Marketing Case Study:
Palmetto Bay Marina

Marketing reboot and re-branding for a long-standing marina on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina following a change in ownership

Docked boats at marina under blue sky with scattered clouds

Rebranding and Marketing Reboot for Hilton Head Island Marina

Tucker Marketing Group was tasked with helping revive Palmetto Bay Marina on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, which had fallen into disrepair over the years. The marina would soon undergo a massive renovation of its docks and facilities under new ownership, but its marketing and branding efforts were severely lacking.

Sharing the story during the rebuild.

Before the first pilon was ever added, we were there to document it all. The devastating aftermath of Hurricane Matthew in 2016 left the docks at Palmetto Bay Marina destroyed requiring a complete rebuild. Our team leveraged the new dock construction for ongoing content to engage customers and the local community throughout the entire process. We also used photographs of the marina’s history through the years to further convey a sense of genuine community on Hilton Head Island.

Creative Content and Effective Marketing

To reach potential customers, Tucker Marketing Group created a series of video commercials that highlighted the marina's beautiful location, exceptional services, and top-notch amenities. These commercials were aired on social media and various digital platforms, reaching a broad audience of potential customers and targeting transient boaters.

Watch Transient Boater Commercial

Watch Dock and Dine Commerical

Watch Marine Fuel Commerical

  • Aerial view of a marina with red-roofed buildings, parked boats, a parking lot, and surrounding greenery.
  • Catamaran docked at marina with small boat attached, blue sky background
  • Self-serve fuel station on a wooden dock by the water, featuring hoses and equipment for refueling boats
  • Aerial view of a marina with numerous boats docked, surrounded by lush greenery
  • Brochure for Palmetto Bay Marina featuring activities and services like dock, play, eat, and shop with images and contact details.
  • Large yacht docked at a marina with a clear blue sky.
  • Seafood platter with lobster, crab legs, clams, corn, and potato, next to a can of "Crab Pilsner," set outdoors by a bridge over water.
  • Collage promoting Palmetto Bay Marina in Hilton Head Island, S.C., highlighting boats
  • Group of four bartenders posing with bottles of Grey Goose vodka, Tito's vodka, Skrewball whiskey, and Jameson whiskey.
  • Palmetto Bay Marina Sunset
  • An older couple enjoying a boat ride on a sunny day.
  • family enjoying Palmetto Bay Marina
  • Two individuals in a yacht cockpit, one seated at the helm with navigational screens visible
  • Boats docked at a marina with clear blue sky
  • Luxury yacht docked at a marina with clear blue sky in the background.
Luxury yachts moored at a marina with a waterfront view and lush greenery in the background.

Targeted Digital Marketing and Advertising

Tucker Marketing Group created a series of effective digital ad campaigns targeting transient boaters along the east coast. These ads were strategically displayed on various targeted boating-related websites, Google PPC, and social groups that quickly gained traction, attracting a significant number of new marina reservations.

Through its social media presence, Tucker Marketing Group kept potential customers up-to-date on events and activities taking place at the marina. This helped establish the marina as a premier destination for boaters and visitors alike.

Colorful sunset over a marina with boats; vivid orange, pink, and purple clouds reflecting on water.

Marketing Results

Palmetto Bay Marina saw a significant increase in both foot traffic to the property and dock reservations, which directly impacted on-site business tenants. The marina's owners were delighted with the increase in revenue and customer satisfaction, and visitors were impressed with the marina's new look and feel.

More importantly, this marketing has increased overall revenue, broadened community exposure, and helped to recapture the value in Palmetto Bay Marina’s 64 year history of serving Hilton Head Island boaters.

Text stating "New Website Visitors 64%+ year over year" on a light background.
Text reading "Requests for Directions 40%+ year over year."
Text image showing 'Reservation Phone Calls 45%+ year over year.'
Image showing text: 'Email Marketing Growth 26%+ year over year' on a light background.