Outdoors Websites
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New: Fishing Report Syndication Service
Author: Wade Sonenberg 05 16th, 2008Post your fishing report to 12 websites with one email!
We have just launched our new fishing report syndication service, which allows fishing guides and charter services to get their fishing report posted to twelve fishing report websites by simply sending an email. Find out how it works, builds traffic, and helps establish great search engine rankings by visiting our fishing report syndication section.
read comments (0)New: Outdoor Link Exchange Message Board
Author: Wade Sonenberg 05 16th, 2008We couldn’t find a place for owners of Outdoor related websites to get together and trade links, banners, and blogrolls…. so we just created one. Everyone is welcome, and it’s of course free for all outdoor webmasters.
Trading links with relevant websites is a great way to increase your traffic and search engine rankings, so come on over and start trading links today.
Go to:
Outdoor Link Exchange Message Board
read comments (1)8 Ways to Monetize your Hunting or Fishing Website
Author: Wade Sonenberg 05 16th, 2008
Internet advertising revenue is exploding across the web, while print and traditional media advertising is losing traction. Want to be part of the party? Here’s eight ways to earn cash by advertising on your hunting, fishing, or outdoors related website.
- Pay Per Click (PPC) Ads
Google Adsense is the grandaddy, but Yahoo and Microsoft offer PPC programs as well. Pay Per Click advertising works by displaying contextually relevant ads on your site, and allowing advertisers to bid on keywords. Once a visitor clicks on an ad on your website or blog, you get a percentage of the earnings. - Direct Placement
A simple advertise here link or button where the ad will be placed can do the job. This can be easy as an agreed dollar amount per month, or more complex such as setting up an ad-server to track impressions and click-throughs. - Sponsored Posts or Reviews
Yes, you can paid to review products and services on your website or blog. Disclosure and ethics are a topic for another day, but if you’re interested check out: PayPerPost and SponsoredReviews - Text Link Ads
Surprisingly, text link ads can be a big money maker due to their value in search engine optimization. And it’s really simple to do, just insert a link into an article, page, or and get a monthly fee. See TextLinkAds and LinkWorth - Sell Products
You can now sell products through your website that you never have to see, touch, or ship. You don’t even have to handle credit cards. Popular setups include selling some of Amazon.com’s millions of products through an Astore (do a search on fishing lures, there are tons of them), or selling everything from hunting or fishing related T-shirts, coffee cups, and mouse pads from CafePress.com - Affiliate Programs
Affiliate programs work by you placing affiliate links or ads on your site. If a visitor clicks on the ad and ends up buying something, you get a commission on the sale. There are many, many general affiliate programs out there, but here are some Outdoor Industry related programs:
- BassPro Shops
- Cabelas
- Associate Programs (Outdoors)
- LandBigFish.com - Donations
Doing good work, or have something really worth reading? Simply create a paypal donations button. Remember - if you don’t ask, you don’t get. - Newsletters
Got a newsletter with a good circulation? Add a sidebar or banner advertising for fishing or hunting related products. Get advertisers by sticking an “advertise here” link on your sign up page or in the newsletter itself.
How much $$$?
Traffic amounts and the competitiveness of your site’s niche will largely dictate whether you’re making beer money or enough for a new boat. But remember, there’s nothing wrong with beer money…
read comments (0)Does Your Website Look Good? Are You Sure?
Author: Wade Sonenberg 05 8th, 2008
Unfortunately, websites display differently on different computers. What may look perfect on your setup, may look horrible on others. The obvious problem with this, is that many of your customers may be running any of them. Websites layout differently due do different browsers, operating systems, as well as the actual website encoding itself. Some computers support a million colors, some support sixteen. Even valid XHTML/CSS designs will jump all over the page in Internet Explorer 6.0!
While diagnosing and fixing problems may or may not be easy, discovering a problem is very easy.
Enter BrowserShots.org to the rescue. BrowserShots allows you to check your web site’s appearance on literally dozens of browser and operating systems for free. You can then either view or download JPG images of how your site lays out in all of them. It usually takes 15-30 minutes to load them, but you can go do something else while it loads.
An example of AmericanVagabondPhotography.com in the Netscape Navigator browser on a Ubuntu Linux operating system. It’s not important that I don’t know what either of those are, what’s important is the site looks clean in whatever they are….
