Travel Geniuses - Podcast for Travel Agents (Christy Camren)

In this episode, I share my thoughts on the difference between your niche, and your specialty, why I think you need both, and some steps you can take to become a specialist in one or more parts of the world, or types of travel.

In this episode, I share the secret to not getting overwhelmed by all of the new ideas and to-dos being thrown at us from every direction. AND how to finally start doing the things that will make a difference in your business. 

This 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

In this episode, we're talking about FEES!

I thought you all knew why you should be charging fees, but I'm learning that some agents don't even know this is a thing!

So if you don't know why you should be charging fees, or if you DO know why, but are just scared to start - this episode is for YOU!!

In this episode, we're talking about copywriting for travel agents with Emily Matras from Bon Vivant Copy.

There's more to copywriting than just putting words on a page, and more benefits than I ever imagined before talking to Emily. We talk about when to hire a copywriter, what you need in place before you do, and how you can work with Emily, even if you're not ready to jump into a full copywriting package.

In this episode, we're talking about Mindset, Limiting beliefs, and other things that you may not think about, but that can really affect the success of your business.

Even if this isn't something you necessarily believe in, or don't think could possibly affect your business, I hope you'll give it a listen. I didn't really think much of it, either, until I learned a few things that really opened my eyes, and changed my business.

This 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 training and coaching for your business.

I'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 

ONE SIMPLE question has made a huge difference in my business, and now I'm sharing that question with YOU.

This 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.

If 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 
• If you have questions you can reach her at info@jvgroupstrategy.com
• Follow her public facebook page around Joint Venture Groups

CLICK HERE to learn more about my new project Travel Geniuses Websites!

Would you like to get access to ALL of the printable resources for past and present episodes, all in one place?  Sign up for your free membership and get instant access by signing up for the FREE Travel Geniuses Membership. This will also get you on the email list so you can be notified about everything that's coming up :-)

In this episode we talk about the age-old debate - are we travel agents, or travel advisors? I'll give you my take on the debate (it might not be what you think) And will also tell you the ONE thing you need to do if you want to be seen as a travel advisor. 

It'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

I'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. 

Are 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 covid world. 

Here are the links to the resources mentioned in this episode:

• I have 2 episodes I've recorded about charging fees. Episode 7, and Episode 28.
• Who the F am I to be a Coach, by Megan Jo Wilson is a great read (and quick at just over 100 pages) even if you're not trying to be a coach. 

CLICK HERE to learn more about my new project Travel Geniuses Websites!

Would you like to get access to ALL of the printable resources for past and present episodes, all in one place?  Sign up for your free membership and get instant access by signing up for the FREE Travel Geniuses Membership. This will also get you on the email list so you can be notified about everything that's coming up :-)

Cuba 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.travelgeniuses.com/episode41

In this episode, we're talking to Vicki Freed, from Royal Caribbean! They've recently allocated a LOT more money and resources to supporting travel agents, so I wanted to talk to her about that to find out why they're doing that, and how agents can make money selling Royal Caribbean. 

Have 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. 

Have you thought about WHY you want to own your own travel business? Or WHY you want to make money?

Knowing the answer to these 2 questions will really help you get through the tough times in your business - the times when the thought of switching to a regular 9-5 job sounds like a really good idea, or when there's something a little scary and uncomfortable that you know you should do for your business, but really don't want to. ;-)

And THAT is what we talk about in this episode.

This 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.

I 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. 

In this episode, we're talking to Brianna Glenn about what to post on social media. I use her accounts all the time as an example of a travel agent's social media account done right. And she shares some of her best tips with us here. 

Do 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 ever dreamed it would be.

You’ll find links to everything mentioned on the show notes page.

We talked about why I think you should be charging fees in episode 3. In THIS episode, we're going to talk a little bit more about HOW to do that. 

Have 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 back to, to something you love...

You’ll find links to everything mentioned in this episode at www.travelgeniuses.com/episode56

I 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! 

I'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.)

You're a travel agent, not a web developer! It's not your job to stay on top of all of the latest trends in creating a website that converts. So in this episode Emily and I talk about our biggest pet peeves when it comes to travel agent websites. 

