You've got the passion, the knowledge, the drive. The only thing standing between you and your dream career as a travel advisor? Clients. Attracting new customers is the lifeblood of any successful travel business, but in a crowded industry, it can sometimes feel like an uphill battle.
But! If you’re feeling lost or not sure where to start, there are ironclad steps you can take to setting up shop and spreading the word that you’re open for business.
Here are some tips and tricks to attract new clients for your travel business.
Leverage Your Network
You may already be sitting on a goldmine of new clients for your travel business and not even know it. As a first step, reach out to your friends, family, and neighbors, who can make up the foundation of your client roster.
It’s likely that your immediate circle also has friends, family and neighbors of their own that you can tap into. Word-of-mouth recommendations from your network can become one of the best ways to build up a list of new clients for your travel business. Once you have a new client in your doors, do what you can to share your passion for travel and showcase your expertise.
Ask for Referrals
A successful travel agent will tell you that client referrals and repeat customers are a significant source of their business. Building up your base of satisfied clients is the key to marketing yourself and generating new clients for your travel business.
Of course, in order to successfully earn repeat business and referrals, you have to deliver on your promises. No one is going to recommend your business if you don’t provide the services you say you can. Earn clients’ trust with reliable, quality customer service. That way, when clients’ friends, family members, coworkers or neighbors ask about the vacation you booked for them, they’ll happily sing your praises and you'll be on your way to those new clients for your travel business.
Establish a Social Media Presence
Outside of your close circle, social media is another amazing way to connect with a broader audience and to showcase your skills as a travel advisor. Create accounts on platforms like Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and LinkedIn to establish your online presence. Share compelling content, like travel photos and videos, insightful tips, and client testimonials.
Engage with your audience by responding to comments, participating in travel discussions, and promoting the type of travel you sell. A strong social media strategy not only makes you more visible and top-of-mind but positions you as an approachable and knowledgeable travel expert.
Share Your Knowledge Through Content Creation
As a travel advisor, you should have a well-designed and easily navigable website. But to really level up, you should be creating content for your site. Again, because you’re working in a crowded field, anything you can do to differentiate yourself from others is a plus. What’s more, by writing about the type of travel you sell, you can further entrench yourself as an expert in that field.
Savvy writers can also use SEO tools to craft niche-specific content that will land them in the laps of prospective clients. There’s a lot of different angles to approach attracting new customers for your travel business, and that’s what makes it so exciting.