24 Fishing and Hunting Directories
Author: Wade Sonenberg 04 27th, 2008
Submitting your guide service or outfitter to directory websites is a good idea for two reasons:
First, because many of these sites come up in major search engines for a variety of phrases, which can lead potential clients to your website. Second, it can help build your search engine rankings by giving you high quality, relevant inbound links to your charter or guide website. Most are free, and some require you to link back to their site from yours (reciprocal linking), but all offer web links as well as contact info pointed towards your business.
Fishing Directories |
Hunting Directories |
15 Places to Post Your Fishing Report Online
Author: Wade Sonenberg 04 10th, 2008
Timely fishing reports are a valuable commodity for fishermen in unknown waters and their local playground alike. The web offers an unparalleled opportunity to share your wealth of knowledge on a particular water body or species, and in turn, it can be a highly effective strategy for increasing charter boat and fishing guide bookings. The goal here is two fold: First, to generate human traffic (potential clients) whether they are visiting your website or giving you a call. Second, it’s a great way to increase your search engine rankings by including a link to your website in the report, or in the “About” section provided by some report services.
Here’s a list of 15 17 (*see below*) websites offering free services to post fishing reports on the web. Remember, you can post last week’s report to them all if you like.
***UPDATE: Thanks to the great response, we will be continually updating this list***
If you have or know of any other fishing report sites, please comment below and we’ll make sure they are added.
- Big Fish Tackle
- Fishing Reporters
- Sportfishermen.com
- ReelReports.com
- Ultimate Bass Forum
- ReelFishingReports.com
- 2CoolFishing.com Message Boards
- CyberAngler.com
- Fish Eye Soup
- FishingWorks.com
- FishyFishing.com
- LandBigFish.com
- TheFishFinder.com
- TheFishingGuide.com
- US Angler
- Waders On
- Fishing Reports at Fintalk.com
- Fox Lake Fishing
- GoFishingForums.net
Outdoorzy.com: Social Network Business Directory
Author: Wade Sonenberg 04 9th, 2008
I’ve been involved at Outdoorzy.com for nearly a year now, and I would suggest that any serious outdoors related business join for a business account, even if you’re not into the whole social networking thing.
What is Outdoorzy?
It’s a social network, like MySpace or Facebook, for outdoors types. Forums, to-do lists, trip reports, etc. But it also has a Business Directory!
Why should I register?
You get photos or screenshots, an explanation of your business, and more, for the enormous price of $0.00 - all in front of your target audience on a growing social network. Lastly, and maybe most importantly, you’re allowed to place one-way, inbound links from your profile to your website which helps to increase your site’s standings in the search engines.
read comments (1)Embed Tide Charts into Your Website with FreeTideTables.com
Author: Wade Sonenberg 03 28th, 2008I ran across this cool tool from FreeTideTables.com that allows you to embed an auto-updating tide chart or charts in your website or blog. It’s absolutely free, and they actually give you the code - all you have to do is copy and paste!
Here’s why this tool is even cooler than it looks:
- It’s a great resource for your visitors.
- It’s a simple and free way to differentiate your website or blog from the competition.
- It builds visitor loyalty, as they need to come back to the page over and over.
- It’s great link bait, which helps your search engine rankings.
Screeshot:
:
Or view a live demo on my Bonefish Demo Website
read comments (1)Free Bonefish Fishing Web Site & Blog
Author: Wade Sonenberg 03 9th, 2008I love fishing.
I like designing websites. Is it too big of a dream that I can combine these two?
Rainmaker Web Design is giving away a beautiful Bonefish Fishing themed website, with no strings attached. If interested, please read on to discover why and what one lucky captain will get.
Screenshot below, please read on for features, etc.
Click image to see a live demo…
Why free, and what does Rainmaker get out of it?
I’ve been fishing since I could carry a pole. Bass & trout fishing in my native state of Georgia, and also in Key Largo where my grandparents lived for quite sometime. In addition, I’ve been designing websites for about four years, and have had some success with internet marketing and SEO for small businesses. I want to combine the two, and truly do what I love, all day every day.
The problem is, there are no fishing sites in my portfolio!
So when I talk to fishing guides & charter services, and offer my services, all I can show them is real estate sites, small business sites, and the like.
So help me help you which actually helps me, if that makes any sense at all….
