Written By: Andy Ogg – Editor and Marketing Director – Travel Professional NEWS
Millennials. Millennials. Millennials. It seems to be the one word that we are hearing everywhere and there is a valid reason. The Millennial generation is the largest generation in history and while that is impressive, the more important thing is that they are a prime market for a Travel Professional. Millennials are unique, as we all know, and their unique traits, preferences and priorities put them as a price candidate for your services. Whether you are a River Cruise guru or a master of All Inclusive Resorts, there is absolutely no doubt that you can grow your business with Millennials as your clients.
In my previous articles “The Millennial – Travel Trends of the Largest Generation,” there are some great insights and statistics that share why and how Millennials are traveling. So we know that they are going but how do you get in front of them?
Get on the Screen
Millennials are reportedly using their smartphones an average of 223 minutes a day on their mobile devices (According to Statista). That is nearly 4 hours a day spent interacting with applications, social media, and messages. If you aren’t getting on that screen, you need to be.
Engage with Millennials through applications like Yelp, YouTube, LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest or through other applications. By engaging with the Millennial market, interest in your services will naturally occur. Comment, like and share their content and they are more than likely to return the favor.
In addition, take your business to the next level by having your own application developed for your business. The cost in today’s market is minimal and the benefits of having your own application showing your services, specialization, portfolio and any interactive content could be the boost your business needs.
Provide Quality Information
While no one wants to work for free, creating useful, relevant and original content can be one of the most effective ways to reach Millennials. Whether it’s “5 Tricks to Getting Off the Grid,” “10 Ways to Pack Your Luggage Better,” or “The Best Mai Tai in Hawaii,” the content and information you already have could be the missing puzzle piece to growing your business with Millennial clients.
Contact your website creator and inquire if you can add a blog to your existing site and get to writing. Whether your articles are 300 or 3,000 words, Millennials are likely to engage if the topic hits home with them or is of interest to their future travel plans.
Top Tip: When posting a blog, ALWAYS include:
- Business Name and Logo
- Website URL
- Social Media Channels \
- Email Address
- Phone Number to Call and Text
- A short (300 word or so) excerpt about you and your business
Make it Easy
Millennials have grown up in a world of on demand communication, entertainment and interactions. Companies like Uber, Dropbox and Airbnb have reaped the benefits of this unique trait and so can you. As tempting as it is, don’t ask more than you need to on a contact form, in fact, I would suggest to make it as easy as possible with name, email, and preferred contact method.
Once the interaction begins on the preferred contact method that they have shared, feel free to ask for more information or better yet, let them tell you what they are looking for. Studies show that 73% of Millennials do a good amount of research before even contacting someone to move forward so be ready to have a fairly detailed wish list from a Millennial client.
Millennials are here to stay and are the next market that every single business owner should be paying attention to. They are making and spending money and crave unique experiences that create a lifetime memory over a theme park or singular attraction. Millennials are here to stay, are you going to grow your business by adding them as your clients?