It’s a brand new year and with each new year comes new opportunities and new challenges. We are very anxious to see what 2017 will mean for the travel industry, and we can rest assured that there will be some significant changes. Generational changes and technology will continue to play a significant role in the travel purchasing and product landscape, and as travel professionals, we will have to grow and adjust with the market to stay in the game. I am pretty sure that you have all already set out your goals for 2017, but just in case you did not include these things, here are six not too late items to add to your 2017 resolutions for your travel business.
1. Get Out Of Your Comfort ZoneIf you have been doing business the same way for the last several years and your business is not growing the way you want it to, it is probably time to get out of your comfort zone and try something new. It could be taking on a new product that you have never sold before, trying new marketing strategies that are now trending in other markets, let 2017 be the year where you do something different to make a difference in your business. Do not sit stagnantly and allow the industry to grow past you and you find yourself out of the business before you even notice it.
2. Embrace Technology Like it or not, technology is now a massive player in every consumer industry, and buyers will be using technology to guide them when looking to make their travel plans. Whether it is to find the ideal destination or the perfect travel agent, your clients will be using technology. If you have not done so already, 2017 will be your last opportunity to embrace technology and make it a part of your business. Technology does not have to be your enemy, but instead it can be a means to efficient market research, additional exposure for your business, and significant branding opportunities. Thanks to technology, the world is now a smaller place, and you can use this fact to your advantage to help grow your travel business more than you have ever done before.
3. Work SmarterLife is short, and you cannot spend the best years of your life just working hard. It is time to throw out those old school inefficient methods of doing business that consumes all your time and gets yourself access to resources that can help you reduce the time you spend on business logistics. It is impossible to grow a business in a big way when every aspect of your business requires your manual input. There are many business automation tools out there and advanced marketing tools that you can use to increase your productivity while reducing your physical output. Let 2017 be the year you learn to work smarter, not harder.
4. Increase Your Commission Earnings Making more money is on everyone’s resolution list so make sure it is on yours. Travel Agents work very hard for the commissions they make, and finding ways to increase commission earnings is not always easy. But as they say, if it were easy, everyone would be doing it. It is time to get creative and design business strategies to help you earn more commissions on your sales. Whether this means formulating new vendor relationships, narrowing your niche to increase sales and strengthen relationships with select partners, or designing an aggressive online marketing strategy to generate more leads and increase your overall volume. Let 2017 be the year that you make the most commission ever.
5. Focus On Branding To build a real business, you cannot just focus on sales; you need to focus on building a brand. Create an identity for your business that can speak to the clients you are looking to attract without you physically being there. Come up with a real name for your travel business if you do not already have one, setup a professional online presence, get a logo designed, define your brand message and primary product, and start pushing your message out to your target. Your business will start growing without you once you can successfully create a brand for your business.
6. Find The Right TeamChange is scary, but if your current situation is not working for you, then sticking around is even scarier. If your partners,
Host Agency or co-workers are not working out for you, make a bold move in 2017 and find a new team. Your sanity and the success of your business long term depends on it. Don’t just get up and leave without first knowing what you want for your business. Know exactly what you are looking for, do your research and find a team or an environment that is aligned with the business goals you have set out. Your business success has as much to do with the people you surround yourself with as it does everything else. Set yourself up for success by finding the right team.
