Let’s be honest — square footage and brochure stats won’t sell your services. If you’ve ever left a supplier meeting with a bunch of generic info and zero clarity on how to use it in your marketing… this episode is for you.

In episode 2 of the Don’t Market Like a Supplier series, we’re talking about the five questions to ask your BDM (or supplier contact) that actually matter — and how their answers can shape your content, boost your bottom line, and keep your brand message clear.

You’ll learn:
✅ What booking window data can teach you about your funnel
✅ How to identify hidden add-ons to increase commissions
✅ How to use supplier trends and spotlight promos to ride the wave
✅ Why general info ≠ strong strategy
✅ The difference between selling a trip vs. selling your service

Whether you’re new to working with BDMs or ready to level up your conversations, this one will change the way you prep for every supplier interaction moving forward.

🔗 Bonus: Listen to last week’s episode first if you haven’t already — it's the perfect setup for this conversation.

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Welcome to the first episode of our brand-new 5-part series: Stop Marketing Like a Supplier

In this powerful episode, Kelli Hayes Smith shares the truth behind why so many travel advisors struggle to stand out in a saturated space — and it's not because of lack of effort, it's because of supplier-style marketing.

What you'll learn in this episode:

• Why supplier content doesn't work for building YOUR brand

• The big shift you need to make if you want to sell transformation, not transactions

• How you're competing with online booking tools — not other advisors

• Why loud marketing isn’t better marketing (and what to do instead)

• The skincare analogy you’ll never forget

Whether you’re still using supplier content or wondering why your posts aren’t converting, this episode will help you see your business in a whole new light.

Don’t miss next week’s episode: 5 Questions to Ask Your BDM That Actually Matter

🎧 Listen now and take your seat as the main character in your marketing story.

✈️ Episode Summary:

In this episode of Social Takeoff, Kelli dives into the top 5 red flags she’s seeing in the travel advisor marketing world—and what to do instead if you want your content to convert, build trust, and grow your business.

These aren’t just industry rants. Kelli brings real solutions to the table—like what to do when you’re tempted to copy-paste content, how to stay connected without being glued to your phone, and why showing up as yourself is your greatest marketing advantage.

You’ll also hear updates on what’s happening at Wanderlust Campus, including exciting things in the works with our partner network, Marketing Mondays, and what to expect at this year’s Wander Beyond conference!

🚩 In This Episode, We Cover:

• [00:00] Intro & life update (surviving Maymageddon 😅)

• [02:00] What’s new: Bliss to Abundance weekly podcast + Marketing Mondays

• [04:00] Why this episode matters: red flags popping up all over your feed

• [05:00] Red Flag #1: Copy/paste content is "good enough"

• [08:30] What to do instead: personalizing content with AI and brand voice

• [10:55] Red Flag #2: Set it and forget it strategy

• [13:00] Showing up beyond the content calendar

• [15:30] Red Flag #3: Original content is optional

• [17:45] Why your unique voice must be part of your strategy

• [21:00] Real example: The Disney Dream overboard story + your perspective

• [22:40] Red Flag #4: You’re not part of your marketing

• [24:00] People buy you—not your supplier’s graphics

• [26:30] Red Flag #5: Focusing on trends over trust

• [28:15] Why visibility without clarity doesn’t convert

• [29:45] Final thoughts + what’s next for July and beyond

Host: Kelli Hayes Smith
Podcast: Social Takeoff
Keywords: travel marketing, ideal client, social media, client transformation, travel agents, marketing strategy, audience targeting, emotional connection, travel planning, content creation

✈️ Episode Summary :

Raise your hand if your content calendar feels more like a game of “throw spaghetti at the wall and hope it sticks.” 🙋‍♀️ In this episode of Social Takeoff, Kelli Hayes Smith helps you clean up the marketing chaos and zoom in on what really matters: knowing exactly who you’re talking to.

Forget trying to talk to “everyone who wants a vacation.” That’s not a strategy—it’s a one-way ticket to being invisible online. Kelli is here with the questions you didn’t know you needed to ask, so you can define your dream client, tell their transformation story, and finally create content that connects (and converts!).

