Folks,

We'll be putting up a Consulting for Hunters website in the near future. Some questions have come up as we have been working on it so I thought I'd throw it out to the AR members for comment. I'd like to get some direct input from folks looking at websites while shopping for a hunt. The AR membership covers a wide spectrum of hunting experience so I'd be very happy to hear any and all comments from the sage members as well as the novices or the guy that's just in the dreaming stage.

So what makes a good website and what makes one better or worse than another? What do you look for in a website? Remember this is a booking agent's website and we are representing operators all over Africa, South America, Alaska, Canada, the Western US and Mexico.

Thanks in advance.

Mark

it needa to be fast, skip flash etc.

Integrate the page with your twitter/facebook account so you can update your companys news easy.

Update the page on a weekly basis with photos/movies from clients hunts it will keep people coming back to the page and hopefully buy a trip. Start a blog ? Get a few PHs that you work alot with to contribute with stories etc.

and some of your photos Anton.

Anton,

Thanks for the quick response and have noted your suggestions. I may ask you for some of those mood pix as Andrew suggested. You'd get the credit of course.

Mark

quote:

Originally posted by MARK H. YOUNG:
Anton,

Thanks for the quick response and have noted your suggestions. I may ask you for some of those mood pix as Andrew suggested. You'd get the credit of course.

Mark

Mark,

Very clear pricing on offered hunts is a good idea as well. When posible do the math for people meaning include all the costs in the offered price not a day rate plus "license fee, concession fee, VAT, bird license, etc". You should certainly list those things that are included for everyone to understand where the price came from but I find it sometimes confusing figuring our how much a hunt is.

I agree with Anton as far as keeping the website fresh with new photos, stories, etc. Once I've visited a website and it hasn't changed much I rarely go back. ARUB is a good example. Nice site but it looks exactly the same as when I booked with them through you in 2010.

Good luck with your new venture. Must be exciting.

Jim,

I agree pricing should be clear. Personally I wish I could put everything except trophy fees into one flat fee. When I first looked into Tanzania years ago. All the different costs gave me a headache.

Get Andrew to take some super pix of the ele, lion, leopard, sable, roan etc. I'll immortalize you.

Mark

quote:

Originally posted by MARK H. YOUNG:
Jim,


Get Andrew to take some super pix of the ele, lion, leopard, sable, roan etc. I'll immortalize you.

Mark

Thanks for the jinx there Buddy. You forget I'm Polish and superstitious?

Jim,

Sorry! I forgot the hippo, giant croc, kafue lechwe..................

If you are superstitious get the local chief to bless your guns. Andrew should be able to arrange that.

Mark

quote:

Originally posted by MARK H. YOUNG:
Jim,

Sorry! I forgot the hippo, giant croc, kafue lechwe..................

If you are superstitious get the local chief to bless your guns. Andrew should be able to arrange that.
Mark

Andrew thinks my guns are so old they are going to fall apart.

BTW, you forgot Sitatunga.

Jim,

Damn! I did forget the sitatunga. Seriously that one would be worth spending a few days on. One of the great prices found in Zambia.

Mark

Looks to me like most of the better advice has been given. Keeping the site fresh and interesting and spelling everything out as clearly possible for interested parties so they can get a clear idea of costs and such should go a long way toward getting clientss/potential clients to come to a decision on booking a trip.

Best of Luck with the site.

Mark just make it easy to navigate for computer elleterates like me! There are several web-sites on the internet that I will not visit because of the complicated navigation! Others have already made sugestions I wouldn't have thought of!

Looking forward to seeing it!



..................................................................................................................................

quote:

Originally posted by fairgame:
and some of your photos Anton.

I think we both could contribute All Mark need to do is to lower his % on his hunts

Mark just email what photos you are interested of.

no flash as suggested.

most important keep it updated. i visit a site and it has "old" dates , especially a price list. i'm outta there in a hurry . are they still in business ? most important on an outfitter i haven't heard of.

good luck ! will check your site when it's posted !

quote:

Originally posted by Crazyhorseconsulting: ... "Keeping the site fresh and interesting ... "

"Fresh and interesting" are, to me, code words for BS.

A website, in that regard, is no different from anything else. If I'm looking for something that's "Fresh and interesting" I go to You-Tube. If I'm looking to buy something (from a rifle to clothing to a hunt), I want to be able to get accurate information about the product I'm looking for as easily as possible and with as few distractions as possible.

Keep the BS to a minimum; in fact, leave it out altogether.

You can still have a mighty fine website without a lot of fancy high-tech internet crap.

