Travel Geniuses - Podcast for Travel Agents
82 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 2 years ago - ★★★★★ - 69 ratingsThe Travel Geniuses podcast is a podcast for travel agents who LOVE planning vacations for their clients, but wish the business side of things was a little easier.
We talk about marketing, technology, systems, tools, and tricks that help you focus less on the stuff you hate, and more on the things you love.
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Episodes
070 - Do travel agents need lead magnets?
April 20, 2022 07:01 - 31 minutes - 25.1 MBYou've probably heard that you need a lead magnet. And for most businesses, this has been solid advice. But is this something you really need if you're a travel agent? I'll give you MY opinion in this episode. Want to take things even further? Wish you had someone to show you HOW to implement the things I talk about on the podcast (with worksheets, checklists, and more ideas around how to make them work for YOUR business) Check out The Lab ! The online home for travel agents who are ...
069 - Why and how to qualify clients in your travel buinsess
April 06, 2022 07:00 - 29 minutes - 23.7 MBDo you know what it means to qualify your clients? It sounds a little scary, I know (at least to me) but is actually VERY simple (you might even be doing it already!!) and SO important. In this episode I'll talk about what it means, why it's one of the most important things you can do, and then will offer some suggestions for how to do it. Want to take things even further? Check out The Lab ! The online home for travel agents who are ready to build a business that is everything they ev...
068 - If you're sure you don't have ADHD, you should listen to this episode
March 23, 2022 07:00 - 49 minutes - 39.8 MBIf you had asked me a few months ago if I had ADHD, I would have said a very confident no. It wasn't just that I hadn't considered it, but that I knew what it was, have family members with it, and was positive that I didn't have any of the classic symptoms. Turns out I was wrong. So in this episode I'll talk about why I was so sure I didn't have ADHD, share some of my symptoms, tell you why I think ADHD brains are so awesome!! and offer some places to get started if you see yourself in a...
067 - Does marketing make you feel like you're trying to trick people into working with you? This might help.
March 04, 2022 06:59 - 24 minutes - 19.3 MBThere are a lot of reasons that you might find it hard to "market" yourself and your business. One that I've just realized is that it feels like the goal of marketing is to convince someone to work with me, wether they want to or not, and wether it's the right choice for them or not. In this episode I talk about that, and share a different way of thinking that might just change the way you feel about marketing, forever. The Lab will be open to new members soon! If you want to be the ...
066 - Running your travel business doesn't have to be hard!
February 17, 2022 07:00 - 50 minutes - 45.9 MBAre you convinced that being a travel agent means long hours, and tons of work you hate? If I do nothing else, I hope this episode convinces you that that's not the case. If you're ready to transform your business , and turn it into something you LOVE, that supports the life of your dreams (instead of sucking the life out of it) I'd love for you to join us in The Lab! You can sign up HERE.
065 - Pandemic Proof Your Travel Business!
February 02, 2022 07:01 - 33 minutes - 26.8 MBListen, there isn't really anything you could have done to COMPLETELY protect your business from the effects of the Covid pandemic, or to avoid all downsides of future crises, BUT doing this one thing can definitely make weathering future storms a lot easier... Want to take things even further? Sign up for INSIDERS and get access to additional training and coaching for your business. You’ll find links to everything mentioned below the podcast.
064 - Welcome to 2022!! Is it over yet?
January 17, 2022 06:59 - 18 minutes - 15.1 MBI know it's just started, but 2022 already feels HARD! If you feel that way, too, I have some suggestions to help you get through this month, and come out the other side feeling a little more hopefully, and ready for all the GOOD that 2022 is sure to bring... Want to get on the waitlist for Insiders? Learn more here: https://www.travelgeniuses.com/insiders
064 - Welcome to 2022!! Is it over yet?
January 17, 2022 06:59 - 18 minutes - 15.1 MBI know it's just started, but 2022 already feels HARD! If you feel that way, too, I have some suggestions to help you get through this month, and come out the other side feeling a little more hopefully, and ready for all the GOOD that 2022 is sure to bring... Want to get on the waitlist for Insiders? Learn more here: https://www.travelgeniuses.com/insiders
063 - 3 questions you should answer before setting goals for next year
December 29, 2021 19:56 - 18 minutes - 15 MBThis is my favorite week of the year - Christmas is over (including all the shopping, and wrapping, and baking, and parties) but things are still slow. Many people are still off work, and just not back into real life yet. It's the perfect time to think about and get excited for the new year. But first... I have 3 questions you should answer before you set any goals or make plans for next year. Want to take things even further? Sign up for INSIDERS and get access to additional trainin...