If your marketing feels like a mess, this episode is your deep breath, your clarity check, and your permission to niche all the way down.

💡 What You’ll Learn:

• Why early-stage marketing chaos is normal—but not forever
• The real reason your posts aren’t hitting (hint: you're too vague)
• How to define your ideal client beyond “likes Disney and beaches”
• The power of emotional connection in content that converts
• How to tell your client’s “before and after” transformation story
• Where your dream clients hang out—and how to meet them there

00:00 – Finding Clarity in Travel Marketing
02:53 – Understanding Your Ideal Client
06:00 – The Importance of Targeted Messaging
08:46 – Defining Your Ideal Client: Key Questions
12:01 – Transformations Through Travel
15:10 – Emotional Drivers in Travel Planning
17:50 – Crafting Your Client's Before and After Story
21:02 – What’s Next: Your Vibe, Your Tribe

🎙️ Mic-Drop Sound Bites:

"Your clear message cuts through the noise.""Your ideal client isn’t 'everyone who breathes and likes margaritas.'""Travel isn’t just a trip—it’s a transformation.""You can’t connect deeply when your message is surface-level."

📣 Kelli’s Challenge for You:

Take 15 minutes today and map out your ideal client’s before and after story. What are they struggling with before they find you? And how are they transformed by the experience you deliver?

Then meet us back here next episode—we’re diving into building your brand vibe so your people feel like they’ve found their travel soulmate (spoiler: it’s you).

Host: Kelli Hayes Smith
Podcast: Social Takeoff
Episode Length: ~24 minutes
Keywords: travel marketing, social media, engagement, views, algorithms, ideal client, conversions, SEO, content creation, trust building

🎧 Episode Summary:

In this empowering episode, Kelli Hayes Smith dives headfirst into one of the biggest mistakes travel professionals make in their marketing: chasing views over results. With an honest and refreshing perspective, Kelli breaks down the truth behind social media metrics, explains how algorithms really work, and guides travel advisors toward what actually moves the needle—connection, conversions, and consistency.

Whether you're a new travel advisor or a seasoned pro trying to scale, this episode will reframe how you look at your content. Get ready to move beyond vanity metrics and into marketing that builds trust, reaches your ideal client, and drives real business growth.

🔑 What You’ll Learn

• Why views and likes don’t equal income

• How to work with the algorithm (instead of fighting it)

• The crucial difference between going viral and getting clients

• Why consistent content for your ideal client beats trending audio every time

• How engagement fuels visibility and trust fuels conversions

• Why SEO still matters in 2025—and how to use it to be found online

• Kelli’s favorite strategies for content that connects and converts

📌 Episode Chapters:

00:00 – Debunking Travel Marketing Myths
03:03 – The Dangers of Chasing Views
05:52 – Understanding Social Media Algorithms
09:07 – The Importance of Engagement Over Views
11:57 – Creating Content for Your Ideal Client
14:51 – Building Trust and Conversions
18:01 – The Role of SEO in Travel Marketing
21:09 – Strategies for Effective Marketing
24:02 – Final Thoughts and Call to Action

🔥 Sound Bites:

"It's all about the views? I'm calling BS."

"Engagement breeds more views."

"Your audience is listening—talk to them."

"Be really, really good at what you do."

"It's not about being seen by everyone—it’s about being seen by the right ones."

🎯 Perfect For:

• Travel agents who are tired of the content hamster wheel

• Advisors trying to build a brand, not just a feed

• Anyone looking to turn followers into paying clients

• Travel pros who want to create smarter, more strategic marketing plans

📣 Call to Action:

If you’re ready to stop chasing views and start building trust that leads to conversions, this episode is your spark. Need help building a content plan that connects? Check out our free resources at WanderlustCampus.com and join our community of marketing-savvy travel pros.

Host: Kelli Hayes Smith
Podcast: Social Takeoff
Episode Length: ~24 minutes
Keywords: travel marketing, social media, engagement, views, algorithms, ideal client, conversions, SEO, content creation, trust building

🎧 Episode Summary:

In this empowering episode, Kelli Hayes Smith dives headfirst into one of the biggest mistakes travel professionals make in their marketing: chasing views over results. With an honest and refreshing perspective, Kelli breaks down the truth behind social media metrics, explains how algorithms really work, and guides travel advisors toward what actually moves the needle—connection, conversions, and consistency.

