Best Ways To Advertise A Hunting Outfit?

[Jasper99]

I've become good friends with the game manager of a South African Safari where I hunted in 2015. He runs an awesome outfit. He traveled to Austin, Texas last month for a Wildlife Expo (his first time to the U.S.) where he was hoping to meet potential clients and spread the word on his business. He was disappointed in the show and how things went and has asked for my help in figuring out the best way for him to advertise here in the U.S. He's not opposed to coming back to shows or even hopping around different cities and hosting house parties for clients. Buying advertising on websites, magazine ads, etc., etc. are all on the table. I don't personally know his best route but told him I'd do a little research for him. Thoughts/opinions/recommendations are appreciated! Have a blessed day! John

 

[BRICKBURN]

This might seem obvious but,.....

https://www.africahunting.com/help/advertise

 

[Jasper99]

I get that and this site will be one of my first recommendations for sure. Just seeing what all is out there as Africa is not my bailiwick. Thanks!

 

[BRICKBURN]

Shows are expensive and take repetition
They are hit and miss like he just noted.

Sci chapter donations seem to be a common method used.

Magazines can be targeted, but they are not cheap.
There are three that I know of

FB. If he likes headaches

 

[wesheltonj]

There are also DSC chapters too. But just remember those donations don't count towards the big conventions

 

[rookhawk]

Word of mouth is near foolproof. That takes time. In the meantime, advertising here is a great idea because happy customers on this site have big mouths and write trip reports. Also, unhappy customers on this site have big mouths and write trip reports.

 

[CAustin]

Jasper did you post a hunt report about your time with your friend. Here is a good place to start the word of mouth.

 

[BRICKBURN]

Word of mouth is near foolproof. That takes time. In the meantime, advertising here is a great idea because happy customers on this site have big mouths and write trip reports. Also, unhappy customers on this site have big mouths and write trip reports.

Related from direct experience!

 

[K-man]

He might be able to get a local booking agent to go to the shows for him. Usually there is no fee or a small advertising cost unless a trip is booked. I have been in business over 20 years and haven't advertised for 18 years, word of mouth carries me. And yes, when people are happy they tell one or two friends. When unhappy, they tell twenty.

 

[Jasper99]

I did not do a write up and should have! I will take care of that. I would think in today's world the Internet is the primary source for hunters gathering information so advertising on sites like this one carries a lot of weight??? Probably better than traveling all the way here for a show??? Tell me more about the donation thing please as I don't understand. Thanks very much for everyone's help!

 

[rookhawk]

I did not do a write up and should have! I will take care of that. I would think in today's world the Internet is the primary source for hunters gathering information so advertising on sites like this one carries a lot of weight??? Probably better than traveling all the way here for a show??? Tell me more about the donation thing please as I don't understand. Thanks very much for everyone's help!

I say this as a long time SCI member...the donation scheme is a sham.

In order for you to set up a table at my chapter of the SCI, you must donate. Typically, you must donate a hunt. Let's call that $5000. Bow every year you come like a good boy and throw my chapter a $5000 hunt for a table for say 5 years and we love you for it. So you decide to go big and do the national event and a different state chapter.

A.) they want a $10,000 hunt, and you do it.

B.) they want it every year

C.) "thanks for the hunt, but there isn't any room left at the convention this year, so no table for you anyway"

D.) Good deeds for local chapter A have no credit given for chapter B or national meeting C

Then you decide to advertise here on AH and your prices suck, because you've been giving away so many hunts that you must charge paying customers more to make up for it and you're not competitive, so you get no bookings.

Then you decide, "that's okay, the auction donation people will buy extra animals or extra days and I'll break even anyway" only to find out that a measurable proportion of those that won auction donations string 2-3 hunts together, kill the minimum game, no tips, then leave. You then grumble in anger that they've taken advantage and no intention of paying for anything.

In the end we find you and your friend in the veld with the suicide notes attached after you've given away your life savings to "charities" hoping to build a business and you realize they've taken everything from you and gave little.


So that's how it typically works.

Advertise online and do word of mouth. If some cause has you so enthralled in why they are doing, donate Money instead of hunts for access to advertising.

Just my opinion. Read the online reports of donated hunts by vendors that did so for free advertising or a free table at sci/dsc. A lot of sad stories from all sides.

The pay to play nature of SCI is a horrible thing for the industry.

 

[cpr0312]

Look for smaller, regional shows. Cheaper and usually don't require donation hunts

 

[dobber]

Find someone who belongs to a hunting forum, ask them for help so they can open a thread about looking for advice and it gets people talking errr wait never mind, think this actually might have been a good idea already taken

Hunt reports, word of mouth and an outgoing outfitter who gets involved

 

[Jasper99]

Rook, great info! Thanks so much! Thanks to everyone!