And you know I have a checklist for you, so pop over to the show notes to download it. :-)

https://travelgeniuses.com/episode20

If 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 any of what I'm talking about here, and want to look into it further.

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 ever dreamed it would be.

You’ll find links to everything mentioned on the show notes page.

These days, with so many cheap and free business tools and resources available online, you can definitely bootstrap your whole business and spend very little to get it off the ground. But should you?

That's what we're talking about in this episode. 

Have 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 and insecurity in myself. I hope they help you, too. 

Here are the links to the resources mentioned in this episode:

• Pat Flynn's reel on IG about imposter syndrome
• Another good one from Kristina Kuzmic Watch it. Think about it. 
• Who the F*ck Am I To Be A Coach by Megan Jo Wilson
• You are a Badass by Jen Sincero
• Podcast episode about specializing
• Year in Review episode
• Episode about choosing marketing strategies that fit your personality type
• SIGN UP TO BE NOTIFIED ABOUT THE Q&A WITH ELIZABETH FROM SOUVENIR AND FAR
  • (yes, I'm yelling. I don't want you to miss it!!)
  • (If you missed her episode, you can catch it here)

CLICK HERE to learn more about my new project Travel Geniuses Websites! (and it's coming so soon!!) 

Would you like to get access to ALL of the printable resources for past and present episodes, all in one place?  Sign up for your free membership and get instant access by signing up for the FREE Travel Geniuses Membership. This will also get you on the email list so you can be notified about everything that's coming up :-)

Our 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 unconventional way she started and runs her agency, that not only prevented her from losing money during covid, but has allowed her business to thrive. It's a model we can all learn a lot from.

Here are the links to the resources mentioned in this episode:

• Elizabeth's website
• Elizabeth's fee structure
• You can reach Elizabeth at elizabeth@souvenirandfar.com 
• If you have questions for Elizabeth, and would like to attend a live Q/A call with her, please let me know! If there's enough interest I can see if she'd be willing to do that for us. :-)

CLICK HERE to learn more about my new project Travel Geniuses Websites!

Would you like to get access to ALL of the printable resources for past and present episodes, all in one place?  Sign up for your free membership and get instant access by signing up for the FREE Travel Geniuses Membership. This will also get you on the email list so you can be notified about everything that's coming up :-)

In this episode, we discuss how travel agents can use clients NOT as a present, or a bribe/rebate in exchange for a booking, but as an actual tool that helps get your clients talking about you to their friends and family.

We talk about how this works, and share some of our favorite gifts to give to clients.

Setting 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

In this episode, we're talking about goals!

But this isn't your normal "start of a new year" goals session. I'm sharing a few "tricks" that I think just might make all the difference if you've struggled with meeting goals in the past. 

I'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. 

I 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, how you can use it, and of course, I've got the link for you to download and print your own copy. :-)

You can find that HERE

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. 

You’ll find links to everything mentioned below the podcast.

I've been sick a lot this year. And this podcast has suffered. I want to help prevent the same thing from happening to YOU and your travel business, so I'm sharing everything I've learned through this experience. 

Covid 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 if you're just starting out.

You can find links to all of the resources mentioned in the episode at travelgeniuses.com/episode52

Learn more about The Anti-marketing Marketing Workshop

Are you struggling to find time to add content to your social media accounts? In a perfect world we'd all have time to create custom content to post to our social media accounts every day.

Since we don't live in a perfect world, I've come up with a super easy way to keep my social media accounts full of great content, even when I'm out of town on an extended trip. And I'm sharing that with you in this episode!

Have you wanted to use video to promote your travel agency, but haven't because - you don't have the right equipment, you don't know how to use those fancy cameras, and you don't think you can create anything worth watching without a full film crew helping you out?

Sylvia puts all of those objections to rest in this episode. Trust me. You won't have a single excuse left by the end. 

These are some of my favorite tools. I use them every day and don't know how I would run my business without them anymore. Best of all? They're all FREE! Not free trials, but 100% free.

