5 Tips to get more business this Summer

Posted on June 30, 2018 Updated on July 10, 2018

It’s summertime and this is the time your business thrives. Whether you run a kayak or mountain bike rental shop, fishing charter, or have a few rental cabins in the mountains, you are always trying to attract more customers to choose you when making their summer plans.  Try these tips to help you not only get more business this summer, but throughout the year.

Be active on Social Media As a business owner, social media is a very important outlet to advertise your services and offerings. If you haven’t already, create a business page on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, then fill it with awesome pictures and information about what you offer. Ask happy customers to like your page, follow you, and post comments/reviews on your pages. You should post interesting things daily including images or something cool in the news related to your business.

It’s important to show potential customers your genuine self, and these social outlets are a great way to do that. Try not to be too ‘salesy’ in your posts and responses. Normal folks want to do business with other normal folks, so don’t be afraid to show who you are mixed in with what you do.

Join In! Join other Facebook groups where potential customers might go, and actively participate in comments. More than likely, you’re in business because you love what you do. It’s easy to find other folks that also love the same thing through Facebook groups. Find those groups, and engage with others. For example, if you own a water sport rental business, join groups geared toward kayakers or paddle boarders. If you have a cabin rental in a popular hiking area, join a hiking group. Then answer questions that come up, and be helpful and encouraging. Don’t use the forum to continually promote yourself, but instead be helpful by answering questions or encouraging others when they post about their experiences with the activity.

Leverage Happy Customers If you’ve been in business for a while, you surely have great customers that return year after year.  Use them to your benefit to get more happy customers. Encourage them to take a live video stream of their experience – this is an incredible way for others to see what you offer.   Make sure customers know it’s perfectly acceptable to take videos or via Facebook Live. It’s the best kind of testimonial.

Encourage reviews and referrals by offering incentives such as a discount on their next trip.  Make sure you include links to your TripAdvisor or Yelp pages, so they can easily share their experience with others.  Happy customers are usually thrilled to share their experiences with their friends and family.

Keep in touch with previous customers. Build an email list of all your customers, and send newsletters, helpful tips, or special offers to them. It’s a great way to keep your business in the forefront of their minds, especially when their dear Aunt Sally is looking for recommendations.  During your off season, send them information about your upcoming season, and encourage them to book early to get the best spot for their next summer adventure.

Make sure your SEO is at it’s best. Most people use Google or other search engines to find adventure, so ensure that your business is at the top of their search list.  Make certain that your Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is at the top of its game by adding the best keywords to describe your business.  This will lead those “Google searchers” to find you first before your competition.

These are only a few key tips to keep your business rolling this summer.  Most importantly, if you LOVE what you do, and are passionate about it, then folks will find you and be thrilled they did.