Are you ready for Father’s Day?
Father’s Day—a slam-dunk marketing tool for the aviation industry—is Sunday, June 16.
Experiences are at the top of the gift list for dads, because they don’t need another tie or a pair of socks. So make sure you market your flight school’s gift certificates and introductory flights appropriately. “Gift Dad the gift of flight!” will grab nonflying people much more readily than “Give Dad a gift certificate!”
It seems like an introductory flight is a can’t-miss Father’s Day idea, but you can’t just sit back and wait for the business to find you. In 2016, more than 30 percent of shoppers used online shopping to make a purchase for Father’s Day, according to this blog on GoDaddy.
So your flight school’s online presence needs to be on point. Your website needs to be updated and fresh; that same website needs to be mobile-device-friendly. Remember—people buying gifts for dads are very comfortable using mobile phones to search and purchase what they want.
Speaking of online presence, how are your social media channels? Your flight school’s Facebook page? Your flight school’s Instagram account? (Yes, a flight school can have an Instagram.) How about your YouTube channel? All of these can be used to spread the word about the services your great flight school provides as a Father’s Day gift.
Here are a few examples:
- Use storytelling. Find out whether current clients have flying fathers who got them hooked on aviation. Encourage your clients to share those stories on social media. Short (less than one minute) videos work especially well on Instagram, and all you need is a smartphone.
- Hold a contest. Come up with a Father’s Day sale hashtag and use it to encourage followers to participate by sharing pictures of their dads. Offer a gift certificate or a discount on future purchases to the winner.
- Host a live event at your flight school. This is a perfect excuse to break out the BBQ grill and let people from the community see your flight school, your airplanes, and meet your staff.
Brenda Barron’s column, “8 Attention-Grabbing Father’s Day Marketing Tips,” can give you even more ideas.
