As of 2023, there were more than 42,000 travel agencies in the US. The number has declined by 2.6% from 2022, but there’s still a lot of competition in the market.
Standing out can be challenging, but these advertising strategies can position you for success.
But First, Optimize Your Website
More than 850 million people used travel apps in 2023, which generated a remarkable $629 billion in revenue. Undoubtedly, there’s been a shift to mobile solutions with speed and convenience on offer. However, over 60% of wellness trip and retreat bookings were still made on tour providers’ websites—it’s still an essential element of the industry.
But how do you harness your website’s potential?
Create a mobile-friendly landing page, ideally with a load time between 0 and 2 seconds. It should provide detailed information about your tours, highlighting the value propositions with a clear CTA to nudge visitors into booking.
9 Time-Tested Strategies for Promoting Vacation Tours
Here are some high-yield tips for promoting your vacation tours in 2024:
1. Advertise in the Right Places
Paid ads can cost a pretty penny, but they won’t eat away too much at your marketing budget.
The key is to get clarity on your target audience: demographics, wants, needs, and desires. Then, apply flexible pay-per-click options to increase ad conversions. Your best bet will be to try remarketing, which allows you to zero in on prospects who have previously visited your website or engaged with your social media content.
2. Consider Influencer Collabs
78% of Americans say influencers inspire them to explore new places and attractions.
Influencer marketing can be a great way to increase engagement rates because it can convince people to explore destinations they never even considered visiting.
This nifty guide will give you insights into the best multi-channel influencers dominating the travel landscape. Do your research and collaborate with the right one in your niche to increase leads that are more likely to convert.
3. Cross-Sell with Other Businesses
As a travel agency, you likely work with hotels, tour operators, and transportation companies to enhance your clients’ travel experience. Well, this partnership can also help you sell more tours through cross-selling—a tactic where partners recommend related products (here: vacation tours) that provide additional value to customers.
It’s a great way to generate traffic and build operational efficiencies.
4. Establish a Presence on Social Media
89% of travelers check social media for travel inspiration.
Use visual platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok to inspire travelers to take the leap. Even better, create an immersive experience on YouTube, where you can cover things to do and activities to indulge in with the right keywords to rank high. It will help them pick the most suitable option from your destination packages.
5. Host a Contest
Running a giveaway for an all-expenses-paid trip is an effective way to increase brand awareness and generate buzz around your tours. But if that’s out-of-pocket for you, get new leads in your pipeline by offering complimentary activities.
Specialty water bottles, gift cards to AirBnB, and discounted flights work like a charm.
6. Post Posters
Our world may be undeniably digital, but it’s not the only way to promote your vacation tours. Traditional modes of advertisements can convey your unique selling proposition in a fun, catchy way that stays top-of-mind. These eye-catching visual assets bring attention to your offerings and increase brand awareness.
Plus, they can be customized to the max!
Give it a go with travel poster templates from PosterMyWall. You print them out to display in public places or quick-share them on your social media.
7. Rave About it on your Travel Blog
Have you incorporated a travel blog into your marketing strategy? Update it with fresh content about your tours, using the art of storytelling to appeal to your readers. You can also share unique insights and tips to get engagement and rank high on search engine results.
Keep it short and sweet; readers only spend 37 seconds on a blog (on average).
8. Run a Discount Email Campaign
Email marketing has a median ROI of 122%—4x higher than other digital marketing channels. Use it to ramp up your sales by sending coupon codes to subscribers, with the subject line personalized to increase the possibility of open rates.
You can offer:
- Holiday or seasonal discount
- Birthday discount
- Limited-time secret discount
- Referral discount
You can also use the promise of a welcome discount to convert new audiences.
9. Be Responsive & Easily Accessible
Vacation tours are a luxury, and they can cost a pretty penny.
Naturally, people will have many questions before putting their money down on a travel package. Respond to their queries and concerns confidently. Be brief but informative and provide factual information (updated based on current trends) to show you know your stuff. This will increase their confidence in buying into your tour.
Take Home Message
These tips allow you to increase sales of vacation tours in the travel agency business and help you compete with big brands at a small cost. Just be prepared to spend a little time establishing authority on social media; tools like PosterMyWall will come easy to you thanks to customizable templates and an easy-to-use interface.