Whether you're a new travel advisor or a seasoned pro trying to scale, this episode will reframe how you look at your content. Get ready to move beyond vanity metrics and into marketing that builds trust, reaches your ideal client, and drives real business growth.

🔑 What You’ll Learn:

• Why views and likes don’t equal income

• How to work with the algorithm (instead of fighting it)

• The crucial difference between going viral and getting clients

• Why consistent content for your ideal client beats trending audio every time

• How engagement fuels visibility and trust fuels conversions

• Why SEO still matters in 2025—and how to use it to be found online

• Kelli’s favorite strategies for content that connects and converts




📌 Episode Chapters:

00:00 – Debunking Travel Marketing Myths
03:03 – The Dangers of Chasing Views
05:52 – Understanding Social Media Algorithms
09:07 – The Importance of Engagement Over Views
11:57 – Creating Content for Your Ideal Client
14:51 – Building Trust and Conversions
18:01 – The Role of SEO in Travel Marketing
21:09 – Strategies for Effective Marketing
24:02 – Final Thoughts and Call to Action

🔥 Sound Bites:

"It's all about the views? I'm calling BS."
"Engagement breeds more views."
"Your audience is listening—talk to them."
"Be really, really good at what you do."
"It's not about being seen by everyone—it’s about being seen by the right ones."

🎯 Perfect For:

• Travel agents who are tired of the content hamster wheel

• Advisors trying to build a brand, not just a feed

• Anyone looking to turn followers into paying clients

• Travel pros who want to create smarter, more strategic marketing plans

📣 Call to Action:

If you’re ready to stop chasing views and start building trust that leads to conversions, this episode is your spark. Need help building a content plan that connects? Check out our free resources at WanderlustCampus.com and join our community of marketing-savvy travel pros.

In this episode of the Social Takeoff Podcast, Kelli Hayes Smith dives into the latest social media trends, with a particular focus on Instagram and its updates.

Kelli explores the growing phenomenon of lurkers—those passive users who consume content without actively engaging.

She explains why it's essential for content creators to understand this behavior and adjust their strategies to cater to these viewers. Kelli offers insightful advice on how to make content that stops the scroll, and why storytelling and educational content are critical in connecting with both active and passive audiences.

Additionally, Kelli answers listener questions and provides valuable tips to help you improve your social media engagement.

Listen to the Social Takeoff Podcast:🎙️ Social Takeoff Podcast on Spotify

Visit Wanderlust Campus for more educational resources:🌐 Wanderlust Campus Website

In this episode, Kelli Hayes Smith dives into the common misconceptions about travel agents and the pressing need to shift the industry's narrative.

She challenges the outdated perception that travel agents are unnecessary due to online booking platforms, emphasizing the transformative value they provide to clients.

Kelli shares practical strategies for travel agents to communicate their unique value proposition, focusing on the experience and transformation they create for clients rather than just the logistics of booking trips.

This episode offers actionable insights for building a compelling client experience, changing industry perception, and positioning travel agents as trusted advisors.

In this episode, Kelli Hayes Smith explores the critical awareness phase of the buyer journey, the first and most essential step in attracting new clients.

She breaks down the four buyer phases—awareness, consideration, conversion, and loyalty—and focuses on how travel agents can increase their visibility.

Kelli shares actionable insights on leveraging social media, SEO, networking, and in-person events to build awareness.

She also explains why understanding your ideal client is the cornerstone of effective marketing and emphasizes the importance of investing time or money into awareness strategies that work for your business.

Links & Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

In this episode, Kelli Hayes Smith unpacks the critical differences between social media tactics and strategy for travel agents. She shares why chasing viral trends can harm your business and how focusing on your ideal audience leads to sustainable success.

Learn why vanity metrics can mislead your strategy, how to shift your content from destinations to services, and the importance of building authentic content that connects with your audience.

Kelli also dives into the long game of marketing, explaining why time and patience are essential for business growth. Plus, get actionable homework to evaluate your social media approach and start implementing strategies that resonate with your dream clients.