You're not alone if the thought of making changes, such as implementing an online booking system, seems overwhelming. But streamlining businesses operations can mean more freedom and revenue, and it could be the best thing you do for your business this year.From stand-up paddle boards, to camping gear, to electric scooters, to handmade cake stands, we've worked with a vast variety rental businesses to get them running—and making more money—with an online booking system. Here are some common concerns we've seen from business owners who are hesitant to take the leap, and why it's important to push past those perceived roadblocks.

1. What I Offer Is Too Complex

Challenge accepted! Don't underestimate the power of technology and the options available to you. Nowadays, there are some great systems out there when it comes to online booking software. For example, a platform like Peek Pro can take all the curveballs you throw at it, including...

• Setting up complex pricing and availability structures
• Real-time equipment tracking
• Taking rentals offline for repairs, or blocking off days when they're not available
• Credit card pre-authorizations for security deposits
• Bundles during the checkout flow
• Maximizing revenue while avoiding over-bookings
• Customized questions that customers are required to read and respond to during the checkout flow
• And a lot more.

Tip: Another good business practice to consider? Simplify your offerings. Too many choices leads to indecision in consumers, and sometimes, providing too many different rentals could actually be working against you. Whether you're switching online booking systems or starting fresh, use this as an opportunity to re-evaluate how your tours, activities and/or rentals could be packaged for more profit.

2. I've Always Done Things By Hand – It's What I'm Used To

“If the way you want your business to run is mostly stored inside your head, that means you’re the only one who can ‘do it right.’”Doing things by hand can give you a false sense of control. If the way you want your business to run is mostly stored inside your head, that means you're the only one who can "do it right." It also makes training new staffers a pain, because there are no repeatable processes or systems in place to ensure a consistent customer experience.Tip: If you're planning on selling the business one day, remember: It's not a business unless it runs when you're not there. Who wants to buy a "business" if you are the business?

It's not a business unless it runs when you're not there

3. I Like Talking Directly To People, And I Don't Want To Lose That Human Connection

If maintaining that personal connection from the get-go is important to you, perfect! With Peek Pro, you can opt to accept pending bookings online, but still require a phone call to verbally seal the deal and confirm the reservation.

4. I Have An Online Contact Form, So That Counts—Right?

An online form is a step in the right direction, but if you're not accepting payment and scheduling online, it doesn't help much in the ways of (1) time management, (2) a consistent customer experience, and (3) automated processes to help you do more with less staff.

5. We Rely On A Lot Of Walk-Ins And Phone Calls For Business, So Doing Business Online Isn't Really Necessary

Adopting an online booking system for your rental activity business doesn't mean you're going to neglect walk-ins and phone reservations. But here's what it does mean:

• It's going to create an even better experience for walk-ins. With an online booking system, you can quickly check-in walkups on the spot, accept payments from anywhere, and look at a real-time calendar to see what availability looks like—all from your smartphone, iPad or laptop.
• You'll also scoop up additional customers who prefer to book online and not over the phone. You're simply opening up one more channel of convenience in which to serve your guests.
• It can free up more of your time.

6. I'm Worried About The Cost Of An Online Booking System

The right activity rental booking and management platform will more than pay for itself each month by allowing you to generate additional business, minimize mistakes, and free up staff time. It may cost more up front, but will save (and generate) more revenue in the long run.

7. Our Competition Doesn't Do It, So We Don't Need To Bother

Whooaaa, Nelly—this is all the more reason for you to accept online scheduling and payments! If the competition doesn't offer online booking and you do, you're way more likely to scoop up people who are browsing online, especially if your booking system delivers a clear and easy checkout flow. Take this as an opportunity to set your business apart from the rest! Taking bookings online is a lot easier than you think these days, so don't let that hold you back. Invest in technology that simplifies business operations, delivers a great customer experience, and sets your company up for growth and success.