Facebook is dead, right? Except it isn't! There are many strategies that still work with Facebook and in this episode, Jenn Cain shares how she used Facebook Groups to grow her agency. 

You'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 ready to build a business that is everything they ever dreamed it would be.

You’ll find links to everything mentioned on the show notes page.

This 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

We 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. 

Your website should look nice, of course! But it should also actually WORK to help you grow your business. 

In this episode, we'll talk about your website, and a few really easy things you should be sure to include on your homepage if you want your website to help you build your audience and attract new customers. 

I'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. 

EVERYONE 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.

We're talking about everyone's favorite perk - FAM trips!

I'm NOT going to cover how to get invited on a FAM, how to get travel agent "deals" or anything like that. 

What I am going to talk about is how travel agents can make the most of these trips, so that they come home with tons of content for their blogs and social media accounts. 

Have you ever thought about hiring a VA, but didn't know what exactly they could do for you, or if you're even ready? Jenna Daykin, of In the Details Darling joins us to answer all of your questions. And she's amazing, you guys. You're going to love this episode... 

Creating 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.

Do you dread Monday? You shouldn't! You have the best job.

In this episode I'll help you pinpoint tasks that drain you, figure out how to turn them into something you don't hate as much, and decide which of them you can get rid of altogether.

I'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 podcast! 

I've had a lot of questions about how to get started as a travel agent, so in this episode, we're talking to Steph Lee all about host agencies.

Steph is the founder of Host Agency Reviews - a website where agents can rate and review host agencies online - and she knows her stuff. 

Steph was as nice as could be and brought up some things to consider that I hadn't thought of before, so I'm sure even you experienced agents will enjoy this conversation.  

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 first in line to join, you can sign up for the waitlist HERE. 

I can't wait to see you inside!!

2020 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 why to take a break from your business
• Episode 29 with Brit Koloof Marketing Personalities
  • Brit's guides for marketing ideas that work for different personality types.
  • Take your FREE personality test here, if you don't already know which you are. Don't pay for the upgrade!)
• Leo Babauta (from Zen Habits) on the Tim Ferris podcast
• Episode 24 where I talk about focusing on just one thing
• Nick Kokonas on the Tim Ferris podcast 
• Chillpreneur by Denise Duffield Thomas
• Episode 48 with Elizabeth from Souvenir and Far
• The Desire Map by Danielle Laporte
• The Practice by Seth Godin
• Zen Habits website

In this episode, we learn the truth - do you really even need a blog? And if so, what do you even do with it?

Welcome to the Travel Geniuses Podcast! In this pre-episode I explain why I'm creating this podcast, who it's for, and what you'll learn if you subscribe and join me for future episodes.

I've seen it over and over again - the reason most entrepreneurs don't make progress on their businesses is because they don't commit to, and focus on, one idea. Instead, they move from one idea to the next and don't ever give any of their ideas time to work.

In this episode, I talk about why this is so bad for your business, and offer some tips for pushing past that point and making more progress in the next 6 months than you ever thought you could.v

It'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. 

I 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

One 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. :-)

My 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. :-) 
• The episode on what a specialty is worth listening to, too. 
• A quick video showing how to subscribe to this podcast. 

CLICK HERE to learn more about my new project Travel Geniuses Websites!

Would you like to get access to ALL of the printable resources for past and present episodes, all in one place?  Sign up for your free membership and get instant access by signing up for the FREE Travel Geniuses Membership. This will also get you on the email list so you can be notified about everything that's coming up :-)

Productivity does NOT mean figuring out how to do things faster, so you can cram more into your day! It means, automating or getting rid of the busy work so you have more energy and clarity for the things that are important. 

In this episode, we're talking about how to automate some of your BRAINS busy work.

Back 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. 

In this episode, I'm talking to David Chait, the CEO and founder of Travefy, about what it does, and what they have planned for the future of the tool

Everywhere 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... 

I 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

It is SO important for travel agents to choose a niche before they do anything else to promote or grow their businesses. 

This will change EVERYTHING and in this episode we'll break down all of the benefits, and give you some tips to help you figure out your niche, too.