September 2008 Newsletter

1. Article: How to Build a Winning Flyer
2. RV Parks and Campgrounds For Sale
3. Comments
4. Featured Listings
5. RV Park and Campground Memberships For Sale
6. RV Park Employment
7. Links to some interesting articles we have found this month.
8. Tell us what you think and send us your articles!

HOW TO BUILD A WINNING “WELCOME CENTER” FLYER FOR YOUR RV PARK 

Yes, I know that the internet is a fabulous way to find travel information and to print off whatever flyers or information you need for your trip. However, many Americans still don’t use the internet when traveling.  RV users are among the leading groups who often get their travel information the old fashioned way – from printed media. If you think about it, even if an RV user is reliant on the internet, it’s still sometimes difficult to get internet connection when you’re out on the road, away from home. And even if they have researched and printed their trip out on the internet in full detail, often last minute travel plans will be changed, and new information is needed. And, of course, a lot of RV customers tend to be older, and don’t even own a computer.  Having a presence at all Welcome Centers, and RV information centers, is an important part of any RV park marketing program. 

Every RV Park has its own unique advantages. Maybe it’s the big, shady trees, or the close proximity to a major attraction, such as Yellowstone Park. It could be the on-site miniature golf course. Or the big, pull-through lots. Whatever it is, you need to write down on a sheet of paper what those distinct advantages are. That list will become the backbone of your flyer. 

Now take the list you just made and rearrange them based on how important they are. Put your number one selling point first, and then the rest in descending order. And, if you have somebody else who works with you at the park, get their input as well to make sure that you are on the right track. There should be at least one dominant selling point at every RV Park. 

Do some market research on your selling points by asking your customers what they think of your list. Every time somebody comes in to pay or check in, tell them that you are making up a new flyer for the park and want their opinion of what the key selling points are. Most people enjoy giving their opinions on things, and it helps to build customer retention by making them part of the “team”. Approach their input scientifically. The winning benefits will be immediately apparent based on this research. If the key item is not what you thought it would be, don’t be offended or stubborn. Your customers’ opinion is much more important than yours. 

You need at least one photo in a successful flyer. Why? People want to see what they are getting themselves into by pulling into your park. Remember the adage “a picture is worth a thousand words”. If you agree that a photo is important, then make sure that it is a great photo. That means that you have to put in more effort than buying a disposable camera at the gas station and taking a couple of shots out your car windshield. You need to use a decent quality digital camera, and make sure the lighting is right and the photo is balanced and attractive. Can’t do it? Then hire someone to do it for $20. There has to be at least one friend of yours who is a photo hobbyist. And take a whole bunch of photos and choose the best one. Make sure that the winning photo showcases and includes whatever your key selling point. You need to reinforce it with the photo. For example, if your key selling point is “big trees”, then make sure the photo shows the “big trees”. It also does not hurt to do some consumer testing on the photo as well. 

With these tools in hand, it is time to write the text of the flyer. You need a catchy heading, your top three or so selling points, a great photo, directions (including a map), your phone number and, if possible, your rates. You should just about fill every inch of the flyer with information – blank space is not going to rent lots. Once you have the final product, it’s time to test it again with your customers. You will know when you have a winning flyer because everyone will like it, including your customers and yourself. 

Do you notice that when you go to a literature rack, some flyers seem more professional than others? Even without reading the copy. What separates your first impression of the high-quality flyers from the rest of the pack is often the paper stock. And it is the high-quality flyers that you are most likely to pick up. 

Paper stock has two attributes: 1) weight (thickness) and 2) color. The average person considers the heavier paper stock to be the more expensive and professional brochure (and that is normally correct). And the more tasteful paper colors are generally more expensive as well. 

The one color you never want your paper stock to be is bright white. Why? Because that’s the same color as Xerox paper, and just copying your flyer at the local Kinko’s is the cheapest option, and likely to receive the least attractive rating from consumers. Choose a paper color you normally can’t find at your local copy machine place – like off-white or more subtle colors. This will make your flyer stand out from all of those cheap, Xeroxed competitors on the literature rack. 

And speaking of literature racks, make sure that your flyer is on a heavy enough paper to stand up on its own, without falling over or curling up. Regular Xerox paper, for example, will never work properly as it has no strength.

Xeroxed photos look terrible – they are nothing more than black and white and nothing in between. To get a good looking photo (I don’t mean color, just black and white even) you need to have them printed professionally. That means going to the local printing company and not the Xerox place. You may be amazed at how affordably you can get flyers printed in quantity. Sure, it’s more expensive than just running them through a copier, but the whole goal is to rent lots, and your odds are infinitely better with the professional flyer. 

Before you print up thousands of flyers, get a proof from the print shop to make sure you like it. Do one final consumer test with your customers and ask them “with this flyer, would you pick it up and come here”. Listen to their response. If the sample is a dud, then re-do it. Don’t take the easy way out and print something that could be improved on. If you get your flyer right on the first take, then you don’t have to worry about it anymore, and you can be confident that you are not missing any customers with it. 

Putting together a successful flyer is a lot more work than one that is a loser. But in today’s competitive world, can you afford to have a lousy flyer in the literature rack? 

Remember the old adage “anything worth doing is worth doing well”. That pretty much sums it up for RV park flyers, too.

We currently have over 500 RV Parks for sale and the list is growing daily. 

If you are looking to sell your RV Park or Campground you can do so Risk FREE.  Find out more about Selling your RV Park. 

9-15-08

Diane,

The parks were listed on 3 MLS systems, REALTOR.COM, and REMAX.COM. Probably 80% of the calls I received were because someone had seen it on your website.

The campground in Angelica sold – the golf course did not.

If I have another park listed, I will definitely be posting it on your website!!

Thank you,

9-6-08

Diane,

Please do not faint.  You can remove our ad...finally.  The property has been sold. Thank you for everything.  This would not have been possible without RV Park Store.

Mike

Featured Listings:

RV Park for sale - Dallas - Fort Worth Area, TX This is an 8 acre park with 80 large full hook up sites.

RV Park and Campground Memberships For Sale:

This section of RVParkStore.com is growing quickly.  Memberships are being listed and sold quickly.  With about 200 memberships currently for sale, this continues to be the prime outlet to buy and sell campground memberships. 

Best of all, when you are selling your membership, we do not charge you up front to do so.  You only pay us if you are successful in finding a buyer from RVParkStore.com. 

Find out more about Selling your Campground or RV Park Membership

Are you searching for good quality employees or looking for a position with an RV Park?  Then be sure to visit our ever growing employment listing sections.

All listings in these sections are FREE!

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