Embracing technology trends to advance your business
No matter where we are in the world, our lives are connected through technology. Smartphones have evolved into the ultimate travel companion, housing all of your valuable information right at your fingertips. With this in mind, it is important for the marina industry to respond to this booming travel trend and capitalize on it to service our guests.
At IGY Marinas, we developed a mobile-friendly site so that our guests-on-the-go still have the convenience of receiving all of our information right in the palm of their hands. Taking this a step further, we have recently explored partnerships within the mobile realm to reach our customers in a new way.
Mobile strategy 101
While many brands have developed a mobile platform for their website, the differentiator is how user-friendly and responsive it is for the customer. We live in a fast-paced world where instant results are mere seconds and if a site is too difficult to navigate, you lose visitor engagement.
For nearly two years, IGY has extended a mobile-friendly site for our guests where they can access all of our marina information, details on our Anchor Club Strategic Partners, social media platforms and more.
Developing a mobile site that is easy and efficient is key, with clickable phone numbers, less pages to sift through, use of white space, search engines and colorful imagery. Additionally, the success of your mobile website can greatly impact your brand exposure when ranked by Google.
Benefits of mobile app partners
Staying on top of industry trends is key, but it is also beneficial to align yourself with strategic partners who can help you achieve your goals. Developing relationships with mobile apps such as Yacht Needs and Boatyard has allowed us to stay connected with our guests virtually, while expanding our brand to new visitors. Key learnings IGY has seen are added value to your clientele, exposure for your partners and reaching multiple demographics.
Providing your guests with added-value offerings not only drives returning clientele, but through word of mouth attracts new visitors. Connecting with your guests in a progressive way goes the extra mile and set you apart from the competing market. Mobile apps also make for a great tool to provide exposure for your brand partnerships. At IGY, we have established incredible relationships with industry brands through our Anchor Club Strategic Partners program and providing them with another platform to reach our clientele is a win-win for both parties.
When it’s all said and done, it is also important to understand that each mobile app has its own niche, making it important to tailor your message and offerings based on the end user. Our relationship with Yacht Needs helps us reach captains and crew members, while our Boatyard venture extends offerings that would cater to boat owners as well.
Tom Mukamal serves as CEO of IGY Marinas. For more information on IGY Marinas or its collection of marina destinations, visit www.IGYMarinas.com.