The Deal
I’m giving the whole design away to one bonefishing captain, but not just any. I need a partner who is willing to put in a little work (non-technical) to achieve high rankings in Google, and therefore much greater traffic and hopefully more bookings. This system has worked very well for me, personally, and for many clients in achieving marked improvements in their search rankings - but you have to work the system for it to work for you. That said, you won’t pay me a penny.
How it works:
- You periodically have to add content to the site through your new blog “The Bonefishing Report.” Don’t worry, blogging is as easy as creating a word document, or checking your bank account online. You can even try it out before hand if you have any reservations.
- Trade links with other fishing sites and fishing blogs, again, it’s very easy and no need to write any code or other geek stuff.
- Lastly, you’ll need a domain name and Linux OS hosting (3rd party) if you don’t already. And if not, I’ll even help you set it up.
About the site
- Tested with all major internet browsers
- Built-in Wordpress blog
- Flash header with six custom bonefishing graphics
- Contact form (hides your email from spammers)
- Reservations management system
- Built in photo gallery
- Embedded weather, water temp., moon rise/phase, tide charts (location can be changed), and wave height.
- Other standard charter service pages, such as “What to Bring” - all you have to do is enter the information.
Any interested parties, please contact me through our “Contact” page, or give me a buzz at 770.377.6345.
read comments (3)Fishing And Hunting Guides - Blogging Will Increase Bookings and Revenue
Author: Wade Sonenberg 02 25th, 2008Hunters and fishermen are increasingly using the internet to find pros and guides on their next outing. Blogging is the most effective way to reach these potential clients, whether used separately or in conjunction with an existing website. Hunting and fishing guides who blog will consistently do two things: 1.) Get more eyeballs on their company, outfit, or organization and 2.) Convert more of these viewers to clients. Read on for the how and why this concept works:
1.) You’re the expert, prove it!
If you’re the guy that knows Florida flats bonefish, or how rocky mountain elk react to early fall snow, give tips and advice. Potential clients will recognize you as an expert and wonder what other tricks you have up your sleeve. Give teasers, but you don’t have to give away that favorite fishing hole.
2.) Fishing/Hunting Reports
First thing potential clients are going to want to know is what fish are running at that time of year, or when the rut starts. Give them an idea of when their target species is doing what through periodic updates.
3.) Regulations
Second thing potential clients are looking for: what bag limits are in place, when is the season for a particular game, how would one draw permits for such a beast or is this something the guide can handle for me? Note, a link to the state DNR web page will do, but covering them your self is even better.
4.) Profile Fish and Game
Detail what’s out there to hunt or fish. Give photos, describe what kind of trip is involved, and list what options are available for bagging their dream or game.
5.) Search Engines Love Blogs
Not all websites are created equal. Search engines love blogs because they are text heavy, deliver fresh content, create unique titles, and a number of other SEO factors not within the scope of this article. What’s important is that blogs can consistently outperform traditional websites for target search terms, but also maximize the effect of long tail search terms (google “long tail seo”). You’ll be surprised at how many people find you and your blog by seemingly random search terms such as a particular mountain you hunt, or a reef you mentioned last spring.
6.) Pictures are Your Friend
Potential clients want nothing more than to be the face in that picture of a 32″ redfish, trophy rainbow, or a 400 class elk. Photo galleries are a great idea, but also feature a trophy from time to time with a very ecstatic client in the background.
7.) Testimonials
If you’re really making people happy, they will love to give you great feedback. Email some past clients for a testimonial, or better yet ask a happy client to write a note on the boat ride or hike back from your outing. Most clients are happy to help, and you wouldn’t believe how far testimonials go to build credibility.
8.) It’s Easy
Anybody who can use the internet and make complete sentences can do it. Potential clients aren’t looking for Pulitzer Prize awarding writing; they are looking for the scoop on their next destination and somebody who can take them to where the “big ones” are located. Most blogging platforms offer an easy to use web interface to write, edit, and change the look of the blog very easily.
9.) Low Cost or No Cost
Setting up a domain name with a new blog (or paying somebody to do so), isn’t expensive at all, usually running around $80 to $200 a year depending on hosting, features, etc. since software packages such as Wordpress and TypePad are free. An even easier, and free option is to host your blog on a free blogging platform such as Wordpress.com, TypePad.com, Blogger.com, or even OutdoorsBlogger.com.
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