Become a Travel Agent

Your Mission, Should you choose to accept it….
By
 Jan Shaughnessy,MCC

(Eds Note" I have known Jan for several years now and have been impressed at how she presents herself online. She is a moderator for Cruise-Chat.com and quickly started forming cruise groups and turned her interest in online communities into hard cash. I asked Jan to write an article sharing her experiences so we all could learn from her.)

Imagine you’ve been given 2.7 million dollars and two hours to come up with a marketing plan.  How would you use it?  Would you risk it all on a 30 second Superbowl commercial?  Well, It’s not likely Donald Trump will be calling to offer this challenge to you.  So how can you market yourself?

The home based travel agent is the fastest growing segment of the travel industry.  Suppliers are recognizing this trend and adjusting their websites to help agents market themselves.  Some websites have home based portals, webinars, electronic brochures, and ad wizards.  Using all the tools available can help increase your sales.  Another avenue to market yourself, can be joining an online travel community.   A simple Google search of “online travel communities” will provide a plethora of websites available.   Before joining any online community read the TOS (Terms of Service).  They may or may not allow you to solicit your business.  

Several years ago I joined the major cruise community website cruise-chat.  After establishing myself in the community I volunteered to be a moderator.  Joining a website like cruise-chat gives you an opportunity to shine in your area of expertise.  It gives you exposure, and members look to you for answers.  You also gain knowledge from the experiences and suggestions of other community members.  As a moderator I have honed my communication skills to provide professional, accurate, brief, and clear information to the community.

There a many other options available to help you market yourself and reach consumers.    Modernagent.com has a section to use a “ready to go” newsletter, or create your own newsletter.  They also provide training, destination information, and brochures.  Traveltube.com provides you the capability to create blogs, post pictures, and create videos.  You can write a travel journal and upload pictures at travelblogger.com.  Tripadvisor.com, lonelyplanet.com, and  bootsnall.com all have forums you can join. 

Your mission…..Should you choose to accept it; is to find an online community and establish yourself and your expertise.  Are you up to the challenge?

Jan Shaughnessy is a retired Air Force veteran.  She holds a Masters degree in Business Management, and is the Nashville area NACTA chapter director.  Jan and husband Bill own Sail Away Travel.