Industry leaders are predicting an estimated 25% of campgrounds and RV parks will change ownership in the next five years. If selling is part of your retirement plan—or you're entertaining the possibility for the future—taking certain actions now can help maximize the return on your investment when it's time to cash in.Embracing modern technology like the hotel and airline industry is a quick and affordable way to stay relevant, and up the value of your business. Even if you don't plan on selling in the next several years, having the right technical tools now will capture more data. And the more data you have, the more your park will be worth. Don't wait until the last minute!Here are seven ways to increase the value of your campground, RV park or vacation cabins, and fetch top dollar when you're ready to sell:

1. Capture the Next Generation of Travelers: Millennials

“If an RV park doesn’t have online reservations on its website, I just go to the next one.”— Laura, millennial RVer from Travel Explore UncoverCamping has become more popular than ever over the last decade, especially with one particular age group: Of the more than 1 million households in North America that started camping last year, 44 percent were millennials. And if we know one thing about this demographic born between 1977 and 1995, they love technology like raccoons love unsecured groceries at campsites. The vast majority, or 90 percent of millennials, reserve travel experiences online.“Millennial travelers demand instant gratification, accuracy in booking and one-stop shopping, all from their handheld device. These digital natives also compare their travel booking experience to all their other tech experiences with expectations aligned accordingly...They want the speed and convenience of an online purchase. ”— RV BusinessAs a result of this trend, more and more campgrounds and RV parks are appealing to tech-savvy travelers by investing in mobile booking, complimentary WiFi, and satellite TV.

How:

Keep your business competitive and on-par with industry trends by implementing an intuitive, mobile-friendly reservation system.

2. Increase Reservations

Mobile reservations for RV parks surged by 150% in 2013-2014 alone, according to the National Association of RV Parks & Campgrounds. By giving visitors the option to reserve online 24/7, you'll scoop up more guests who want to make plans on their own time, whether it's on the road or on the trail. If you don't offer at-a-glance calendaring and real-time availability on your website—but the competition down the road does—there's a good chance you're missing out on business. And remember: The more reservations you have, the higher your business is going to be valued at. Tip: If maintaining that personal connection from the get-go is important to you, perfect! With an online booking system like Peek Pro, you can opt to accept pending reservations online, but still require a phone call to verbally seal the deal and confirm the reservation before the credit is used.

How:

Give visitors the option to reserve online 24/7.

3. Open Up New Revenue Streams: Equipment Add-Ons & More

When it comes to campgrounds, RV parks and/or cabins, there's a forest of possibilities for opening up new revenue streams!

How:

ADD-ONS & RENTALSAnother interesting tidbit: 52 percent of campers between the ages of 18 and 34 years did online research to buy items for their camping trip before purchasing the items in-store, according to a preparation and purchase report by the Outdoor Foundation. Your takeaway? Not everyone is a Bear Grylls type, or has the space to store sleeping cots and Coleman stoves. If you're already offering rentals or operate an onsite general store, step up your game (and profits!) by up-selling campers when they're reserving online.With a system like Peek Pro, you could sell a wide array of add-ons or rentals (folding chairs, air mattresses, extra roasting forks, lanterns, tents, etc.) directly in the checkout flow, and have those items ready for pickup when folks check in. Rather than making an extra stop at REI or Target, guests enjoy the convenience of a one-stop shopping experience, and you reap the benefits.SEASONAL EVENTSDo you host seasonal events like luaus, bbq's or guided full moon hikes that require pre-registration? A great online reservation system should let you manage all of the above from a single platform: Bookings, rentals and events.FLEXIBLE PRICINGWith an online reservation system, you can easily set dynamic pricing schemes that automatically increase when demand is high (weekends, holidays, popular sites) and decrease during times of year when demand is low.

4. Boost Your Brand and Professional Appearance

Let's talk about the all-important website: As the public "face" of your company, it's the first impression people get. Why not make it a great one? Having a built-in reservation system—one that's intuitive and delivers an easy user experience—enhances the appearance of your website, and thus increases the perceived value of your park. It also sends a visible message to potential buyers that you're business-savvy, customer-oriented, and invested in technology that adds value to your operation.

How:

Give your website some love! It should be user-friendly and easy to navigate, have an aesthetic that reflects your brand, and have a built-in reservation system with a user-friendly checkout flow for guests.

Your website is the public face of your company, use it to make a good first impression

5. Reduce Operational Expenses

The more your park profits, the higher price it's going to fetch.

How:

An online reservation system reduces operational costs, which is the quickest and easiest way to boost profits.

• It saves time and reduces mistakes by automating reservations, communication and payments
• It reduces the need for extra staff, and/or frees up staff to be more productive in other important areas
• It keeps all your data in one place, allowing you to easily run reports and learn where to increase/decrease prices
• It lets you maintain that personal connection with guests, while saving time on day-to-day tasks
• It saves you money on credit card processing fees
• It lets you accept reservations 24/7 on your website, so you don’t have to staff the phone for long periods of time
• A good online booking system has an intuitive user interface, meaning less time to train new staffers

6. Make it Easy for Buyers to Say "YES"

“If you’re planning on selling the business one day, remember: It’s not a business unless it runs when you’re not there. Who wants to buy a ‘business’ if you are the business?”If the way you want your business to run is mostly stored inside your head, that means you're the only one who can "do it right." It also makes training new staffers a pain, because there are no repeatable processes or systems in place to ensure a consistent customer experience. A smooth transition is important for prospective buyers who want hit the ground running, and the right online reservation software plays a critical role—especially if you offer rentals and activities in addition to lodging.

