Back to Blogging

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.

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