Thanks to the internet, effective advertising doesn’t have to cost nearly as much as it used to – and much of it you can do yourself. Only have a budget of $250 a month or less? No problem. Here are five ways you can market your travel agency for little – or nothing.
1. Strategically partner. Cost? Zero. Strategic partnerships work when you have something of value to offer that costs you nothing, which you use to trade for what you need. Need local advertising? Work out a deal with a local luxury magazine to write a free travel advice column, or offer trip giveaways to a local non-profit organization in return for advertisements in their programs and your brand logo on everything. I’ve done both for years, and I promise, they work.
2. Use giveaways. Cost? Zero to $800 a year. I work with my favorite resorts to promote them, and promote my business, through offering trip giveaways at Bridal Shows, in magazines, and charity galas – and through my own HoneymoonGiveaway.com website. If you don’t have the contacts to leverage a similar deal yet, spend $500 to $800 on a cruise giveaway. Everyone loves a giveaway, and through contest entries, you’ll gain access to hundreds, even thousands of new leads.
3. Savvy Social Media. Cost? Nothing but time. Don’t just be a faceless agency – become a personality people like and want to follow on Social Media. Every Tweet and Facebook update should provide something of value, whether it’s a travel quote with a beautiful picture, a hotel deal update, or a travel tip. You’ll slowly build a loyal following, and stay on the top of their minds when it’s time to book that vacation. Tip: Be sure to hashtag your partners!
4. Google Ad Words. Cost? Currently $100 a month. For as little as $100 a month, you can get 40,000 people to see your image. Make it a good one.
5. Woobox! Cost? $30 a month. Woobox allows you to publish contests, sweepstakes and coupons to Facebook or Twitter, which is a great way to make the most out of your giveaways and promotions. You can even use it to create photo contests, perfect for the travel industry!
Now, here’s the secret to making these inexpensive advertising solutions work: Use them all together. Use your social media with Woobox to promote your giveaways and strategic partnerships, and you’ll be well on your way to expanding your business.
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Tammy Levent, Public Speaker & Business Mentor
Click here to read Tammy’s bio and a sampling of her achievements.
