How New RV Parks and Resorts Can Attract Tenants and Build Revenue Fast
The New Park Challenge: Zero Tenants, Zero Revenue
Opening a new park presents a unique challenge: you need tenants to generate revenue, but prospects don’t know you exist yet. Without an established reputation or word-of-mouth referrals, how do you fill those empty spaces?
The answer lies in understanding the traffic generation formula and implementing the right mix of strategies for maximum impact.
The Simple Formula That Drives Revenue
Traffic × Conversion Rate = New Tenants
You could convert 100% of prospects who visit your website, but if nobody visits, you get zero tenants. Traffic generation is your lifeline as a new park.
My Background: Three Generations of Tenant Acquisition
I’m Jason Ayers from RV Park Marketing Experts. Growing up in this business across three generations taught me what actually attracts tenants versus what park owners think attracts tenants.
The difference between successful new parks and struggling ones often comes down to implementing the right traffic strategies in the correct order.
Three Primary Traffic Sources for New Parks
1. Offline Marketing: Local Visibility
Roadside signage: High-visibility signs that capture drive-by traffic
Billboard advertising: Major visibility for travelers entering your area
Strategic flyer placement: Laundromats, RV dealerships, visitor centers
Local partnerships: Relationships with businesses that serve your target market
Pros: Builds local awareness, captures spontaneous travelers
Cons: Limited reach, difficult to track ROI, requires ongoing investment
2. Paid Advertising: Controlled, Scalable Growth
Paid advertising is my preferred method for new parks because it offers:
- Immediate visibility in search results and social media
- Controllable budget you can scale up or down
- Targeted reach to specific demographics and interests
- Measurable results you can track and optimize
Best platforms for parks:
- Google Ads for search-based traffic
- Facebook/Instagram for demographic targeting
- YouTube for video content marketing
3. Organic Traffic: Long-term Foundation Building
Content marketing: Blog posts that rank in Google searches
YouTube videos: Showcasing your park and local attractions
SEO optimization: Making your website discoverable in searches
Referral programs: Encouraging existing tenants to refer others
Pros: Free ongoing traffic, builds long-term authority
Cons: Takes time to build momentum, requires consistent effort
The Critical Conversion Problem
Here’s the mistake most new park owners make: they jump straight to paid advertising without preparing their website to convert visitors into tenants.
The scenario: You drive traffic to a website that doesn’t sell effectively. Result? You waste advertising budget on visitors who browse and leave without booking.
Before You Spend on Advertising: The Website Audit
Ask yourself these questions:
- Does your website clearly communicate why prospects should choose your park?
- Are your calls to action strong and compelling?
- Do you capture contact information for follow-up?
- Does your site address common concerns and objections?
- Is the booking process simple and trustworthy?
Fix your conversion foundation before driving paid traffic, or you’ll waste money on prospects who slip away.
The Tracking Disaster That Costs Thousands
I recently worked with a 500+ space resort spending heavily on advertising with zero tracking in place. They couldn’t tell which ads generated tenants versus which ones drained their budget.
The result: Potentially thousands of dollars wasted monthly on ineffective ads while successful ads remained under-funded.
Essential Tracking for Advertising Success
You must track performance at the ad level:
Ad #1: Costs $200, generates 3 bookings = $67 per tenant
Ad #2: Costs $200, generates 1 booking = $200 per tenant
Ad #3: Costs $200, generates 0 bookings = Infinite cost per tenant
Without tracking, you can’t identify which ads to eliminate, which to increase, and which to optimize.
Implementation Strategy for New Parks
Phase 1: Foundation (Month 1)
- Optimize website for conversions
- Set up proper tracking systems
- Establish basic online presence
- Create initial content library
Phase 2: Paid Traffic (Month 2-3)
- Launch small-scale Google Ads campaigns
- Test Facebook/Instagram advertising
- Track and optimize ad performance
- Scale successful campaigns
Phase 3: Organic Growth (Month 3+)
- Publish regular blog content
- Create YouTube videos
- Build local partnerships
- Implement referral programs
The Compound Effect
Start with paid advertising for immediate results while building organic traffic for long-term growth. The combination creates sustainable tenant acquisition that doesn’t rely solely on advertising spend.
Common New Park Mistakes to Avoid
Mistake 1: Jumping into advertising without conversion optimization
Mistake 2: Running ads without proper tracking systems
Mistake 3: Focusing only on one traffic source instead of diversifying
Mistake 4: Expecting immediate results from organic strategies
Mistake 5: Not budgeting adequate resources for marketing
Your New Park Success Timeline
Months 1-3: Focus on paid advertising with proper tracking for immediate cash flow
Months 3-6: Add content marketing and SEO for organic growth
Months 6-12: Optimize the entire system and scale successful strategies
Year 2+: Leverage word-of-mouth and referrals as your reputation builds
Ready to Fill Your New Park?
Opening a new park is challenging, but with the right traffic generation strategy, you can build a thriving business faster than you think. The key is implementing proven systems in the correct sequence.
If you own a park with 100+ spaces and want professional help building a tenant acquisition system that fills your park quickly and profitably, let’s discuss your specific situation and growth goals.
Every day your park sits empty is revenue lost forever. The question is: how quickly do you want to start generating income?