062 - Feeling overwhelmed? Maybe you need to adjust your expectations
December 10, 2021 13:44 - 18 minutes - 14.8 MBThis time of year can be really stressful for a lot of people. There just seems to be so much we have to do, and not anywhere near enough time to do it all. Except... how much of that stuff do you really HAVE to do? Could you adjust your expectations (personal and business) and get rid of some stuff on your list? That's what we're discussing in this episode. Want to take things even further? Sign up for INSIDERS and get access to additional training and coaching for your business.
061 - Feeling overwhelmed? Maybe you need to adjust your expectations
December 10, 2021 13:44 - 18 minutes - 14.8 MBThis time of year can be really stressful for a lot of people. There just seems to be so much we have to do, and not anywhere near enough time to do it all. Except... how much of that stuff do you really HAVE to do? Could you adjust your expectations (personal and business) and get rid of some stuff on your list? That's what we're discussing in this episode. Want to take things even further? Sign up for INSIDERS and get access to additional training and coaching for your business.
061 - My predictions on the future of social media content
November 24, 2021 07:00 - 33 minutes - 27.2 MBI've been noticing a shift in my use of social media, and I think a big change in the way people use social media is heading our way. I want you to be ahead of it! So I'm letting you in on my predictions. I'm also preparing for 2022, and would love to know how I can best help you. I've set up a quick survey at www.travelgeniuses.com/survey to make it easy for you to tell me what you're struggling with! You never know, your question may just end up as a topic on a future episode of the...
060 - 5 ways your website is hurting your travel business - and how to fix it
October 21, 2021 13:39 - 36 minutes - 29.4 MBI'm just going to come out and say it - I think a lot of these "websites for travel agents" not only don't HELP you grow your travel business, but do a lot to HARM your business. In this episode, I'm sharing why I think that, and offering some (fairly) simple things you can do to change that.
059 - (some of) My FAVORITE books.
September 29, 2021 07:00 - 36 minutes - 29.5 MBI LOVE books, and I'm kindof famous for recommending the BEST books to help in certain situations. In this episode, I'm sharing some of my favorites - around mindset, money, business, and life. You can find links to all of the books and other resources mentioned in this episode at www.travelgeniuses.com/episode59.
058 - Is your travel business growing slower than you hoped? Maybe that's a GOOD thing!
August 31, 2021 07:00 - 28 minutes - 22.8 MBI know there are a lot of new agents joining the industry right now. And for a lot of experienced agents, you're restarting your business after this long... pause. And things might not be growing as quickly as you'd like... In this episode, I'll share why that might just be a good thing! Here are the links to the resources mentioned in this episode: Episode 7 - All About Fees Episode 28 - HOW to charge fees Sign up for the (audio??) newsletter Travel Geniuses Websites
057 - How setting expectations can lead to happier clients
July 28, 2021 07:00 - 26 minutes - 24.1 MBSetting expectations for your clients is ALWAYS a good idea, but especially now, when the travel experience is often much different than we're used to, it can ensure your clients have a wonderful experience, even when things don't go as planned. In this episode, I'll share some things it would be good to set expectations around, and offer some tips for doing that. You’ll find links to everything mentioned in this episode at www.travelgeniuses.com/episode57
056 - Setting boundaries for your travel business
July 14, 2021 07:00 - 44 minutes - 40.6 MBHave you ever quit a job, and realized after you left just how toxic and unhealthy it was? Some of you are feeling that way after having this forced break from your business for a while. It's hard to want to go back to long hours and little pay... But you don't have to! This is YOUR business. You're the boss. And you get to choose if you're a good one or not. In this episode, I'm sharing several ways you can set boundaries in your business so it can go from something that you dread going...
055 - How to recover from, and prevent, overwhelm!
June 30, 2021 07:00 - 28 minutes - 22.5 MBI tend to have 2 modes: Way behind on everything and panicked because I have too much to do, and not enough time OR Way ahead on things so I mess around and don't get stuff done until I find myself way behind on everything and panicked because I have too much to do... Which is obviously a terrible cycle to be in. I've been working hard to get a handle on this and have created a really simple tool that has helped me end the panic cycle. In this episode, I'm sharing how it's helped, h...
