I had taken time off from blogging mainly because I just had twins in May. When I first started my agency I had just had my son who is now almost 15 years old. Now having my twins, I am remembering how I had to balance work and a baby. The main difference was I was trying to build a business back then and now I am trying to manage the agency since it has grown so much in 15 years.
I am very fortunate to have many great people involved in my agency now. I no longer shoulder the full load but have great people who work for the agency. I can now get help when I need it and am not so stressed about getting in as much hours as I did when I first started out.
Many people have asked me how the business is doing. So many people are surprised when I tell them we have had the best year so far this year. Our business with suppliers is up 38%. We have met sales goals we have never made before and suppliers are now calling us to make arrangements for our commission % for 2012.
I think our agents are really getting out there and getting business which is so awesome! The truth is only you can make your business succeed. So many people think it will just come to them but if you are not out there working at it, you aren't going to make it.
Tonight I spent hours just trying to get our website into better position on the search engines. I am hoping when people look for information on our agency they find websites like this blog and feel they get to know what we are all about.
I hope to blog much more now and try to help anyone I can who is interested in becoming a homebased travel agent.
Saturday, October 15, 2011
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Travel is picking up!
For those wondering if travel is still a business that is profitable, I can say that travel is definitely picking up. We have seen a big increase in our sales and people seem to be traveling more than they have been the last year or so.
What does that mean to you as a homebased travel agent? It means there are more and more people out there who are looking for a professional to help them plan that trip. As a travel agent you will have the ability to look at the client's options. You won't be pushing one particular thing like many websites do.
Say someone wants to go to Disneyland. Now they might go to Disney's website and look for pricing. If you can help that same person, you will more than likely get them a better deal using another supplier. Sometimes Disney has specials that are the best pricing but many times you can put together a package using different suppliers to get your clients a better price.
People are busy. They want someone to help when they can. If it doesn't cost the client anything to use you and you can actually SAVE them money.. you will have a client for a lifetime. I know I love when I get to have the groomer give my dog a bath and I don't have to do it! A travel agent provides a service to those needing or wanting to travel.
Now is a great time to start that new business as a homebased travel agent!
Jennifer Dugan
What does that mean to you as a homebased travel agent? It means there are more and more people out there who are looking for a professional to help them plan that trip. As a travel agent you will have the ability to look at the client's options. You won't be pushing one particular thing like many websites do.
Say someone wants to go to Disneyland. Now they might go to Disney's website and look for pricing. If you can help that same person, you will more than likely get them a better deal using another supplier. Sometimes Disney has specials that are the best pricing but many times you can put together a package using different suppliers to get your clients a better price.
People are busy. They want someone to help when they can. If it doesn't cost the client anything to use you and you can actually SAVE them money.. you will have a client for a lifetime. I know I love when I get to have the groomer give my dog a bath and I don't have to do it! A travel agent provides a service to those needing or wanting to travel.
Now is a great time to start that new business as a homebased travel agent!
Jennifer Dugan
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Crazy people!
Have you ever seen Jim Cramer's rant "They're Nuts! They know nothing!" on CNBC? There are days I feel I am channeling that in my head.
Don't get me wrong, the internet has allowed me to have connections with people all over the place and most people I have met are great people. But then there are the days when it seems everyone I deal with is crazy. It isn't completely true because I answer usually 60 or so emails a day and not all of them are from people who seem nuts. But I usually have a few that I wonder if I am crazy myself for being in business.
Over the past day I have had one person email me over 30 times. She was upset and she felt the need to lash out on me. She doesn't know me. Doesn't know anything about me personally but I ruffled her feathers and she began emailing me hate email. I always am amazed that there are people so angry at the world to lash out at complete strangers.
Then I get people who don't seem to realize the importance of having a business or don't take it seriously. They want to make extra money but don't want to put in the work it requires. They don't want to complete training or follow up with a client. They don't understand that it is important to take it seriously and follow procedures. It isn't something that you can take lightly. You are on the hook and have to make sure you take care of your clients and cover yourself against issues.
Agents email me all the time with strange stories and crazy customers. I wish I had the perfect advice for those who have to deal with someone who really does seem "off balance". I question would people who send hateful crazy emails be the same in person? Are they the same people who in the grocery line attack the check out person because their bag of apples rings up for .15 more than they expected.
I guess all I can say is "they're nuts!"