How:

Standardize and streamline business operations with one online booking system used by the entire staff. From automated email communication, to managing staff schedules, to taking reservations, to checking people in, an online reservation system lets you do it all under one platform. If you offer rentals and activities in addition to lodging, make sure to choose a software lets you easily manage all three.

7. Most Importantly: Make it Easy to Prove the Value of Your Park

When it's time to sell, having all of your finances and years of data digitally streamlined under a single platform will (1) make it easier to access, gather and organize important information, and (2) validate the worth of your campground or RV park. Shabam.

How:

Have an online reservation system that rolls up all of your data into digital reports that are easy to access, understand, and share.*****Whether you're preparing to uproot for another adventure, or cashing in and cruising towards retirement, getting top dollar for your investment takes some foresight. An online reservation system can increase revenue, reduce costs, streamline operations, and provide financial visibility; all factors that could significantly increase the sale value of your campground or RV park. It's also easy, affordable and quick to implement—get set up in just a few days!Be proactive now, and be a happy camper later.

When it comes to water activity rentals, finding a way to make your brand stand out in the sea of competition makes all the difference between a dock of idle inventory, versus a calendar filled with reservations. By implementing an impactful and targeted marketing campaign, you're more likely to stand out to a wide and varied audience, from business travelers, to out-of-town vacationers, to locals looking for something new and fun to do. These 10 effective marketing strategies will keep your business "top of mind" for anyone searching for water rentals in your area, whether you specialize in motorboats, kayaks, jet skis, SUP's, canoes or all of the above. Gives these tips a try and see if they put a little wind in your sales!

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1. Sell The Big Picture—Not Just The Rental

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Our partners at Duffy of San Diego do a great job of selling the entire experience on their website, which features video, images and thorough product descriptions. We also love that they've posted a map of Mission Bay, which makes it easy to plan your excursion ahead of time.People looking for a boat rental are clearly drawn to being outside, playing on the water, and exploring new areas from a beautiful vantage point. In addition to covering the essentials (what types of boats are available for rent, prices, times, availability, etc.) remember to show people the highlights! What vista points can they paddle to? What types of wildlife can they spot? Any great dockside cafes to visit along the way? What about good swimming holes or hidden coves to explore? You know the gems of the area better than anyone—use this local knowledge to show potential customers what a great time they'll have.

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“You know the gems of the area better than anyone—use this local knowledge to show potential customers what a great time they’ll have.”

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On your website and marketing materials, paint a bigger picture of the overall experience with high-quality photos, video, or something as simple as a bulleted list of what guests will see or learn. Whether it's kayaking, SUP'ing or cruising around in a motorboat, being out on the water is an immersive pastime—take the time to write engaging, yet pithy descriptions about the experience.

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2. Publish Blog Posts About The Area

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Maintaining a company blog adds a personal touch to your brand, while giving visitors a window to your operations and services. Consider mixing it up and writing about local events and attractions in your community. By doing this, you're not just helping to educate and inform visitors—you could also be improving your website's search engine presence. People looking online for information about a particular attraction or event may stumble across your blog post, which in turn can drive traffic back to your site. Shoreline Sightseeing, a boat tour company in Chicago, writes about hyper-local topics such as the history of Lincoln Park, emerging neighborhoods, and tips on where to find some great restaurants around the city. Publishing content about area activities, events, and attractions can turn visitors into subscribers of your blog, which helps to subtly promote your business.

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3. Harness The Power Of Instagram

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One example of posts that do well on Instagram are images with a text overlay. The text can be an inspirational quote or playful statement, and resonate with your brand's voice and mission, like this one from our friends at SSI SUP. Instagram has five million monthly active users. That's a lot of eyeballs. As a rental business specializing in watercraft, you're surrounded by an ocean of awesome photo opportunities. Use this to your advantage! Here are a few stats that speak to the power of this photo-centric social platform that's dominated by visual content:

• 77.5 million - Number of users who say they learn about a product or service on Instagram.
• 75% - Number of of Instagram users who take action, such as visiting a website, after looking at an Instagram advertising post.

