As the owner or manager of a campground or RV park, you know that reviews can make or break your business. With the rise of online reviews, your reputation is no longer just word-of-mouth, but rather what potential guests see on search engines and review platforms like Google. Here we will discuss 6 easy steps to manage your campground and RV park reviews, especially with Google, to improve your online reputation, attract new guests, retain loyal ones, and in general increase bookings.
- Claim your Google My Business listing (link to campground RV Google Listing position) The first step to managing your Google Reviews is to claim your Google My Business (GMB) listing. If you haven’t already done so, go to the GMB website and claim your listing. You can see our recent blog post about how to do this here. Once you’ve claimed your listing, you can manage your business information, respond to reviews, and post updates to your profile. By claiming your listing, you will also have access to valuable insights about how people find and interact with your business on Google.
- Encourage guests to leave reviews
The more reviews your business has, the higher your business will rank on Google. Encourage your guests to leave reviews by providing a great experience, asking for feedback, and making it easy for them to leave a review. You can also send a follow-up email after a guest’s stay asking for their feedback and providing a link to your GMB listing. Once this starts working, you are well on your way to managing your campground reviews and increasing bookings.
- Respond to reviews
Responding to reviews is an important part of managing your online reputation. Responding to both positive and negative reviews shows that you care about your guests and are willing to listen to their feedback. When responding to a negative review, try to address the specific concerns the guest had and offer a solution. If the review is untrue or unfair, it’s okay to politely and professionally explain your side of the story. When responding to positive reviews, thank the guest for their kind words and let them know you appreciate their business.
- Monitor and manage your reviews
Set up alerts to notify you when a new review is posted on your Google My Business listing. This way, you can respond to reviews in a timely manner and address any concerns that guests may have. You should also regularly monitor your reviews to ensure that they are not violating Google’s policies. If you come across a review that violates Google’s policies, flag it for removal. - Use reviews to improve your business
Reviews are a valuable source of feedback for your campground or RV park. Use them to identify areas for improvement and make changes to provide a better guest experience. For example, if guests consistently mention that your Wi-Fi is slow, consider upgrading your internet service. If guests mention that your bathrooms need attention, make sure you have a cleaning schedule in place to address the issue. - Encourage guests to return
Finally, use reviews to encourage guests to return. Respond to positive reviews by thanking the guest for their kind words and letting them know that you look forward to welcoming them back. For guests who left a negative review, offer a solution and let them know that you would love the opportunity to make things right on their next visit. Congrats – you are on your way to earn more bookings in no time!
Managing your Google Reviews is an essential part of running a successful campground or RV park. By claiming your Google My Business listing, encouraging guests to leave reviews, responding to reviews, monitoring and managing your reviews, using reviews to improve your business, and encouraging guests to return, you can improve your online reputation, attract new guests, and retain loyal ones. Hopefully these 6 easy steps to manage your campground and RV Park reviews is already on its way to fruition for your park. If you need help managing your Google Reviews or improving your online reputation, connect with us at Martrek Digital. We specialize in digital marketing, and especially, SEO for campgrounds and RV parks and can help you grow your business.
