Image above taken from SEO Consultants’ website.
Below are 5 of our top 10 marketing blog posts that will help you develop the ultimate marketing strategy. Stay tuned for the next top 5 marketing blog posts.
1. Online Marketing 101 for Travel Agents
Years ago, travel agents did not have to focus much time or effort on marketing. Today, with so many people using the internet to search for things like information on their next big vacation, the emergence of online booking engines may seem like competition, but shed a different light on it and you will see a fantastic opportunity for travel agents to snap up new business. However, this means that you, the travel agent, must go online to get your prospects. And that does NOT mean relying upon your agency’s website with a little bio on you. It DOES mean that you need to have your own, personal website. The good news is that using online marketing is very cost effective, anyone can do it (including internet virgins!), and it can be a whole lot of fun if you understand what you are doing.
2. Blogging 101—An Effective and Free Marketing Tool for Travel Agents
If you are a travel agent and you don’t have YOUR OWN website or blog, then you are missing out on a huge, effective and FREE marketing opportunity in your travel business. A website or blog does so many things – it captures potential travelers when they are searching on the internet about their next vacation, it helps you stand out from the crowd and distinguish yourself from online booking sites and other agents, so they book their vacation with you, and it helps you keep in touch with prior clients, inspiring them to go on another vacation and call you when it happens. Thanks to WordPress, starting your own blog is easier than ever (and it costs NOTHING too!).
3. 5 Ways to Increase Your Leads Right Now
One of the best ways to increase your travel business is to increase your number of clients, and to do that, you need more leads. For many business owners, generating leads feels like a painful struggle, but it doesn’t have to be. In fact, it can be easy and fun. Following are five painless ways to generate leads.
4. More Value Equals More Business—And More Money
Have you ever thought about how much value you currently bring to your clients and how you can add even more?
Of course, your expertise by itself is highly valuable, and your first step is to make sure you are charging accordingly for everything you do, but adding value to your client’s experience means offering more than just your knowledge. How do you become your client’s total solution—and make more money?
5. Travel Business Success 101: Don’t Put Off What Can Be Done Today
We’re all aware of the definition of insanity: doing the same thing over and over again while expecting different results. We know that in order to succeed in our travel business, we need to step out of our comfort zones, step into our fears, and start marketing.
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One of the best ways to increase your travel business is to increase your number of clients, and to do that, you need more leads. For many business owners, generating leads feels like a painful struggle, but it doesn’t have to be. In fact, it can be easy and fun. Following are five painless ways to generate leads.
Book speaking engagements.
Where do your ideal clients congregate? Go there and speak to them. If your ideal clients are fellow business owners, offer to speak to Chambers of Commerce in your city or surrounding areas. When you’re on the road for whatever reason, seek out groups of your ideal clients and ask to get in front of them for 15 minutes to talk about the juicy benefits of working with you. All you need to do is ask.
Send a warm letter.
Contact previous clients and send an email or snail mail letter thanking them for their business and asking if they know of anyone who would like to travel. Get names, email addresses, and physical addresses of people you’re introduced to, especially if they appear to be your ideal client. Take a look at people in your circle: high school or college classmates, your children’s friends’ parents, your parents’ friends—are any of them your ideal client, or do they encounter people who are?
Attend a networking event.
You never know whom you will meet at a networking event, or what kinds of connections you might make. Don’t focus on selling—ask questions and listen. While the people there may not be your ideal clients, they may work with those who are. Don’t discount the man who’s dressed casually and talks too much, as he might be the doorway to your ideal clients.
Approach a JV for an opportunity.
Joint ventures are a wonderful opportunity to create a win-win situation for everyone, but often take a dash of creativity to find and execute. They’re fun and can be very, very profitable. This is why you need to keep your ears and mind open whenever you go to networking events and meetings.
Think of ways you can bring value to possible JV partners and how they help your clients. For example, you might approach an upscale luggage manufacturer and make a deal to advertise on each other’s newsletters to swap leads. Or you might feature him on your blog or website and take a commission of each sale that you refer. In turn, he might promote you in his store or on his website and receive your services free in return for a specific number of referrals or sales.
Start a weekly newsletter and commit to it.
People love to forward emails they think the recipient would like. A weekly newsletter with timely, interesting, and funny information is an ideal way to keep in touch with current clients and attract new ones. The newsletter doesn’t have to be long, but it does need to contain information that is relevant to your ideal client.
As you’re writing your newsletter, remember what keeps your ideal client up at night and what makes them happy. Gear your newsletter to alleviating their pain and enhancing their pleasure. Encourage them to forward it to their friends and family.
When you start consistently using a system to generate leads, your ideal client will find you. As you continue, your leads will increase, and you’ll be able to pick and choose your clients. The key is consistency and incorporating marketing into your daily routine.
What are you doing now to increase leads?
