Posted by Ashley Gannon on Aug 30, 2010
If you’re trying to move product — including new and used recreational vehicles – the Internet is the place to be. People are so plugged into the Internet today that the majority of people (80% according to J.D. Powers & Associates) begin their search for a new vehicle online. RV dealers who aren’t advertising online are limiting their pool of potential customers and their sales potential.
Embracing any new idea, whether it’s a new technology or new business practice or new marketing platform, requires that you to move out of your comfort zone. To avoid risk is to limit your opportunities to move forward. RV dealers who have already moved their marketing campaigns from traditional print media to online media will tell you that the risk is minimal and the rewards are huge.
If you are a novice at online marketing, a good place to begin is RVT.com. Our RV dealer advertising program allows you to get your inventory online immediately. This allows your RV dealership to start reaping the benefits of Internet advertising without the hassle and expense of developing your own in-house online marketing program. RV dealers who advertise on RVT.com also benefit from our informative blog, Facebook page, Twitter feed and iPod app, all geared to make sure your RV ads reach the maximum number of potential RV buyers.
Click on Demo Tour for all the details on the RVT.com dealership advertising program.
Posted by Ashley Gannon on Aug 27, 2010
If you’re an RV dealer, you know that getting your product out there in front of the public is what generates sales. Traditionally, RV dealers have done that by advertising in local newspapers, radio and TV stations and in magazines dedicated to RV consumers. If that’s still the focus of your marketing campaign, you’re missing the boat. The world has gone digital. People don’t buy newspapers, they get their news online. They plug in their iPods to listen to personalized play lists instead of the radio. They watch TV on their smart phones and laptops, rarely tuning into local programming. If you’re not advertising your RVs for sale on the Internet, you’re missing out on thousands of potential customers and losing sales.
While quite a few RV dealers have created their own websites hoping to expand their reach nationwide and attract Internet shoppers, they are discovering that it’s hard to generate enough traffic to justify the time and expense of building and maintaining a website. The answer is to create a linking partnership with a successful, well-established online classified RV ad site that already generates consistently high traffic volume.
More than 15,000 motivated RV buyers — more than a million every month — visit RVT.com every day. RV dealers who list their ads on RVT.com with links back to their own website profit from the substantial traffic RVT.com pulls in. More than 450 RV dealers in the U.S. and Canada are already using RVT.com dealer services to increase their sales. Isn’t it time you joined them?
Posted by Ashley Gannon on Aug 25, 2010
To cover or not to cover? That’s the question RV owners face. Constant exposure to sun, rain, pollution and debris can take a toll on the exterior of your RV. Over time, UV rays from the sun are extremely damaging to RV roofs. Leaves and tree debris that collect on RV rooftops can exacerbate deterioration and lead to leaks if not cleared off regularly. In northern states, snow and ice take a similar toll. Excessive moisture, particularly in humid southern states, can cause mold growth. And air pollution is constantly chipping away at your RV’s exterior finish.
Obviously, regular maintenance and indoor storage are the best ways to protect your RV investment. But few people have a garage large enough to house their RV. Rented storage lockers and winter storage facilities are an option for some, but most RVers keep their RV parked in the driveway or backyard.
Open-sided shelters are a good choice as they protect your RV’s roof from sun, rain and debris, while allowing plenty of air flow to prevent mold growth. Hard-roofed and canvas shelters are available for RVs.
Special RV covers are another choice. Covers should be made of breathable fabric and sized to fit the make and model of your RV. The two biggest problems with covers are chaffing and mold from moisture accumulation. Tightly securing the cover and parking your RV where it is protected from the wind will minimize chaffing. Inspect your RV periodically for moisture infiltration to prevent mold.
Posted by Ashley Gannon on Aug 23, 2010
The recession blues appear to be over for RV dealers. After a couple of years of slow sales and tight credit that forced a number of dealerships to close, new RV sales are on the climb again. Fed by an active pre-senior population looking for comfortable, cheap ways to travel, sales of new and used RVs are expected to grow 15% between 2008 and 2013, according to research by Robert W. Baird Co. Interest in the RV lifestyle is being led by buyers in the 55 to 64 age range, what dealers call the industry’s “sweet spot.”
Before the recession, a number of local car dealers made a brief sojourn into RV sales. Attempting to cash in on the burgeoning RV market, they added a few select RVs to their car lots. Auto dealers quickly found they couldn’t compete with dedicated RV dealers. Several realities quickly forced car dealers out of the RV market:
> RV buyers demanded a wide selection of RVs to choose from and expected them to be available on site. Car dealers couldn’t justify the cost of maintaining the required RV inventory. They just couldn’t compete with the large inventories and superior selection available at dedicated RV dealerships.
> The popularity of online RV classified ad websites like RVT.com took RV sales nationwide. RV dealers who posted their inventory online extended their potential buying market to a national audience. Car dealers found that RV buyers were willing to travel across country to pick up a good deal.
