The document discusses several key aspects of developing an effective aviation marketing plan, including defining important business terms like sales, revenue, and income accurately; conducting strategic planning that accounts for industry and customer changes; identifying the target market and developing a clear value proposition; determining competitors; focusing on customer retention and experience; exploring market penetration opportunities; adopting the right diversification strategies; monitoring results; and ensuring the marketing plan evolves with the business. Developing a comprehensive aviation marketing plan is essential for sustainable business growth in the competitive air charter industry.
2. The words “sales,” “revenue” and “income” have
different meanings, and become confusing if used as
synonyms.
“Sales” refers to the number of units of your product
you sell.
“revenues” refers to the total amount money your
sales generates,
“income” refers to your profit from those sales.
“sales” and “revenues” is a common occurrence in
business.
3. In marketing, just like in business, everything
starts with strategic planning.
When it comes to general aviation
marketing, strategic planning involves a
continuous process that must take into
account both the ever-changing aviation
environment and customer demands.
4. Identify your target market.
Facts or assumptions – the time has come for you
to choose. If you’ve just tipped the scale toward
the former, sophisticated data analytics tools
enable you to collect, analyze and interpret the
information you need in order to create complex
customer profiles and make decisions based on
facts instead of assumptions.
marketing analytics tools can help a company
build a better customer experience in a more
personalized, compelling and rewarding
engagement model.
A unique customer engagement model can set
your company apart from the competition.
5. Develop a clear insight into why a customer would choose your
company.
So, you’ve already figured out the core needs your air charter
solutions can meet.
Next-You can start focusing on developing additional services and
products that can enhance the overall customer experience.
Based on a survey of 5,871 respondents in 17 countries, any
business operating within the aviation industry, including Part 135
flight carriers, could leverage the customer experience by:
– perfecting the mobile versions of their websites; this way,
customers can get live quotes within minutes, book flights via
their mobile devices, receive real-time, round-the-clock
notifications about departure dates, times and facilities, etc.
– making available different mobile applications customers can
use to check things like travel and tour operators around the
world, navigation charts, optimal routes, weather updates,
airport facility information, etc.;
6. – providing self-service and mobile check-in
solutions that accelerate the check-in process;
– offering exclusive menus and in-flight
entertainment (e.g. allowing customers to stay
connected to the ground and use their own
devices on planes).
Offering unique products and services can help
you attract more clients and even turn an
occasional traveler, who has missed his
scheduled airline flight, into a repeat customer.
7. Determine who your competitors are.
Identifying your competitors is one of the key aspects
of your aviation marketing plan.
Make sure you take the time to study your
competitors in depth.
Also, determine the competitors outside your
industry niche, but just as capable of luring your
potential clients away.
Knowing your competitors’ strengths and weaknesses,
and understanding how your products and services
differ from what’s available on today’s charter flight
market can help you find new ways to gain a larger
market share.
8. Increase your existing customer base.
Before looking at new charter flight markets, think
about how your company can get the most out of the
markets it already serves.
You could, for instance, try to figure out why some
customers prefer your competitors over you and
consider new ways of improving customer retention.
After you fill all the gaps you can in your current
market segment, it’s important to: review your
company’s ability to serve new air charter markets;
check whether potential markets are already
saturated with competitors or not; and analyze the
industry trends characterizing those markets. All
these aspects are very important to determine if you
can compete successfully in new market segments.
9. Focus on market penetration.
Entering new markets is the quintessence of global business
expansion
If you adopt several aviation marketing strategies that can steer
your company in the right direction. Some areas you should focus
on are:
-international branding and marketing programs, which allow you
to advertise your company in new markets for air charter services
via business-to-business promotions, consumer incentive
programs, trade shows, conventions, industry summits, social
media, email marketing, etc.;
-sales efforts (e.g. publish press releases that build corporate and
brand identity, etc.)
-competitive strategies (e.g. building a competitive pricing
strategy, matching or exceeding your competitors’ offerings,
implementing a defensive competitive strategy, etc.).
10. Adopt the right diversification strategy for
each market.
Once you’ve entered a new market, you’ll want
to determine the right diversification strategy.
There are two “paths” you can follow:
1) an offensive marketing strategy, which can
help you grow your market reach and share;
2) a defensive marketing strategy that you can
use to focus on extending the life cycle of
stagnant market segments and prevent them
from shrinking.
11. Monitor results.
Evaluating marketing results should be a
logical extension of any aviation marketing
plan.
Marketing performance metrics are useful in
determining not only what areas of your
marketing strategy help you achieve your
goals but also what areas you need to
improve.
12. Business growth depends on all those “little”
things you do to make it happen.
Since you’re competing with many air
charter service providers both in domestic
and global markets, developing a strategic
aviation marketing plan that can evolve
along with your company is essential for
achieving sustainable business growth