Marketing Through the Winter Lull

The winter months have arrived and although it would be easy to sit back and wait for the 2025 season to kick off, there is no time like the present to show off your brand, connect with existing and win new customers.  Here are a few ideas to market your yachting business in quieter months.

Competitions – Catch attention and give boaters a reason to think about your product/service.  Be genuine, offer a decent prize and use the opportunity to build your customer database.

Educate your customers – Sailors are always interested in developing skills and knowledge.  Share your expertise and they will likely come back to you for further advice. 

Market Research – Do you know what your customers are thinking?  Are their plans different for 2025 than they were in 2024?  Ask them and see.

Social Media Content Creation – When you are flat out and run off your feet, there is not always time to create good content, so use the quieter months to get ahead and have interesting content ready to go.

Articles for spring magazines – Yachting magazines schedule articles several months in advance of publication, so if you have new products or services launching in the spring, make sure you share them now.

Phone or write a letter – When was the last time you picked up the phone or wrote a letter to contacts in your database?  Keep relationships fresh and grab attention by doing things a little differently.    

The winter season doesn’t have to mean slowing down - in fact, it’s the perfect time to strengthen relationships, create fresh content, and prepare for the year ahead. By using the quieter months to plan strategically, engage with your audience, and showcase your expertise, you’ll keep your brand front of mind. Come spring, you’ll be ready to hit the water running while others are still getting up to speed.