Tourpreneur Tour Business Podcast

On today's challenge we share tips on why and how you should work closer with local tour operators. Sometimes, the best partnerships in travel and tourism are right around the corner. Who else has the destination down pat? Like yourself, other local operators know the backroads, watering holes, hidden attractions, and reputable businesses — which means their guests also look to them for advice on where to eat, sleep, and what to do and see. Wouldn’t it be nice if they recommended your tours or activities as a must-book and vice versa? Plus, you never know what kind of brilliant ideas might ignite from a single conversation

Tips for handling positive reviews. You ripped off the band-aid yesterday. Now, it’s time to reward yourself by replying to your glowing, rave reviews! Thank everyone for their kind words, and let them know you’re thrilled to hear they had an amazing time. Blush all you want. You earned those compliments! While you’re doing this, be on the lookout for outstanding reviews that would make great testimonials. It’s perfectly okay to say, “thank you for the wonderful review, can I share this on my website?” Most people will be happy to help you out and get featured

Today we share how tour operators should deal with negative reviews. Oof, you might need a glass of wine for this one. Get comfy and dedicate a couple of hours to responding to recent negative reviews on every review platform. Go as far back as six months. Hopefully, it won’t be as scary as you think, and you can make a habit out of replying more promptly to online reviews in the future. Negative reviews can feel like the worst thing to happen to your tour company, but it’s important to remember that one’s opinion does not represent all. Every business encounters an unhappy customer from time to time. It’s how you respond that keeps your reputation intact. While you may want to ignore complaints altogether, the best thing you can do is address them head-on. In doing so, you not only let the reviewer know you care about guest satisfaction but also thousands of others who may check your reviews to decide whether or not to book.

Hopefully, this one is quick and easy for you today! Take a look at all of your social media profiles, and see what’s missing or out of date. Improve your bio by highlighting your unique selling proposition (USP). Update your cover image with a recent photo or promo video. Pin your best content at the top of your Facebook page, or add Instagram Story Highlights with on-brand cover icons. And finally, make sure your name, address, and phone number are still correct.

On today's Tourpreneur, content marketing expert Kyla Steeves shares her tips on Instagram for tour operators. Engagement feeds engagement. By initiating interactions on Instagram, you can get your brand noticed while showing off a bit of personality. Most Instagrammers are flattered when a brand compliments them. So, the more you engage, the more visibility and followers you’ll gain   Join the challenge at www.tourpreneur.com/challenge

On Day 5 of the 30 Day Tour Operator Things to Do Challenge, we are joined by Checkfront's Director of Marketing, Angela Heald who shares benefits of going live with a selfie video as well as  tips on how and what to record. Everything’s always about your tours, not enough about you — the person who created the tours in the first place. So, don’t be shy and say hello to your Facebook or Instagram community with a live video. Share a little bit about yourself, and watch all of the floating emojis come through!

On Day 4 of the 30 Day Tour Operator Things to Do Challenge, we are joined by Checkfront's Director of Marketing, Angela Heald and we are talking all about Treating Your Tour Guides. Genuine employee recognition goes a long way. One simple act of appreciation can make your tour guides feel valued, boost their confidence and motivation, give them a reason to go the extra mile and keep them coming back season after season.

On Day 3 of the 30 Day Tour Operator Things to Do Challenge, we are joined by Checkfront's Director of Marketing, Angela Heald and we are talking all about researching and maybe trying a new OTA. You’ve heard the saying, “don’t put all of your eggs in one basket.” Well, all too often, operators rely solely on the global brand names, like TripAdvisor, to “bring home the bacon,” even though there are plenty of new OTAs popping up everywhere that could also complement your distribution strategy. Who knows what opportunities you’re missing elsewhere? With another OTA, you might get more visibility, optimal real estate, a lower commission rate, and a better match for your target audience and niche. Wouldn’t you rather find out than be left wondering? W

On Day 2 of the 30 Day Tour Operator Things to Do Challenge, we are joined by Ryan Lainchbury of Checkfront's technical support team and we are talking all about how to automate your daily tour operator tasks. Grab your workbook at www.tourpreneur.com/challenge

I know many of us have been suffering overwhelm, what with all the webinars, online courses, virtual events, summits, podcasts, etc etc So now is time to put some of what we have learned into action. Starting today with our friends at Checkfront we are running a 30-day things to do tour operator challenge. Tourpreneur will be releasing a short daily episode during each day of November to discuss that day's challenge. 'We understand that life is busy, and sometimes what you intend to do never gets done. That’s why we created a 30-day challenge with small but practical tasks you can feel good about crossing off your to-do list in a few hours or less.' This is open to all tour operators and not just for Checkfront customers. (You can also complete the 30 days at a month of your choosing, should November not work for you.'