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“If you’re hoping to spread the word about your business, Instagram is a statistically sound place to invest your time and energy.”— Hootsuite for Enterprise

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Here are a few great examples from AdEspresso of images that generate lots of engagement on Instagram. Give these a try:

• User-generated content: Encourage customers to take photos or video during their experience, and remind them to tag your company's Instagram handle or custom hashtag (or both).
• How-to or educational content: What kinds of tips and tricks can you share with your audience? What about a video on how to get back in your kayak if you fall out?
• Behind-the-scenes shots: These can be images taken by, or of your employees.
• Motivational images: Use a text overlay on some of your favorite shots, and choose quotes that resonate with your company's brand and mission.
• And don't forget: Posts with at least one hashtag average 12.6% more engagement. As a boat/water activity rental company, use hashtags that include the city name and state your business is located in, along with terms related to your activity, like #boats, #boating, #SUP, #travel, #tourism, #water, etc. For more helpful tips on the right way to use hashtags on Instagram, we like this complete guide from Hootsuite.

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4. Ask For Reviews, And Put The Good Ones To Work!

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In this digitally dominated age, there's no getting around it: Online reviews can make or break a business.

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In this digitally dominated age, there's no getting around it: Online reviews can make or break a business.

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Approximately 84% of people trust online reviews as much as a personal recommendation, and more than half will visit a business's website after reading a positive review, according to the results of a BrightLocal survey. And with 7 out of 10 consumers leaving a review for a business if they're asked to, your takeaways are this: Ask for reviews, and put the good ones to work!

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There's lots of ways to leverage positive online reviews. Here are a few tips:

• Embed widgets from TripAdvisor or a badge from Yelp (or both) on your website.
• Host a virtual guest book on your website.
• Feature good reviews on your website. This can take many forms, whether it's an embedded screenshot, a neat graphic with a customer testimonial, or even a video.
• Share on social media. If a customer gives you an awesome shoutout, take a screenshot and re-share on your Facebook and Twitter accounts. It's a great opportunity to thank them publicly while bolstering your company's reputation.
• Feature good reviews in newsletters & email marketing.

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Pro Tip - Enabling Facebook Reviews: As a service provider, it's important to set up a star rating and reviews section on your Facebook business page. Just make sure to avoid these Facebook marketing mistakes that could turn guests away.

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5. Plan Your Paid Search Campaigns Seasonally

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Paid search advertising, or search engine marketing (SEM) offers numerous benefits to small business owners. As the experts at Search Factory point out, it allows you to secure top placement on search engines, and measure the results of your online marketing efforts with a great degree of accuracy. If you're taking advantage of paid search advertising, or pay-per-click campaigns, where travelers can find you in the "sponsored" section of search engine results when searching online for "boat tours in [your city]" or similar search criteria, make sure you plan around your peak and slow seasons for maximum exposure. When investing some of your online marketing dollars to Google Ads or Facebook ad campaigns, plan your biggest monthly spend around the months leading up to your busiest times of the year, rather than spending the same amount year-round.

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6. Build Your Email List

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Direct email marketing can be a powerful and effective outreach tool for small business owners, and it's important not to neglect it—even in an age where social media platforms compete for your attention and maintenance. Email marketing has an ROI of 3,800%, according to the Direct Marketing Association (DMA) National Client Email Report 2015. Whether you want to increase rental bookings for the season, or promote special package deals for big groups or families, turn to email to spread the word. McKinsey & Company points out email is 40 times more successful at acquiring new clients than either Facebook and Twitter.

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Here are a few quick tips on how to build your electronic mailing list:

• Set up a "subscribe" button on your website. Make it easy for customers to easily opt-in for newsletters, updates, and/or special offers.
• Run a social media contest
• Ask for emails upon check-in
• Confirm emails at checkout
• Send a monthly or bi-weekly newsletter
• Add social sharing buttons
• For more details, read our complete article here

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7. Give Guests A Reason To Come Back For More

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Renting a boat or other watercraft doesn't have to be a one-time experience. Many guests may be returning to the area more than once a year for an annual getaway, or be interested in trying a different type of watercraft.

• Promote new inventory: Do you now offer glow-in-the dark SUP rentals? (These are awesome, by the way). Encourage guests to come try something new!
• Give guests the freedom to customize their experiences: For example, some customers might like to book a multi-day package with a different type of watercraft each day.
• Extend a "thank you" discount for next time: Communicate this in a follow-up email after the initial experience. With an online booking system like Peek Pro, you can easily set up fully customized, automatic follow-up emails.
• Connect with guests via social media: Ask guests to stay in touch with you on Instagram, Facebook and/or Twitter, and follow them back to maintain an online connection. This helps put your business at top-of-mind when the guest is planning another trip in your area.