Don't get me wrong, the internet has allowed me to have connections with people all over the place and most people I have met are great people. But then there are the days when it seems everyone I deal with is crazy. It isn't completely true because I answer usually 60 or so emails a day and not all of them are from people who seem nuts. But I usually have a few that I wonder if I am crazy myself for being in business.
Over the past day I have had one person email me over 30 times. She was upset and she felt the need to lash out on me. She doesn't know me. Doesn't know anything about me personally but I ruffled her feathers and she began emailing me hate email. I always am amazed that there are people so angry at the world to lash out at complete strangers.
Then I get people who don't seem to realize the importance of having a business or don't take it seriously. They want to make extra money but don't want to put in the work it requires. They don't want to complete training or follow up with a client. They don't understand that it is important to take it seriously and follow procedures. It isn't something that you can take lightly. You are on the hook and have to make sure you take care of your clients and cover yourself against issues.
Agents email me all the time with strange stories and crazy customers. I wish I had the perfect advice for those who have to deal with someone who really does seem "off balance". I question would people who send hateful crazy emails be the same in person? Are they the same people who in the grocery line attack the check out person because their bag of apples rings up for .15 more than they expected.
I guess all I can say is "they're nuts!"
Friday, February 19, 2010
Fun ideas to promote your business
Your local chamber of commerce can help you find out what you can participate in to get your business name out there.
We also have a movie ad at the local theater. You can see it at http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1138202728210&subj=1021631919
Your local newspaper also can be a great source of ways to get your name out there. If you can develop a relationship with someone at the paper who does the ads, he or she can inform you when there is special editions or low cost advertising opportunities.
Keep in fun and remember to promote yourself so that everyone knows your name!
Monday, February 8, 2010
Search engines and getting links
One thing I tend to do late at night is find places to get my websites listed. Although it can be very time consuming and boring, I have found it an important part of having a business. I find as many places as I can to get links to http://www.travelathome.com/ and http://www.duganstravels.net/
It is amazing how many places you can get listed if you spend a couple of hours each week just submitting to websites. It was easier back before people really began charging for listing. I was on many at home work websites but now to get listed it costs alot more money. I think this is because so many of the MLM's are willing to pay big bucks for a link or two.
It is also important to realize that you will get dropped if you don't submit on a regular basis. So be sure to put some time into finding places to submit your website. If you spend the money to have one, you should make sure people are viewing it.
Are there places you recommend for submitting websites? I would love to hear!
Jennifer Dugan
It is amazing how many places you can get listed if you spend a couple of hours each week just submitting to websites. It was easier back before people really began charging for listing. I was on many at home work websites but now to get listed it costs alot more money. I think this is because so many of the MLM's are willing to pay big bucks for a link or two.
It is also important to realize that you will get dropped if you don't submit on a regular basis. So be sure to put some time into finding places to submit your website. If you spend the money to have one, you should make sure people are viewing it.
Are there places you recommend for submitting websites? I would love to hear!
Jennifer Dugan
Monday, January 18, 2010
Is there business out there?
Agents can get very frustrated about finding customers. I can relate to this because when I started out, I had no idea how to get customers. I knew travel but I worked in a storefront agency so clients just showed up or were already customers of the agency. I didn't have to try to get my own customers like I did when I started my own travel agency.
Friends and family really are the place to start. Don't feel frustrated when your own family books elsewhere. Sound crazy? No it happens all the time. I still to this day have family members who do not use my travel agency. But they sure do call when something gets messed up by some online travel website and they are stranded with no help. The best thing is I can tell them, I am sorry since I didn't book it, I have no control to help you. Sometimes this is all it takes for someone to get the importance of having a good travel agent.
For the friends and family who do want to help you, they will give your name out to those they know. So don't be afraid to ask for those referrals. Make sure friends and family have a few business cards. Ask them to put a card on their refrigerator at home so when they have guests they see it.
This business is a personalized business. People like to get referred to you by someone they know. A great tool is to do photo albums for your clients. This way when they come back and want to show people their pictures, they will not only show the wonderful moments of their vacation you helped them with but also your name will be displayed to associate the wonderful trip with. Here is a place you can get photo albums for your business http://www.cruisealbums.com/
Go the extra mile for your customers. Do you think a travel website (won't mention names) will provide the personalized service you can provide? No way. You are a human being who cares about your customers. That means if you just take the time to go the extra mile for your customers, you will be their travel agent for life. And they can send you countless new clients who will then send you more and more clients. Build from it.
