A regular newsletter is a great way to stay in touch with your customer. It can also be a good selling tool to promote your preferred suppliers and vacation ideas appropriate to the season. It allows you to touch your customer on a regular basis and ensure you are always top-of-mind when they come to making travel arrangements.

But who has time to create a newsletter? And even if you had time, could you make it look appealing and professional? The answer is likely no.

This is where a good host agency comes in. Does your host agency create a newsletter for you on a regular basis and do they send it out on your behalf?

Is there a charge for sending out your newsletter to your customers? Is the newsletter customized so it looks as if it is coming from you?

These are all questions you should be asking yourself and asking your host agency.

In many cases, agents are charged for anything sent out on their behalf. Sometimes agents are charged for any communication that is created for them. Sometimes there’s a limit on the number of pieces.

We’ve talked a lot in this column about comparing host agency services and making sure you are getting the most out of your agreement. A newsletter may not be enough reason to consider changing host agencies, but sometimes it’s the little things that add up.

Do yourself a favour at the start of this new year. Take a little time to compare your current benefits and services with others in the marketplace. You might be surprised to find considerable differences in the programs that are out there.

Meanwhile, when did you last reach out to your customers?