If you own or manage an outdoor activities business, you know that it is a lot of work to keep things running smoothly. From marketing to taking bookings and operating your trips, there never seems to be enough time in the day to get everything done. Thankfully, there are many tools such as free online reservation software that can make life easier for both you and your guests. Here are some tips on how you can improve your outdoor activities business.
1. Have a Stand-Out Website
One of the most important things for any business is to have a good website that attracts and captures the imagination of your future guests. However, a lot of businesses make the mistake of having a website that simply provides basic information rather than one that is designed to encourage customers to make a booking.
To make your website more attractive to shoppers, you should provide in-depth information about your activities. Be sure to include anything that your guests may want to know such as pick-up locations or activity duration. Incorporate quality images or videos to help your customers get excited about the activity.
Since the majority of consumers use smartphones to browse the Internet, make sure that your website is mobile-friendly. A site that takes too long to load will cause your potential customers to get bored and leave. Likewise, a site that has content that does not display correctly on mobile will make your company seem unprofessional.
2. Collect Good Reviews
One of the best ways to attract more customers to your business and generate more bookings is to get good online reviews on sites such as Yelp, TripAdvisor, or Google Maps. Reviews are an effective form of social proof that can earn you many more bookings. However, it is difficult to expect people to proactively leave positive reviews unless you specifically ask them to.
A clever way to encourage people to review your business is to offer your guests a promo code for their next booking if they leave a positive review for you. The promo code can additionally help you to get another booking in the future as your customer or their friend will have to book with you again to enjoy the discount.
Of course, you need to ensure that your customer had an excellent experience with you before you ask them to leave a five-star review. Be attentive to the needs of your activity participants and be quick to respond to any issues or inquiries. Some booking platforms can help you by sending automated review reminder emails to your customers.
3. Making Booking Easy
One of the biggest challenges for businesses in the outdoor industry is making it easy for customers to book. Many modern consumers prefer to book and pay online. If you do not have an online booking system on your website, consider becoming a business partner of an online booking platform. This will increase your audience and allow your guests to book conveniently.
Signing up for a booking platform also allows you to access a variety of online payment methods. In addition, some established online booking platforms come with useful features such as automated booking confirmations and customer reminders. This will free you from having to manually email each customer to follow up on a booking and ensure that you never miss contacting any customers.
Aside from offering online booking, being contactable on the phone, a chat app, or website live chat will greatly improve the inquiry and booking process. Some customers have important questions and do not have the time to wait for slow replies via email. Without having a way for guests to receive instant answers, you could lose bookings and have a lower level of customer satisfaction.
4. Add a Personal Touch
With all the conveniences of the digital world, it is tempting to let your business just run itself. However, customers often appreciate it when the business owner or manager makes an appearance. Whether you handle the entire inquiry process personally or offer a quick orientation at the beginning of the activity, make the effort to show up and introduce yourself.
Another way to make your activities feel special is to customize them. This means being flexible enough to tailor your activities to suit the interests of your customers and provide truly unique memories. For instance, if your business involves renting stand-up paddleboards (SUP), you can offer SUP yoga and SUP training sessions for the physically or intellectually disabled.
Adding a personal touch not only helps you to attract a larger demographic of people but also makes your customers feel valued and seen as individuals. This encourages them to come back time and time again because they know that your activity speaks to their needs. They will also be more likely to recommend your business and share their positive experiences on social media.
From manatee encounters to jet ski rentals, outdoor activity sales typically hinge on advanced bookings instead of foot traffic. Therefore, companies should leverage technology to promote themselves and earn more sales. By following the above tips, you can reach a wider audience, improve the quality of your service, get more bookings, and boost your profits.