The Social Takeoff Podcast with Kelli Hayes Smith

Kelli Hayes Smith
  • 4.7 (42)
  • MARKETING
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Welcome to the Social Takeoff podcast, a podcast for travel professionals to learn how to use their social platforms to help their business take off! Kelli is a travel agent turned social media marketer who now works as an Instagram Expert for travel professionals in the award winning Careers on Vacation mastermind, and also works with multiple 7 figure travel agencies to help them bring goals & strategy into their social media presence. On this podcast Kelli will take you, the travel professional on a deep dive of content creation, social media strategy, and tips + tricks of the trade.

  1. 1D AGO

    From Panic Posting to Strategic Planning : A travel advisor's guide

    Kelli Hayes Smith discusses the challenges of content creation and posting on social media, emphasizing the importance of intention, clarity, and purpose in marketing strategies for travel advisors. She highlights the pitfalls of posting without substance, the impact of industry jargon, and the need for a structured content plan and calendar. Takeaways Posting without clarity leads to frustration and burnout.Consistency and intention are more important than quantity in content creation. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to the Social Takeoff Podcast05:24 The Importance of Substance in Content11:09 The Use of Acronyms in Content17:01 Avoiding Panic Posting

    19 min

  2. JAN 13

    Client Content vs. Trend Content (And Why It Matters)

    Trends aren’t bad.Views aren’t bad.Engagement isn’t bad. But hollow views are useless. In this episode, I’m breaking down why so many travel advisors feel like their content is “working” — but their business isn’t moving. We talk about the difference between being liked and being hired, why instant gratification keeps you stuck, and the four questions every post should answer before you hit publish. This is not an episode about trends vs. no trends.It’s about turning attention into traction — without losing yourself, your voice, or your confidence along the way. If you’ve ever: Chased views that didn’t turn into clientsFelt discouraged by likes not leading to bookingsWondered why your content feels hollow even when it performsThis one’s for you. What You’ll Learn in This EpisodeThe 4 questions every piece of content should answerWhy being “liked” and being “hired” are not the same thingHow validation-driven content keeps you stuckWhy followers don’t equal growth (and never really did)What client content actually looks like in practiceHow to show your value without “proving” yourselfWhy perspective beats facts every timeTaylor Swift Moment 🎶Lyric: “I can change everything about me to fit in”Song: Mirrorball — folklore (And why we’re done doing that.) Links & Resources👉 Get your free Wanderlust Campus account:https://wanderlust-ceo.com 👉 Follow me on Instagram for daily marketing insight:https://www.instagram.com/kellihayessmith ✨ If this episode resonated, please leave a quick review — it helps this show reach more advisors who need to hear it. Podcast Chapters00:00 – Real life, real marketing (and why views aren’t the enemy)01:10 – When trends become useless02:05 – The 4 questions every post should answer03:20 – Why instant gratification keeps us stuck04:45 – Do you want to be liked… or hired?06:50 – Showcasing value without proving worth08:55 – The follower myth (and why it’s outdated)10:40 – What client content actually looks like13:00 – Storytelling, decision-making & real examples15:45 – Why validation-driven content feels hollow18:10 – Confidence vs. performance20:25 – How to shift your mindset before you post22:45 – Mirrorball, people-pleasing & showing up as you24:20 – Final thoughts + what to do next

    32 min

  3. JAN 6

    Why Likes and Followers Don’t Build Travel Businesses

    Episode SummaryA lot of travel advisors think their marketing isn’t working — when really, their expectations are off. In this episode of Social Takeoff, we reset how social media actually fits into your business, why checklist marketing is holding you back, and what it really takes to build trust, community, and momentum online. This conversation is about letting go of pressure, unrealistic metrics, and comparison — and replacing them with clarity, perspective, and intention. If you’ve been posting, following the rules, and still feeling frustrated… this episode is for you. In This Episode, We Talk About:Why “posting more” doesn’t equal bookingsThe unrealistic expectations most advisors place on social mediaWhy likes, views, and followers don’t measure successHow checklist marketing creates burnout and false failureThe real role social media plays as a gap closer in your businessWhy perspective builds trust more than facts ever willHow your language (even one word) can shrink or strengthen your valueWhy community changes businesses — and virality doesn’tA healthier way to look at metrics without letting them control you Homework from This Episode:You’re allowed one data day per month. That’s it. One day to review metrics as data, not validation — and then you get back to building with clarity and confidence. Links & Resources➡️ Get your free Wanderlust Campus account: https://wanderlust-ceo.com➡️ Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kellihayessmith 🎧 New full episodes of Social Takeoff drop every Tuesday🧼 Bonus Friday episodes: The Soapbox Song: You’re On Your Own, KidLyric: “Everything you lose is a step you take.” Let go of pressure. Let go of comparison. Let go of checklist marketing. Clarity comes next.

