b'SMART OPERATIONSGimme Some Truth: Honest Marketing is Key to Campground Successhave always been a believer in the will appeal. Determine where your with Disabilities Act (ADA) compli-glass being half full rather than half parkfitswithintheseparameters, ance?empty, and there is certainly nothing and then formulate how to positivelyFinally, in the midst of a pan-Peterwrongwithpresentingthingsina but accurately portray your park to demic, are you making everything aspositive light. The problem is when the masses of campers who are seek- clear as possible prior to your guestsPelland the positive light crosses the spec- ing out a park exactly like yours. arrivals? trum into the realm of absolute de-Is your park considered large or isAre you flexible in instances ofception. Having spent my career in it small? cancellationsandrefundrequests,advertising, I know the importance ofIs your park located near major particularly during a pandemic?Gimme Some Truth is one of my putting a positive spin on things, but attractions, or is it in a remote set-If activities and nearby events areall-time favorite John Lennon songs, there is a chasmnot a fine linebe- ting? either canceled or subject to cancela-originally released in 1971 as Give tween a positive spin and alternativeDoes your park offer non-stop ac- tion,andifnearbyattractionsareMeSomeTruth ontheImagine facts. Keep this in mind when pro- tivities, or does it offer guests an op- closed or operating under limited ca-album. It is a song of frustration that moting your own business. portunity to relax and get away from pacities,areyouinformingyouraddresses the nearly ever-present de- It has always been my belief that it all?guests to the best of your ability at theception that was running rampant at with the exception of an occasional If your park is next to a busy high- time of reservation?the time. The song was produced by run-down park with owners who are way, you may want to promote easyIf your guests are required, due toPhil Spector and featured a slide gui- overdue for retirement, there are very access but not peace and quiet. You eitherstateregulationsorsimpletar solo by Johns fellow former Bea- few undesirable campgrounds, de- should also not promote a peaceful common sense, to wear facemasks,tle, George Harrison. The song later spitewhatmightbesuggestedby setting if your park is down the road practice social distancing or avoid as-became the subject of a 2000 docu- sometimes-negative reviews. There from a shooting range, a kennel or sembling into groups, are those poli-mentary film Gimme Some Truth: The are simply instances where, perhaps other source of frequent noise. ciesdisclosedatthetimeofMakingofJohnLennonsImagine due to the way that a park has been By the same token, do not promote reservation?Album. Perhaps even more relevant marketed, the wrong campers choose dark skies at your park if the sky actu-If your store, snack bar, swim-todaythanitwasin1971,Gimme to book a stay at the wrong camp- ally glows with the light from a nearby mingpool,orotherfacilitiesareSome Truthis the title of a new deluxe ground. Every campground has its shopping center parking lot. closed, operating with restrictions orbox set of 36 remastered recordings idealclientele,anditisimportantDoes your park cater to seasonal require reservations for use, are yourscheduled for release on Oct. 9, 2020 that your park is not marketed in a campers?Ifso,doyourtransient guestsawareofthoselimitationswhatwouldhavebeenJohn way that presents itself as something campers find it difficult to feel wel- prior to their arrival?Lennons 80th birthday. that it is not, encouraging reserva- come? As you can see, many if not mostIhavebeenthinkingthewords tions by the wrong campers. It is farDoes your park cater to big rigs? problems arise from a lack of carefulGimme Some Truth to myself quite better to be booked at less than full Ifso,iftentsandpop-upsareal- andhonestcommunications,anda bit lately, not only when I watch the capacity than to book even a single lowed,dotheirownersfeeloutof those communications start well innews or when I am presented with guest who will spell trouble. place? advance of the time of registration.online or television advertising, but There is a long list of characteris-If your park caters to an older, re- Try not to present your park with thewhen I read press releases right here ticsthatdeterminethetypesof tired clientele, are families still wel- words that you might think your po-within the campground industry. I campers to which any particular park come? Will visiting grandchildren feel tentialguestsmightliketohearlike they are in a reform school rather rather than an accurate and thoroughthan a campground? description of what the park offers, Is your campground at the upper what it doesnt offer, and why the ma-scale of predominant rates in your jority of your guests like it for exactlyarea, or is it highly affordable? what it is. Thenthereisasetofquestions Life is too complicated, and run-where the answers are not quite black ning your business profitably is moreand white, but where the wrong ex- challengingnowthanever.Helppectations can lead to serious misun- yourself to succeed in that endeavorderstandings and the ever-dreaded by treating your prospective guests tonegative reviews: the truth that they deserve. If you say that pets are welcome,do you have a list of breeds that are PeterPellandistheCEOof not allowed? Telling a pet owner that Pelland Advertising, a company thathis dog is part of a vicious breed is he founded in 1980 that has beencomparable to telling a parent that serving the family camping industryhis child is ugly. for nearly 40 years. His company spe- If Wi-Fi is provided at your park, cializes in building fully responsiveare you describing its coverage, band- websites, along with producing a fullwidth and reliability without exagger- range of four-color process print ad-ation? vertising,forclients.Learnmore If you say that your park is hand- aboutPellandAdvertisingaticapped accessible, is your park truly https://pelland.com/ or see its ad inmaking an effort toward Americans this issue. WCMApp My Community, Camping in Ontario Partner on New AppApp My Communityand Camping in Ontariohave introduced CampON, Campingin Ontarios dedicated mobile app, according to a press release.The CampON mobile app is a standalone, fully integrated app that is free to down-load on Appleand Androidplatforms and connects campers to over 440 private camp-grounds across Ontario. Campers have the ability to search by campground name oruse the map to find a park for their next camping trip.Camping in Ontario has three levels of listing options for members to choose from: A basic business listing includes contact information and a description of the parkand its services. An enhanced listing includes a description, photo, contact information and onlinereservation links. The third option provides campers with the full suite of App My Communitys fea-tures for an individual campground. The full functionality features include custom formswith digital signature capability, activity lists, RV sales links, time booking capability andmuch more.This option also includes the ability for a campground owner to send pushnotifications to stay engaged with guests year-round. WCM8 -November 2020Woodalls Campground Management'