Monthly Archives: September 2009

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FREE Travel Promotion on the Internet

September 22, 2009 in George's Observations by George


Recently, I put together a press release about our site-makeover and new posting modules for www.ReviewResorts.com. Fully expecting to pay for publishing my press-release but not really knowing which site to post it on, I did a Google search for Press Release. One of the top listing was a site of the top 50 FREE press release web sites. I guess I’m as bad as everyone, but the magic word FREE caught my attention. I clicked and indeed found 50 web sites that publish press releases for FREE. Readers of this Blog know, I have been an evangelist of increasing your online footprint. I am now in the process of gathering 20 or so web sites that I am posting free press releases. FREE ADVERTISING!  Neat huh?

It also follows my advice to Travel Agents to increase your online footprint by finding as many ways get your web link and e-mail posted as possible. You also brand yourself in the process of posting. In the case of www.ReviewResorts.com we offer you the opportunity to post resort and cruise reviews FREE. This allows you offer your expertise and destination knowledge as a travel expert. For us, your reviews provide a professional voice to validate the user-posted reviews. 

Take a look at the review Travel Agent Lauren Liebert posted on the Secrets Silversands Resort near Cancun. Read her review and now click her web link. It posts to www.LaurenLiebert.com because she get’s it. We also post her e-mail address. Lauren knows that for her business to increase, she needs her online footprint to be as big as she can make it.

Simply put, the days of direct mail, phone book and newspaper advertisement are over due to cost and reduced effectiveness. To survive and thrive, small business people must take advantage of free posting opportunities to create the largest online footprint as possible. George

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The Goal for Travel Agencies is to Create as Large an Online Footprint as Possible

September 15, 2009 in George's Observations by George

In years past, small travel companies were at a disadvantage when it came to promoting their businesses. The high cost of phone book ads, newspaper advertising and cadres of sales people armed with expensive glossy collateral material were the way the big got bigger and small travel agencies remained small. But the world has changed in a just a few short years. The Internet has leveled the playing field by bringing many new ways to promote your business FREE. Five years ago avenues such as social media, online communities and travel review sites didn’t exist. These sites with their huge web traffic all provide small business the opportunity to compete on an equal playing field. Competing on price is never a smart move, but communicating knowledge and expertise in a personal way is and social media is a great way to do so.To create an online footprint, think of ways to create an online conversation:

  • Do you use Twitter & Facebook? You know that each of these allows businesses to set up pages and promote themselves…FREE.
  • Do you have a BLOG? This is the cheapest website you will have. Blog software is free from WordPress. You only have to have hosting space which is like $50 a year. Blogs allow you to enter the Blog community, linking and posting comments to other blogs getting more traffic.|
  • Create a travel video and load it on YouTube linking back to your website or Blog.
  • Post resort and cruise reviews on review sites. For my shameless plug…I created a resort review web site called www.ReviewResorts.com We actively encourage travel agents to post resort and cruise reviews FREE. The site gets a lot of traffic from people researching hotels or a cruise. They would see your review with your contact info.
  • Post vacation classifieds on Craigslist and any other travel related site. Once again in my shameless attempt at self-promotion, travel agents can post vacation classifieds on www.ReviewResorts.com FREE!
  • Do you publish Press Releases? Type into Google; Free Press Release and you will find hundreds of sites to publish your press releases
  • Have you thought about creating a Ning community for your particular travel niche? Ning is like a Facebook forum only created and promoted entirely by you. If you cater to a special interest or destination travel market www.ning.com might be your best bet.Once again, the goal is to create as large an online footprint as possible to create momentum for your business.

George

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Is Your Travel Company Ready to Compete in 2010?

September 15, 2009 in George's Observations by George


All indicators are pointing up for 2010. The stock market is now at the same levels it was 2 years ago. Real Estate has regained its footing and is now on the rise in many markets. Travel is also coming out of the abyss as well. This year is and will be a down year for sure as the strong second half, can’t make up for the bad first six months. However, next year promises to be a good year for the travel industry. So my question to you is this; have you planned your online marketing strategy to capture new business?Once upon a time, travel agencies simply took out an ad in the phone book and that’s all they really needed. The real aggressive agencies advertised specials in the local newspaper. The methodical agencies sent out direct mail pieces to get more upscale business because mailers allowed you to detail the finer points of deluxe trips. Now these options are for the most part wasted money. Travel is researched and purchased online.Is your travel web site up to snuff? I read in agreement Steve Cousino’s article “Psst, your site stinks” published on Travel Research Online Article. Steve is a pretty bright guy. He accurately described how travel agents neglect or don’t seem to care about their online presence. I find this strange because travel is now an online product, your knowledge and people skills generally come into play after the customer has researched online. It’s really inexcusable to be in an online business with a bad website isn’t it? With WordPress, Online Agency and other content management systems and a bit of research and custom content written by you, it is very easy to have a very good site.

But what I really find odd is that the type of travel that agents specialize in is generally complicated. It is an accepted fact that the more complex a product is, the more it is researched online and purchased offline. That’s where you come in. You would think agents would put more resources into their sites. It doesn’t have to sell every tour product and every corner of the world. It just needs to convey your knowledge and expertise about your particular niche.

So again I ask; do you have a strategy to increase your online presence? Is your web site up to date, easy to use and professional? Have you researched search engine optimization techniques to get it to place well for keyword phrases that are applicable to your niche? Does it have good content written by you that displays your knowledge and details why it’s in the best interest of people to use your services? Do you post travel and resort reviews on traveler review sites, social networking sites and chat rooms? This is where your customers are. You need to be there as well.

It’s all a puzzle. But is you have all the pieces in place. The puzzle works.

My Two Cents,
George

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The Recessionary Impact on Luxury Travel Providers

September 13, 2009 in George's Observations by George

Major societal events seem to have a 10 year impact. In the 40’s, WWII led African-Americans and Women to make contributions that would open the door for equality. However, the horror of Nazi Germany and the Atom bomb led to America to put blinder on during the Nifty Fifties, which delayed the civil rights movement, which led to the turmoil of the 60’s. The recession and drug hangover of the 70’s led to preppy look and extravagance of the 80’s. The 90’s and early 2000 were the era of unbridled greed by just about everyone. Which all led to us being broke and very frugal now. You see society moves in 10 year cycles. The tough economy has changed America for probably ten years.

We Americans are once again a frugal bunch. We’re not splurging on anything. Extravagance is now an embarrassing thing. So how does this fundamental shift impact your business if you made your living selling deluxe travel? In my humble opinion, if you market luxury travel as a product, you have a problem. Make no mistake there is still a market for luxury travel. However, it needs to be marketed as a deluxe experience. Focus less on the actual product annd more on the actual experience. People will respond to experiential travel marketing. Detail how they will interact with the people and places they will see, not the fact that they are going to just see them.My Two Cents,
George

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