I remember it like yesterday. When my mom and dad would go to the travel agency just to buy airline tickets.

It was a big deal. They'd say "we're going to the travel agency today" and my brother and sister looked at each other and tried to guess who would be going with mom or dad on the next trip.

But technology marched on, and almost none of our revenues come from airline tickets anymore. Instead, agencies turn to cruises and tours. Weddings and business travel.

You know the deal, right?

You spent a ton of money on a great sign. Because back in the day folks used to jump in their car and drive around town to find you.

But technology marched on and now if your travel agency is not in Google maps, you are missing out.

Heck, most of the time you could even do business from home anyway, so that expensive office is largely unused.

More agencies spent a lot of money on radio, newspaper and even TV advertising. Today that money is wasted and if you're not on Facebook or Google Adwords, you don't even know if that traditional media spend was effective. (50% of that ad spend works -- just which 50%...)

The bottom line is this...

If you're not in the search engines. In Google or Apple Maps or Wayze or not on the first page of Google when someone types "[Your location] Travel Agent" - you're toast.

Your friend in travel marketing
Ericson Smith
Co-founder, marketing & technology.
Travel Agency Tribes