Want More Bookings? Upgrade Your Travel Agency Marketing Strategy with SMS

The travel industry continues to move to online platforms. That’s why travel agencies are pressured to add more value to retain their customers. SMS marketing for travel agencies is one way to do that. The travel industry is famous for last-minute changes such as travel delays and trip cancellations. That’s why your travel agency marketing strategy must be rock solid and capable of informing customers immediately by reaching where they are.

Besides informing customers about last-minute changes to increase bookings, boost growth, loyalty, and revenue – SMS helps in all ways to improve your business ROI. And for that, all you need to do is opt for a relevant, timely, and personalized SMS and build a rock solid travel marketing strategy. You can inspire new customers to book a trip and grow loyalty by boosting repeat bookings via SMS.

This blog will discuss how travel agencies can increase bookings by improving business operations via SMS.

Types of Marketing Strategies for Travel Agencies

If you want to capture the attention of travel enthusiast consumers, here are various marketing strategies you can use. You can combine traditional methods with digital innovations and craft a comprehensive approach to reach a wider audience. Let’s check out which strategies you can use.

1. Content Marketing

You can create engaging blogs, travel guides, and destination highlights to attract and inform potential travellers. You can even post UGC (User Generated Content) content like photos, reviews, social media posts, etc. It will work as a powerful strategy to promote your travel agency. When you include UGC content in your marketing strategy, your potential clients are likelier to engage with like-minded travellers. It will encourage them to book a trip with your travel agency and create a community around them.

2. Social Media Marketing

You can use social media marketing platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc, to share your customer testimonials, run targeted campaigns, or showcase travel experiences. Besides, you can even include a visually appealing vertical video presentation of a specific travel destination. You can post it on social media platforms to increase its reach and engagement. Remember, short-form travel videos can potentially go viral and drive more sales for your business.

3. Email Marketing

You can send newsletters with exclusive deals, personalized recommendations, travel tips, etc., to nurture your existing and potential clients. It will engage your target audience and increase ROI for your business.

4. Search Engine Optimization

SEO plays a vital role in making your travel agency stand out in the crowded online space. Optimize your website content with relevant keywords, top-quality backlinks, and meta descriptions to rank higher in search engine results. It will make it easy for travellers to find your services. Suppose you want to increase foot traffic to your physical location. In that case, you can do local SEO by creating a Google My Business profile for your travel agencies or optimizing your web pages for relevant “near me” searches.

5. Pay-Per-Click Advertising

Investing in paid advertising is important to increase your travel agency’s online presence and reach your potential travellers effectively. So, you can run targeted (based on interests, demographics, gender, behaviour, etc.) Google ads and social media ads on search engines and social media platforms and bring high-quality leads to your website.

6. Influencer Marketing

Influencers have an emotional connection with their audience. Therefore, onboarding travel influencers can build trust and let your travel agency get access to a highly engaging audience. Influencer’s authentic storytelling and visually attractive content can inspire their followers to explore new travel destinations.

7. Referral/ Loyalty Programs

You can even encourage your satisfied customers to refer friends and family by giving them special discounts, deals, or incentives. Running a loyalty program is also an excellent way to encourage clients to book again. Such programs will improve retention rates and create brand advocates for your travel agency, who will likely recommend your agency to their peers.

8. Collaboration With Local Businesses

You can collaborate with local businesses like restaurants, cultural sites, and tour operators and create unique travel packages to offer a memorable experience. This collaboration will improve your agency’s reputation and offer personalized, authentic travel experiences.

9. Virtual Exploration of Destination

Give your customers immersive travel experiences through VR. You can enable travellers to explore the destination and attractions virtually. This immersive preview will build excitement and differentiate your travel agency by offering innovative and interactive FREE trial VR packages.

All the above-discussed strategies are good, but integrating them with SMS marketing can significantly improve your outreach and engagement efforts. SMS offers various benefits, including immediate reach, higher conversion rate, personalization, and more. Through SMS marketing, you can build stronger relationships with your clients and encourage repeat business.

Let’s understand why you should upgrade your travel marketing strategy with SMS marketing.

Why Should SMS Marketing Be Upgraded in Your Existing Strategy?

SMS marketing offers several benefits that can complement and elevate your current marketing efforts.

• SMS marketing offers immediate reach. It provides a 98% open rate and a 45% response rate. So you can easily communicate time-sensitive offers and updates.
• Personalized text messages can make customers feel valued and even improve their connection to your travel agency.
• Generally, SMS campaigns are more affordable and offer higher ROI.
• You can reach your potential customers immediately on their personal devices. So it will help build engagement and trust.
• As you send text messages to customers who’ve opted in to receive SMS from your travel agency, you will get access to highly engaged customers. They are genuinely interested in hearing from you.
• SMS is less crowded than other marketing platforms like social media and email. As the competition is low, travel agents can stand out and capture the attention of their target clients.
• SMS offers automation capability. You can set up a drip SMS campaign that helps you nurture leads over time. It ensures that travelers don’t forget about your travel agency.

