IC TRAVEL AGENT June 2014 | Page 9

problem. Reason being, you are not contacting the recipient directly. You are putting information ‘out there’ where the general public is reading off-line and searching on-line. They then contact you. Back To Attraction Marketing Here’s where the Baby Boomer travel agent might be able to teach the younger Gen X & Y agents a thing or two, as a thanks for the social media education so many have passed on to their elders! Playing it forward. Step One Okay… let’s go with the flow and make sure “we” have our current clients signed up. That means each existing client has given you their consent / permission to be contacted by you / your agency. You’ll require a filing system that locks those digital or hard copy forms away should CASL ever come knocking on your door. The only reason that will happen is if one or more of your clients complain to CASL / CANSPAM that you are spamming them and/or contacting them in a manner that contravenes the rules. The other reason for CASL / CANSPAM to contact you would be a purge on the retail travel industry in general. This type of action is enacted when numerous complaints are received by the general public overall. So you’d be caught up in the sweep. Step Two With your existing clients signed and sealed and opted in to receive anything you would like to send them – let’s move on to how you can attract new prospects and build your client list on the right side of the law. not selling anything…” because that will get you into trouble. You’ll be selling your services, your niche, your experience, a discount on the next cruise to the Caribbean, passing on a supplier special to Europe or perhaps seats on your own custom tour. 2. Now you think about which would be the best medium for your message. Remember, according to CASL you cannot make direct contact with any new prospective client without their consent – and you cannot ask for their consent, without their consent! What has to happen is that you ATTRACT your would be prospect to contact you and that’s when you ask them to opt-in to receive your emails and more. 3. Referrals are still the way to go and so one way to boost your client list is to rev up your referral plan and ask your clients – the ones who have given you permission to contact them, to refer their friends, family and colleagues. When a referral makes contact – don’t forget, you are now obligated to have them opt-in and give you their Express permission to be contacted. Traditional Marketing Techniques Remember, when prospecting, you cannot send any form of communication to anyone without having their Express and documented permission to do so. The Non-Contact Advertising & Promotion Plan states that you could make excellent use of traditional marketing techniques. Let’s explore some more. Keep reading!  1. Think about what it is you are trying to sell and don’t be the one that says “we’re