Donna Genie shares how campgrounds can attract first-time campers through local marketing within 1-2 hours, partnerships with nearby dealers offering free nights, and off-season promotions. Host newbie events where experienced campers teach practical skills like sewer hookups, replacing fuses, and tire inspection so newcomers feel confident.
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 and 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. Now, of course, I'm 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.