    29 min

  4. JAN 1

    Why Likes, Views, and Trends Are Lying to Travel Advisors

    Most travel advisors aren’t “bad at marketing.”They’re letting platforms decide whether their marketing is working. In this final Reset Episode, we’re talking about what happens when you let algorithms, trends, and engagement metrics dictate your confidence, your content, and your strategy — and why that approach quietly steals momentum from your business. We’ll talk about: Why likes, views, and comments are not real KPIsHow reacting to trends and algorithm chatter pulls you off-centerThe difference between content that’s “good for Instagram” and content that’s good for your businessWhy proactive marketing creates clarity, confidence, and compounding growthHow to identify the conversations and lanes you actually want to lead And I’ll leave you with one clear action to reset how you approach content moving forward — without chasing trends, burning out, or second-guessing yourself. ✨ This episode is part of the Reset Series, all tied to the Taylor Swift song This Is Me Trying — because showing up, recalibrating, and choosing clarity counts. Resources & Links Create your free Wanderlust Campus account: https://wanderlust-ceo.comFollow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kellihayessmith🎧 New full episodes drop Tuesdays.🔥 Bonus mini-episodes (The Soapbox) drop Fridays.

    12 min

  5. JAN 1

    Why Marketing Feels So Overwhelming for Travel Advisors

    Welcome back to Social Takeoff — and to reset episode two. If marketing has felt overwhelming, frustrating, or like one more thing on an already full to-do list, this episode is for you. In this reset, we talk about why marketing feels so heavy for travel advisors — and why the problem usually isn’t effort, discipline, or motivation. It’s expectations. We’ve been taught that marketing should: work quicklycreate instant resultsreward consistency immediatelylook like what’s working for everyone else And when it doesn’t, we assume we’re doing something wrong. In this episode, we unpack: Why marketing overwhelm is often caused by unclear expectationsHow comparison and constant consumption make marketing feel impossibleWhy doing more isn’t the answerHow to release pressure without giving up momentumWhat it looks like to reset instead of quit This episode isn’t about fixing everything. It’s about understanding what marketing is actually responsible for — and what it’s not. 👉 Get your free Wanderlust Campus account:https://wanderlust-ceo.com 👉 Follow me on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/kellihayessmith

    16 min

  6. JAN 1 · BONUS

    Marketing Feels Heavy? A Reset Episode for Travel Advisors Starting Over

    Welcome to Social Takeoff — and welcome to the reset. This episode is the first of a three-part reset series dropping on New Year’s Day, created for travel advisors who feel overwhelmed, frustrated, or discouraged by marketing. If marketing felt heavy last year…If you tried to learn all the things…If you showed up even when it was hard… This episode is for you. In this reset, we talk about why marketing feels so overwhelming, why trying harder isn’t the answer, and why the problem usually isn’t motivation or effort — it’s clarity and direction. This episode is about: Releasing the pressure to do everythingLetting go of perfection as the starting pointUnderstanding why progress matters more than polishGiving yourself permission to reset without guiltSeeing yourself and your voice as part of your marketing This is not about throwing last year away. It’s about realigning, refocusing, and rebuilding intentionally. You showed up. That counts. Now let’s move forward with clarity. 👉 Get your free Wanderlust Campus account:https://wanderlust-ceo.com 👉 Follow me on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/kellihayessmith

    21 min
  7. Stop Asking for Brochures: What to Really Ask Your BDM

    07/22/2025

    Stop Asking for Brochures: What to Really Ask Your BDM

    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. Follow Me on Instagram

    26 min
  8. You’re the Product, Not the Promo: Stop Marketing Like a Supplier

    07/15/2025

    You’re the Product, Not the Promo: Stop Marketing Like a Supplier

    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.

    27 min
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4.7
out of 5
42 Ratings

About

Welcome to the Social Takeoff podcast, a podcast for travel professionals to learn how to use their social platforms to help their business take off! Kelli is a travel agent turned social media marketer who now works as an Instagram Expert for travel professionals in the award winning Careers on Vacation mastermind, and also works with multiple 7 figure travel agencies to help them bring goals & strategy into their social media presence. On this podcast Kelli will take you, the travel professional on a deep dive of content creation, social media strategy, and tips + tricks of the trade.

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