Camper Spots: Effective Advertising Strategies For Campground Owners

Marketing a campground can be challenging. To develop an effective marketing campaign, you must not only make your campground known to campers but also distinguish what sets it apart. Here are some strategies to help you advertise camper spots and attract more customers.

Partner with local businesses

Partnering with local businesses is a great way to gain exposure and reach your target market. Here are some strategies to consider when partnering with local businesses to advertise for camper spots:

Identify Complementary Businesses

Look for businesses that complement your campground and would be of interest to your target market. For example, you could partner with area grocery stores, grocery delivery companies, recreational supplies stores, and locally-owned gas stations. You can promote these businesses to your guests and, in turn, they can promote your campground to their customers.

Create a "Things To Do" Pamphlet

Print out a pamphlet of "Things To Do" in the area and distribute it to your guests. Include information about local businesses and attractions, and they may be willing to reciprocate by promoting your campground to their customers. This could be in the form of posting flyers around their business, recommending you to patrons, or including you in their marketing materials.

Co-market with RV Dealerships

If someone is shopping for an RV, they'll also be in need of destinations to explore! Contact RV dealerships, both local and outside your city, to see if they would be open to a partnership. You can provide them with brochures to display in their lobby, and they can feature your information on their website and in any email newsletters or direct mail pieces they send to their customer base.

Cross-promote with Other Local Businesses

Establish cross-promotional partnerships with other local companies. This could involve sharing a booth at a local trade show, co-sponsoring a local charity, or creating special promotions for each other's customer base. For example, you could offer exclusive deals and promotions for their customers or co-host special events together. You can also link to each other's websites to increase website promotion.

Offer Incentives at Local Businesses

Partner with a local outdoor retail shop and offer discounts to campers who shop at the store or stay at your campground. This provides value to your guests and gives them a reason to choose your campground over others.

Participate in local events

Participating in local events is a great way to market your campground. It increases your visibility and demonstrates your dedication to the local community. Here are some ways to effectively participate in local events:

• Sponsor charity events in your town or city: Reach out to local charities and offer to sponsor their events. This will not only help a good cause but also associate your brand with positive values. It is a great way to build goodwill and create a positive image for your campground.
• Set up a booth at area festivals: Festivals are a great opportunity to engage with the local community. Set up an attractive and inviting booth that showcases your campground. You can distribute brochures, flyers, and other promotional materials. You can also offer giveaways or discounts to those who sign up for your mailing list.
• Contact local media: Reach out to local newspapers, radio stations, and television channels. Offer them stories or interviews about your campground. You can also invite them to cover any events or activities you host at your campground. This will help you reach a wider audience and build brand awareness.
• Give away camping packages for raffles: Partner with local organisations or charities and offer camping packages as raffle prizes. This will create a positive association with your brand and attract potential customers.
• Sponsor a game at a local event: Sponsoring a game or activity at a local event will help you engage with the community and create a fun and interactive experience associated with your brand.
• Participate in local trade shows: Trade shows are a great way to connect with local businesses and potential customers. Set up a booth and promote your campground with brochures, flyers, and other promotional materials. You can also collect contact information from visitors to build your mailing list.
• Host an information booth: Set up an information booth at local events or fairs. This will allow you to engage directly with potential customers and answer any questions they may have about your campground. You can also distribute maps, brochures, or other promotional items.
• Partner with local businesses: Collaborate with local businesses, such as grocery stores, gas stations, restaurants, and activity providers. Cross-promote each other's services and offer exclusive deals to their customers. This will help you tap into new customer bases and build relationships within the community.

By actively participating in local events, you will be able to increase your brand visibility, build relationships with the local community, and attract new customers to your campground.

Utilise social media marketing

Social media is a powerful tool to promote your campground or RV park and build a community for your guests. Here are some tips to make the most of social media platforms:

