Melody's Mommy News
March 24, 2005
Melody's Weekly Special
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What's New?
It's been a crazy week here at Melody's Mommy. I've been working hard on a secret virtual promotion, that's been producing great results for me. I'm going to keep it a secret for now, because it's an untapped market. Curious? I'll give you a hint, it's actually a gaming community. Anyway, I've been having a blast meeting people who are working with me to bring about some changes to Melody's Mommy. As a work at home mom I believe that we all need to have some fun.
Mommy Coupons
Don't forget to visit Mommy Coupons at http://www.mommycoupons.com to print out great coupons to all your favourite stores. There are tons of online coupons available as well.
Troop Support
Today you have been given the opportunity to help support our US troops in Iraq. Just click on the link below and register your information - for every 10,000 registrations we will donate $1,000.00 to our brothers and sisters fighting for freedom overseas. Our goal is to donate $100,000.00, and so far we have donated over $5,000.00! (US only) Click Here
Survey Opportunities
Tons of Survey Companies you can join for free!
CIAO - USA - Take part in Ciao’s online questionnaires and tell us what you think about everything from entertainment to computer games to holidays. Speak your mind and earn some cash now! The surveys only take a few minutes and each one will earn you up to $6.50! (US Only) Click Here
CIAO - CANADA - Take part in Ciao’s online questionnaires and tell us what you think about everything from entertainment to computer games to holidays. The surveys only take a few minutes, and each one could earn you up to CAN$7.5! (Canada Only) Click Here
NOP World - UK - Join Surveys.com and take part in consumer surveys. We will reward you with prizes and ipoints - the UK’s leading reward scheme. (UK only) Click Here
Home Business Opportunity of the Week
Each week I will select a business opportunities from our message boards to feature. Want to see your opportunity listed? Go introduce yourself and your business on Melody's Mommy Message Boards! Hint: If you are a frequent "poster" on our message boards, I will use your ad first! This space can be purchased as well for $5.00 a newsletter. Sign up here: Advertising Home Business
Broker Position for Health Benefits Company
Benefits included - Get Paid Daily
Work at home as a broker for a totally debt free 12 year old Health Benefits Company.
Make your own hours. No Experience Necessary. Training provided.
Many of our top income earners are making over $100,000 a year in lifetime residual income in just 2-4 years time.
Company is a Member of the The Better Business Bureau, The Conference Board, The Dallas Chamber of Commerce and the Better Business Bureau Online.
As a Broker you will receive the following benefits:
-Dental, Prescription,Vision and Chiropractic Plan for everyone in your household
-Emergency Roadside Assistance
-Discounts on Dell Computers
-Discounts on SprintPCS Wireless
CellPhone Service
-Low Cost Health and Life Insurance for RSDs and above
Limited Time Only - Free Starter Kit Valued At $60.00
For details, please call Toll Free (800) 871-2847 (3 min. recording about the company, you can leave me a message at the end)
Article of the Week
Do you write your own articles? Post them on my message board for consideration. You may see them in the next newsletter!
What is a Home Based Travel Agent?
Many people are unclear about the travel industry. Travel agents are often thought to be the same as real estate agents. Becoming a travel agent or more specifically a home based travel agent is an exciting career change or retirement option. Some people do it full time while many do it as a part time business.
A travel agent books travel for customers and is paid by suppliers a commission on the booking. For bookings that suppliers do not pay a commission on, a travel agent also can charge the client a service fee for his/her time. An example is if you were to book a hotel for a client, the hotel would then send a check to the agency after the client checked out. Most hotels pay 10% of the price of the hotel before taxes and fees. A $100 per night hotel reservation would mean $10 a night for the travel agent who made the booking. This hotel would cost the same whether the customer uses a travel agent or books through the hotel directly. In many cases the travel agent can get a better price. It costs the customer nothing to use the travel agent unless the travel agent charges service fees.
Can anyone do this? In order to work with suppliers, you must have an account set up with the supplier. Most require an agency to hold an IATAN, CLIA or ARC number. IATAN stands for International Airlines Travel Agent Network. CLIA stands for Cruise Lines International Association. ARC stands for Airline Reporting Corporation. Each of these memberships requires different things including sales, money in the bank, experience or training in the industry, and membership fees. Many will require Errors and Omissions insurance of $1,000,000 or more.
For the average travel agent, membership is not a possibility with some organizations so the agent will team up with an agency and work as an independent agent or outside agent. There are also advantages of working with an agency because most travel agents cannot make enough in sales with a particular supplier to obtain higher commission levels and bonuses. Working with an agency with many agents can increase the commission percentages the agent gets because of the joint sales of all the agents at the agency. Support is also a very important aspect of being a successful agent. Agents who do not work with others tend to feel more isolated and have to learn to do it all solo. Since no agent can have the experience of being everywhere in the world or staying at every hotel or resort, having others that you can get advice from is really helpful.
The future of travel agencies is always questioned. The truth is the industry has changed in many ways. Some changes were for the better, some for the worse. Many airlines have cut commissions for travel agents. However, there are many other suppliers who are paying travel agents more than they were ten years ago. Cruises used to be booked by only the rich and now people in every income book cruises. Each year more and more people go on cruises. Most people say they want to go on a cruise at least once and many who go on their first come home to want to book another.
You can earn commission on many travel reservations.
