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Our marketing is meticulously researched, planned and implemented to ensure we deliver a fully integrated campaign designed to reach the widest possible audience.
Our brochures are very much ‘coffee table’ books which customers tell us they are always keen to keep hold of. We produce over a million brochures each year.
The internet remains a growing medium and we have one of the most advanced websites in the market, allowing customers to search for their ideal property, check availability and book securely online. A newly recruited property can be on sale within weeks. Often customers can take a ‘virtual tour’ of the cottages they are most interested in and really get a flavour of the property they are hoping to book. And, don’t forget your property is very likely to be listed on more than one of our popular websites.
Here again, our own independently commissioned research and years of experience combine to produce thoughtfully planned and executed campaigns both on and offline ensuring that we capture the interest of any customer. We recognise the importance of image-building and invest in major internet campaigns as well as press advertising in leading titles such as Daily Mail, Times, Sunday Times, Independent and The Guardian as well as premium magazines covering everything from activity holidays to pets.
We produce an attractive and specifically targeted direct mail campaign which is sent out to our extensive and highly segmented database. We have a total database of over 8 million, which means that we have identified the top one in every 40 households in the UK. It is highly productive and we are extremely successful in encouraging repeat booking customers.
A comprehensive e-mail campaign offers customers new information, selected property, property searches and online booking capability. We also advertise online, sponsoring keywords with leading search engines and banner promotions through a variety of networks.
Effective PR and a good reputation with the national press, consumer magazines, radio and television are essential. We are very confident of the quality of the properties we offer and our service to customers so operate a co-ordinated PR programme that regularly achieves significant coverage in key publications.
A broad menu of ancillary promotions and marketing activity, including competitions, advertorial and collaborative promotions, ensures that we have a presence in other market segments. Cottages4you powers hundreds of partner websites. Bookings generated through our partnerships are increasing year-on-year and form a significant contribution to sales. Our larger partners include lastminute.com, Teletext, the AA and P&O Ferries.
We also work with selected travel agents to ensure that our product is available to customers of travel agents.
When the property was ready to be marketed, we were absolutely amazed with the speed that bookings were being received. The property has only been on with yourselves for two months, and already there are 17.5 weeks booked. Long may it continue."
Carolyn and Barry Potter,
Swallow Cottage,
Isle of Wight