Many rafting companies start with a guide who decides they want everyone to experience the joy of paddling through the water. While you might look forward to leading tours every day, it’s common to get stuck when it comes to marketing techniques. Adding these strategies to your game plan can help you introduce more people to your favorite outdoor activity.
1- Identify What Makes Your Company Unique
Take a few minutes to consider what makes your rafting company stand out from the rest. For instance, you might highlight the gorgeous nature setting from which you can launch your rafts. Or, your company might specialize in giving people full experiences that include fishing, camping, and horseback riding.
2- Use Visuals to Show the Beauty of Rafting
Once you know what makes your company stand out, you want to show it off. One of the most effective forms of online marketing strategies involves putting videos and photos all over your company website. Giving people a sneak peek of what your rafting adventures involve helps them see themselves climbing into a raft.
3- Highlight the Guides
While you might be comfortable maneuvering through Class VI rapids, your average beginner might be worried about paddling on still water. Creating a space on your company website to showcase the expertise of each guide helps to instill a sense of trust in curious prospective customers.
4- Encourage Social Media Interactions
You can also include information about your guides on social media, and encourage your crew to answer questions that come up on the feeds. Your company can also ask satisfied customers to share their experiences to help others discover what going on a rafting trip with your crew offers.
5- Simplify Trip Planning
Going rafting is a bucket list activity for many people, and it’s likely that your tour guests aren’t familiar with the local amenities. Making sure that people have easy access to trip planning tools can help them quickly create a full itinerary for the ultimate rafting adventure.
6- Educate Hesitant Adventure Planners
People who are new to rafting will typically have lots of questions. They may wonder what to wear or if they’ll be able to bring their kids along. Creating a FAQs section on your company website also helps fill in all of the details for people’s questions so they’re ready to book right away.
7- Focus on Providing Stellar Experiences
As a final note, you’ll want to remember that every person who goes on a rafting tour is an opportunity to encourage word-of-mouth marketing. You never know when someone will refer their family member to your company or post a positive review on social media. While this strategy is easy when you’re already a rafting enthusiast, it helps to remember that the most important part of every tool is the people helping to steer your raft.
Rafting companies tend to have a head start on marketing to potential customers. After all, you can’t beat having picturesque scenes to use for videos and social media photos. But, you do have to carve time out of your busy schedule to do it. As you create your marketing plan, remember to have fun. Loving what you do is truly the best way to attract more people to go on a rafting adventure.