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8. Create And Promote Customized Packages With Tiered Pricing

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Offering tiered pricing on boat rentals means guests have many options to choose from when putting together their itineraries. For example, you could offer the option of extending a standard one-hour rental by half-hour increments with a tiered pricing strategy. You could also offer discounts on add-on services, such as a beginner's intro course.Use an online booking system that allows you to set up tiered pricing in the backend, so guests have options to add on more time or rent other pieces of equipment and gear at their leisure.

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9. Set Up Google Alerts To Keep Track Of Buzz About Your Business

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Whether it's a customer testimonial on Yelp, a blog someone wrote about their first SUP'ing experience on Lake Tahoe, or an awesome GoPro shot taken during a jet ski ride, take advantage of every opportunity to showcase great customer experiences on your blog and social media pages. But first, you need to know about the buzz when it happens! Setting up Google Alerts is a great way to know when people are talking about your business online. This service sends you an email when new "mentions" of your company—and any other search terms you've specified—show up in Google's search engine. We've also got more effective strategies for collecting positive reviews from customers here. From harnessing the power of social media to being strategic with paid search campaigns, there are several ways water activity rental operators can make a splash in the world of digital marketing. Try out some of these impactful strategies to keep the bookings coming.

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Read about King's Landing and their success story to keep guests happy through exceptional customer service with Peek Pro.

When you’re selling an exhilarating experience—zip lining, bungee jumping, skydiving, whitewater rafting, or anything that gets the adrenaline pumping—it's important to acknowledge the mental hurdles that some potential new customers might be contemplating. No matter how safe and controlled, some thrill-based activities can look pretty perilous to someone who’s never done them before. That's why it's important to appeal to customers’ adventurous sides, while also assuaging their uncertainties. After all, it only takes one awesome experience to turn a fearful skeptic into a full-blown convert!A guest's experience with your outdoor activity business starts long before they're whizzing through the treetops or diving face-first off a bridge—it starts when they land on your website. These 5 easy tips can help nervous customers have more confidence in your business, and give on-the-fence questioners that final nudge to click the "book it" button.

1. Bust. Those. Myths.

The folks at Skydive Oklahoma have a handy FAQ tab on their website.Some of the biggest obstacles you face in promoting your outdoor activity business are merely issues of perception. Commonly circulated myths make it easy for those waffling about your services to opt out.“By providing answers to even the simplest of questions, you’re conveying the message that you welcome newbies, you understand their fears, and you will work with them to ensure a fantastic experience.”Tackle this problem directly by using your web page to highlight and dispel non-truths. With a bungee-jumping business, for example, this might mean explaining how unlikely ocular and spinal injuries are. For a whitewater rafting tour, you might need to articulate that rafting excursions don’t necessarily involve hours of careening over Class V and VI rapids—perhaps highlight the pleasure of leisurely exploring the area around the river, and stopping for frequent swimming breaks in calm pools.Consider outfitting your website with a handy Q&A or tips for first-timers who want to know everything before getting started. By providing answers to even the simplest of questions, you’re conveying the message that you welcome newbies, you understand their fears, and you will work with them to ensure a fantastic experience.

2. Be First-Timer Friendly

Even after you’ve helped clear up some common misconceptions about your business, think about additional ways to make first-timers feel extra welcome.

Here are four ways to be first-timer friendly:

• Offer a discount for new customers: Perhaps the most prevalent (and powerful) tactic in the age of Internet deals? Discounts for first-timers. Give folks some extra incentive to follow through with a targeted social media campaign featuring themed promo codes like "BEGINNER SPECIAL." Offering the experience at a reasonable price could entice visitors to purchase, even if they’re doing so on a whim.
• Establish a meaningful relationship with potential customers: Consider the copy on your website, and the type of persuasive messaging you want to convey. It could be along the lines of "the ideal opportunity to try something outside your comfort zone," or "finally cross this off your bucket list!" You could also market your experience as an awesome and memorable bonding opportunity for friends and family. However you spin it, it's up to you to coax out the adventurous side of potential customers. Be the friend on their shoulder encouraging them to take the leap!
• Provide options that appeal to a range of experience levels: Our friend Tara Eilts, owner of Treehouse Island Zip Line Adventures, points out that "always giving options so people are never forced to do anything is a really big deal." Her business smartly offers an "Island-Only Pass" for "those who want to join in the fun…at ground level!" Another good example comes from Screaming Eagle Zip Line Tours, which offers different course levels ranging from family-friendly experiences to runs with extreme heights and speeds.

