Comments on: 3 Online Marketing Ideas for Hunting Outfitters, Web Communities, and Stores

By: Dayne Shuda

Dayne Shuda — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 02:06:32 +0000

Chip – Thanks for the additional ideas! I think you have some great stuff. I’d love for a site where users could submit aerial photos with corresponding information. I know I’d submit my info.

I hope we’re reaching a point in the hunting world where hunters embrace sharing and show a willingness to help each other.

Thanks again. Great stuff.

By: Chip

Chip — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 00:51:58 +0000

I’m a little late to the party, but it occurs to me there are ideas to be gleaned from offline sources as well. Stand placement is always a hot topic in the popular hunting publications, with all varieties of cartoon maps depicting funnels, forage and locations according to am/pm, wind direction, NYSE trading volume….you get the idea.

Invite users to submit aerials from Google Earth (or Google Maps) of the property in question, then plot suggested locations for ground blinds, tree stands, even dog drives for those down South.

Taking this one step further, encourage hunters to record their harvest lat/long’s for adding to a map (even better, all the kills for folks in their club or hunting the same area). Secondly, add sightings and shed discoveries. The result should reveal some great ideas for stand placements.

By: Dayne Shuda

Dayne Shuda — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 11:59:43 +0000

@Kendall – That would be really cool. I haven’t seen the ski resorts like that before.

By: Kendall

Kendall — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 03:44:04 +0000

Taking the first idea a bit further, why not use a couple of web cams on the property much like ski resorts do. Potential customers could “be there” when they are at the office

By: Dayne Shuda

Dayne Shuda — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 14:15:43 +0000

@Tom – I think you’re right. Something more unique and distinguishable would probably be necessary. Competition is quick to catch up these days.

@Cory – I was wondering how the outfitters would feel about it. A private log in would be a way around it like you say, Cory. And obviously private property would be better for guides. I can understand the anxiousness about sharing strategies on public land.

By: Cory Glauner

Cory Glauner — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 13:59:23 +0000

I think your idea of sharing properties is a great idea… however, I don’t think that most outfitters would go for it. They’re generally a jealous lot and VERY protective of “their” area. Most outfitters I have worked with even re-name landmarks and areas for when they are talking on radios. I guess it is somewhat paranoid, but public pressure is just a fact of life for many outfitters, and most of the public hunters already know where most of the good spots are anyway.

That said, I do think that if they are based on private property, this wouldn’t be such an issue for them. Maybe a private page that clients can have access to after they book a hunt? Hmmmm…

By: Tom Sorenson

Tom Sorenson — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 04:38:18 +0000

Boy I’d like to sit down with you sometime and really get inside that brain of yours. Some great ideas here – to touch on the hunting communities, I completely agree. When we first started our website, connecting hunters together was such a great idea…it just hadn’t really been done. Well, now connecting hunters is so easy and like you said, saturated, that I don’t even bother with most sites that do that – it almost has become more work than it’s worth…hard to keep everyone straight from 5 different sites and what not. So, I think you’ve got it nailed – the trick is to figure out what it is that can set you apart…and I think if you ask every owner of a hunting network site they’ll tell you they’re different from the others – but the bottom line is, the average public doesn’t see it that way. It’s going to take something truly unique…and you’ve got a good start – personally, I think it’d take even more…but you get the creative juices flowing.

I am interested in hearing Cory’s take on your first point – I like that. I think that is pure genius. And it just might be coming soon to BCL, now!

Great stuff to think on, Dayne.