So instead of worry about the number of clients you have today, find ways to get a few new customers and spoil them. Then continue on this path until you need to hire someone to help you spoil clients!
You can do it.. just think of ways you would want to be treated and go above and beyond for your customers. It will come to you if you just get out there and start marketing yourself.
Friends and family really are the place to start. Don't feel frustrated when your own family books elsewhere. Sound crazy? No it happens all the time. I still to this day have family members who do not use my travel agency. But they sure do call when something gets messed up by some online travel website and they are stranded with no help. The best thing is I can tell them, I am sorry since I didn't book it, I have no control to help you. Sometimes this is all it takes for someone to get the importance of having a good travel agent.
For the friends and family who do want to help you, they will give your name out to those they know. So don't be afraid to ask for those referrals. Make sure friends and family have a few business cards. Ask them to put a card on their refrigerator at home so when they have guests they see it.
This business is a personalized business. People like to get referred to you by someone they know. A great tool is to do photo albums for your clients. This way when they come back and want to show people their pictures, they will not only show the wonderful moments of their vacation you helped them with but also your name will be displayed to associate the wonderful trip with. Here is a place you can get photo albums for your business http://www.cruisealbums.com/
Go the extra mile for your customers. Do you think a travel website (won't mention names) will provide the personalized service you can provide? No way. You are a human being who cares about your customers. That means if you just take the time to go the extra mile for your customers, you will be their travel agent for life. And they can send you countless new clients who will then send you more and more clients. Build from it.
So instead of worry about the number of clients you have today, find ways to get a few new customers and spoil them. Then continue on this path until you need to hire someone to help you spoil clients!
You can do it.. just think of ways you would want to be treated and go above and beyond for your customers. It will come to you if you just get out there and start marketing yourself.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Are you really committed to being successful?
Unfortunately what I see time after time is people who join our agency and then do not realize the amount of work a business will require. You have to commit so much of your time and energy to your business. If you do not promote yourself, no one will. That might mean late hours at night trying to find ways to get your business name out so people can see it.
When I first started my agency there were several in town. I had to compete against storefront agencies as well as the bigger chain type agencies. I had the local paper do a story on my business to show the difference between my agency and another agency. The paper took a picture and wrote about my desire to be a work at home mom. People began calling just to help my business out.
Most people want to help others. If you let people know you are a business who really wants to make it, they will help you. However if you aren't committed to your business, then why should someone who does not know you help you? Show that you care and you want to make it. That means you have to put in the work. It means getting your business card out and mailing flyers. It means attending seminars and events around town. It means every night before you go to bed, do 1 thing for your business even if it is just submitting your website to a search engine.
So what are some easy things you can do for your business? Here are some ideas that only take minutes to complete.
Get a facebook page for your business
Get listed with Google for your business listing http://www.google.com/local/add
Get your own free listing in Yellowpages.com http://listings.yellowpages.com/Services/ServiceClaimSearch.aspx
Get listed in Yahoo Local
http://local.yahoo.com/
I will add more but wanted to give some ideas of places you can quickly make your business name seen.
Promote the heck out of your business! You can do it.
When I first started my agency there were several in town. I had to compete against storefront agencies as well as the bigger chain type agencies. I had the local paper do a story on my business to show the difference between my agency and another agency. The paper took a picture and wrote about my desire to be a work at home mom. People began calling just to help my business out.
Most people want to help others. If you let people know you are a business who really wants to make it, they will help you. However if you aren't committed to your business, then why should someone who does not know you help you? Show that you care and you want to make it. That means you have to put in the work. It means getting your business card out and mailing flyers. It means attending seminars and events around town. It means every night before you go to bed, do 1 thing for your business even if it is just submitting your website to a search engine.
So what are some easy things you can do for your business? Here are some ideas that only take minutes to complete.
Get a facebook page for your business
Get listed with Google for your business listing http://www.google.com/local/add
Get your own free listing in Yellowpages.com http://listings.yellowpages.com/Services/ServiceClaimSearch.aspx
Get listed in Yahoo Local
http://local.yahoo.com/
I will add more but wanted to give some ideas of places you can quickly make your business name seen.
Promote the heck out of your business! You can do it.
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