I think we all agree that business is slow these days. Companions have seen a decline in the hobby, the direct supporter of the industry. This is why touring has become the trend.
There are a lot of companions (who come in all shapes and sizes) whose calendars are stacked with tours who even require assistants. I personally know of several who are constantly touring and busier than ever. Talk about a healthy income! How do they do it? It’s certainly not luck. It is strategic planning. Now, it’s more important than ever to plant the seeds for your garden to grow. Gone are the days of waiting for your phone to ring as a sole source of marketing. The economy continues to struggle. It’s survival of the fittest.
As a companion, you are in essence running a small business. You are your own boss and it is up to you to bring home the bacon. The cool thing is that no one is telling you what to do. You get to decide how much free time you spend, when you want to work, with whom you want to work and when to go to the gym. On the other hand, no one’s giving you a paycheck (save those who do have day jobs). The best time to harvest your business is during the tough times, like now.
Fear not and think smart. Focus your energy on these simple steps and you’ll be on your way to buco bucks. Here’s how to turn your business into a money machine:
Paramount to everything you are about to read, you must and I say
must have good photos. Better to have 3 excellent ones than 10 lousy ones.
If you are unhappy with your photos toss them in the garbage bin and contact your favorite photographer. People are visual and yours is a visual business. “But I’m broke!”. Pay with a credit card, if you can. Find a photographer who accepts installment payments. Next to a good moisturizer, booking a photo shoot with an excellent photographer is the best investment you’ll ever make in yourself. There are many photographers out there but take a look at
www.meesheephotography.com. She is an American female photographer who caters exclusively to companions. Beware of GWC’s (guy with camera). They are guys with hidden agendas, disposable cameras and flashlights for lighting. They’re
not in your best interest.
Ever heard of conventions? Herein lies the holy grail just waiting to beef up your bank account. Have you ever visited a city only to find that every hotel in town was booked and crawling with people from all over the world? Metropolitan cities such as Boston, Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York and Miami are a few giants in the world of conventions.
The best part is that such cities are exciting meccas of fun and entertainment. So while you are planning your next tour you’re also planning a vacation! It doesn’t get any better than that. By the way, the Yankee Dental Congress January 26-30, 2011 is underway in Boston. They are expecting over 26,000 professional attendees.
If a person is looking for companionship while they are going to be out of town on a business trip, chances are they will look first in the city of their destination. Since you are already planning your tour to Boston, you would first go to
www.GeishaAffair.com and take advantage of posting multiple profiles not only in your home city but in Boston and surrounding cities. Even if you live in Dallas, your profile would now be viewable and searchable in Boston and all other cities.
You should also post threads in every forum you can think of (I personally find that ECCIE is one of the best & most friendly). It will go something like this: “Tasty Theresa - Boston Tour Jan 26-30th, 2011”. And don’t forget to post a kick ass avatar! People are visual. Convention goers must plan in advance. That is the nature of conventions. By posting your multiple profiles on Geisha Affair and posting threads on as many forums as possible you will soon book your first client with more to follow.
If your blog is riddled with cobwebs it’s time to dust off your thinking cap and get busy! If you’re not a blogger, you can contact Meeshee, Public Relations Director at
meeshee@geishaaffair.com to inquire about having your blog written for you. Or, check out “Blogging wit Moxie” written by girls for girls on
www.amazon.com ($8.78 for a used copy). Start your first blog at
www.wordpress.com. Post a lustful article, embedding your travel details and get the word out.
Since it is now October and you are planning for January, you have ample time to book the best hotel rate. Remember, hotels have a 24-48 hour cancellation period. They’ll take your credit card information but they won’t process the payment. If for any reason you have to cancel your trip (your pet sitter backs out on you) you’ve got plenty of time because you’ve planned ahead. Where to get the best deals?
www.hotwire.com. Be careful with Hotwire though. They offer incredible deals but they are nonrefundable. But once you really get the hang of touring that becomes a non issue. Otherwise, check out
www.hotelscheap.org/. But don’t get turned off by the name. You can do a search for 5 star hotels or whatever suits your fancy.
Before you board the plane, order a copy of “
The Internet Escorts Handbook” written by the lovely Amanda Brooks. It is a golden read.
SouthWest Airlines rocks. They’re not numero uno for nothing.Plus, they have a ‘Rapid Rewards’ program that allows you to accumulate points toward free future flights. They are the only airline that does not charge for baggage! Nowadays, these airlines rape consumers with fees equal to the flight ticket. Who needs that?
Now that you’ve armed yourself with all the tools you need, you are ready to sit back and cultivate your tour over a cup of tea. This starts with booking a professional photo shoot, posting your Free Multiple Profiles on
www.geishaaffair.com (GA does not compete with any forums, including ECCIE), maintaining your blog with new entries and keeping your threads up to date by regularly posting new entries and chatting in the forums.
Soon, you’ll be driving that Mercedes you’ve always wanted.
How to Plan a Successful Tour