Hotels
Rental Cars
Tour Packages
Cruises
Some airline tickets
International airline tickets
Travel insurance
Ground transportation including limos
Attraction tickets
Train tickets
People all need travel arrangements at some point in time. Those who take road trips need hotel reservations. Those who need to travel for business need airline tickets, rental cars, and hotel reservations. Families want to experience vacations with their loved ones. People visit family and relatives. Most people who win money say they are going to spend it to take a nice vacation. Newly married couples go on honeymoons. You are not selling something that is hard to sell. People contact you for help, you are not calling them or approaching them trying to sell them something they don’t want.
Educating the public is the main thing any travel agent must do. Most people put travel agents into the same category as real estate agents. They believe it costs additional to use a travel agent. This is untrue. In many cases a travel agent can get a better price than the general public through the suppliers who work only with travel agents. Many people do not know all the options for booking a vacation. A good travel agent does. Once people are educated on how a travel agent gets paid, they are more willing to work with travel agents. If a person knows that if he or she let you book a hotel and it will cost the same price regardless, she or he will work with you. It is important to let people know how you can help them save time and money on their travel arrangements.
So how do you get into the industry? Many people think they must go to school or become certified. This is not true. You can get into the industry and begin training. I don’t recommend anyone spend thousands on a travel school until he or she knows this is a career that he or she will really want to pursue. The truth is you do not have to spend thousands to get trained. There are many courses free to travel agents from suppliers. There are also organizations such as ICTA (Institute of Certified Travel Agents) who offer courses as you get more years experience in the industry. CLIA also offers courses. There are some agencies that will offer training. Even if you decide this is a career you would like to pursue, you do not need to spend thousands to become an educated and competent travel agent. There are many courses you can take with suppliers and organizations to get a better education in travel. I truly believe a hands’ on approach is the best way to become a better travel agent. Learning to work with suppliers and how to find the information your clients need is an important part of becoming a good travel agent.
How can you find an agency to work with? There are a few organizations dedicated to independent travel agents. NACTA and OSSN are the top organizations. NACTA stands for National Association of Commissioned Travel Agents. OSSN stands for Outside Sales Support Network. You can also search online for home-based travel agent programs. I would never recommend anyone spending a lot of money to start this business. It is key to first try and see if it is something you would really want to do and get training before you invest too much money into it. Get involved in the industry first and see if it is really a career that is best for you.
About The Author
Mother of two who started a homebased travel agency in 1997. She has over 200 outside agents working with her agency and is active in the travel industry. She has been an agent since 1993. She is the author of three ebooks.
Jennifer Dugan CTA
Owner of Dugan's Travels
Travel agent since 1993
Work at Home Jobs
The following work at home jobs are offered on a one-time basis, see if one of them might be a good match for you! (Please note that these leads are unresearched. I have done a quick check on them, but make sure you investigate any opportunitiy for work online before joining.)
Real Estate Professionals
Opportunities for licensed agents. Join a team of Real Estate Pro's. High Commission Splits, Exclusive Buyer Program; Flexible Listing Program; Virtual Office Concept.
Requirements: licensed real estate agents
Community Representative
AYUSA International is a non-profit high school foreign exchange student organization. We welcome teenagers from over 60 countries worldwide and provide host family placement and ongoing supervision for 5 and 10-month academic programs. The Community Representative is a part-time position designed for people with a strong desire to do something rewarding in the community and earn some extra money to help supplement their income. Applicants best suited for this work should enjoy teenagers, have a strong interest in cross-cultural communication, and feel comfortable networking in the community. Basic responsibilities include recruiting and interviewing host families, providing ongoing support to families and students and maintaining professional contact with local high schools. All applicants must be available during some evening and weekend hours. Full training and support will be provided through branch offices located throughout the U.S.
Compensation is paid per placement, 424.00 - 525.00 per placement.
Online Virtual Instructors
Educators and experts, this is a unique and rewarding opportunity to help others further their eductation! This company provides quality online educational courses and has opportunities for virtual instructors posted on their website. Virtual instructors create their own teaching materials, and manage their own virtual classrooms. As a virtual Instructor, you can be in charge of your own career while doing what you do best - helping others! Learn how and apply today!
Coders
This company provides document coding and data entry services and has opportunities for independent contractors posted at trheir website. Applicants MUST have at least one year experience in the legal field. Not every one is suited to this kind of work. ONLY qualified individuals with legal backgrounds need apply. Details and instructions are located at this company's website: http://www.cyphercontractors.com
Telemarketers
Seeking telemarketers to work with our team on Equipment Leasing and Equipment Leasebacks and more. No Fees - Commission Work. Click on the following link, fill in the application and tell us (in the comments section) why we would want you on our team: http://www.secondchancetofinance.com/jobseekers.php
Loan Originators
Loan Originators Work from home. Free loan software, no fees, no minimum production rate. Generous Commissions and direct access to hundreds of approved lenders.
Psychic Readers
Absolutely Psychic Network has opportunities for Psychic Readers posted on their website. Will be tested before being hired. Must have reading experience through a private practice or psychic network/company. Must have high speed internet connection, seperate telephone line, Lan-line phone, type 30 wpm, Windows 98 or higher, computer knowledge. Please visit the website for more requirements. http://www.absolutelypsychic.com/form5.html
Technical Experts
This company has opportunities for technical experts posted on their website. Technical experts conduct technical interviews or write and review on-line technical tests and interview guides. Must have at least five years of experience. http://www.reviewnet.net/becomesme.aspx
Professional Apartment Locator
Apartment Locators To Work At Home! Must have a real estate license, own a computer with internet access, and 3 professional references. Salary Wage: Earn $25k-$125k year! Great commission splits! Quarterly Bonuses! Contact: To be considered fax resume to ATTN: Curtis 877.686.2360 or e-mail resume to jobs@re-sq.com Today!
That's it! See you next week!
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