How to Define Your Target Market (and Why It’ll Improve Your Guest Bookings)

If you're running a glamping site, retreat venue or luxury outdoor hospitality business, chances are you've felt the pressure to market more effectively and increase your customers. There are several ways to improve your bookings and occupancy, and some strategies are more effective than others. 

But here’s the secret: before you can master your marketing, you need to know exactly who you're speaking to.

Defining your target market is the foundation that transforms guesswork into guest bookings and will help you stand out from the crowd.

Have you ever wondered why your competitors always seem to have more bookings than you, even though you are working just as hard and are comparable in every other way? It might just be that they are better at 'speaking' to their target market, which makes this a skill you need to learn. And it all starts with knowing who your target market is.

Why Knowing Your Target Market Will Change Everything

Also known as the customer avatar and ideal audience, when you’re crystal clear on who your dream guest is, you can:

• Create content they love

• Run ads that work

• Offer experiences that convert lookers into bookers

No more shouting into the void. No more wasting time or budget on pointless tests, “maybes” or "let's just see what happens".

The Fast-Track Framework

Here’s a quick snapshot of what to do:

1. Get clear on your niche: What makes your stay or event unique?

2. Build your guest avatar: Age, habits, problems they want solved.

3. Map their journey: Are they browsing, comparing, or ready to make a booking?

4. Learn from past guests: Who loved you most? Repeat that magic.

5. Spy smartly: Research similar brands, then go one better.

6. Ask + test: Use polls, feedback, and small experiments to refine your understanding.

How To Define Your Target Market: Want the Full How-To?

We’ve created a simple, step-by-step downloadable guide specifically for experiential hospitality and retreat-based businesses.

It’s called Define Your Target Market & Supercharge Your Marketing, and it’s completely free.

Inside, you’ll find clear questions, examples, and the six steps you need to follow to start attracting more of the right people... those who actually book.

Click here to download the guide now

Struggling to find time to market your unique hospitality business, let alone attract the right guests?

If you want to sharpen your customer profile, improve your strategy and maximise your online impact without adding to your payroll or workload, our done-for-you marketing services are designed for you.
They are tailored to this industry, time-saving, and results-focused.

Click here to discover how we can help you grow, without burning out, with Sarah Riley's Inspired Collective... your secret marketing partner, helping you get the job done - Inspired Collective Team

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