3. Got Great Reviews And Testimonials? Put Them To Work!

Ninety percent of respondents who read online reviews claimed positive comments influenced their decision to buy.

If you have an outstanding track record with clients, it's time to start tooting your own horn. Public review sites such as Yelp and TripAdvisor can essentially function as free advertising, so be sure to highlight positive feedback. It's an authentic reflection of your company, and one of the strongest forces attracting more clients. Research shows customers spend up to 31 percent more on a business with excellent reviews, and 90 percent of respondents who read online reviews claimed positive comments influenced their decision to buy.

There's lots of great ways to leverage positive reviews. Here are a few suggestions:

• Embedded widgets: Get an embedded widget for your website from TripAdvisor, or a badge from Yelp (or both). For example, our partners at Del Sur Adventures have a scrolling ticker in a prominent spot on their homepage featuring a glowing review.
• Virtual guestbook: We saw this on Balloon Atlanta's website and loved it. There's an invitation on their home page to "sign our virtual guestbook." If you click on it, you're taken to a page full of positive feedback.
• Put good reviews on your website: This can take many forms, whether it's an embedded screenshot, a neat graphic with a customer testimonial, or even a video. If you offer multiple experiences, consider embedding a positive customer review on each product page.

Our partners at World Skydiving Center feature a customer testimonial prominently on their homepage.

• Share on social media: If a customer gives you an awesome shoutout, take a screenshot and re-share on your Facebook and Twitter accounts. It's a great opportunity to thank them publicly while bolstering your company's reputation.
• Use reviews in newsletters & email marketing: If you use an email marketing service provider such as Constant Contact or MailChimp, this is another perfect channel to showcase positive reviews and testimonials.

4. Let the Customer Get to Know You

Our friends at Sierra Whitewater have a tab on their website dedicated to its guides, as well as an introduction to the owner.Having a page on your website titled "meet our guides" or "get to know our staff" is a fun and authentic way to put a human face behind your experiences, and assure first-time visitors you've got a great team. Not only does this personalize your brand, it's also an ideal place to give a quick description of each staffer's qualifications, credentials, years of experience, and passions. Instagram is an ideal platform for this as well. Consider having periodic "guide takeovers" to give potential customers a close-up look at any given day’s tours or experiences.

5. Highlight Your Qualifications

In a business where fear may be the biggest factor holding back potential customers, it's important to convey professionalism and expertise in every way. Consider putting these items on your website:

• Certifications & Credentials: Whatever you've got, list it. Sierra Whitewater points out that all of its guides are "local, First Aid and CPR certified, and have swiftwater rescue training."
• Memberships: Buttress your credibility by listing any official organizations you belong to, such as the Professional Ropes Course Association or American Whitewater. Skydive Oklahoma has a "group member" badge on their website for the U.S. Parachute Association.
• Stats: Consider listing the number of years you've been in the industry, the amount of "jumps" or "dives" logged, trips taken, number of students trained, etc.

Lastly, if your website doesn’t look professional, people may question your competence in other areas. A modern, easy-to-navigate web page (with a similarly user-friendly reservation system) is ultimately the first impression most guests will have of your business. Make it a good one!

Managing reservations and equipment are everyday logistics for rental merchants. But when manual tactics for staying organized are outpaced by customer demand, these everyday logistics can morph from "calm waters" to "perfect storm." Here are the top four challenges rental companies face, and tips for sailing seamlessly through peak season:

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1. Tracking Rental Equipment Availability

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Managing bookings can be a major pain when you factor in equipment availability. And if you're still using schedule templates from Excel, the margin for human error is inescapable—even for the most spreadsheet-savvy rental merchant. But in this Golden Age of technology, smart online booking systems like Peek Pro let you say "sayonara" to tedious spreadsheets and "hello" to streamlined inventory management.

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Solution: Use an online booking system that...

• Automatically adjusts equipment availability in real time.

• Lets you view all upcoming reservations from one consolidated dashboard, and manage equipment inventory from one place.

• Lets guides check in, and check out all rental units. This makes it easy to track all inventory, gain visibility into which staff members check in and check out gear, and prevent theft and lost rental items.

