your competitors offer and take your services one step above. Consider providing highly personalized travel services by not only booking travel for this trip, but helping your clients to create a 3 or 5-year travel plan.
Conclusion
Working as a travel agent has its challenges, especially in a world where travel data can be found with just a few clicks. Use these 6 tips to grow your sales and out do your fiercest competitors.