The main source of new orders for many small businesses is referrals. This is especially true for you if you want to start travel agency from home. Naturally, when clients are happy with a service they tell others about it resulting in new orders. Referrals will be a strong form of advertising for you if you want to become a travel agent because they carry an independent assessment from a user that your service is worth buying.
For this reason, referrals should occupy a prime place in your travel business whether you are an independent travel agent working from home or at busy storefront travel agency.
With so many people sharing their thoughts online these days, you are most definitely neglecting a prime source of sales if as a travel agent, you are not able to reach out to satisfied clients by asking for referrals.
While asking for a referral may pose a challenge, it is an art that can be learnt so you go about it without embarrassing your customers.
Don’t be shy, here’s how to go about it.
Use Your Host Travel Agency
A tried and tested way that referrals occur is when a current client(s) asks for suggestions for a specific service outside the scope of a host travel agency. The agency then responds by recommending certain products or services. If you are working with a host travel agency that are satisfied with your services so far, they can easily refer your services to such clients if you offer what the client is specifically looking for. If you are working with the best host travel agency for the beginners they will not hesitate to put in a good word for you.
Use Family and Friends
Other times, these inquiries may arise through a friend of a family member or your close friends. You can also let your family or friends refer such friends to you. You can also drop the hint through a telephone call or even an email to let them know of your services if you feel confident about asking them for referrals in that way. Customers who are satisfied and happy with your service will no doubt be prepared to provide a direct response; at times, all it takes is to encourage them to do so.
Use Testimonials
Testimonials are another way to utilize referrals. You can directly ask your satisfied clients to write a review of your holiday packages or services explaining why they liked it so much. They can then either email the write up to you, which you can then post your website for all to read, or they can post on other sites that post different reviews such as Google, Facebook or Yelp. This way they are referring you to other people who could be interested in your travel services. Prospects may read the testimonials on your site, or other sites and they will be favorably disposed to use your services or consider buying your holiday packages.
If you are interested in becoming an independent travel agent and join BNT Travel Group, please fill out the form or give us a call at 800-417-7010
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