Travel agencies are vital in making Singapore an exciting destination for visitors by facilitating their travel arrangements.
According to statistics released by the Singaporean government on December 23, 2016, arrivals of visitors to the country had an annual growth of 5.1% annually between 2006 and 2015.
Both locals and foreigners may need to tour the country at some point in their lives. In this post, we will discuss some tips on how you can market your travel agency in Singapore.
Considering the high number of foreigners flocking the country, starting a travel agency looks like a lucrative venture.
You will come to realise that you aren’t the only one getting into the game. There are many other travel agencies looking for clients just like you.
How do you ensure you come out on top?
Use the Power of Branding In Your Travel Agency
Building a successful travel agency depends on your brand. Remember you are getting into marketing which already has many players.
You have to make the prospective clients choose you over the others.
There are various ways to boost your brand. You could do it by offering incentives to your loyal customers. Or offering the best services. The point is – to create a travel agency that stands out.
Having said that, let’s now look at some ways you can market your travel agency in Singapore.
Encourage Word of Mouth Marketing
There are over 1,000 travel agencies in Singapore each offering a unique travel experience for visitors as well as locals.
It is easy to get lost in the crowd. When you are confident you have the best service in the industry, you should tap into the power of word-of-mouth marketing.
The best kind of marketing is that coming from satisfied customers.
You also need to create a culture of asking for referrals from every client you come across. This will help grow your customer base.
Create Partnerships
Partnerships will grow your agency in leaps and bounds.
Collaborating with a business involved in the travel and tourism industries will ensure you always get clients.
Business partners can get clients to your agency including hotels, resorts, business leaders, airline carriers, etc.
Get a lawyer to compose a partnership agreement and seek out possible partners. This way your partners will direct clients to your agency in the hope that you will also generate business for them.
Build a website
Keep in mind that there is a large number of internet users when creating a marketing plan for your travel agency.
Millions of people can access the internet in Singapore so if you don’t have an online presence, you are missing out on many opportunities. First, start by building a website for your business.
A website will have all the details about your company and the services you offer.
Aside from contacts and services, there are many other things you can put on your website.
You can have a blog on the site where you talk about interesting holiday destinations in Singapore. Just remember to keep the site simple and visually appealing.
Search engine optimisation (SEO)
So, you just created a site for your travel agency. But then you realise that there are other travel agencies with websites too. You need to employ SEO techniques to improve your rankings on search engines.
Start by ensuring that the site loads faster and is responsive so that visitors will stay on it a bit longer than rival sites.
Search engine optimisation is one of the keys to ranking at the top of major Search engines like Google.
Therefore, when a travel agency is designing its local SEO campaign, it is essential that they understand what works and what does not.
For instance, the site must have engaging content posted that keeps people visiting the site and the right associated keywords and keyword phrases that make it easy for the site to rank number one among Singaporeans that want to buy a local retail product or a service.
Secondly, focus on updating and posting green content.
Search engines usually favour websites that post relevant and fresh content.
You could also get reputable websites to link to your site. When readers of such a site see a link to your blog, there will definitely get interested and check out your services.
Search engine marketing (SEM)
SEM is where you pay to advertise your travel agency on search engines.
When a user searches a term, the link will appear above the normal search results. You need to target some industry keywords in order to attract more visitors.
The good thing about this strategy is that you only get to pay when an internet user clicks on your advertisement.
Social Media
Social media is another great place to promote your travel agency.
A large number of internet users in Singapore are active on at least one social media platform. Some platforms you can use include Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
When you have a social media handle for your business, you have to keep it active by posting engaging content regularly.
The posts could be about the best destinations, great travel deals you are offering or even tips on how to budget for travel. If you do this, you will notice an increase in the number of followers, which means you’ll attract more clients.
Whenever a new site is published to the public, there is no need to wait to deploy a marketing campaign. In fact, it is best to actively generate brand awareness.
This can be done in a number of different ways including encouraging the public in Singapore to give their own comments and contributions too. By keeping visitors in the travel community engaged, there is also an increase in activity on the site.
Use Creative Viral Online Ads Campaigns
Customising a digital marketing campaign for Singaporeans does not have to be a difficult task. Particularly, because this group of people usually love a good deal.
Therefore, you may want to launch freebies on the site that will draw lots of visitors for longer periods of time.
Also, because Singaporeans love lucky draws and other contests, even more, it is easy for an ad campaign to go viral.
For instance, a campaign that sponsors videos that require viewers to respond to several questions before they can win a daily challenge is often a big splash.
Especially, when the winners are participating in these contests to win travel tickets to a luxurious hotel in a popular destination.
Email marketing
Maintaining a good relationship with your clients is good for the growth of your business.
One of the best ways to do this is to send weekly/monthly newsletters.
If a customer uses your services, it means they might need those services in future. You have to ensure that they do not go to another travel agency.
Include a call to action on your website and encourage current clients to sign up for your newsletter.
Keep these clients updated about travel. For instance, you could suggest various places people can visit during the summer and offer your services.
Local advertising
If you are serious about growing your business, you must start marketing to the surrounding community. Once you have landed a significant number of local clients, it is much easier to expand.
Start by advertising your services in the local newspapers/magazines.
You can also do it on the local radio station at a time when a popular program is on air. Most local clients are likely to be loyal to your agency so promoting to them is vital.
Blogging
Blogging is a critical part of any travel agencies online marketing campaign.
According to information posted by Hubspot’s Asia Pacific Content Marketing Report in 2016, approximately 45% of all marketers surveyed agreed that blogging is still very effective in delivering a successful content strategy.
For instance, to keep travelers coming to the site for information that they need and want, you can provide the pros and cons to various hotels in an area, hot spots to visit when traveling to a specific location to eat and popular culture locations that’s a must-see for the family.
