Who isn’t going to answer yes to the question of whether they want to sell more trip spots? But how exactly are you going to do that?
We’ve come up with the questions that you should be asking yourself when you’re planning your next group trip or yoga retreat, to help you figure out what might be holding you back from making the sales you want to for your group travel trips.
Have you created a trip that stands out from the crowd?
With all of the travel companies and yoga retreats out there, how are you going to make yourself stand out? Creating a unique trip program, or choosing a different destination can help to get what you’re doing noticed. Defining your market and going niche can actually be a great way to get more customers because you’ll be able to more easily market what you’re doing to the right people.
Are you marketing your trip well enough?
You need to market your retreat where your customers are. It might sound simple, but if you haven't stopped to actually identify your target market it can be hard to figure it out. Should you be focussing on Google and SEO, or on Facebook, Instagram, email newsletters, online travel communities or some other medium?
Think about a marketing plan before you’ve even planned your retreat so that you have the maximum amount of time to sell trip spaces. You should have a structured plan that outlines how many trip spots you intend to fill by certain dates so that you know when you need to change your strategy or increase your efforts.
Are you on social media?
Social media is a great way to get the word out about your trip, as there are so many different forms that you can usually find a way to target the group you want to. But you need to do it right! Check out our social media tips to see how you can use these platforms to increase your trip sales.
Are you following up?
If someone hears about your trip or yoga retreat once but never again, what are the chances they will book? What if they actually attend one of your retreats or tours and absolutely love it, but they don’t realize you’re having another one?
Following up is key to filling more spots on your next trip. Someone may not be ready to purchase at the first point of contact, but they could be further down the line. Of course, don’t spam potential customers' inboxes or newsfeeds, but do try more than once to make a sale.
Remember to collect the email details of past participants on your travel tours, and ask them to follow you on social media to be kept informed about upcoming trips.
How easy is your purchase process?
You may be getting the word about your group trip or yoga retreat out there successfully, but where are you sending them when they want to know more information or once they’re ready to secure their space? Your trip should be easy for people to find how to book.
WeTravel allows you to create a trip page that outlines your itinerary and showcases photos of the experience or location. You can then link to this from your own website with a "book now" button, embed the trip in your website or share the link across social media.
When you're evaluating your booking process remember that your fees should be transparent, with deposit amounts and payment dates clearly laid out, and explanations of any discount codes.
If someone has a hard time with your booking process, they might become frustrated and leave. Setting up payments yourself can be difficult if you’re a small travel company or a run your own yoga business. By using a payment platform that you can trust, you’ll know that the booking process will be simple and that customers will be able to contact someone if they have any problems.
Remember to give trip participants a way to contact you after they have booked, and keep open lines of communication. Keep them updated as the trip draws near and get them excited about the experience!
If you’re already running your own travel company or yoga business, selling more spots on your next trip shouldn’t be a huge change from what you’re already doing. By asking yourself a few pertinent questions you’ll be able to see if your planning, marketing, and buying process is working, and make adjustments where you need to!
Check out our free resources for retreat leaders and travel companies for more great tips.
