Do you have a juicy lead magnet (also called an IFO or opt-in offer) that you use to add email subscribers to your e-newsletter list? Yes? Awesome! Then there’s an easy way you can upgrade the sign up experience for your travel prospects. When a prospect puts their name and email address into that box and hits enter, the next thing they see is your thank you page. Normally, it says something like: “Thank you for signing up! Check your email for my free guide.” — or something along those … read more
How to Become a Travel Agent: The REAL Start-Up Costs
So you want to be a travel agent. It sounds like a total dream job, right? And you’ve heard that all you need is a laptop, a love of travel, and passion to get started! Well … not so fast. It’s true that becoming a travel agent has a fairly low barrier to entry. You don’t need a special degree, and yes, you can work from home in your slippers 😉 But that doesn’t mean becoming a travel agent doesn’t require an investment, both in terms of your time and … read more
Use This Copywriting Trick to Figure Out *Exactly* What Content Your Travel Clients Are Craving
Do you know your ideal client? Like, really know them? In marketing, we talk a lot about knowing your ideal client in terms of demographics. You may have even created an ideal client “avatar” that describes your ideal client’s age, occupation, income, etc. If you’ve created a good ideal client avatar, then you’ve also delved into your ideal client’s interests — what movies she watches, where she shops, how she likes to spend her free time. Going through this exercise ensures that you create marketing material that speaks specifically to this ideal … read more
3 Sneaky Ways to Drive More Traffic to Your Travel Content
Are you diligently posting to your blog every week (or heck, at least biweekly), snapping up a storm on your travel biz’s Instagram account, or sending out a regular e-newsletter, BUT … … It feels like no one’s reading? [cue the sad violin music] I get it. It sucks to pour so much of your time, energy, and budget into creating awesome content … only to hear crickets in response. Building up an audience takes a lot of patience. There are, however, a few sneaky little ways you can get more eyeballs … read more
How to Get More Travel Clients: Get the Word Out!
Want to know how to get more travel clients? Well, first, you have to make sure people know your travel business exists. One of the best ways to do that is through press releases. It sounds like an old-school marketing tactic, but — when done right — it absolutely can score you more travel clients and make you look like a travel planning superstar. Still not sure about the whole press release thing? Then let me tell you a story. How My First Press Release Scored Me My First Press Feature Do … read more
How to Sell Travel: Reel Them in with the Head, Clench Them with the Heart
Have you ever heard someone say, “I don’t like being sold to?” Or how about this one: “Sales techniques don’t work on me.” Um, duh. Nobody likes being sold to. Or, more accurately — nobody likes feeling like they’re being sold to. And we all like to think we’re too smart for sales tricks. But we’re not. (Most of my wardrobe consists of things I’ve purchased from Facebook ads …). So how do you sell your travel services to people who swear up and down they can’t be and don’t like being sold … read more
The Parisian Marketing Lesson: Or, How I Learned to Like Espresso and Market Authentically
If you’re reading this, you’ve probably landed here because you want some tips on writing your travel agency website. I can give you tips on tips on tips … but unfortunately, there’s no magic formula for writing a travel business website that brings in clients. In fact, there’s a lot of work you need to do before you even set pen to page (or finger to keys)! But — I can tell you where to start. And I think I can best tell you with a story. I call it The Parisian … read more
Make Your Travel Agent Marketing Instantly Better With This Literature Trick
I want you to think waaayyy back to English class for a moment. (Ugh, I know, who wants to remember that — but trust me, this will help with your travel agent marketing!). Do you recall a nifty little technique called in medias res? That’s Latin for “into the middle of things.” Why am I dredging up old Lit 101 lessons right now? Because applying this dusty old technique — used in classic texts like The Iliad and modern classics like Inception — can *actually* help you write far more compelling copy for your travel prospects. Think … read more
Do This on Your Consult Calls — and in Your Copy — to Score More Travel Clients
“So, uh, do I give you my credit card number, or …?” Have you ever heard this line during your consult calls? If so, there’s good news: This person clearly wants to work with you. The bad news: You haven’t made it clear how to do it! Awkward pauses and wishy-washy endings during your consultation calls with potential travel clients usually point to one thing — you’re not making the ask. You’ve sold the prospect on your value as a travel pro, but you’re not asking them to commit! If you … read more
10 List-Building Strategies for Travel Agents — That AREN’T Facebook Ads
Let me preach for a sec: Facebook ads are NOT the end all, be all of list-building tactics. *Wait, hold on a minute Emily, back up please.* Oh, right. Before I start preaching, let’s talk about lists. If you want to know how to get travel clients — or how to get MORE of them — know this: It all starts with your list. Your email list of itching-to-book prospects. Prospects you’ve formed a relationship with through your travel agent email newsletter, opt-in offers, email campaigns, etc. etc. etc. The … read more