All of these topics and more will make the travel agency’s site a valuable resource to both infrequent travelers and those savvy travelers that stay on the road in Singapore.
Content Marketing
Based on a telling report published by Hubspot’s “21, 2016 statistics revealed quite a bit of valuable information in regards to Content Marketing in Asia Pacific.
This study states that 58% of all marketers in Asia are having problems with defining the best content and influencers.
In particular, those that are meant to help with building, reaching and supporting conversion.
Due to the problems that these travel agencies are experiencing, they are always looking for winning strategies that can help them to be successful with their marketing campaigns.
Spice it up with Humour
Even though some travellers may not get the joke that the site owner tells, they are still relevant to keeping large groups engaged.
In fact, people who run the company’s travel site should not be afraid to have a good sense of humour.
Typically, good humour is also a key to running a successful social media travel agency’s campaign.
Particularly, when the dialogue used is positive, relaxed in tone, and conversational. In these situations, a humorous tone is often playful when travel agents are recommending the best places to visit in Singapore on their next vacation.
With the above tips, you are set to be on the road to major success in the travel agency industry.
Nowadays, you need to focus on the internet since millions of Singaporeans use it on a daily basis.
As you conduct online marketing, you may find it difficult to use techniques such as SEO and SEM.
MediaOne is a top Singapore digital marketing agency that helps you reach out to the online community.
Being a travel agent is a lot of fun, but a lot of work.
Working with agencies that already have a good amount of bookings each year can make the process of getting new business a whole lot easier.
Having several clients makes your life less stressful, and you can take advantage of the demand.
The following are ways that you can market your travel agency and grow your business successfully.
Focus On Building An Effective Client List
One of the most effective ways to market your travel agency is by focusing on building an effective client list.
Having a broad spectrum of clients is great, but if you want to grow your business successfully, it’s important to focus on the more premium clients.
These are the clients that are more likely to pay you higher fees and recommend your agency to others.
Having established relationships with these premium clients will prove to be very beneficial in the long run.
Be Selective About The Destinations You Worked In
It’s also important to be selective about the destinations that you worked in as a travel agent.
You wouldn’t want to expose your agency to possible exploitation by working with firms that can’t afford to pay you what you’re worth.
The best practice is to only work with reputable companies that can afford to pay you what you’re worth.
This will not only benefit you in the long run but will also allow you to develop stronger relationships with your clients.
It’s ultimately not beneficial to your career to work with low-paying clients.
You’re better off focusing on high-paying destinations and developing a strong brand for yourself.
Offer Special Deals To Your Most Valuable Clients
Another effective way to market your travel agency is to offer special deals to your most valuable clients.
You can do this by simply telling your clients that you’re running a special deal for them.
The key is to make sure that these deals are valuable and worth the while.
For example, you could offer your clients free airport lounge access, a free upgrade to a first-class seat, or a free roundtrip to some destination of their choice.
These are all legitimate offers, and they can be highly effective at generating interest and inquiries for your agency.
Use Technology To Your Advantage
There are a variety of technologies that can be used strategically to market a travel agency.
Email marketing is one of the most effective methods, and it’s a form that people are more likely to respond to.
Having an email list serves as a great starting point, and you can use it to send out special deals, important information, and even offers from brands that your clients might be interested in.
You can use email marketing platforms such as MailChimp or Hootsuite to build and manage your email lists.
Use Social Media To Spread The Word
Being on social media is now a necessity for any travel agent.
With the help of social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter, you can keep in touch with your existing clients, make new connections, and even promote your agency.
You can use platforms like Facebook to create and share articles, photos, videos, or anything else that you think could spark some interest in your brand.
For example, you could create a Facebook page for your agency, and share relevant articles and deals that you come across.
Or, you could share videos of destinations that your agency can get people there. The key is to find the platforms that your target audience uses, and use them to your advantage.
Take Advantage Of Relatives, Friends, And Colleagues
One of the most effective ways to market your travel agency is to take advantage of relatives, friends, and colleagues.
If you’ve got someone that’s knowledgeable about the travel industry, they can be an invaluable asset in your quest for new business.
They can help you make connections, introduce you to new people, and even advise you on deals and packages that you could offer.
This could prove to be immensely beneficial for your agency, and it’s definitely worth taking advantage of.
When looking for new business, your agency’s existing client base is a great place to start.
Use Websites Like TripAdvisor
There are a variety of websites that one might use for research or planning travel.
TripAdvisor is one of the most popular ones, and it’s certainly worth checking out if you’re looking for advice or planning a vacation.
If you’re new to the industry, it’s recommended to get a website designed specifically for travel agents.
This will make it much easier to market your agency and establish your expertise.
Websites like TripAdvisor are a great place to establish yourself as an expert, and they can also help you connect with potential clients.
It’s important to be active on websites like TripAdvisor and respond to reviews and questions from prospective clients.
This shows that you’re a busy and responsive agent, and hopefully, will encourage them to book with you sooner rather than later.
Work With Agencies That Can Afford To Pay You More
One of the benefits of being a travel agent is the flexibility that comes with having several clients.
You can plan multiple trips per day, and work on increasing your income.
The best way to do this is by working with agencies that can afford to pay you what you’re worth.
If you’re getting paid well, you’ll have the money to spend on expensive lunches and travel.
Working with a reputable agency that can afford to pay you well will benefit you in the long run.
Being a travel agent is a lot of fun, but it’s a lot of work.
The following are ways that you can market your travel agency and grow your business successfully.
Doing business in today’s world means being online, and being accessible to your target audience.
Email marketing, social media, and websites like TripAdvisor can all be used to capture potential clients, build your audience, and make sure that they know you’re available and willing to work with them.
