10 Tips to Convert Winter Visitors Into Loyal Customers

Winter is coming (yep, I went there!). But while some people dread the drop in temperature, savvy small business owners know that winter visitors bring unique opportunities. Whether you’re operating a cozy lodge, a holiday shop, or a snowy adventure tour, the challenge isn’t just to bring in the winter traffic—it’s to turn those seasonal visitors into year-round loyal customers. In this post, we’ll discuss how you can make that happen without breaking a sweat—or in this case, breaking the ice!

So, grab your favorite warm beverage, and let’s dive into tips that will help you boost your winter business success.

Why Converting Winter Visitors is Crucial

Winter visitors often represent a short-term influx of business, but wouldn’t it be great if they returned year-round or recommended you to others? Converting them into loyal customers can provide long-term value, ensuring revenue consistency well beyond the holiday season.

1. Tap Into Winter Nostalgia

Many people hold a sentimental place in their heart for winter. Think cozy nights by the fire, snowball fights, or holiday gatherings. You can build on this by weaving that nostalgia into your marketing strategies. Use imagery that evokes warm, fuzzy feelings, and you’ll connect with your customers on an emotional level.

  • Create winter-themed specials that tug at heartstrings.
  • Use personalized email content that invokes the feel-good aspects of winter.
  • Offer custom winter-centric experiences that your guests will talk about long after they go home.

Fun analogy: Think of your potential winter customer like Olaf from *Frozen*—they might dream about summer, but you can make winter so enjoyable that they forget all about it for a while.

2. Provide Year-Round Value

Just because your peak season is winter doesn’t mean you can’t offer value year-round. Offer incentives that encourage visitors to stay connected.

Pro tip: According to customer loyalty expert, Shep Hyken, personalized, ongoing communication is a key strategy for turning first-time guests into long-time customers (Forbes).

After your customers leave, send them tailored newsletters throughout the year. Give them sneak peeks at your latest offerings, offer summer-exclusive deals they can’t refuse, or simply add value by sharing relevant tips to enhance their next holiday.

  • Actionable tip: Create off-season specials that build anticipation for their return in winter. Think exclusive winter-prep discounts or early-bird deals for the following year!

Understanding Your Winter Visitors

Unless you’re psychic (please, teach me your ways if you are!), understanding why winter visitors chose you and what they like can take a teeny bit of research. That’s where data comes in handy.

3. Gather Feedback While They’re Warm Inside

Set up post-visit surveys or encourage reviews to gather insights about their experience. Ask them what worked, what didn’t, and what might entice them to visit again. Even better—include a small incentive like a 10% off coupon for their next visit. You’ll get insights, and they’ll remember you fondly.

Example: A local snow-tour business found that 60% of their customers returned after offering discounts for returning tours, especially when driven by targeted email campaigns! These campaigns were exclusively informed by post-tour feedback.

An extra motivator? You can also use that feedback to fine-tune your next season’s offers.

Offering Special Winter Promotions

Customers love deals. It’s practically written in stone somewhere. Special, just-for-winter promotions help keep your business top of mind when that first chill sweeps through the air.

4. Create “Snowy Day” Flash Sales

Customers already in love with your brand don’t need too much convincing to return. But those sitting on the fence? A snowy day flash sale or limited-time offer could be the nudge they need.

For instance, let’s say a big snowstorm hits, and everyone’s hunkered down, scrolling through their phones. Boom—send out a “Blizzard Flash Sale” for 20% off winter gear or a stay at your lodge.

  • Bundle offers: Create winter package deals—combining, say, a stay with a snowmobile adventure or offering two-for-deals on ski rentals—to encourage bigger purchases.
  • Referral programs: Offer incentives for repeat business, such as “Refer three friends, get 50% off your next booking.”

Leveraging Social Media and Email Marketing

Social media isn’t just for posting pet pics (although, yes, that’s part of it!). It’s a powerful marketing tool to showcase the magic your business offers and build relationships with your audience.

5. Share Daily “Winter Wonders”

Customers might not always be able to poke their head out to experience winter’s beauty directly, but you can bring it to them. Capitalize on the scenic winter wonderland around your business—share daily snapshots or videos on social media channels.

Platforms like Instagram are perfect for this content. Dig into Instagram Stories, where polls, countdowns, and interactive content can turn followers into future customers.

Pro tip: You can use email marketing to send relevant apparel offers or bundle skincare tips for those battling winter weather. Keep in mind consistency is key—don’t wait until next winter to email them again.

Also, don’t sleep on the power of hashtags! Something as simple as #WinterMagic or #SnowDayDeals can help you reach a wider (and colder) audience.

Collecting and Utilizing Feedback

This can’t be overstated. Collecting and utilizing feedback is the secret sauce to keeping your audience happy, coming back, and helping you improve as well.

6. Send Out Feedback Requests Regularly

Let’s face it, people love talking about themselves! Use that to your advantage. Ask for customers’ feedback immediately after they’ve made a purchase or enjoyed your service. Consider using tools like SurveyMonkey to create quick, easy-to-complete surveys.

Once you have the feedback, checking patterns and common requests will give you a goldmine of changes you can make to improve future experiences for both new and returning customers.

  • Pro tip: Try sprinkling some humor into your feedback requests—for example, “Tell us how we did! On a scale from ‘Grumpy Bear’ to ‘Happy Snowman,’ how would you rate your visit?” It’ll keep it lighthearted and relatable.

Bringing it all together

When the snow settles (see what I did there?), converting your winter visitors into loyal customers isn’t as daunting as it may seem. By tapping into their emotional connection to the season, offering irresistible winter promotions, and maintaining year-round engagement, you can keep the magic alive long past the first winter’s thaw.

As you put these strategies to use, remember one thing—your relationships with customers don’t have to end when the snow melts. Keep them engaged, entertained, and eager to come back for more. With some creativity, ingenuity, and a dash of humor, your small business will thrive even when the ugly snow boots have been put away.

Now, it’s your turn: What steps will you take to make your winter visitors return? Whether it’s revamping your email campaign or launching a new winter promotion, give it a shot and watch your audience grow from seasonal enthusiasts to lifelong fans.

Happy snow season!

Author Bio:

John Fizner has been working with small businesses for over a decade, helping them develop innovative marketing strategies to create loyal customers, no matter the season. When he’s not consulting, you can find him building snow forts and drinking far too much hot cocoa.