Get your summer-break tire-safety advertising ready now

More than one-third of Americans will take a family vacation this year, with roads trips the most popular kind, so now is a great time to start your summer-break tire-safety advertising.

More people are traveling than ever

According to AAA, 35 percent of Americans will take a vacation this year, meaning millions will be gearing up for a trip during the approaching school summer break. AAA found road trips in the U.S. were by far the most popular vacation, with two-thirds of families saying that's what they were planning. Trips to national parks and theme parks were the second-most popular.

AAA estimates that U.S. drivers have saved nearly $12 billion on gas so far this year compared to the same period in 2015, and drivers this summer should pay the lowest gas prices in 12 years. Lower gas prices have helped motivate Americans to drive at record levels and have prompted many families to take road trips this year. More than half of Americans say they are more likely to take a road trip this year due to lower gas prices.

With so many motorists hitting the road, now is the perfect time for your business to remind them to check their tires and service their autos in preparation for their trip. By reminding them of the auto safety message, you'll be doing a good deed and bringing customers through the door for goods and services. Include a special offer and they should be beating a path to your door.

Consider using additional safety tips like those AAA recommends in your advertising, such as travelers should map out a route in advance and drivers should plan frequent stops, about every 100 miles or two hours, to remain alert.

How can I use this to attract more customers?

Here are a few ideas of how to take advantage of school breaks in your advertising:

• Email your customer database to remind them to check their tires before going on long trips or put out a special edition newsletter featuring tips and advice.

• Offer incentives, discounts or special deals to get customers into your store before the summer break. This might be a free tire alignment with another service or four new tires for the price of three. Make sure to include a cutoff date to prompt them into action though.

• Change your regular print, TV and radio advertising to include a vacation road safety message and mention your special offers.

• Consider running a social media tire/road safety campaign by putting messages out on your Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. This is an ideal time to promote a tweet or for Facebook advertising to give your business a bigger audience. Social media advertising is really targeted and more affordable than you might think.

Tagged: Travel

Get your summer-break tire-safety advertising ready now