Mark, If your operators will act as tour guide on the front or end of the safari would be a good thing to know. I had no clue that some did this prior to booking with you.

clear pricing. keeping the content current with updates and lots of photos.

quote:

"Fresh and interesting" are, to me, code words for BS.

Okay Mr. BS expert. How about having current photos and reports instead of stuff 6 months or more old?

Which is more important Mr. No B.S. a huntinmg report from last year or one from 2 months ago???? What is your opinion on that????

Please get a true professional to design it & invest the money.

DO NOT do a DIY with your wife, friend's son, neighbour's colleague etc. It is so easy to pick out such sites.

I would check out various scenarios and have a clear idea in my mind about the brand image I want to create and communicate. get the pro to then give you some options. I would prepare a detailed wish list and plan before even starting the real web work.

Always update latet info. I find it really annoying to see 2010 rates and 2011 booking info on a website.

Mark

I can't add to much. But agree with most above
# 1 current pricing and info or none
Fast and simple
As little bs as possible
Links to good sites and member affiliations are also revealing

New here and found a spot to give my op

Another BIG request

It would be great if you could develop a calculator model that would help prepare a budget for the total ALL INCLUSIVE cost of a safair and a guideline on tips (I know this is a tricky subject).

I found this the most difficult part to do and spent a lot of time developing my own excel spreadsheet. I'll email this to you for your comments and feedback.

The budget and caculator is critical for me as i have no clue what i will have to save. There is no point in me booking a buffalo package hunt for $9990 in Zim and then find that my final bill will be $22,000 including air fares, tips, transfers, dip & pack, tips & 5 PG. trophies.

Mark, a booking agent's website that I frequent and think is just about right is the one operated by Steves Outdoor Adventures. I have no connection to these guys, nor have I booked a hunt with them, yet.

But their website is very clear, concise, and easy to use. There are windows to choose for each type of hunt and in what area of the world. Clicking on each window gives you all the options for that species, with a write up of each outfitter including clear pricing and what type of hunting experience and trophy to expect.

Check them out if you get a chance.

http://www.steveshunts.com/

Guys,

So a couple of times I've heard bullshit come up in the comments. Do you think that BS is prevalent in hunting websites? To Nakihunter's question my intent would be to provide all pricing in detail with the exception of airfare and trophy shipping. There is no way I can quote that exactly for a forward booking. I can refer clients to Gracy Travel for the travel costs and ask the operator who they use for shipping and put the client in touch with them.

Thanks for the well thoughtout comments I'm noting them all.

Mark

Mark
As for bs not directed to any one. An oufitter posting references from agents that sell hunts for them is BS. Showing only a picture of a record from more than two year in the past with out giving detail about other game taken in the same area is BS. Most web sites are over the top and not seen as real by the skeptic.

You have proven yousel already in just a couple posts to me that your real so don't over think the web

truth

Sorry mark justvn
Learning the ropes here and I pad. Your real so dont over think your site and have folks assume otherwise

Holy crap I better learn to review post and spell check soon

Mark, BS definitely shows up on websites. Many times operators, because of hunting times, do not have fresh up todate pictures or reports to give their clients.

Many times however pictures/reports from 2 or 3 seasons back are used, especially ones that were not used originally.

You have the experience and reputation, do the best you can and everything else should fall in place.

Mark

I realise that you cannot quote for airfare & shipping. What I mean is to have a calculator page with a format that lists everything and this would help clients to plan the trip all inclusive. They would take the relevant info off your site and fill the other stuff themselves based on quotes they get elsewhere.

I sent you the spreadshett by email and would appreciate your comments.

Wish you well.

The hunting websites that promise you the world, 100% success rate, a bag of chips and the whole nine yards are the ones to watch out for. Nothing in hunting is guaranteed, but some of these operators make it look like you kill out on day one.

Back when I was doing alot of Africa stuff, I just wanted a little bit of honesty. I wanted to see three years of consistent trophies in order to determine genetics and superb male trophy consistency.

The simpler websites back in the day; Danny McCallum, Chifuti, Ethiopian Rift Valley Safaris,John Barth/Adventure Unlimited...were the ones to trust. They sold credibility, not hype and potential Success was more based on how well you hunted, not an abundance of game right outside the lodge.

If a PH wins an award such as Hunter of the Year, that's fine. But don't make that award the whole basis of why we should come hunt with you. Some of the best damn PH's and guides out there, have never won a single damn hunting award.

Bottom line: Operators try not to over sell yourselves. Safari-goers are smart enough to realize, a lot of flash often means a lot of trash.

