You've probably heard that you need a lead magnet. And for most businesses, this has been solid advice. But is this something you really need if you're a travel agent? I'll give you MY opinion in this episode. Want to take things even further? Wish you had someone to show you HOW to implement the things I talk about on the podcast (with worksheets, checklists, and more ideas around how to make them work for YOUR business) Check out The Lab ! The online home for travel agents who are ready to bui...
Apr 20, 2022•31 min
Do you know what it means to qualify your clients? It sounds a little scary, I know (at least to me) but is actually VERY simple (you might even be doing it already!!) and SO important. In this episode I'll talk about what it means, why it's one of the most important things you can do, and then will offer some suggestions for how to do it. Want to take things even further? Check out The Lab ! The online home for travel agents who are ready to build a business that is everything they ever dreamed...
Apr 06, 2022•30 min
If you had asked me a few months ago if I had ADHD, I would have said a very confident no. It wasn't just that I hadn't considered it, but that I knew what it was, have family members with it, and was positive that I didn't have any of the classic symptoms. Turns out I was wrong. So in this episode I'll talk about why I was so sure I didn't have ADHD, share some of my symptoms, tell you why I think ADHD brains are so awesome!! and offer some places to get started if you see yourself in any of wh...
Mar 23, 2022•50 min
There are a lot of reasons that you might find it hard to "market" yourself and your business. One that I've just realized is that it feels like the goal of marketing is to convince someone to work with me, wether they want to or not, and wether it's the right choice for them or not. In this episode I talk about that, and share a different way of thinking that might just change the way you feel about marketing, forever. The Lab will be open to new members soon! If you want to be the first in lin...
Mar 04, 2022•24 min
Are you convinced that being a travel agent means long hours, and tons of work you hate? If I do nothing else, I hope this episode convinces you that that's not the case. If you're ready to transform your business , and turn it into something you LOVE, that supports the life of your dreams (instead of sucking the life out of it) I'd love for you to join us in The Lab! You can sign up HERE .
Feb 17, 2022•50 min
Listen, there isn't really anything you could have done to COMPLETELY protect your business from the effects of the Covid pandemic, or to avoid all downsides of future crises, BUT doing this one thing can definitely make weathering future storms a lot easier... Want to take things even further? Sign up for INSIDERS and get access to additional training and coaching for your business. You’ll find links to everything mentioned below the podcast....
Feb 02, 2022•34 min
I know it's just started, but 2022 already feels HARD! If you feel that way, too, I have some suggestions to help you get through this month, and come out the other side feeling a little more hopefully, and ready for all the GOOD that 2022 is sure to bring... Want to get on the waitlist for Insiders? Learn more here: https://www.travelgeniuses.com/insiders
Jan 17, 2022•19 min
This is my favorite week of the year - Christmas is over (including all the shopping, and wrapping, and baking, and parties) but things are still slow. Many people are still off work, and just not back into real life yet. It's the perfect time to think about and get excited for the new year. But first... I have 3 questions you should answer before you set any goals or make plans for next year. Want to take things even further? Sign up for INSIDERS and get access to additional training and coachi...
Dec 29, 2021•19 min
This time of year can be really stressful for a lot of people. There just seems to be so much we have to do, and not anywhere near enough time to do it all. Except... how much of that stuff do you really HAVE to do? Could you adjust your expectations (personal and business) and get rid of some stuff on your list? That's what we're discussing in this episode. Want to take things even further? Sign up for INSIDERS and get access to additional training and coaching for your business....
Dec 10, 2021•19 min
I've been noticing a shift in my use of social media, and I think a big change in the way people use social media is heading our way. I want you to be ahead of it! So I'm letting you in on my predictions. I'm also preparing for 2022, and would love to know how I can best help you. I've set up a quick survey at www.travelgeniuses.com/survey to make it easy for you to tell me what you're struggling with! You never know, your question may just end up as a topic on a future episode of the podcast!...
Nov 24, 2021•34 min
I'm just going to come out and say it - I think a lot of these "websites for travel agents" not only don't HELP you grow your travel business, but do a lot to HARM your business. In this episode, I'm sharing why I think that, and offering some (fairly) simple things you can do to change that.
Oct 21, 2021•37 min
I LOVE books, and I'm kindof famous for recommending the BEST books to help in certain situations. In this episode, I'm sharing some of my favorites - around mindset, money, business, and life. You can find links to all of the books and other resources mentioned in this episode at www.travelgeniuses.com/episode59 .
Sep 29, 2021•37 min
I know there are a lot of new agents joining the industry right now. And for a lot of experienced agents, you're restarting your business after this long... pause. And things might not be growing as quickly as you'd like... In this episode, I'll share why that might just be a good thing! Here are the links to the resources mentioned in this episode: Episode 7 - All About Fees Episode 28 - HOW to charge fees Sign up for the (audio??) newsletter Travel Geniuses Websites...
Aug 31, 2021•28 min
Setting expectations for your clients is ALWAYS a good idea, but especially now, when the travel experience is often much different than we're used to, it can ensure your clients have a wonderful experience, even when things don't go as planned. In this episode, I'll share some things it would be good to set expectations around, and offer some tips for doing that. You’ll find links to everything mentioned in this episode at www.travelgeniuses.com/episode57
Jul 28, 2021•26 min
Have you ever quit a job, and realized after you left just how toxic and unhealthy it was? Some of you are feeling that way after having this forced break from your business for a while. It's hard to want to go back to long hours and little pay... But you don't have to! This is YOUR business. You're the boss. And you get to choose if you're a good one or not. In this episode, I'm sharing several ways you can set boundaries in your business so it can go from something that you dread going back to...
