Wondering what we really do?

I’ve not gone into a lot of detail about our new job with AGS because I didn’t want to bore anyone. But it seems there is a genuine interest for more details so I’m happy to explain more about it in this post. Paul, this one’s for you.

OVERVIEW:

First let me explain the major players that are part of our job:

• AGS/Texas Advertising– a Texas based company that offers graphic design, printing, web design, marketing and a number of other quality services.
• Independent Contract Representatives (ICR’s)–that’s us and we’re contracted by and operate/represent the interest of AGS.
• Distributors–the RV Parks, campgrounds and boating marinas for which AGS provides printed guest guides or other types of guides, charts, etc.
• Advertisers–those companies, businesses or individuals who purchase ads in the above guest guides or other documents.

Let me take a moment to explain what a Guest Guide is and its relationship between the players:

When campers or RV’ers check into a park or resort they are usually handed a booklet (Guest Guide) or foldout that gives them the park layout/site map, the park rules and amenities and information about things to do or see in the area. This booklet/guide also has ads for local businesses and a map that shows where these businesses are in relation to the park.

This guest guide and the ads are key to supporting a mutual beneficial relationship between the four players listed above. Either directly or indirectly the businesses in these guides are recommended by the park and park staff and are only permitted in the park’s guest guide if the park approves of their level of service. For the advertisers, being in the guest guide gets their business in front of thousands of people who visit these parks and are in need of their services or goods during their visit or beyond. And by being in the guide, these advertisers get an added recommendation from the park.

The creation of the guest guide is fully funded by the advertisers and is free to the parks. Advertising space in the guest guide is limited and AGS professionally designs and prints the guides. Additionally, each park’s guide has an on-line e-version (located at accesscamping.com) as well as other key marketing services for the Distributors/Parks. In exchange for all of this, AGS asks the parks to provide a complimentary RV site to the ICR’s for two weeks each year while they work to renew/update the guide.

Our role as ICR’s is to service these relationships. Once we are assigned a park, we coordinate with the park then contact existing and potential advertisers to either renew their current ads or sell new ones. We document any park changes or new information that needs to be in the guide and try to secure advertisers the park feels their guests want or need. After two weeks, we package up our work and send AGS the documentation and directions to update a previous guest guide or, in some cases, to produce a brand new guest guide.

As an ICR we get to travel to different locations and parks and enjoy two weeks of complimentary accommodations. Additionally, we get a percentage of the advertising we sell and renew. We believe AGS is very fair in their percentage structure. As an added bonus, we get to meet some incredible people and get an insider’s view into these towns and cities we visit.

DETAILS:

AGS hires full time RV’ers as ICR’s because of the nature of the job — the parks are everywhere and you’ve got to go to them.  And it helps that these parks/resorts are frequented by campers and RV’ers. The job also has two main functions and seems to work better if worked as a team of two. One person is the sales person and one is the support person.

The sales person contacts previous advertisers to see if they wish to renew and also finds and develops new advertisers. It’s rare that 100% of previous advertisers renew so the sales person is constantly working to secure new advertisers. Fortunately the guides aren’t static and can be expanded if more room is needed because of a higher demand by either the park or the advertisers.  Bonnie handles sales and she fills out all the necessary paperwork and secures the payments for the Ads. She brings me any changes to an existing Ad or necessary information to mock-up a new Ad.  Additionally, as the support person, I handle:

• interface with the Distributor obtaining the approvals to represent the park, produce the guides and final advertiser approvals
• capture and create any Distributor additions or changes to the guest guide
• update and provided printed sales materials she might need tailored to the specific park
• create, design and keep updated a dynamic guest guide mockup for the duration of the job
• collect print ready images, logos, maps and other materials that AGS will need to produce the guide and ads;
• process, file and record all sales and ad forms as she turns them in;
• track and report sales/job status to AGS.

We work together to package a completed job in the prescribed manner which allows AGS to efficiently begin production of the new guide. These job packages are mailed to AGS shortly after we finish each job and the parks receive their new guides within six to eight weeks of our departure.

Both Bonnie and my previous job and life experiences fit well with the AGS ICR job requirements. Bonnie’s knowledge of people, interpersonal communications and motivational factors give her an edge in sales while my I.T., photography and graphics background are great in the support role.

You’ll be happy to know there is no test to make sure you’ve absorbed all this information!  And as a reminder, we’ve only been at this a few months and just completed our third job.  I’m happy to report we’ve met our financial goals for all three jobs and we’re now able to use the correct lingo when talking with our peers!

Interestingly, we came upon this job by chance when we met another couple who was working on the guest guide for a park in Florida where we happened to be staying. I walked over to offer to help as they were preparing to leave and the conversation morphed into why they were at the park and AGS and what they were doing. Their enthusiasm was contagious and shortly thereafter we applied, were interviewed and hired.

One chance meeting and now here we are. Of course some would say there’s no such thing as a chance meeting.