054 - Hey travel agent! Are you ready to finally grow your travel business?
June 16, 2021 07:00 - 34 minutes - 27.3 MBI've got some tough love for you in this episode. If you've been playing small, and holding back when you should be talking about what you do, and how you can help people, you need to listen to this episode. You’ll find links to everything mentioned in this episode at travelgeniuses.com/episode54 CLICK HERE to learn more about Travel Genius Websites. CLICK HERE to get on the waitlist for INSIDERS CLICK HERE to get on the email list (I forgot to tell you how to do that.)
054 - Hey travel agent! Are you ready to finally grow your travel business?
June 16, 2021 07:00 - 34 minutes - 27.3 MBI've got some tough love for you in this episode. If you've been playing small, and holding back when you should be talking about what you do, and how you can help people, you need to listen to this episode. You’ll find links to everything mentioned in this episode at travelgeniuses.com/episode54 CLICK HERE to learn more about Travel Genius Websites. CLICK HERE to get on the waitlist for INSIDERS CLICK HERE to get on the email list (I forgot to tell you how to do that.)
053 - How to really believe in the value you bring as a travel agent
May 26, 2021 07:00 - 38 minutes - 31.1 MBIt's one thing to SAY you think what you do provides real value to your travelers, it's another thing to really believe it at your core. In this episode, I'm hoping to help you really believe it. You’ll find links to everything mentioned in this episode at travelgeniuses.com/episode53
What travel agents need to know about working with an attorney
January 27, 2021 07:00 - 1 hour - 52.6 MBCovid has made us see so many problems in our industry, and one of the biggest is how vulnerable we are, legally, if we don't have good contracts and terms and conditions in place to protect us. We know we need to protect ourselves, but hiring an attorney feels very overwhelming and out of reach for most of us. In this episode, I am talking to Thomas Carpenter - an attorney AND a travel agent. We talk about why it's so important to protect yourself, but also HOW you can do that, even i...
051 - How to manage your money as a travel agent
January 15, 2021 20:46 - 37 minutes - 30.3 MBThis is a subject that not many people discuss in the travel industry, but it's VITAL that you deal with it if you want to grow a successful business. Of all the topics I've ever covered... this might be the most important one yet. You can find additional notes and links to all of the resources discussed in this episode at www.travelgeniuses.com/episode50
Everything you wanted to know (or didn't) about the Anti-marketing Marketing Workshop
January 09, 2021 22:53This isn't a "real" episode. I just wanted to share a little about the Anti-marketing Marketing Workshop I'll be starting in February, and thought this would be a good way to do it :-)
050 - Let's get ready for 2021!
December 29, 2020 07:00 - 44 minutes - 35.7 MB2020 has been hard, especially for those of us in the travel industry. It can be hard to feel excited about your business after a year like that, and even harder to feel motivated to work on it when the coming year is still so uncertain. In this episode I'm sharing what I'm doing to get past that so that I start 2021 rested, and excited about the possibilities for my business again. Here are links to resources mentioned in this episode: Episode 33 where I talked about how and wh...
049 - What to do when you think you're not good enough
September 17, 2020 03:00 - 37 minutes - 30.1 MBHave you been feeling... not good enough lately? Like maybe you aren't really cut out to be a travel agent, or a business owner? Like everyone else has their stuff together, and you're the only one struggling? Like the next client you get is going to be the one who finds out that you don't have any idea what you're doing? Like you maybe just aren't cut out to be a business owner? Then this episode is for YOU! I'm sharing all the tips and tricks I use to help combat imposter syndrome an...
048 - A completely different business model for travel agents
August 20, 2020 04:00 - 56 minutes - 45.3 MBOur world is never going to be the same, and that is especially true about the travel industry, and travel agents specifically. The way we think about and run our business has GOT to change if we want to continue helping our clients have amazing vacations. But if you keep doing things in your business the way you've always done them, and the way EVERYONE has done them, for decades and decades, your business won't survive. Elizabeth de Quillacq, from Souvenir and Far, shares the unconvent...
