Is $2.75 Per Day Too Much To Spend On Your Agency? | Travel Research Online

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Is $2.75 Per Day Too Much To Spend On Your Agency?

Is your number one hobby travel?  Or is running a travel agency your number one hobby?  There is a difference, and if the latter, listen up. Stop it! The days of a hobby agency are long gone, along with the lengthy IATAN lists that looked more like a neighborhood directory. As we move through 2022 and beyond, it is imperative that we run our businesses professionally. And yes, that sometimes means that we need to spend a buck or two.

Stop being so cheap! Remember, to make money, you need to spend some!

I know an agency that is on top of their email newsletter game. Every week, a promotional email goes out to their small database. The issue? It is sent via their Gmail account. For some reason, they will not commit to an email program due to the high cost–$19/month is the starting point for my program. Instead, they bcc their database and let it fly. They have no idea about deliverability, open rates, or how their customer reacted. Think about it. They are tossing several ideas out there, hoping one will resonate with a customer. Doesn’t it make more sense to send the ideas out, look for what resonates, and re-target them? Would you like to know how many people asked for your information and then never read it?  MailChimp starts at free and has a reasonable plan at $11/month. Isn’t $132 a year worth it?

Along the same lines, how much more effective could you be if you ditched the index cards and file folders and had all of your customer data in front of you? Not just names, addresses, and emails. I am talking about past travel, passport numbers, likes, dislikes, average spending, significant dates, and more. There are Customer Relationship Management (CRM) tools available for that as well, also in the $50 to $60/month range.

And finally, I am so glad to see the stock freebie business cards from Vista-Print disappear.  However, some companies will still give you a free (and co-branded) card. Why would you want to co-brand with a stationer? Just don’t.  The business card is often a first impression and also a takeaway impression.  Don’t skimp here. Heavyweight paper. Color printing. Custom designed. Make it something memorable. They are some of the highest ROI marketing tools you can buy. I recently bought 5,000 for just under $150, which will last me a long time.

All told, these three tools will cost just about $1000 per year. $83.50 per month. $2.75 per day. How much do you spend on that cuppa joe at the local coffee shop? Look around the house. Shake the couch cushions. Maybe toss spare change into a bucket. It is easy to come up with $2.75 per day to help your agency thrive if you commit to it. And, if this still seems to be too much, I might suggest another hobby.

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