Mark,
I am not website expert but I know what I like to look at -

1. No music - it slows things down.

2. No "fade to the next picture" as it slows things down.

3. Maps of the area advertised.

4. Accurate pricing

5. Accurate info on what it takes to get in and out of the country you are hunting.

6. Search capaibility by animal and country

7. Any hunt reports associated with your advertised hunts that you can post.

8. Wendell uses the term "reasonable expectations" in his hunt descriptions. I like that and would suggest it be used. In one of your recent offers, you mentioned "sable" then was asked what size - you replied "38 to 40" is the norm". That is good.

9. If possible, state success percentages on animals you know are tougher than normal to take.

10. Keep it up to date - many of your competitors do not do this.

11. State "terms of business" clearly

Do all that and you should generate some business.

quote:

Originally posted by dogcat:
Mark,
I am not website expert but I know what I like to look at -

1. No music - it slows things down.

2. No "fade to the next picture" as it slows things down.

3. Maps of the area advertised.

4. Accurate pricing

5. Accurate info on what it takes to get in and out of the country you are hunting.

6. Search capaibility by animal and country

7. Any hunt reports associated with your advertised hunts that you can post.

8. Wendell uses the term "reasonable expectations" in his hunt descriptions. I like that and would suggest it be used. In one of your recent offers, you mentioned "sable" then was asked what size - you replied "38 to 40" is the norm". That is good.

9. If possible, state success percentages on animals you know are tougher than normal to take.

10. Keep it up to date - many of your competitors do not do this.

11. State "terms of business" clearly

Do all that and you should generate some business.

That percentage thing is tricky. I've never been able to get someone to pin down what the percentage is gotten from. Is 100% meaning that every hunter going that year for that particular game was sucessful or does 100% mean the outfitter was sucessful in filling 100% of their alotted quota no matter how many hunters it took to do it.

quote:

Originally posted by MARK H. YOUNG:
Guys,

So a couple of times I've heard bullshit come up in the comments. Do you think that BS is prevalent in hunting websites? To Nakihunter's question my intent would be to provide all pricing in detail with the exception of airfare and trophy shipping. There is no way I can quote that exactly for a forward booking. I can refer clients to Gracy Travel for the travel costs and ask the operator who they use for shipping and put the client in touch with them.

Thanks for the well thoughtout comments I'm noting them all.

Mark

Blondes with big breasts sell well.

quote:

Originally posted by fairgame:

quote:

Originally posted by MARK H. YOUNG:
Guys,

So a couple of times I've heard bullshit come up in the comments. Do you think that BS is prevalent in hunting websites? To Nakihunter's question my intent would be to provide all pricing in detail with the exception of airfare and trophy shipping. There is no way I can quote that exactly for a forward booking. I can refer clients to Gracy Travel for the travel costs and ask the operator who they use for shipping and put the client in touch with them.

Thanks for the well thoughtout comments I'm noting them all.

Mark

Blondes with big breasts sell well.

Are they on quota in Zambia?

Funny you should mention that Jim. I could introduce you to a whole new big five experience.

Only dangerous if young Joyce found out.

quote:

Originally posted by fairgame:
Funny you should mention that Jim. I could introduce you to a whole new big five experience.

Only dangerous if young Joyce found out.

Nevermind, I've seen her shoot.

baitbabes.com

We now return this thread to its regularly scheduled programming.........sorry Mark!!

I too like to see detailed pricing. There are several outfits that I have not even looked at because they only did "POA"-- even for plainsgame. I like to see galleries of photos from that last few years to see what sorts of heads the PH's wiil "let" you shoot. Pictures of immature animals are a caution sign. I like to know a lot about accommodations: is a tented camp available? Is more than one hunting party in camp at a time? Will I have to listen to a generator at night? I also want to know if hunting will take place behind a game fence. Some sites have brief biographies of the Ph's that hunt with them. I like that because it allows me to try to do a little research (on sites like this one) on the people I may hunt with. Someone mentioned maps showing where the hunting areas are. That seems rare, unfortunately. I really like to find out where I am going to go.

quote:

That percentage thing is tricky. I've never been able to get someone to pin down what the percentage is gotten from. Is 100% meaning that every hunter going that year for that particular game was sucessful or does 100% mean the outfitter was sucessful in filling 100% of their alotted quota no matter how many hunters it took to do it.

I don't know what a percentage of success means to everybody but if I tell you that a "reasonalbe expectation" for a ringtailed rhinosaurus is 70%-80% I'm saying to my knowledge 7 or 8 hunters out of ten hunters historically have taken a ringtailed rhinosaurus.

If an operator has five xyz animals on quota and it takes 10 hunters to kill the five xyz animals the success in my book is 50%. I think you'll find the vast majority of safari operators look at it that way.

Mark