047 - How and why to sell travel to the US
August 05, 2020 04:00 - 23 minutes - 18.6 MBMy prediction is that travel within the US is going to be HOT for the next year, or even 2. And I want you to be prepared for that! In this episode, I offer some tips to position you and your business so that your clients come to you to book these trips, and see you as necessary for the vacation of a lifetime... even when it's close to home. Here are the links to the resources mentioned in this episode: As always, my episode about choosing a niche is relevant to this conversation. :...
046 - Working with local businesses to start selling group travel
July 22, 2020 04:00 - 57 minutes - 45.9 MBIf you've heard all the hype about selling group travel, but didn't know how to get started, you won't want to miss this episode. Michelle Woodson Howell transformed her business by reaching out to local businesses and working with them to sell group trips with their clients and fans. And in this episode she shares how she did it, and talks about the course she's created so that you can to. Here are the links to the resources mentioned in this episode: Learn more about Michelle's course...
045 - It's time to start treating your travel business like a real business
July 08, 2020 04:00 - 39 minutes - 31.9 MBAre you treating your travel business like a real business? Do you see yourself as a true professional, with a business? If you've been treating your business as anything but a legitimate business that deserves to be respected and taken seriously, that needs to change, and it needs to change now. In this episode, I talk about why that has to change, and I give you some tough love about things you're going to have to do differently if you want your business to succeed in the new, post ...
044 - How to grow your travel business without marketing
May 21, 2020 23:23 - 28 minutes - 23.1 MBEverywhere you look people are shoving marketing ideas in your face. And when I ask agents what they struggle with the most, "marketing" is BY FAR the number one answer I get. But is that really what you want? What if I told you you could grow your business without spending hours every day on marketing?? Listen to this episode to learn how...
043 - Why it's good for your business to turn down bookings
May 06, 2020 04:00 - 42 minutes - 58.8 MBIt'seems, counterintuitive, doesn't it, especially in the middle of arguably the worst time in the history of travel, to turn away a potential booking. But in this episode, I'll tell you why saying no, can be better for your business, and you.
042 - Ideas for working ON your business during this time
April 17, 2020 14:35 - 32 minutes - 45 MBThis is a really hard time for the travel industry. I don't know that we've ever been through anything quite so devastating. And I know you might not be in a place yet, where you're ready to start preparing your business for the other side of this, but if you are, I wanted to offer some thoughts on what we can do NOW to make sure we come out of this better than before <3
041 - Selling CUBA with David Lee from Cultural Cuba
March 11, 2020 04:01 - 53 minutes - 42.5 MBCuba has been on my list of places to go for years, but I've always thought it was too difficult OR that it would mean having to go on a big group escorted tour, doing things that someone else thought I should do, or getting a very "corporate" experience. I was SO wrong. I think that, even if you don't think you'll ever want to sell Cuba, you'll get so much out of this episode, and just might change your mind. :-) Links to everything mentioned in this episode can be found at https://www....
Selling CUBA with David Lee from Cultural Cuba
March 11, 2020 04:01 - 53 minutes - 42.5 MBCuba has been on my list of places to go for years, but I've always thought it was too difficult OR that it would mean having to go on a big group escorted tour, doing things that someone else thought I should do, or getting a very "corporate" experience. I was SO wrong. I think that, even if you don't think you'll ever want to sell Cuba, you'll get so much out of this episode, and just might change your mind. :-) Links to everything mentioned in this episode can be found at https://www....
Why Travel Agents Should be Podcasting
February 26, 2020 05:00 - 39 minutes - 31.6 MBHave you ever thought about starting a podcast but thought - no one would want to listen to ME. And who wants another travel podcast, anyway?? I happen to think a LOT of people will want to hear from you about travel, and other topics related to your niche. You'll hear why, and get some tips for getting started, in this episode.
040 - Why Travel Agents Should be Podcasting
February 26, 2020 05:00 - 39 minutes - 31.6 MBHave you ever thought about starting a podcast but thought - no one would want to listen to ME. And who wants another travel podcast, anyway?? I happen to think a LOT of people will want to hear from you about travel, and other topics related to your niche. You'll hear why, and get some tips for getting started, in this episode.
