Strategic Planning
RV Park owners, developers, and operators have the challenge of managing a unique type of hospitality property in a world which offers little in the way of industry-specific advice. Individual RV Park operators can have access to substantial expertise, at a reasonable price.

Using Strait Answers to plan your advertising investment strategies can save THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS in misdirected ads, unnecessary costs, and plain old mistakes. If you'd like to talk to some of our past clients, references are available upon request.

Strait Answers supplies two important resources which can help your organization:

1) Advice and information based upon knowledge and experience.
2) Time and talent are put to work for you.

Our services are typically contracted in a combination of the following three programs which help you in the area of Strategic Planning:

Marketing Projects
The consultant works on a project by project basis with a set charge for a single separate project. Time, cost, and completion date are agreed to in advance. Projects can be included as part of an on-going consulting retainer. Larger projects might be approved to augment an on-going consulting retainer. Project cost estimates are based on my experience with the time requirements for projects of similar size and complexity.


Consulting Service - Hourly Basis
Consulting time is charged based on actual hours expended in completion of a specific task or goal. This "whatever it takes" approach gives client and consultant flexibility in execution of a particular project. Initial quotation for a project is based upon estimated number of hours required. The client can specify standards for final output, and the consultant keeps track of hours expended in the achievement of that goal or task. Final charges may be greater or less than the estimated charge.

Total charge is based upon an hourly fee of $60 per hour. Minimum contract level is for ten hours of consulting. Time accrues while I am working directly for you during meetings, in telephone conversations over 15 minutes long, in completion of projects, and other approved work on your behalf. Generally, time for transportation to a job, meeting, or office is not billed. Hourly logs are maintained for reference.

Consulting Service - Retainer
Over the course of a specified time period, the consultant develops and implements preplanned marketing strategies. This approach offers a predetermined cost per month, allowing the client to control expenses, but limits the amount of time devoted.

The retainer fee is a set amount per month based upon an agreed number hours of service charged at $50 per hour. Hours of service provided are counted as described above in "Hourly Basis".

The Strategic Marketing Service Program

The following outline is the formula used to construct your unique strategic marketing plan:

Phase 1) Work Up a Strategic Planning Outline


1) Identify Primary Property Characteristics

- Analyze product offering (facilities, amenities, services, esthetics)
- Analyze location market viability

2) Analyze the Product Offering

- Outline salient features of property offering: (location, property facilities)
- Conduct overview of relevant competition
- Provide a written comparative analysis of subject property in relation to competition
- Identify considerations for the business environment from industry statical trends
- Identify current regional tourism visitation patterns

3) Identify Primary Target Market Segments

- Determine ideal prospective target market segments
- identify segments which might become customers
- identify market segment interests in relation to property offering
- focus on most productive segments
- Recommend a Product Positioning Strategy
- create a strategy to best reach the primary markets
- recommend artistic, graphic, and design components
- Assist in the delineation of the MARKETING POSITION STATEMENT
- Expand the POSITION STATEMENT into a one page Marketing Plan

4) Outline a Marketing Budget and Action Plans

- Write overviews of marketing strategies by market segment
- Suggest logos, brochures, ads, direct mail and signage programs
- Provide suggestions for the media and advertising plan
- Write an approximate expense budget for the marketing plan
- categorized by advertising type
- one year, quarterly spread sheet
- Provide a budget spread sheet to implement marketing plan
- Itemize key action plan(s)

Phase 2) Implement Media and Advertising Plan

1) Engage media entities on behalf of client

- Gather space and mechanical requirements, determine deadlines
- Reserve space according to clientís direction
- Design and produce ads to publication ready state
- Place insertion orders, process payments.

2) Review unbudgeted proposals and make recommendations to client.

- Be a resource for client to review plans
- Act as a sounding board for advertising pitches