• Choose the right platforms: Select platforms that align with your target audience and goals. Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Google+ are popular choices, but consider others like Pinterest, YouTube, and LinkedIn. Analyse your competitors to see which platforms they use and the content they share.
• Create engaging content: Share timely updates, special offers, events, and activities happening at your campground. Post interesting and useful information, tips, and tricks. Remember, social media is about building connections, so focus on creating a community rather than a hard sell.
• Build a Facebook presence: Create a Facebook page for your campground, and encourage guests to interact and share their experiences. You can also promote incentives, such as discounts or free breakfast, on Facebook.
• Monitor social conversations: Listen to what people are saying about your campground on social media. This can help you understand your guests' perspectives and improve your offerings.
• Schedule posts in advance: Plan your social media content in advance, especially during busy seasons, to ensure a consistent online presence.
• Respond to guests: Social media provides a direct line of communication with your guests. Respond to their inquiries, feedback, and reviews to show you value their input.
• Utilise social media tools: Use cloud-based software to manage your social media accounts efficiently. These tools allow you to post, schedule, and monitor your content across multiple platforms from a single dashboard.
• Create a sense of community: One of the key advantages of social media is its ability to foster a sense of community among your guests. Encourage interactions and create events that bring guests together. This will make your campground more appealing to potential visitors.
• Run contests: Engage your audience and increase interaction by running contests on social media, with prizes such as free stays or discounts. Ensure you follow any legal requirements when running contests.
• Leverage video content: YouTube is a powerful social media platform that allows you to connect with your audience through video content. Create videos showcasing your campground, and respond to comments to build engagement.

Get listed in local online directories

Getting listed in local online directories is a crucial step in increasing your visibility and reaching potential campers. Here are some detailed tips to help you get started:

Google My Business

Google My Business (GMB) is the most widely used online directory and is essential for local businesses. GMB integrates seamlessly with Google Maps, allowing users to find nearby businesses in real-time and navigate to the location. To get started, visit the Google My Business website, fill out all the required information, including your business name, address, phone number, category, and a brief description. Ensure your information is accurate and up-to-date, and verify your listing through postcard, phone, or email.

Bing Places

Bing Places is another online business directory, this time by Microsoft. It allows users to find business information, save locations, and post photos and videos for free. While Google doesn't show Bing Places in its search results, the Bing browser directs users to this directory. You can easily sign up for a listing on the Bing Places website.

Yelp

Yelp is a popular social directory and app for recommendations and reviews. It is a powerful platform for businesses to establish their brand and increase their consumer base. Yelp allows businesses to send public and private messages to consumers, including the latest deals, and offers a reporting tool to analyze business trends. Creating a business profile on Yelp is a straightforward process.

Yellow Pages (YP)

Yellow Pages is a well-established online directory that strengthens local SEO by providing accurate business listings and cross-platform sharing. It has ties with search engines and other industry leaders, resulting in overwhelming exposure for listed businesses. Yellow Pages also boasts a robust consumer base, ensuring that listed businesses are well-received.

Yahoo

Although no longer the top search engine, Yahoo remains one of the biggest directories for local businesses. It offers many business listing features similar to GMB, such as displaying addresses, contact details, and opening hours, and providing map navigation. However, Yahoo charges fees for its premium features, such as posting photos and videos. A free basic listing option is also available.

Local Business Associations and Chambers of Commerce

Many business associations and chambers of commerce maintain online business directories targeted at specific industries or niches. These directories often provide additional resources and information for businesses. Reach out to local business associations in your area and check their websites for relevant directories.

Social Media Platforms

Social media platforms like Facebook and LinkedIn have groups or pages dedicated to local businesses. These groups can be a great way to connect with other local business owners and may also include business listings or online directories.

Local Government Websites

Local government websites often include online business directories as a resource for residents and visitors. Check your city or county's website to see if they offer a business directory or listing board.

Niche Business Directories

Depending on your specific business, consider niche directories or specialized business directories that cater to your target audience. For example, if you offer RV campsites, look for RV-specific directories or camping and RV review sites, such as RVParkReviews.com.

Offer incentives and promotions

Offering incentives and promotions is a great way to attract campers to your campground. You can do this by providing discounts in return for customer referrals, inviting friends to events, offering deals on future stays, or giving the seventh night free. You could also offer free breakfast at a local diner or restaurant, or complimentary services such as laundry or grocery delivery. These incentives can be promoted on Facebook, encouraging fans to share the posts with their friends to reach a wider audience.

Another way to promote your campground is through social media influencers. Offer discounts or free stays in exchange for posts about their experience at your campground. You can also use these offers to reward social media activity and encourage more online engagement.

You can also offer incentives to parents, who will ultimately decide whether their children attend your camp. Hold a weekend campout for parents before the season starts, where they can cook, camp, hike, canoe, or participate in other activities their children will experience. If it's too difficult for both parents to get away, offer a women's or men's weekend, or a parent-child weekend.

Finally, you can offer promotional items with your company name and logo on them, such as camp mugs, cutting boards, knives, or tents. These items will be used by campers and will advertise your campground to other potential customers.

Frequently asked questions