Free Online Marketing Tools, Tips, for Travel Agents

By: Cassandra Ingraham
Submitted: 2007-01-17 16:42:59
Print this article | Tell a friend | For publisher | Social Bookmarking
Rating:
 

Travel Agents have had it hard every since the Airlines realized they could communicate directly with the consumer and sell airline tickets online.

Once the online travel site business pattern proved successful, the airlines cut travel agent's commission to an average of $10.00 per ticket. The Travel Agent has been left to fen for themselves after providing excellent service for the airlines for decades. Those agencies servicing Corporate accounts have done much better then the small personal travel agencies that provided services to the neighborhood and surrounding businesses.

Travel Agents must become familiar with online marketing solutions.

The first task would be to develop an SEO web site. (keyword: seo) It does not have to be fancy. It has to be functional and have good content.

The second task would be building a client e-mail database. This is one of the most important steps to your online marketing program. Once you can contact your clients using e-mail, at the click of a mouse, you are on your way to real online marketing. (Always check your spelling) You will need a privacy policy (keyword: privacy policy) and a web based e-mail marketing service. This will cost around $10 to $25.00, starting out.

The third task might be witting travel articles to be distributed online (free) to web content sites. This is the single most important online marketing task.

Your next step, before contracting to get your own online booking engine would be to advertise online. One excellent method is to "buy traffic" to help build up your ranking. You can purchase target traffic for as little as $10.00 per month. (keyword: buy traffic) Provide a "sign-up" on your web site for a monthly newsletter or more information.

Don't expect to sell travel on a visitors first or second visit unless they are existing clients. Give new clients time to get to know and trust you. Do not be intimidated by the mega online travel sites. If you have done your homework, then you realize which wholesale travel suppliers they are using and you can use a different one.

Another excellent free online marketing tool is to use well know classified ad sites, such as LiveDeal, Craigslist, Backpage and a new one Travel 360 at www.travel360degrees.com.

Cassandra Ingraham is the webmaster for http://www.travel360degrees.com and the Travel 360 (free) classified ad program. Go to http://www.travel360degree.com now and click on Classifideds and add your Travel deals

Article source: Expert Articles

Most Recent Articles in Travel Tips category

  • The Essentials of an Efficient Limo Driver - By: San fran
    A limo driver is a person who provides safe and smooth transportation along with quality customer service to the passengers. He should be courteous, reliable and always willing to go the extra mile to make the occasion really memorable for the passengers. This article tells in detail about what qualities you should look for in a limo driver while hiring a limo from a limo rental company. Read on to know more....
  • Istanbul's Laleli - synonym of abundance - By: Andy Dorson
    Here each person may find everything. Every guest should know about Laleli.
  • Tourist spots in India - By: Sugitha Agriya
    Traveling tends to magnify all human emotions. Generally, traveling will refresh one's mind and help him to get of pressure and depression. Traveling through different destinations with your family members, friends, neighbors and any loved ones, gives you a chance to get closer to them and bring smile on their face. There are so many tourist spots in and around the world that lets you to carry memorable moments apart from refreshing your mind.
  • Cruising for the First Time - By: Carson Danfield
    If you're like a great many people, you've often thought about going on a cruise, but you're hesitant to really give it a try.
  • Protect Your Luggage When Flying - By: Carson Danfield
    How can I decrease the chance of losing my luggage?
  • Free Airline Tickets & Special Treatment - By: Carson Danfield
    How can I receive special treatment and free tickets from the Airline? - Get to know the Airline personnel that you see the most. If you use the same Airline to fly out of the same airport, take some time to recognize people. If you take the time to get to know them, it will make traveling more pleasant and the contacts you develop will be able to help you with problems and might even result in some free upgrades.
  • Finding the Right Cruise for You - By: Carson Danfield
    The most popular cruise destinations now are the Mediterranean, the Caribbean and Alaska. Here is how to choose the perfect region for your next cruise...
  • How To Travel Safely - By: Carson Danfield
    When you're on vacation, the last thing you want to worry about is your safety, so it's wise to be prepared
  • Luxurious Cruises at Bargain Prices - By: Carson Danfield
    The cruise ship business is booming. Millions of Americans are taking vacations afloat every year and 6 huger passenger liners (including the largest cruise ship in the world, Freedom of the Seas) were launched in 2006.
  • Make the Most of Frequent-Flier Opportunities - By: Carson Danfield
    Frequent-flier programs are always changing - sometimes for better...sometimes for worse.