Become a Home Based Travel Agent

Drumming up 2012 business with ’12 Holiday Marketing Tips’
By Cory Andrichuk

The holidays are upon us, and based on my coaching, many of you are looking for ways to drum up business for next year.  I have found that many home-based travel agents are struggling to find innovative ‘holiday’ marketing ideas to grow into the New Year before it’s too late.  In the spirit of giving at this time of year, I want to dedicate this article to holiday-marketing and provide 12 ideas to help you grow your 2012 business during the holiday season:

1.  Email your database wishing them both a Happy Holiday and a very Merry Christmas, and to follow you via Facebook, and Twitter.  Advise that they connect with you, The Travel Authority, to get the latest value-driven vacation planning information. 

2.  Take out a customer for lunch or a coffee, once a week, before the end of the year, and show them how much you appreciate their business.  Get a picture together and post it onto your Facebook account for others to see how you show the “Holiday Love”.

3.  Call your entire database and wish them a Happy Holiday, versus sending them a

holiday card with postage. 

4.  Make a donation to a local food bank with the funds saved in such a direct-mail Christmas card marketing strategy. 

5.  Network, connect, volunteer at a local charity and give back; proving support, assistance and time to your community that supports your home-based business.

6.  Send your clients a postcard from your favorite supplier/niche/ expertise and advise that they book their 2012 Christmas vacation sooner than later. 

7.  Market your 2012 December group plans this month!  Take out December 2012 group space with a travel supplier that you specialize in and begin advertising, promoting and marketing that you are escorting this special group event in a year from now.   

8.  Host a Christmas party / consumer travel evening early in December or late in the month, marketing a specific destination, 2012 event, or group escorted venue.  (Remember, not everyone is busy with family and friends during the holiday season.)

9.  Add a holiday message to your voicemail, out-of-office assistant, email signature, website, Facebook Welcome page, marketing your Happy Holiday messages.   

10.  Create a Happy Holiday’s video from your SMART phone, or webcam (along with your family in the video to show your family holiday spirit)… “Wishing from your family to theirs a Festive Happy and Safe Holiday Season…”

11.  Take your favorite travel supplier BDM/ DSM/ Account Executive/ Director/ VP out for lunch.   Ensure they understand how much you appreciate everything they do for you during the year.    

12.  POST on your Facebook LIKE page, or personal Facebook profile, for 12 days during the December holidays, the “Top 12”, 2012 most desirable dream vacations based on your experience.  Include as much video in the post as you can from YouTube, and remember to NOT post a $ price.

On a personal note,  I wish you all a happy, safe and family-festive holiday season from my family to yours! 

Cory Andrichuk