Next time: Taking dealer inventory nationwide
Posted by Ashley Gannon on Aug 20, 2010
Online classified advertising is the most effective, cost-efficient way to sell your RV, but how do you decide which RV classified ad website to use? Cost is one consideration, but more important is choosing a website that works hard to help you sell your RV. Here’s what to look for:
Reputation. Choose a classified ad site with longevity in the business. RVT.com is one of America’s online classified advertising leaders with more than a decade of experience in online sales.
Traffic. Choose a website with consistently high traffic and a proven sales record. Every month more than half a million motivated RV buyers visit RVT.com, generating 1.5 million ad views and nearly 500 RV sales.
Cost. When comparing RV classified ad websites, consider both initial and renewal costs. Some sites offer low costs but only run your ad for 2 or 3 weeks. If your RV doesn’t sell right away, renewal costs can add up quickly. RVT.com runs your ad for a generous 6 weeks plus 2 free bonus weeks, a total of 8 weeks for just $55. For a very affordable $85, RVT will run your ad until your RV sells. That’s a bargain!
Promotion. To sell your RV, buyers have to see your ad. Ask what the website does to attract buyers. Your ad gets maximum exposure on RVT.com. RVT maintains an attractive, dynamic website, publishes an informative blog, issues daily Twitter feeds, features RV ads in our monthly newsletter and offers a free iPhone app, all geared to help sell your RV.
Posted by Ashley Gannon on Aug 18, 2010
RV buyers who purchase travel trailers only have half the package. You still need a truck to haul your travel trailer. Be warned though; you can’t use just any truck. In order to tow an RV travel trailer, 5th wheel, toy hauler or folding trailer safely, the tow vehicle must have the engine capacity and towing power to pull the load safely. Try towing your new RV with an underpowered truck and you’ll fry your motor and be looking for a new truck!
So how do you choose a truck to tow your new RV? RVT.com makes it easy. On the RV home page, scroll down the left-hand navigation bar to Tow Vehicles. Here you’ll find all the information you need to determine what size truck you need to tow your RV, including helpful information on truck classifications, ratings of America’s most popular trucks and a helpful tow vehicle sizing guide with links to handy weight calculators.
Use RVT’s Tow Vehicles guide to choose the make and model truck you need to tow your RV, then check out the new and used truck ads posted on RVT.com and buy your truck. For the convenience of RV buyers, we’ve packaged on one website everything you need to embark on a lifetime of RV adventures – including the truck!
Posted by Ashley Gannon on Aug 16, 2010
If they build it, will they come? It’s a gamble, but casino investors are betting that RV owners will flock to a casino built to cater folks that travel in motorhomes and travel trailers. Penn Harris Gaming last week announced plans to build a casino resort and RV park in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. If approved and built, the casino development would feature an RV park with full hook-ups and amenities for RV travelers as well as 36 on-site RVs available for rental by casino guests.
The proposed casino resort/RV park is the latest incarnation of a new trend in RV resort development. RV resorts and campgrounds that are designed around a particular interest are on the rise nationally. Late last year NASCAR announced its intention to build NASCAR-licensed RV family campgrounds. In partnership with Morgan RV Resorts, the first 13 NASCAR-themed RV parks opened this June in 8 states. The branded resorts immerse RV families in a total NASCAR experience with Sprint Cup and Nationwide series races shown on giant screens, exclusive pre- and post-race programs, driver interviews, race official interviews, on-track commentary and other events available only at official NASCAR RV resorts. Special tailgate events, parade laps, kids games, barbecues and designed to bring NASCAR fans together to share race day excitement.
Expect to see more branded RV resorts and RV parks dedicated to special interests in the coming years. As the RV Nation continues to grow, more major brands will use RV resorts as a way to court consumer interest and loyalty.
Posted by Ashley Gannon on Aug 13, 2010
Most online RV ads are a dry recitation of the recreational vehicle’s attributes. Some RV sellers just provide a list of their vehicle’s features. While buyers do want to know your RV’s stats, save the lists for the end of your ad. RVT.com allows RV sellers unlimited description space, but few sellers choose to make the most of this valuable online ad feature. Using the description space to personalize your online RV ad is a good way to hook buyers, boost the sales potential of your online ad and sell your RV faster.
An effective RV ad helps the potential buyer see himself in your RV. By personalizing your online ad with comments and brief stories about your own RV adventures, you encourage potential buyers to imagine themselves in your RV enjoying similar adventures. Using a personal approach helps potential buyers identify with your RV over competitors, increasing their interest in your recreational vehicle, the first step to closing a sale.
How do you personalize your online RV ad? Use descriptive adjectives to elicit an emotional response from buyers. Briefly mention how RV travel has brought you and your family closer together, allowed your family to vacation affordably, provided an affordable way to explore the country or added excitement to retirement. You don’t want to go into great detail, but you do want to impart how RV travel has enriched your life and can enrich the life of the buyer.
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