I am a start-up home based travel agent. Being a start up, my marketing/advertising budget is very small. Any recommendations for getting leads?

Also get yourself a part time job on the side for extra income. Whatever you make, put some of that into your business. Use Vistaprint, they have everything you need to promote it and then some. 

Karen,

Being a start up in anything can be a challenge especially when you have virtually zero contacts and a very limited budget.

Here's something I shared with a friend of mine who is also a home based travel agent. Do you have any area of expertise for any one destination? If so what is it and how can you promote it to its fullest. Can it be promoted for an Eco tour to help out the Eco system of that area? Can it be a humanitarian tour? Maybe it's a well kept secret for great family vacations?

What can you do that all the other travel agents can't or won't do? What makes you unique or different?

Here's the key to make all your marketing work no matter what platform you are using:

Your prospect has a problem they don't want. They are looking for a solution they want and don't have.

Always be a pain pill and NOT a vitamin. People will pay twice as much to avoid pain as they will to gain pleasure.

Plus also remember that people shop for VALUE not PRICE. If you try to be the Wal Mart of your industry, you'll be forever doomed to compete on price and all you'll ever get is the table scrapes of the penny pincers.

Hope this helped.

John

Set up a Facebook business page.  Create a program , tour , event some product you can promote.  Promote thru FB and networking!  Good luck! 

make sales even with litel profit this is the best advertisment for beginers you canot be in buznes witout making any profit so mouth tou mouth advertisment wil bring you sales good lock samuel 

Join your local Chamber of Commerce and attend networking meetings. Start a travel blog with good solid info. Become the expert who people recognize. Start a travel blog. Don't refer to your business as home based. Always look professional-even when you go to the grocery store!

Network, network, network, face to face, anywhere and everywhere you can.

Use Social Media to advertise.  Take online webinars and training to get additional education and certifications.  When you are a certified specialist - many times they add you to a List of their Specialists.  Bridal shows & stores....Churches, clubs and associations. PTA's, Sports Clubs, Interest groups - like Garden clubs

First, identify your target market i.e corporate travel, personal vacation travel etc... then narrow down into your target audience i.e local business, small to medium size businesses, vacationers...etc. Then narrow down again into target customer i.e. business owner, executive admins, HR...etc.  European vacationers between the age of 19-25, Caribbean Vacationers 30-40 ...etc. Once you specify WHO your audience is you can then better identify the best message to use and channels to reach them on.  

Identify which target market offers you the best opportunities for sustainable growth - and begin scaling your business by developing targeted communications/campaigns for that audience.  Each target customer should have a communication plan specific to their individual need/desires, communication style, and purchasing behaviors.    

Offer tips with value encouraging connections to contact you for more information!  Know your worth🙌

Hi Karen,

Congrats on your new business. I have heard lots of great ideas from the community. One idea that I haven't heard yet is to create videos on YouTube about travel.

Why YouTube?  Well, for one, YouTube is free, which should fit in your budget nicely. It reaches millions of viewers on a daily basis that is seeking advice or information about one thing or another. If your video has great information and maybe a little entertainment value (BTW, this could separate you from the pack), you could build a massive following.

When creating your video make sure there's a link to your website. This way people can visit your site and book a vacation. Also, create a "Call To Action" for people watching your video. For example, "Visit my site and get a free list of the Top 20 tourist destinations in..." or ,"The DO's and Don't of what you can bring on an Airplane", something like this.

It all depends on the subject of your video, along with finding something you think creates value for your viewers. You get the idea. Maybe your video will go viral just like Dollar Shave Club in 2012, who's video help them get 12,000 new customers. They were also a start-up at that time. They were acquired by Unilever in 2016 for roughly $1 billion.

 I hope this helps.