How Coupons Can Increase Tour Bookings During Low Season
In the US only, up to 55.7 million people use online coupons, one of the most popular marketing and advertising tactics used in the travel industry. During low season, this is an easy way to stand out from the crowd and gain more profit by attracting new customers or by selling more to your existing ones with an eye-catching offer.
The power of online coupon marketing
Whether it's a loyal shopper that booked a tour with your company a while ago or there's a brand new prospect visiting your site: You can create a unique offer to reward them. Segmentation is one of the factors that make online marketing so powerful, targeting an offer to the right person, at the right time.
The convenience and comfort that a coupon gives to your new or existing customers can lead to an increase in sales. Also, engaging with your audience using coupon codes can help to bring more attention and brand awareness to your online business.
The best part? This strategy could actually help you build long-term relationships and save money in the long run. This is because you're nurturing your new and existing clients by adding a fresh, extra value to their purchase, making them come back for more.
Preparing the perfect strategy
Before you get started, you'll want to set a clear, realistic purpose for the campaign. To do that, first ask yourself:
- Are you looking to convince new customers to use your services?
- Do you want past buyers to come back?
- Want to get a higher frequency of purchases?
- Are you looking to fight against a high bounce rate?
- Are you trying to upsell your products?
Determining a visible goal for the efforts you're going to make with the coupon campaign will make the entire process more organized, and, of course, easier! Also, make sure to keep the same quality, regardless of the discount you’re planning to offer.
There are different approaches you could take to get your coupons out there. A popular way is through third party sites such as Groupon or Living Social. The best part about this approach is that you can raise brand awareness and get your name out there at the same time, even though you must be willing to pay commissions.
Another amazing option is using a booking software.
These are powerful tools that will make your business grow in a much more simple, automated way. One of the many benefits about it is that it’s commision-free, and you’ll end up paying a reasonable amount on a monthly basis (depending on the tool of your choice).
While deciding the level of your offer, you'll want to make sure you're building an eye-catching discount that is clear and direct to the target audience. A few of the most important things that you should consider:
- Put together unique travel experiences. By offering a package, you'll get the attention of potential / current customers with a fuller travel experience.
- Make sure to point out the unique benefits of your offer, highlighting the product or service.
- Promote it on social media, especially on the platforms that your target audience is the most active on, engage with them and create meaningful conversations.
Stay competitive and get more business
Tourists can find paying less than they originally would have attractive, after all, don't we all like getting a good deal? This is a marketing tactic that is easy to implement and use for your tour operator business, brainstorm your unique offer, put it out there and start tracking insights of the campaign.
Do you have experience creating coupons for your travel business? Leave your best tips down below!
