IC TRAVEL AGENT February 2014 | Page 11

OLD MEDIA How to make use of these marketing tools in 2014 SOCIAL MEDIA Referrals In 2014 old style referrals take on a new look. Old style means the request for referrals is typed / written at the bottom of the ad or newsletter. It still works as a passive method to build a list of new clients. The 2014 referral can also be digital. Social media makes asking for referrals must easier and quicker. As your connections increase you can ask your members or readers, followers etc., to help you grow your business by sharing your name with their friends. Referrals Specialty Advertising Speciality advertising old style means handing out a pen with your agency logo printed on it, or a keychain or a sticky note pad. All still relevant today. The pen & the fridge magnet attract the most interest. The 2014 version of specialty advertising would be USBs and DVDs. The old style pens and key chains now come with a built in USB drive. Fridge magnets are now printed with a QR code. Specialty Advertising Video VHS has gone but the video marketing concept not at all forgotten. It has morphed into new and exciting media formats and is still to be played through the family TV and other entertainment devices. Video cameras have also evolved in size and power – now featured on smart phones and tablets etc. Video is one of the major marketing tools for travel agents. In 2014 film your own video content, convert to DVDs & YouTube and post your website and blog. Clients will view it on hand held devices. Add a call to action statement or a hyperlinked icon to the video and direct traffic to your website. Video You have way more NEW tools today than you did when the Old Media was in full swing. Pod Casts, PDF documents, texting, Facebook, eBooks written and published by you and on it goes. So out of all the old and new advertising channels & formats, which ones are the most trusted? Thanks to Statista Charts and Nielson this chart offers a quick insight into which ads are trusted by the consumer. Click the image for more information.  Page 11