Confessions of a Social Media Averter
As part of my new series with startups, start overs, entrepreneurs, athletes and influencers, I share the stories of these incredible personal and professional journeys.
Lisa Federico, falls into multiple categories of startups and start over but mainly how she spent the past 25+ years empowering thousands of at home moms to build a massive travel business simply by spreading a little magic.
This is Lisa's story...
I’ll admit it, I have never embraced social media. In fact, I have never liked it. My career in the travel industry, and as an entrepreneur, started in the 90’s, when the only way to answer questions or view different hotels or destinations, was by browsing through a brochure. Social media was not a flicker in anyone’s eye when I started my journey into the business. Airline tickets were paper and printed on a bulky machine using carbon for copies. Tickets were printed in a brick and mortar travel agency by an agent sitting behind a chunky computer combing through airline codes.
Without modern social media and the accessibility to millions of people at your fingertips, I found ways to reach out to my friends, family, and local community the old-fashioned way; by bringing them or sending them postcards, homemade flyers, and paper brochures. And at the time, that was enough.
As time went on, mostly after 9/11, and the closing of many brick and mortar travel agencies, the internet brought digital brochures and e-tickets. The “home-based” travel agents were the new future of booking vacations. Communicating through e-mail and using online options for searching and booking destinations changed the way people saw a travel agent and the new way travel agents operated.
As social media entered the arena, I thought It was just for that, to be social. And I admit I did not have time, nor did I care what someone was baking or when they were having a good day at the office. I was busy running a business and family. But as social media’s presence in everyone’s lives grew, so did the need and want for it in my businesses setting. My agents used to ask me if we could communicate through a social media group, and being the dinosaur that I was, I said no for years.
I went from zero to millions of dollars in sales without social media. Why should I dive in now?
As my company and team grew, and grew, and grew… I couldn’t help but notice how my agents utilize social media to attract clients and share their own stories and experiences about travel. Their rate of growth and success as travel agents clearly show that getting out there in the digital world is key for success in the modern era. It allows their network of people to get to know them and continuously grow their businesses. I’m happy to say that today we do have a larger presence online and with just one post I can reach all of my agents and affiliates.
After decades in the travel industry I am constantly asked why I don’t personally post my experiences. Many people tell me they want to hear from me more. Part of social media is the attraction of looking into other people’s lives and experiences. The opportunity to reach a larger network of future travelers is limitless with platforms such as Facebook and Instagram.
So, I am sorry I have not been social enough, but I invite you to join me as I enter the world of social media and share with you my stories and experiences! See you there.
Click HERE to connect with Lisa.