As an independent travel agent, you and your brand are almost inseparable. Why? Because the primary product you are selling is yourself!

Developing a brand takes thoughtful consideration because so many aspects of your business are affected by the elements you choose to represent your brand. These elements include colors, fonts, a logo, a tagline, the content you share, your voice, and more.

There a few simple, essential rules that every business owner should stick to when branding their travel agency:

1. Be True to Yourself

Your business is an extension of you, and your brand should reflect that. In the process of developing your brand, make sure you can answer questions like, “What do I love about being a travel agent?”, “Which 3 words would I use to describe myself?” and “What story do I have to tell?” Ask your family and close friends for their insight. Remember, showcasing the person behind the brand (you!) while communicating in an authentic voice helps you build trust.

2. Brand for the Long Haul

It’s possible and sometimes beneficial or necessary to re-brand, but this process can be costly and time consuming. Establish a brand that you can see yourself using for the foreseeable future, and make small tweaks to it when necessary.

3. Be Consistent

To be memorable, your brand should be consistent in its message and usage across platforms. Brands don’t typically become successful overnight, so the goal should be to get your brand in front of your ideal audience on a regular basis. That way you’ll stick in people’s minds, and they’ll remember you the next time they think about their travel plans!

4. Bring Value

The more you can impact your clients’ and followers’ lives, the faster your brand is likely to grow. That means giving them a reason to value your brand, whether that be information (like travel tips), inspiration (like beautiful destination photos) or entertainment (like a funny story from a recent trip). Again, tie this in with your personality to bring a voice and authenticity to your branding.

5. Think Strategically

Consider where you might take your brand once your agency grows. Will your logo appear elsewhere, and will it still be effective? Do you have something to offer an audience on Tik Tok, Instagram, or YouTube? If you start out providing every traveler with custom branded gifts, will this be sustainable when your business grows?

6. Be Professional

Your travel agency is an extension of you, but it is still a business! Keep your brand’s content upbeat, professional and relevant to your audience. Remember, they are turning to you for your travel expertise, and deviating from that too much will confuse your audience. It’s fine to include posts about community events you’re involved with, for example, but constant posting of this nature detracts from your primary goal: selling travel.

With these reminders, you’re on your way to establishing good branding for your travel agency.

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Interested in starting your own travel business and building a travel agency brand? KHM Travel Group is a host travel agency that provides comprehensive education and innovative tools for independent travel agents!

If you’d like to learn more about how we can help you start your own travel business, fill out the form on the right or call 1-888-611-1220 to receive our free information packet.