What Type of SMS Campaigns Work Best for Travel Agencies?

If you want to make SMS marketing truly work for your travel agency, all you need is the right campaigns in place. Here are a few SMS campaigns that work best for travel agencies.

1. Booking Confirmations

For many travellers, a vacation includes various bookings and itineraries for flights, tours, tickets, hotels, etc. SMS travel marketing strategy can make this communication easy. Once you’ve booked your customer’s travel, send booking confirmation to them via SMS immediately. So that your customers will have transparency in their travel plans and feel that they are part of the process and that your travel agency cares for them.

2. Promotional Offers and Discounts

You can use SMS marketing to promote your exclusive deals and discounts to your subscribers. Such promotional messages can attract customers to take immediate action.

3. Gather Feedback

Text message is an excellent way to gather client feedback and information. Whether you want to promote your new packages, want to see which packages are most loved by your prospects, or want to collect feedback after a completed vacation package, SMS is an affordable way. Regular positive reviews can help you boost your business to new travellers looking for a travel agency. Besides, you can use two-way texting to hear about your customers’ problems and concerns and offer a solution as soon as they need it.

4. Travel Updates and Alerts

Whenever a travel plan changes, such as delays in flights or cancellations, you can quickly send an SMS to inform your customers about it. It will help them make alternative arrangements easily and swiftly.

5. Loyalty Programs

Travel agencies can use SMS marketing to inform customers about loyalty programs, special discounts on repeat bookings, reward points, etc. It can help build a loyal customer base.

6. Real-time Customer Support

Through SMS, you can resolve customers’ queries instantly, and two-way texting and automation help you offer real-time customer support to them.

7. Booking Abandonment

The main issue that travel agencies face is abandoned bookings. Generally, many travellers check package details and browse itineraries but don’t book a trip with the travel agency. So, to resolve this issue, a travel agency can send them follow-up reminders with special discounts or free consultation about the trip. It will encourage them to book a trip with an agency.

What are the Best SMS Marketing Strategies for Travel Agencies

If businesses want to maximize the effectiveness of SMS marketing, they can consider implementing the following strategies. These strategies help you stay on top of your customers’ minds without being disturbed.

1. Segmentation

You can divide (contact segmentation) your target audience based on demographics, booking history, travel preferences, etc., to send targeted messages that resonate with each group. Implementing STP in marketing can help build strong relationships with customers and drive more sales. For example, if you want to send messages to people who love adventures, you can segment them into a specific group and send a message like this:

Hey, Adventure Seekers! Explore the Amazon Rainforest with our exclusive discount packages. Book today and save 20%!

2. Drip SMS Campaigns

You can automate the series of text messages to nurture leads over time. You can guide them from interest to booking by doing this. Here are some examples of how you can set and craft drip SMS campaigns using the automated SMS marketing platform – Textdrip.

• • Day – 1 –

Hi [Name], do you have a dream of a European gateway? Discover our customized packages to Italy and France.

• • Day – 3 –

Are you still thinking about Europe? Book within 48 hours and get a complimentary city tour!

• • Day – 5 –

Last chance! Our European package discounts end today! Don’t miss out on this adventure.

3. Reminder Drip Campaigns

Send your customers’ timely reminders based on their departure date to ensure they’re well-prepared and excited. Here us an example of how you can craft a reminder drip SMS campaign.

For example,
Two – Weeks Before Departure –

Hi [Name], your trip to Italy is approaching! Don’t forget to check your visa requirements.

One – Week Before Departure –

Just one week to go, [Name]! Here is the packing checklist to help you prepare – [Link]

Day Before Departure –

Bon Voyage, [Name]! Your adventure begins tomorrow. Safe travels!

Let’s Textdrip Help Your Travel Agency Take Off!

Using the above – discussed travel marketing strategies, travel agencies can improve their market presence, engage with their potential customers more effectively, and establish a solid presence in the global travel market.

One thing you need to remember here is that – it is not all about reaching out to customers, but it’s all about connecting with potential customers meaningfully and providing them unforgettable experiences. Your travel agency’s marketing strategy and approach must evolve as the travel industry continues to evolve. It will ensure that despite endless opportunities, you remain at the forefront of your traveller’s mind.

Use Textdrip’s FREE trial or book a demo and watch how your customer satisfaction thrives!