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2. Managing Complex Bookings & Pricing Models

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Tracking bookings manually is tedious, period. And if you're an outdoor activity outfitter like our friends at Cannon Falls Canoe & Bike Rental, chances are you're not just specializing in one type of rental or experience. Time to consolidate the crazy!

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Solution: Use an online booking system that...

• Makes it easy to offer add-ons for rentals

• Helps you create and manage complex rates and pricing structures

• Lets you set up and control different types of availability (hourly, daily, nightly) and block time between different rentals

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3. Maintaining Equipment

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Whether you specialize in stand-up paddle boards, electric bikes, kayaks, jet skis, ATVs or motorboats, the world of equipment rentals has a golden rule: Maintain your gear. Having high-quality, clean, and cared-for equipment keeps guests safe, sets you apart from competitors, and adds authenticity to a customer's experience.

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Solution:

• Train your staff to know when gear has reached a state of not being suitable for renting.

• Make a daily checklist available to all of your staff, and hold them accountable for completing the maintenance checks.

• Use an online booking software that makes it simpler to reference when equipment was rented out, and how often it's been used. This will help you identify when specific pieces of equipment may be in need of a more thorough evaluation—or when they have run their course and are due to be replaced. With Peek Pro, you can easily take inventory offline for repairs.

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4. Delivering Amazing Customer Service

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Perhaps the most important aspect of running a successful company: providing customers with a positive experience.

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Perhaps the most important aspect of running a successful company: providing customers with a positive experience

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Here are few quick tips every rental merchant can implement today to help ensure customer satisfaction.

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Solution:

• Offer a painless online booking experience:Make it easy for customers to (1) understand all their different options, (2) view your calendar availability in real time, and (3) make a reservation 24/7 on your website. With an online booking system like Peek Pro, walk-up customers can even register on the spot via a mobile app.

• Ask for feedback: Always follow up with your customers after their experience. Their feedback will help your business improve—and if they were happy customers, this marks an opportune time to ask for referrals or reviews! With Peek Pro, you can automatically send fully customized follow-up emails asking for feedback, and provide convenient links to third party review sites and/or your social media pages.

• Keep in touch: Speaking of social media pages, remember to invite customers to share images or video from their experience. This is one of the best ways to generate word-of-mouth enthusiasm for your business!

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Though peak season presents its difficulties for rental businesses, implementing a few easy fixes can have you running better than ever. Utilizing booking software can streamline the day-to-day, and free you up to focus on the bigger picture...which we wager is quite beautiful from where you're standing.And while you're thinking about overcoming some major business challenges for rental businesses, let's zero in on a big one we mentioned in this article: rental pricing. A robust online booking software can help manage the pricing nuances for your particular rental business, but how do you avoid investing in an online booking solution that only works for some parts of your rental business? All these things and more must be considered - invest the time now and you'll receive the dividends for decades.

If you’re looking for an extra advantage in what can be an ultra-competitive market, there's heaps of data proving how important positive reviews are for your bottom line. But you're probably aware of that if you're reading this article, and don't need to be reminded that 84% of people trust online reviews written by other consumers as much as they trust recommendations from people they know.The following best practices can help create customers who want to sing the praises of your watercraft rental business. Get ready to ride the wake of positive reviews!

1. No Surprises

Surprises are terrific if (1) they involve penguins, or (2) it's your birthday. But when it comes to booking a rental, everything should be crystal clear from the get-go. Staying on top of the following items can make a big difference between an average customer experience, and an awesome one...and the more awesome the experience, the better your chances for a glowing review.Neglecting the following items can be a recipe for bad reviews. Be extra vigilant about...

• Bathrooms: Unpleasant restrooms are a mega magnet for bad reviews. Whether it's on the marina, aboard the boat, or in the office, go the extra mile to keep facilities comfortable and clean for your guests. Trust us, it pays off.
• Website photos: Make sure the images of your equipment on your website accurately represent what customers are renting. The right online booking system will give you the flexibility to include multiple pictures in the checkout flow.
• Routine inventory audits: Keeping your rental products in good shape is paramount to a great customer experience, so get in the habit of scheduling regular maintenance/safety audits for all your equipment. Better yet? Automate it.
• Price transparency: Customers should always know exactly what the total price covers. Be transparent about what's excluded from the overall cost, such as life vests, gas, insurance, helmets, etc. The right online booking system should make it easy for customers to add on extras during the checkout flow, and automatically update totals based on variables such as duration and quantity. Check out our tips on simplifying rental pricing structures here.
• Customer preparedness: A lost customer is an unhappy customer. A customer who can't figure out where to park is an unhappy customer. A customer who didn't wear the right clothes is an unhappy customer. You get our drift. It behooves you—and your chances for a great review—to help customers be as prepared as possible. Incorporate all the helpful details on your website (maps, driving directions, parking suggestions, recommended clothing, weather alerts, tips on local restaurants) and reiterate these in confirmation and reminder emails, which can be easily be automated with an online booking system.