039 - Marketing that feels good with Brit Kolo from Marketing Personalities
February 12, 2020 05:00 - 48 minutes - 39.2 MBI've been talking about it for months, and it's finally here - in this episode we're talking to Brit Kolo from Marketing Personalities. She teaches how to design your marketing strategy around what fits your personality. The end result? Marketing that feels good! Links mentioned in the show: Take your free Meyers Briggs Personality Assessment Grab your Marketing Personality Full Report
038 - New Training and Certification Program for Travel Agents w/ Lindsey Epperly
January 29, 2020 18:39 - 42 minutes - 34 MBWe all know there's been a shortage in education programs for new travel agents. Well, Lindsay is doing her part to solve that. In this episode, we talk about her education program, EntreTravel, as well as how to know if you should move from travel agent to CEO or host agency.
037 - OFFLINE Marketing Strategies to Grow Your Travel Business
January 15, 2020 05:00 - 31 minutes - 25 MBEVERYONE is talking about how to use the internet, and social media to grow your business. But what if you don't want to sit behind your computer all day? What if you LIKE getting out of the house/office and interacting with people? Can you still build a successful business without being attached to a keyboard? YES! Yes, you can. And in this episode, I'll share some ways to do that.
036 - Your Business Year in Review
January 02, 2020 04:55 - 24 minutes - 19.8 MBThis time of year, everyone's talking about setting goals and New Year's resolutions. But before you do that, it's important to look back on the past year. In this episode, I talk about why I think this is so important and offer some tips and resources to get you started.
036 - Your Business Year in Review
January 02, 2020 04:55 - 24 minutes - 19.8 MBThis time of year, everyone's talking about setting goals and New Year's resolutions. But before you do that, it's important to look back on the past year. In this episode, I talk about why I think this is so important and offer some tips and resources to get you started.
035 - Using SEARCH to grow your travel business
December 12, 2019 04:58 - 25 minutes - 20.5 MBI'm always talking about 2 types of marketing you should have in place: How to help people find your business and How to keep people interested in your business. In this episode, we're talking about search. But not just Google searches. We're talking about Pinterest, YouTube, and podcasts, too.
034 - One way to market your travel agency using Facebook
November 28, 2019 04:50 - 29 minutes - 23.4 MBI'm always talking about 2 types of marketing you should have in place: How to help people find your business and How to keep people interested in your business. In this episode, we're talking about a (free) strategy you can use to help people find your business - using Facebook.
034 - Market your travel business using Facebook
November 28, 2019 04:50 - 29 minutes - 23.4 MBI'm always talking about 2 types of marketing you should have in place: How to help people find your business and How to keep people interested in your business. In this episode, we're talking about a (free) strategy you can use to help people find your business - using Facebook.
033 - The Importance of Taking Time Away From Your Business
November 13, 2019 17:00 - 31 minutes - 25 MBI know we sometimes feel like we have to work work work work work and if we take a break, everything we've worked for will come crashing down around us. The truth is - the exact opposite is true. Taking time away from your business will not only not cause your business to fail, it will make it better than you ever dreamed!
031 - What Should You Talk About On Your Blog?
October 30, 2019 04:01 - 37 minutes - 29.7 MBOne of the biggest excuses I hear from travel agents about why they aren't posting to their blog, or social media accounts, or newsletter is... "I don't know what to talk about!" In this episode, I help solve that problem, so you can't use that excuse anymore. :-)
032 - What Should You Talk About On Your Blog?
October 30, 2019 04:01 - 37 minutes - 29.7 MBOne of the biggest excuses I hear from travel agents about why they aren't posting to their blog, or social media accounts, or newsletter is... "I don't know what to talk about!" In this episode, I help solve that problem, so you can't use that excuse anymore. :-)
031 - Create beautiful documents for your clients with TRAVEFY
October 16, 2019 03:55 - 36 minutes - 29.6 MBBack in the old days we had to create client documents in Microsoft word, with pictures that we spent hours searching the internet for. It was my most dreaded task because I wanted them to look nice, and professional, but no matter how hard I tried, or how many hours I put into it, they still ended up looking homemade. Those days are over, friends. Enter - Travefy. One of my favorite tools for travel agents that will have you turning out professional documents for your clients in no time....
030 - The only 5 Pages Your Website NEEDS - with Emily Matras from Bon Vivant Copy
October 02, 2019 16:24 - 58 minutes - 46.5 MBCreating a website doesn't have to be complicated. You only need 5 pages! And in this episode, Emily breaks down what those pages are, along with some tips for creating content for each of them.