Boost your Tour
Business: How Rizky
Kalebos used Vev
for growth
Rizky Kalebos is passionate about architecture and culture and eager to share his knowledge with others. Two years ago, he started a small tour business called “Indonesia Tour”, but he had no idea it would become so successful.
From Informal Tours to a Thriving Business
Rizky had initially started giving architecture tours informally for friends, organized through social media and managed via WhatsApp and Instagram for planning and payments. But after some tours, he decided to take it to the next level. Despite facing the challenge of manually managing his growing tour business, Rizky remained optimistic. He started organizing tours and saw them become a hit.
“I think there's a big interest in city tours,” Rizky shares, “Not everyone stops and looks at buildings. So I do that, and if I take people and ask them to stop and look at buildings, they also realize what buildings are and what the meaning and symbolism behind buildings are.”
“If I take people and ask them to stop and look at buildings, they also realize what buildings are and what the meaning and symbolism behind buildings are. ”
Using Instagram Reels to Attract Tour Participants
The marketing for his tours is primarily done through social media. Rizky creatively uses Instagram reels to generate curiosity. “The hardest part for me with reels is choosing the music,” he confesses, “You want a song that catches people in the first few seconds. I also chose stills from videos from previous tours, where you can see some of the buildings but not too much, to make people curious about what they're missing.”
Transitioning from Free Tours to Paid Tours: Finding the Right Price
The initial tours were conducted for free, with attendees often leaving generous tips as tokens of appreciation. As the tours became more popular, Rizky started considering setting a price for them. “First, I did my tours for free, and people would give me tips,” he recalls, “When deciding a price for my tours, I was asking myself how much I would pay for such a tour.” The journey from free tours to paid ones was a learning experience for Rizky. “The first time somebody asked me for a price, I didn't know what to ask or how to process the payment,” he explains.
“The first time doing a tour, I didn’t even know all the streets and alleys. Now, I see my tours as having a fun walk with 30+ people.”
Also, managing the tours manually became a challenge. “First, I did everything manually. Managing DMs, my calendar, and copying and pasting links,” Rizky laments. He was looking for a booking system for tours that could handle registrations and payments without additional costs. That's when he came across Vev. “Vev solves all the problems I was facing: Planning, payments, cancellations,” he says. Rizky has come a long way since his first tour, “The first time doing a tour, I didn’t even know all the streets and alleys,” he recalled with a smile, “Now, I see my tours as having a fun walk with 30+ people.”
“Vev solves all the problems I was facing: Planning, payments, cancellations. ”
Turning a Passion into a Successful Tour Business
Rizky's journey from passionate architecture enthusiast to successful tour business owner is a testament to the power of stories, passion for sharing information, and a little bit of entrepreneurial spirit. For those contemplating a similar journey, Rizky has simple advice: “Just start it. Maybe start small with only a few people. Usually, with topics like architecture and city tours, you know more than the people taking your tour, so they’re happy to pay for the value of your knowledge.”
“Usually, with topics like architecture and city tours, you know more than the people taking your tour, so they’re happy to pay for the value of your knowledge. ”
3 learnings from Rizky
Thinking of starting your own tour business? Here are three game-changing tips from Rizky's success story to kickstart your venture.
- Start Small and Scale Up Gradually: Rizky began by giving informal tours to friends and slowly expanded his business as he gained confidence and experience. Entrepreneurs can take a similar approach by starting small, refining their offerings, and gradually scaling up as they gain more traction.
- Leverage Social Media for Marketing: Rizky effectively utilized Instagram reels and social media platforms to generate interest and curiosity about his tours. Entrepreneurs can harness the power of social media to showcase their products or services, connect with potential customers, and drive engagement.
- Use Technology to Streamline Operations: Rizky encountered challenges with manual management of his tours and found a solution in Vev, a platform that handled registrations and payments. Entrepreneurs should explore and adopt tools and technologies that can help automate and streamline their business operations, freeing up their time to focus on growing their ventures.
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