How to Bring Newbie Campers to Your Campground

18 Jul 2024 · 2 min

Watch on YouTube

1:35

Donna Genie (speaking as Donna Bordeaux) draws on ~12 years of family camping experience to recommend ways campgrounds can attract novice campers. Key suggestions: market to people within an hour or two of the campground, partner with nearby dealers, offer a free night with the purchase of multiple nights (preferably in the off-season), and host "newbie" events (weekend/Friday) where experienced campers teach hookups, basic maintenance (fuses, tire checks), and troubleshooting. Ends with a call-to-action and contact email.

Questions this video answers

About 12 years.

Within maybe an hour or two hours of the campground.

Offer a free night with the purchase of multiple nights (use in off-season; avoid when fully booked).

DonnaBordeaux@campgroundaccounting.com

Chapters

Hey, I've been camping now for about 12 years, me and my family and we started out in a pop up and man, where we went behind the ears when we got that thing, we didn't know what we were doing. And what did we do? We depended on friends, we depended on other campers to teach us the rope, so to speak. You know, back in the days when we bought that, if you'd asked me the difference between a 30amp and a 50amp plug, I probably couldn't tell you. I might not even known what that meant. Now, of course I an expert. I'm a pro at it. I've been around the block a few times and I know the tips and tricks, but the newbies don't. So if you've got a way to market to people within maybe an hour or two hours of your campground to come on in who are newbies, maybe go down to dealers that are nearby and offer them a free night with the purchase of multiple nights or something like that, maybe in your off season. Don't do it when you're highly booked. Get those newbies to come experience your campground and maybe you could have a newbie weekend or a newbie week, newbie Friday where you're having people come in and having some experienced people to kind of teach them the ropes and some tips and tricks. You know, how to hook up your sewer without making a mess. What do you do if something isn't working? How to replace a fuse, how to inspect your tires. All that good stuff that experienced campers know that the newbies don't even know they're supposed to be worried about. Have a newbie night at your campground. I'll to hear about your ideas and things you may have tried and the things you think about trying. Let's get a conversation started. I'm Donna Bordeaux@campgroundaccounting.com.