How to find customers for your travel agency: essential strategies

Have you just set up your travel agency and are wondering how to find your first customers? Or perhaps you already have a well-established agency but would like to give your clientele a boost? In a sector as competitive as tourism, it's essential to stand out from the crowd and implement effective strategies to attract new customers. But where do you start? What are the best practices to adopt?

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In this article, we'll review the essential strategies for finding new customers for your travel agency. We'll look at how to define your target clientele, develop your online presence, capitalize on word-of-mouth, participate in events, establish strategic partnerships, propose attractive offers and retain your existing customers. To illustrate these different strategies, we'll use concrete examples of travel agencies that have successfully put them into practice.

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Whether you're a young, fast-growing agency or a well-established brand, this article will give you concrete keys to boosting your customer base and making your travel agency a key player in the market. So, are you ready to move up a gear? Let's get started!

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1. Define your target customers and their expectations 🙋

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Before you set out to win new customers, it's vital to know who you're talking to. Who are your ideal customers? What are their travel needs and expectations? The clearer your vision of your target clientele, the easier it will be to develop an offer and a discourse that resonate with them.

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Take the time to thoroughly analyze the characteristics of your potential customers. Age, family situation, income level, travel preferences, budget... All these criteria will enable you to segment your clientele into different profiles. This will enable you to create tailor-made offers that precisely meet the expectations of each segment.

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This is the strategy adopted by Sans Frontières, an agency specializing in adventure travel for young professionals. By analyzing this target group's expectations in terms of sports activities, trendy destinations and budget, it has been able to create trips that perfectly match their desires. The result: a loyal, committed clientele who recommend the agency to friends and family.

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2. Develop an effective online presence 💻

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In the digital age, an effective online presence is a must. Your website is often the first point of contact with your potential customers. It must therefore be attractive, informative and easy to use. Take care of the design, highlight your key offers and make sure your site is optimized for natural referencing by using the right keywords.

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But your online presence doesn't stop at your website. Social networks are also great tools for reaching new customers. Be active on the platforms most relevant to your target (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn...) and regularly share engaging content there: photos, videos, customer testimonials, special offers... Don't hesitate either to launch targeted advertising campaigns to reach your audience more precisely.

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Altiplano Voyages understands the importance of a polished online presence. With its sleekly designed website featuring superb photos and videos, it makes visitors dream. On Instagram, it shares daily snapshots of the dream destinations it offers. A digital strategy that positions the company as a benchmark for made-to-measure travel. For more information on managing a travel agency's social networks, read this article.

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3. Rely on word-of-mouth and recommendations 🧏

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In the tourism sector, word-of-mouth remains one of the most effective ways of attracting new customers. A satisfied customer is your best ambassador! So encourage your customers to tell their friends and family about you by setting up an attractive referral program. For example, offer a gift voucher or a discount on their next trip for every new customer you bring in.

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Another essential lever: online reviews. More and more travelers consult the comments left by other travelers before booking. So make sure your online reputation is the best it can be. Encourage your satisfied customers to leave a review on your site or on platforms like Tripadvisor. And take the time to respond to every comment, whether positive or negative, to show that you're listening.

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Perier Voyages understands this. It has set up a referral program offering between €30 and €150 off for each new traveler referred, who will also receive a welcome gift.

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4. Attend events to meet potential customers 👀

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To gain visibility and meet potential customers, there's nothing like taking part in events. Tourism trade shows and fairs are a must for presenting your offer to the public. Choose the events that are most relevant to your target audience and prepare your participation carefully. Look after your stand, plan original events and collect as many contacts as possible, who you can then contact again.

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But public events aren't the only ones to consider. Think of more local events, such as garage sales, markets or sporting events. These are a great opportunity to make yourself known to your local public and to forge links with other local players.

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For example, it might be a good idea to take part in a tourism trade show to promote your offers, and to run a competition on your stand to win a holiday, in order to collect qualified contacts. To implement this example, discover the best B2B travel trade shows of 2024.

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5. Build strategic partnerships 🤝

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Why not team up with other players to reach new customers? Partnerships can be a tremendous growth lever for your agency. Identify companies that complement your business, such as accommodations, airlines, car rental companies, activity providers... And offer them win-win collaborations.

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This can take different forms: cross-merchandising, joint promotions, exchanges of good practices... The idea is to create synergies that will benefit both parties. You'll be able to reach your partner's customers, and vice versa. And by proposing comprehensive and advantageous offers, you'll increase your attractiveness to customers.

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A fine example of a successful partnership is the one forged by the Enjoy Trip agency with famous hotel schools.

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6. Offer attractive, time-limited deals ⏳

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There's nothing like an attractive limited-time offer to trigger bookings and attract new customers. Regularly put in place special promotions that will make your potential customers want to take the plunge. These could be early booking rates, last-minute flash sales, packages including exclusive activities...

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The idea is to create a sense of urgency and scarcity that will drive your prospects to buy. Don't hesitate to highlight the advantages of these offers: substantial savings, unique experiences, gifts included... While setting a deadline for taking advantage of these special conditions.

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It's a strategy that Ôvoyages has mastered perfectly. Every month, it offers flash sales with lower rates on a selection of destinations. It communicates massively on these offers, leading to peak bookings for each operation and a customer base on the lookout for good deals.

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7. Keep existing customers coming back 😎

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Finally, don't forget that it's easier and cheaper to keep a customer coming back than to win a new one. That's why loyalty must be at the heart of your strategy. Pamper your existing customers by offering them exclusive advantages: loyalty programs, personalized offers, gifts, invitations to private events...

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Maintain a close relationship with your customers by regularly checking in on them and offering them trips that meet their expectations. Listen to them and show them that their satisfaction is your priority. And of course, keep them informed of your latest and best offers through regular e-mail and SMS communications.

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The Copines de Voyage agency has made loyalty its hobbyhorse. With its program, it rewards customer loyalty by offering exclusive discounts and benefits. It segments its customer base according to their level of commitment and adapts its offers accordingly.

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Conclusion

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As you've guessed, finding new customers for your travel agency doesn't happen overnight. It's a long-term process, requiring a multichannel strategy and a great deal of creativity. But if you follow the guidelines outlined in this article, you'll have every chance of boosting your customer base.

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Define your target audience precisely, develop your online presence, rely on word-of-mouth, take part in events, forge strategic partnerships, propose attractive offers and take care of your existing customers. And above all, don't be afraid to stand out from the competition by offering unique travel experiences and exceptional service.

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Of course, every agency is different, and there's no magic formula. It's up to you to adapt these tips to your own reality and resources. But by persevering and listening to your customers, you'll eventually find the winning formula to get your customer portfolio off the ground.

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So, are you ready to take up the challenge? Start conquering new horizons for your travel agency right now. With a little boldness and determination, you'll be on your way to success!

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