 

[SvanZyl]

I've become good friends with the game manager of a South African Safari where I hunted in 2015. He runs an awesome outfit. He traveled to Austin, Texas last month for a Wildlife Expo (his first time to the U.S.) where he was hoping to meet potential clients and spread the word on his business. He was disappointed in the show and how things went and has asked for my help in figuring out the best way for him to advertise here in the U.S. He's not opposed to coming back to shows or even hopping around different cities and hosting house parties for clients. Buying advertising on websites, magazine ads, etc., etc. are all on the table. I don't personally know his best route but told him I'd do a little research for him. Thoughts/opinions/recommendations are appreciated! Have a blessed day! John

I also attended the Central Texas Wildlife Legacy, what a disappointment, definitely not the right place to kick of your Outfitters career. We were more outfitters on the floor than attendees.
One outfitter flew from Germany to attend, felt sorry for him.

 

[BRICKBURN]

...........And yes, when people are happy they tell one or two friends. When unhappy, they tell twenty.

or THOUSANDS

 

[lwaters]

On my first safari there was a couple there on a donation hunt. I think they had bought this a few years before. We stopped at a grocery store and the old boy filled the cart with booze that he wanted and let the outfitter pay for it. Then at the end of the safari he wanted to pay the trophy fees when he got back home. Didn't ask first. I guess the outfitter finally got the trophy fees. I don't believe I would make a very good outfitter with very many clients like that.

 

[BRICKBURN]

I did not do a write up and should have! I will take care of that. I would think in today's world the Internet is the primary source for hunters gathering information so advertising on sites like this one carries a lot of weight??? .............

Word of mouth always wins.

Just create a website and your set, right?
Websites are useless without RELEVANCE. (You'd love the math and design on this one) It takes work and lots of it.
Without it, you have an electronic magazine ad. Static and nearly useless.

Go to a show, without any stats, background or knowledge of the area, attendees, economy and you get a surprise. A lovely meeting with fellow outfitters in a far off hotel/arena. Perhaps, it was a lovely place you always wanted to visit on a holiday and made the best of it.

How many people passed his booth at that show?
How much was the airfare?
How much time did he spend?


It is strange to me to actually think about this side of the equation for a moment. Many hunters on AH review everything they can find on a subject to ensure they are not about to spend a large sum of hard earned cash on a product that will not meet their needs.

Did this Outfitter just roll the dice or hope that throwing a dart at the wall and picking the show closest to it would yield results?
Now he's asking questions after spending the money?
Sounds like one of those very expensive lessons we hear about hunters making AH.

RESEARCH is hard work. You will pay for it one way or the other.

 

[sierraone]

I say this as a long time SCI member...the donation scheme is a sham.

In order for you to set up a table at my chapter of the SCI, you must donate. Typically, you must donate a hunt. Let's call that $5000. Bow every year you come like a good boy and throw my chapter a $5000 hunt for a table for say 5 years and we love you for it. So you decide to go big and do the national event and a different state chapter.

A.) they want a $10,000 hunt, and you do it.

B.) they want it every year

C.) "thanks for the hunt, but there isn't any room left at the convention this year, so no table for you anyway"

D.) Good deeds for local chapter A have no credit given for chapter B or national meeting C

Then you decide to advertise here on AH and your prices suck, because you've been giving away so many hunts that you must charge paying customers more to make up for it and you're not competitive, so you get no bookings.

Then you decide, "that's okay, the auction donation people will buy extra animals or extra days and I'll break even anyway" only to find out that a measurable proportion of those that won auction donations string 2-3 hunts together, kill the minimum game, no tips, then leave. You then grumble in anger that they've taken advantage and no intention of paying for anything.
Inexperience here talking, but I agree. I have heard or read many negative posts/articles about SCI during the past 5 or so years. And I am referring to hunters and outfitters, not antis!
In the end we find you and your friend in the veld with the suicide notes attached after you've given away your life savings to "charities" hoping to build a business and you realize they've taken everything from you and gave little.


So that's how it typically works.

Advertise online and do word of mouth. If some cause has you so enthralled in why they are doing, donate Money instead of hunts for access to advertising.

Just my opinion. Read the online reports of donated hunts by vendors that did so for free advertising or a free table at sci/dsc. A lot of sad stories from all sides.

The pay to play nature of SCI is a horrible thing for the industry.

 

[sierraone]

Two years ago they sent me mailings to invest in oil rigs, for many months before they gave up. I know nothing about oil rigs and still have no interest. They should have been spending their time fighting for hunting relating business, particularly when the Obama administration was still in power.