subject: Golf Marketing For Golf Courses In 2010 [print this page] Many golf courses make an effort to generate a competitive edge by continually decreasing their price in these economic times. This kind of marketing strategy will undoubtedly fail over time simply because you establish a perception of being a lower price golf facility. When you fail to be creative in your marketing plan you will only attract golfers who will never turn into long lasting customers. You could, instead, figure out more appealing ways to attract your long standing customers with quality golf services. Here are a few creative ways to attract your current members back to your golf course:
1. Don't Throw In The Towel: Price cutting is ultimately a losing game. Think of new ways to bring golfers into your golf course by adding value and earning their loyalty again. Focus your thoughts on new creative ways to make your golf course different from the rest of the crowd. Building an increase in demand means that you no longer have to lower prices with your competitors. Simply do more effective marketing and get so busy that you have to raise you price.
2. 3rd-Party Tee Time Promoting: Did you know that you can reach new golfers and increase your exposure by using email databases from tee time marketing sites? With pay for performance marketing you are only paying 3rd party sites when tee times are sold. This keeps marketing money in your pocket, unlike the traditional TV, radio or print ads of old. Some companies, like Golf Trek, have on line customer management solutions that you can use to reach interested golfers instantly.
3. Customized Website Design: You can boost your on line presence with an upgrade to your web site which will drive sales, leads, and tee time booking to higher rates. Having a user friendly golfing software solution will allow any staff member to update your site with news, promotions, events and specials that will attract golfers to your course.
4. Social Media Marketing: Advertise online on relevant, golf-related sites to build SEO and drive a captive audience of golfers to your online booking engine. There are effective and stream lined ways to tap into Facebook, Twitter and Youtube that will put your golf course in front of thousands of golfers on the internet. Always keep in mind that people today do not care about your sales pitch or mission statement, they want to know what value you can offer to earn their trust. Sites like GoGolfSpace create a fun social media community for golfers to share information so why not put your golf course on line and join the conversation.
5. Do it Like Cheers! Remember the TV Show Cheers? Why did people keep going to Cheers? The answer is in the song, ''Where Everybody Knows Your Name.''
It teaches a great lesson - Build loyalty through incredible personalization. Here are a few ideas you can use to personalize your golf course: Start a Preferred Member Loyalty Program in which you reward your best golfers. Train your staff on how to remember names. Create photo directories of your customers for staff review. Have a rewards and incentives for the top ''Name Rememberer.'' Create all kinds of special social events at your club where it's very easy for people to get to know each other in a fun, informal way. Make sure there's some ''Intentional Interaction'' so it makes it easy for people to connect, even if they're new to a group. Give away custom> to build your brand outside of the golf course.
6. How would you like to make a positive impression on your community and earn the right to get some ink from your local media?
Here's a few ideas: Have programs for kids to build birdhouses through the school woodshop for your golf course. This program can be especially effective with special needs kids - allow them install the birdhouses on the course and make a meaningful contribution to their community. Have your staff become experts: Let your chef host cooking classes. Have your superintendent host workshops on flower gardens, pruning, thatch control, lawn fertilization and maintenance. Have your golf pros teach etiquette classes to the juniors - complete with a nice graduation ceremony.
Golf marketing can by easy if done correctly and effectively. GolfTrek has sold over 1 million rounds of golf since 1979 for