2. Urge Watercraft Renters To Leave All The Important Stuff On Dry Land

It's simple, really. Losing your phone, keys, jewelry, wallet, or expensive designer sunglasses is sad. Very sad. Sad customers are going to be more preoccupied with cancelling credit cards or shopping for a new phone, and less concerned about taking the time to leave you a review. Save your customers from themselves: Encourage folks to empty their pockets and leave the important things on dry land—especially the first-time SUP'ers and kayakers. We've all been there!

3. Delight Tech-Savvy Customers With Cool Optional Add-Ons

Think about investing in high-tech gadgets such as waterproof bluetooth speakers, GoPro cameras, photo SD cards and drones, and making them available as optional add-ons to enhance the rental experience. By giving customers the ability to document their adventures, you’re appealing to the 65 percent of millennials who want the technological capability to share their travel experiences on social media, according to a recent survey conducted by The Futures Company for American Express. The right online booking platform will make it easy to seamlessly integrate these optional add-onsinto the checkout flow.

4. Be Prepared For Walk-ups

Having a plan in place to accommodate walk-ups is just as vital as having one for those who reserved ahead of time. An online booking system makes it easy for busy staffers to register walk-ups on the spot, thanks to features like shared calendaring, real-time inventory management and mobile payment processing.

5. Regularly Check Online Reviews. Respond To Them. Learn From Them.

“Thoughtfully responding to reviews, whether positive or negative, sends a strong and visible message that each customer is valued.”

It's simply a reality of the digital times we live in: Some customers are going to take a bad experience all the way home without broaching the subject with you in person. Regularly checking online reviews is an important way to gauge what your customers like, what they don't like, and how to adapt your business to serve guests better. Get in the habit of checking and responding to reviews on TripAdvisor, Yelp, Google and Facebook at least once a week.

6. Separate Your Businesses On Yelp

Speaking of reviews: Whether you operate independently from neighboring hotels and restaurants, or own the whole marina, be sure to separate your rental business from others you might be associated with. After all, a one-star dining experience shouldn’t reflect poorly on a five-star kayak rental experience. To do this, simply search online to see if a Yelp page already exists for your rental business. If it already exists, claim it. If not, you can create new business page with reviews explicitly dedicated to the rental division of your brand.

7. Anticipate The Needs Of Your Guests

You can’t control things like the weather or a customer getting seasick, but you can be prepared to go the extra mile for your guests.

Even if you provide an exceptional rental experience, some factors beyond your control can still reflect poorly on your business. For example, if you're renting motorboats, stash some essentials such onboard—a First-Aid kit, bottled water, extra sunscreen, Dramamine, etc. If you're renting kayaks or jet skis, consider providing dry bags, lockers or even complimentary branded sunglass holders.TIP: Another thing people seem to really praise on review sites? When rental businesses offer grab-n-go snacks and beverages for purchase. Think about setting up a simple snack stand onsite, or even inviting a local food truck to set up shop in your parking lot once a week. Who doesn't love street tacos after three hours of kayaking?

8. Show The Locals Some Love, Too!

While seasonal tourist traffic might generate the lion's share of your revenue, tapping into the local scene brings big benefits, too: A recent Nielsen survey says 84% of consumers reported always or sometimes taking action based on personal recommendations, while another study by Ogilvy, Google and TNS reveals 74% of consumers identify word-of-mouth as a key influencer in their purchasing decision.Positive reviews from locals carry significant clout for out-of-towners, so go the extra mile to make the folks in your hood feel like VIPs. Here are a few ideas:

• Offer special local rates for people who live in the same city or zip code as your business
• Create a local rewards program—e.g., after five kayak rentals, the sixth one is free
• Host periodic "locals-only days" or "locals play day" to entice nearby residents to come out. This can help you build meaningful relationships in the community, and keep your business top of mind when visitors ask around for local recommendations.

Not only do positive reviews service your bottom line, they offer raw insight into what makes your customers happy—and what you can do to keep it that way. Get in the habit of applying some of these best practices, and prepare for those five-star ratings to start rolling in.