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.

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.