What Do You Expect from a Website?

Personally, I don't put much stock in references, if 50% of your clients are very happy, that will leave you with more than enough to put on your webpage, and it really isn't a direct representation of your company.

One thing I really found helpful when planning my safari, as I have never been to Africa, is a information page for each species available. Rookies don't know every species out there, and it is easier to click links from a webpage then it is to flip back and froth to Google looking up each animal you are unsure of. Pictures, vitals, habitat, ect. A mini Wikipedia page to be honest.

Also average trophy sizes would be nice, but I don't think that anyone really puts that info out there on a website.

Having just conducted preliminary research on every company listed on AH, I can tell you the companies that were excluded off-hand without any further research had one or more of the following qualities:

Those without language options (Mein Deutsche ist nicht gut)
Those without pricing options available and easily accessible
Those who did not specify how and how much it cost to be picked up and dropped off from the airport. (Or if it was included)
Those who were not specific in what was and was not included in the daily rates
Those that were difficult to navigate
Those that did not have clear pictures of lodging and social areas

Understand that most prospective hunters are trying to winnow the possible companies down to a shortlist for whom they will actually contact. Everyone has different preferences, so ensure that you are aware of what niche you are hoping to fill and ensure that those features are easily seen to your target consumer. The key isn't so much as to dazzle someone with a website, it's to ensure that your website is attractive enough so that you can continuously make the list of potential companies to hunt with.

Then dazzle them when they contact you.

I've weeded out outfitters that had nice Web site's but didn't take the time to answer all my questions. I was looking at one in the Free State that would email right back but only answer half of my questions, I booked with Bosendal and Paw Print instead as they were quick with complete answers!

A map of where you are would be helpful. I have self driven myself in SA & a map would be helpful so I know roughly where you are in planning which airport to fly into. Also info for folk flying in and getting picked up or staying one or 2 days before or after the hunt in that town. Perhaps having agreements with local hotels, etc...

What I should add is activities in the near proximity. When hunting I like it to do something else as a break during hunt:
-bass fishing, tiger fish,...

FRANK

All of the above with any emphasis on the properties to be hunted...size and location!

Lot of good suggestions I fully agree with, easy to use, accurate price list, but the one thing that really sets it apart for me is what are you doing to stop poaching and help conservation. I frequently defend hunting as a form of conservation to the anti hunters I work with, and I like to see exactly how y’all are doing with it. A simple one page that doesn’t have to be updated very often with a few shoe statements on how and what % of the fees are used for conservation.

Lbarr265 said:

Lot of good suggestions I fully agree with, easy to use, accurate price list, but the one thing that really sets it apart for me is what are you doing to stop poaching and help conservation. I frequently defend hunting as a form of conservation to the anti hunters I work with, and I like to see exactly how y’all are doing with it. A simple one page that doesn’t have to be updated very often with a few shoe statements on how and what % of the fees are used for conservation.

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Excellent idea.

Any more input on this topic is highly appreciated. We all learn from your response.

The web site must give clear offer on hunt. And quick reference. Not lengthy text.

For me, the first No-No, or turn off is: "contact us for prices", or "POR".

The fact is, the effect of "contact us for prices' in my mind is open door to negotiations and bargaining. And I don't want that.
That's how you buy a 2nd hand car, and groceries on public market. I dont want that for my vacation and for prospect in distant unknown country.

The exception for "POR" might be understandable for some species, like rhino, ele, etc.. but not for PG.

The clear price list is the first thing that I look for.
Then the daily rate.

And then, it must all be given without hidden costs. Or better put, all inclusive details to be clearly defined.

Very welcome feature would be option to make your own package, by choosing species to hunt plus daily rate.

Regarding the price of package, if lets say a packagae is for 5 heads of game, if client goes for more like 7 or more, a discount to be offered?

Taxidermy is part of the hunt planing and budget planning, but usually not done by outfitter.

However, some reference may be given. Most of taxidermists dont have price lists. They are mostly on "contact us for prices" system. It is always - contact us for price.
An outfitter may easily get the prices for the taxidermists that he works with, and give some.

Then:
Background and introductory page of the team, especially PH, but also trakcers, - why not?

Then:
Latitude - Longitude coordinates, so the lodge and hunting gronds could be seen on google maps / google earth.

Generally:
Only few above points, with general idea of main info being totally transparent, and entire web site to be in quick reference style. Not too much too slow opening pages.

My company just went through a major website overhaul.

A couple of the things the web designers told us were critical were:

* Keep it simple - nothing a person wants to know should ever be more than 2 clicks away. 1 click is better. If a potential customer has to click the "hunt specials" button, then select "plains game", then select "package 1" to get to the information they want for example, your website is too complex.. people are generally lazy, and/or easily frustrated..if they cannot find whatever it is they are interested in within a matter of seconds, they will surf to the next website..

* Be careful of color choices - certain colors have subconscious meanings. For example bright red tells the average American or European to "STOP!" You dont want people "stopping" when surfing your page. You want them to stay long as possible, to surf as many pages as possible, and gain as much information about you as possible before they check the next competitors site..

* Avoid having too much text or narrative. - Again, people are lazy, and we live in a visual world. People want bite sized pieces of information (twitter has ruined the American desire to see anything in longer than 140 character streams). Provide lots of photos and/or video options for people to learn about your camp, animal quality, happiness of your clients, etc. Avoid writing full pages of text to describe things. Limit yourself to a couple of sentences, or perhaps a paragraph or two if something is REALLY important. Otherwise give your potential customer fewer words, and more visuals.

Hope this helps.

mdwest said:

Provide lots of photos and/or video options.

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I would agree with everything you said but would like to caution about this statement, I think this can be taken to extremes. I’ve have seen some sites that take over a minute to load because of the number of pictures. That’s a huge turnoff, to me at least. We left dial up in the past and I don’t want to go back to those speeds