Adventure Tours Marketed With Email

It's no mistake that the word "adventure" is a part of this company's name. Black Sheep Adventures, run by owner and tour guide Fred Ackerman, specializes in multi-sport vacation tours for individuals, couples, and groups. Tours usually include a mix of activities like kayaking, biking, and hiking. So, if your idea of vacation is being active (and not just lying on the beach all week) you are one of Fred's ideal clients.

With Fred's background in guiding, marketing his business was a big unknown. A friend recommended that he use Constant Contact. "I knew that HTML emails were opened at higher rate than plain text emails. When I realized that with Constant Contact I could send members HTML or text, I was convinced."

Fred first began using Constant Contact in 2003, not long before leading Black Sheep's first excursion. I chose Constant Contact because it's a user-friendly resource that presents a professional image and represents who we are — a quality service.

Staying Connected with Email Marketing

Staying in contact with his past clients and communicating with potential ones is how Fred grows his business. He uses Constant Contact to remind those on his list that he has great trips coming up. "I do a monthly newsletter, where I spotlight a trip, show photos from other trips, highlight current promotions and discounts, and include something entertaining."

Constant Contact list segmentation features allows Fred to easy tailor his email campaigns to subscribers based on their geographic location.

I chose Constant Contact because it's a user-friendly resource that presents a professional image and represents who we are — a quality service.Before signing up for Constant Contact, he found it difficult to assess how effective his email campaigns were. "With Constant Contact's reporting, I've been able to see what people are actually clicking on. I can see when people open emails and when they book tours."

Fred's emails are clean, professional, and concise. Each newsletter includes a strong call-to-action, highlights important trip information, and is entertaining. These elements have had a great impact, producing higher results and increasing business.

Fred's list has grown at a good rate over the past three years. "I started out with a few hundred names, mostly friends and family, and sent emails out to them originally. Then I began collecting email addresses at free events I sponsored, tradeshows, and bike events. Now my list has more than 1,250 subscribers."

A Necessity for Any Small Business

Fred recommends Constant Contact for other small businesses. "I think it completely makes sense for small businesses. It is something that you are not paying a high initial fee for. It is cost-effective and you can experiment with it. You can tailor your marketing campaigns to be the most effective for your business."