Sales Promotion Strategies You Can Learn from Your Favorite Airlines
As a business traveler, you are familiar with most of the marketing campaigns run by airlines. With the airline industry being as competitive as it is today, top airlines are working extra hard to keep travelers happy with their services and promotional offers.
When it comes to sales promotions, there is actually a lot to learn from the best airlines in the business. That is why, in this article, we are going to take a look at some of the sales promotion strategies of airline companies and how you can adapt them to your business.
Solid Loyalty Programs
It is difficult to deny the fact that airlines are among the best companies when it comes to running customer loyalty programs. Even low-cost carriers now have loyalty programs, designed to keep customers flying with them. The rewards of being a loyal airline customer get better and better too.
A loyalty program is an effective sales promotion tool to use. Any business can benefit from a higher customer lifetime value and one of the best ways to achieve that is by rewarding your most loyal customers.
It doesn’t have to be particularly expensive rewards too. Personalized services are far more effective in retaining customers than expensive gifts. Airlines usually offer priority check-in, free upgrades, and access to their executive lounge in various airports as part of their loyalty programs; your business can borrow these strategies too.
Joint Promotions
Another great sales promotion strategy used by many airlines is a joint promotion. Airlines usually team up with credit card companies and hotel chains to offer special rewards and promotions. This type of sales promotion campaigns is designed to expand the reach of your promotional offers and attract new potential customers.
For instance, using a certain credit card to purchase airline tickets allows you to earn double mileage points or qualify for a free upgrade. Showing your boarding pass when checking into a partner hotel will also earn you additional discounts and special rewards.
You can learn more about how to adapt this strategy – and the best business to team up with – from resource centers such as salespromotions.org. The site is filled with joint promotion program ideas you can use to boost sales of your business.
Free Gifts and Services
The most effective way to keep customers happy, however, is by going the extra mile. Airlines do this all the time, offering surprise upgrades and complimentary meals to customers. Airlines will take care of your children or your parents with additional treatments such as free toys, access to the cockpit, and wheelchair service.
These are small and personal touches, but they are touches that mean a lot to the customer. You can incorporate the same personal approach when treating your customers. Let employees – mainly sales executives – throw in a surprise bonus or added service and you’ll start seeing a big impact of the approach to sales in no time.
There is a lot to learn from the airline industry. Airlines have to survive a very competitive market, which is why they have some of the best sales promotion strategies.
