Once a year, the National Park Service will offer visitors free entry to celebrate and promote National Public Lands Day. Thousands of people around the U.S. travel to various parks and protected areas to support the volunteer event, which focuses on the upkeep and restoration of the outdoors. In this article, we’ll cover how your dealership can embrace this day to engage with RVers.
Spread Awareness
Chances are not all your customers know about National Public Lands Day and what it means for them. You can use this as an opportunity to connect with RV customers. Share information leading up to the day via your website, social media platforms, email, or printed handouts. Here are a few questions your customers may have regarding the recognized day:
What Is National Public Lands Day?
National Public Lands Day occurs annually on the fourth Saturday in September. It is known as the biggest designated volunteer day to empower the restoration of the nation’s public lands. This event is particularly important for the RV community, as campers are becoming increasingly concerned about their impact on the environment. In fact, Modern Campground found that 52% of potential guests are influenced by a campground’s sustainable practices.
Many of your RV customers would be eager to learn about and participate in National Public Lands Day, so be proactive in engaging with the community surrounding the big day.
How Can I Get Involved?
While many people will show up to volunteer, plenty of others just enjoy the extra opportunity to explore the outdoors. If your customers are interested in lending a helping hand or just visiting a new location, you can find nearby and distant locations with a quick search online.
Some public land volunteer work can include:
- Trail restoration
- Trash removal
- Weed clean up
Which National Parks Offer Free Entry?
All of them! Although several parks offer free entry year-round, those that normally charge a fee will be free to visitors on National Public Lands Day. Here are the top 10 most visited parks and whether they typically charge a fee:
- Great Smoky Mountains National Park — No fee
- Grand Canyon National Park — Fee
- Zion National Park — Fee
- Yellowstone National Park — Fee
- Rocky Mountain National Park — Fee
- Yosemite National Park — Fee
- Acadia National Park — Fee
- Grand Teton National Park — Fee
- Joshua Tree National Park — Fee
- Olympic National Park — Fee
Encourage Customers' RV Adventures
Promote Your Rentals
Free park entry may prompt individuals to try something new like embarking on an RV adventure. For interested RVers, rentals provide valuable flexibility for a quick weekend trip. As you engage with your customers and spread awareness about National Public Lands Day, highlight the perks of your rental options. For example, many campgrounds have restricted space for RVs and campers, meaning they can’t exceed a certain size. Rentals allow customers to easily search for and find an accepted RV model for their desired location.
Much like customers need to find their best-fit RV model, dealers need to know which of their rentals are available and when. By adopting a DMS with built-in rental capabilities, dealers can easily manage rental agreements with preset and automated rates and terms.
Share Customer Stories
One of the best ways to champion RV adventures is to share real customer stories! Invite your customers to post their experiences online and be sure to engage with their adventures on your media platforms. Not only is this a great way to show your customers you care about their experience outside of the dealership, but new prospects will see your interest in maintaining positive customer relationships.
Show Your Own Support
If any of your employees have plans to get involved with National Public Lands Day, show off their efforts! You may even consider volunteering locally as a group to knock out some team bonding and industry participation all at once. By lending a helping hand to the communities you serve, you can strengthen connections and garner positive recognition for your business.
Conclusion
By informing RVers about National Public Lands Day and supporting new RV adventures, you can drive extra engagement and business for your dealership.