Author: praveen.pothuganti@traderinteractive.com

You have a strong customer base, but you’re not getting as many leads as you used to from traditional marketing methods. You sink more money into television advertisements, paid search ads, radio commercials and billboards, but your ROI isn’t hitting the mark. It’s time to consider inbound marketing strategies.

With traditional marketing, also called outbound marketing, you’re sending out your message and hoping your audience responds. Inbound marketing takes the opposite approach by attracting customers to your marketing assets: Instead of using straightforward advertising messaging, inbound marketing focuses on creating value for the customer. Common forms of inbound marketing include blog posts, online videos, email newsletters, guides and infographics.

Inbound marketing’s biggest benefit is drastically reducing the cost you pay per lead; Hubspot reports the typical company pays 61 percent less for inbound leads compared to its outbound costs. Customers also self-screen themselves with inbound marketing, since only interested people click through to view your marketing assets.

With inbound marketing you take the role as a trusted advisor for potential customers instead of someone trying to actively convince them to buy. While you spread marketing call to actions throughout your inbound marketing materials, you also know they’re always relevant to the content; you can therefore build trust with your leads and give them a reason to return. Customers associate your dealership with a knowledgeable and authoritative business, so they come to you when they’re ready to buy.

You have many options for implementing inbound marketing strategies and bringing in new customers. The following ideas will get you started on attracting customers to your dealership, instead of sending your message out blindly.

•             RV owner tips newsletter: Email newsletters provide you with a valuable way to connect with your customers. Your tips provide a helpful resource for new and experienced RV owners, and you can ask your email list to contribute their tips.

•             Guide to the best places to drive: Create a local guide to scenic routes, and help your customers imagine doing these drives in one of your RVs.

•             Video reviews of RV models: Put your leads right in the action with engaging video reviews of your favorite RV models.

•             Twitter chats on RV topics: Social media channels let you engage directly with potential customers. Use a Twitter hashtag to coordinate a RV chat and catch your audience’s interest.

Your dealership gains many benefits from adding inbound marketing to your existing marketing strategy. Bring your leads to you, and keep them around by offering exceptional value. Reach out to us at RV Traderfor more assistance.

The full-length slideout on Winnebago’s new MinnieWinnie 31G floorplan opens up a world of possibilities for families who love to camp.

With a walkaround queen bed in the master bedroom, plus bunk beds, cabover bed and convertible sofa, the 31G offers a variety of sleeping accommodations, while the large angled galley makes feeding the troops a breeze.

And like every Minnie Winnie, the 31G features a patio awning, LED lighting, stylish vinyl ceiling, large exterior trunk for added storage and of course, Winnebago’s proven SuperStructure construction.

Learn more about the Minnie Winnie, and see why it’s the #1 choice for value-conscious families here.

You can browse through photos, study floorplans or even take a video tour.  But as experienced RV shoppers know, there’s nothing like actually walking through an RV to truly understand how it feels to be right there inside.

Until now, anyway.

With the recent launch of WinnVision, Winnebago has introduced a virtual reality experience that lets you seamlessly “walk through“ an RV so you can see it from all perspectives.

And while WinnVision goes far beyond a 360-degree view shot from one position, the technology can be viewed on computers, tablets and smartphones, with no special software required.

“It’s truly a game changer,” noted Scott Degnan, Winnebago’s Vice President of Sales and Product Management.  “Not only is this a first for our industry, but Winnebago is one of the first major consumer brands in the world to put this extraordinary technology to use.”

To experience WinnVision for yourself, see the Grand Tour gallery hereor check out the growing library of WinnVision “experiences” for Winnebago models at winnebagoind.com.

With over 15 million YouTube views, full-time RVers John & Peter are better known as the hosts of the popular RVgeeks channel. They’ve now been on the road for 13 years, sharing their experience on everything from managing RV systems, DIY maintenance and repair & upgrades to great destinations and safe driving tips (Peter is the former Safety & Training Manager for a large metropolitan motor coach operation).

According to a press release, high-end amenities in the kitchen include solid-surface countertops and a decorative tile backsplash, adding visual appeal while protecting walls from food splatter. Amish handcrafted solid hardwood cabinetry is set off by a high-gloss glaze to create “eye-catching sophistication and class.”

This article originally appeared on RVBusiness.com.

Keystone RV Co.’s Sprinter division now features “Plug ‘N Play” solar prep as standard equipment on all travel trailers and fifth-wheels, including its price-leading Campfire line.

“Keystone Sprinter was the first manufacturer to make adding solar quick and easy across all product lines,” said Furrion Product Manager Andrew Mock in a press release. “For the retail customer, it’s as simple as purchasing one of our portable solar panel kits, plugging into the Sprinter, and you are good to go for off-grid camping.”

Sprinter General Manager Josh Miller noted that the Plug ‘N Play solar prep fits Sprinter’s long-time mission to “Make Camping Easy.” Sprinter is Keystone’s very first brand, currently celebrating its 20th anniversary.

“The changes in the product since they first rolled off the assembly line in 1996 is hard to imagine,” he said. “Today’s Sprinter compared to the 1996 model is night and day. For example, things like 18-cubic foot residential refrigerators, LED lighting, power awnings, flat-screen TVs and Bluetooth didn’t in all practicality exist back then. Today you will find these features and much more on the new 2016 Sprinters. By adding Plug ‘N Play solar prep we are propelling Sprinter into the next generation of RVs.”

The Sprinter Plug ‘N Play system combined with a Furrion portable solar panel provides plenty of solar-generated electric for extended dry-camping. Sprinter offers 18-cubic foot Samsung residential refrigerators as standard equipment on six of its travel trailer and fifth-wheel models. These models are equipped with dual-battery storage and an inverter to convert 12-volt DC into 115-volt AC to power the refrigerator or other AC components when the camper is not hooked up to shore power or external AC.

This article originally appeared on RVBusiness.com.