Jul 14, 2021•44 min
I tend to have 2 modes: Way behind on everything and panicked because I have too much to do, and not enough time OR Way ahead on things so I mess around and don't get stuff done until I find myself way behind on everything and panicked because I have too much to do... Which is obviously a terrible cycle to be in. I've been working hard to get a handle on this and have created a really simple tool that has helped me end the panic cycle. In this episode, I'm sharing how it's helped, how you can us...
Jun 30, 2021•28 min
I've got some tough love for you in this episode. If you've been playing small, and holding back when you should be talking about what you do, and how you can help people, you need to listen to this episode. You’ll find links to everything mentioned in this episode at travelgeniuses.com/episode54 CLICK HERE to learn more about Travel Genius Websites. CLICK HERE to get on the waitlist for INSIDERS CLICK HERE to get on the email list (I forgot to tell you how to do that.)...
Jun 16, 2021•34 min
It's one thing to SAY you think what you do provides real value to your travelers, it's another thing to really believe it at your core. In this episode, I'm hoping to help you really believe it. You’ll find links to everything mentioned in this episode at travelgeniuses.com/episode53
May 26, 2021•39 min
Covid has made us see so many problems in our industry, and one of the biggest is how vulnerable we are, legally, if we don't have good contracts and terms and conditions in place to protect us. We know we need to protect ourselves, but hiring an attorney feels very overwhelming and out of reach for most of us. In this episode, I am talking to Thomas Carpenter - an attorney AND a travel agent. We talk about why it's so important to protect yourself, but also HOW you can do that, even if you're j...
Jan 27, 2021•1 hr 6 min
This is a subject that not many people discuss in the travel industry, but it's VITAL that you deal with it if you want to grow a successful business. Of all the topics I've ever covered... this might be the most important one yet. You can find additional notes and links to all of the resources discussed in this episode at www.travelgeniuses.com/episode50
Jan 15, 2021•38 min
2020 has been hard, especially for those of us in the travel industry. It can be hard to feel excited about your business after a year like that, and even harder to feel motivated to work on it when the coming year is still so uncertain. In this episode I'm sharing what I'm doing to get past that so that I start 2021 rested, and excited about the possibilities for my business again. Here are links to resources mentioned in this episode: Episode 33 where I talked about how and why to take a break...
Dec 29, 2020•45 min
Have you been feeling... not good enough lately? Like maybe you aren't really cut out to be a travel agent, or a business owner? Like everyone else has their stuff together, and you're the only one struggling? Like the next client you get is going to be the one who finds out that you don't have any idea what you're doing? Like you maybe just aren't cut out to be a business owner? Then this episode is for YOU! I'm sharing all the tips and tricks I use to help combat imposter syndrome and insecuri...
Sep 17, 2020•38 min
Our world is never going to be the same, and that is especially true about the travel industry, and travel agents specifically. The way we think about and run our business has GOT to change if we want to continue helping our clients have amazing vacations. But if you keep doing things in your business the way you've always done them, and the way EVERYONE has done them, for decades and decades, your business won't survive. Elizabeth de Quillacq, from Souvenir and Far, shares the unconventional wa...
Aug 20, 2020•57 min
My prediction is that travel within the US is going to be HOT for the next year, or even 2. And I want you to be prepared for that! In this episode, I offer some tips to position you and your business so that your clients come to you to book these trips, and see you as necessary for the vacation of a lifetime... even when it's close to home. Here are the links to the resources mentioned in this episode: As always, my episode about choosing a niche is relevant to this conversation. :-) The episod...
Aug 05, 2020•23 min
If you've heard all the hype about selling group travel, but didn't know how to get started, you won't want to miss this episode. Michelle Woodson Howell transformed her business by reaching out to local businesses and working with them to sell group trips with their clients and fans. And in this episode she shares how she did it, and talks about the course she's created so that you can to. Here are the links to the resources mentioned in this episode: Learn more about Michelle's course If you h...
Jul 22, 2020•57 min
Are you treating your travel business like a real business? Do you see yourself as a true professional, with a business? If you've been treating your business as anything but a legitimate business that deserves to be respected and taken seriously, that needs to change, and it needs to change now. In this episode, I talk about why that has to change, and I give you some tough love about things you're going to have to do differently if you want your business to succeed in the new, post covid world...
Jul 08, 2020•40 min
Everywhere you look people are shoving marketing ideas in your face. And when I ask agents what they struggle with the most, "marketing" is BY FAR the number one answer I get. But is that really what you want ? What if I told you you could grow your business without spending hours every day on marketing?? Listen to this episode to learn how...
May 21, 2020•29 min
It'seems, counterintuitive, doesn't it, especially in the middle of arguably the worst time in the history of travel, to turn away a potential booking. But in this episode, I'll tell you why saying no, can be better for your business, and you.
May 06, 2020•43 min
This is a really hard time for the travel industry. I don't know that we've ever been through anything quite so devastating. And I know you might not be in a place yet, where you're ready to start preparing your business for the other side of this, but if you are, I wanted to offer some thoughts on what we can do NOW to make sure we come out of this better than before <3
Apr 17, 2020•33 min
Cuba has been on my list of places to go for years, but I've always thought it was too difficult OR that it would mean having to go on a big group escorted tour, doing things that someone else thought I should do, or getting a very "corporate" experience. I was SO wrong. I think that, even if you don't think you'll ever want to sell Cuba, you'll get so much out of this episode, and just might change your mind. :-) Links to everything mentioned in this episode can be found at https://www.travelge...
Mar 11, 2020•53 min
