What Do You Expect from a Website?

ruppell

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Please help on this one guys.
When you as a hunter get to the website of a hunting outfitter, especially an African one (of course!)... What do you expect from the website? What would you like to know and see? I will appreciate any contributions.
 
The link that you provided as was discussed on another thread does not work well, But I also found this one, Farm Ruppel

is this also Your site?
 
I would like to see a pricelist, any fees associated with hunting with your company. Pictures of lodging and terrain in the area. The professional team of PH's and trackers and cooks. Some of the representative animals taken by former clients. References of former and current clients.
 
Thanks guys, already help a lot.

Bushbuck >>> Yes, that is also our site. It is a bit out-dated and someone else is currently working on it as well.
 
If that is your site, then I would just do everything that enysse said and since Craig Boddington is a reference on your place, I would put that endorsement front page!
 
Simple, simple and simple. Easy to use. Easy to access. Price list easy to find and current. Pictures of lodge for the wife. Pictures of terrain for me. Packing list and rifle clearance forms for first timers. Just keep it simple and easy to use. Too many outfitters over think it and end up with a neat looking, but very confusing website.
 
I have to really agree with Bushbuck and enysse here, make the site user freindly, i.e. easy to go photo gallery to pricelist etc. Bushbuck hit the nail on the head, if Craig Boddington has been a client of yours, you would be nuts for that picture not to be on your front page, he is probably the most respected of the modern day African hunters. My 2 cents, Scott.
 
Website progress.

I've finished, say a third of my website. Still need to do a lot of work.

Home part finished. Hunting part some work done, rules and regulations, essential information, huntable species finished. Working on packing list. Rest nothing done. So, a lot of 404 errors will occur.

Hope this one works!

Ideas/criticism welcome.
 
Agree with everyone above - price list, lots of pictures of accommodations AND the terrain, pictures of blinds (hides) for bowhunters if applicable, references and trophy pics of past/current clients.

Packing list and hunting equipment recommendations are also another good idea. I also found it very beneficial for a description of a "typical" day while in camp.

nd
 
Information on web pages

We need help please.
Coul you tell me what do you concider the best African Outfitter web page?
What is the most important information on the web page
What keeps you on a web page

What is a NO NO!!

We like as much information as possible.

It is for a college project.

Kind regards

Margie
 
We need help please.
Coul you tell me what do you concider the best African Outfitter web page?
What is the most important information on the web page
What keeps you on a web page

What is a NO NO!!

We like as much information as possible.

It is for a college project.

Kind regards

Margie

Margie, I like that you contribute: so here is my advise. You have to change your webpage, have a single page for animal trophy fees, maybe make some package hunts with discounts. I don't know how much work it is...I'm guessing a lot, but a video of your property with animals can help. I know you have had German hunters film their hunts. Anything helps!

Jerome's link above is a really good outfitter webpage.
 
We need help please.
Coul you tell me what do you concider the best African Outfitter web page?
What is the most important information on the web page
What keeps you on a web page

What is a NO NO!!

We like as much information as possible.

It is for a college project.

Kind regards

Margie

Hi Margie one thing that is a BIG NO NO with me is to state that you charge higher prices for inches. there was an outfitter here that stated that they hunted a property that hasn't been hunted in years and they have Kudu over 60" therefore they charge more for the larger Kudu sounds to me that they have more kudu then the grass can handle or they just returned from auction and pay a lot for a big Kudu and want there money back.

A big plus is outfitters that have prices listed for the animals that THEY have not animals on other farms I'm booking a hunt with them not with other farms if we hunt other farm thats fine but one set price. Just my 2 cents Bob
 
Negatives.

Links that don't work.
Opening a new tab every time that I click on a link.
Old price lists are almost worse than no price list.
New feeds or social media connections or imbedded blogs that are supposed to change that don't change. For instance, don't post that you are off to the USA for show season (Jan - Feb?) and leave that up the rest of the year when we know you should be back and hunting.

Positives -- that haven't already been listed.

A LOCAL weather report directly on your page ... I know that I checked the weather daily for MONTHS before I went and actually made some last minute additions to my gear because of colder than normal weather predictions.

HUNT REPORTS with photos ... again, I checked daily as my outfitter posted photos almost daily of animals taken by previous clients.
 
I'll echo the other comments and say a current price list is very important, if I see 'call us' or 'POR' you're essentially saying it's out of my price range and I go on to another outfitter's site.

I also want to know about the outfitters and what sets them a part from the crowd, sell my on why you're uniquely qualified to outfit my safari. I enjoy reading about family run operations, outfitters that have been in business for decades and have a long heritage. If you're new, tell me what you can offer that no one else can (i.e. unique hunting experience/value etc).

The site has to be current and updated fairly often. I get turned off when I see a site with info that hasn't been updated in several years. It tells me you can't be bothered and if you can't be bothered to update a website how can I trust you with my 'hunt of a lifetime'.

I'd also encourage outfitters to leverage social media. It costs nothing to set up a facebook and you can easily upload pictures of your facilities, animals, clients etc. Plus, it allows you another way to interact and contact potential clients.
 
Up to date pricing, photos, turn off to see outdated pricing and photos from two to three years past. My first thought are you still in business my second is to X out on my to look at another site.
 
Simple, simple and simple. Easy to use. Easy to access. Price list easy to find and current. Pictures of lodge for the wife. Pictures of terrain for me. Packing list and rifle clearance forms for first timers. Just keep it simple and easy to use. Too many outfitters over think it and end up with a neat looking, but very confusing website.

lists of rules.

dated photos in your gallery( nothing worse than 3-5 year old pictures )


mention of how far/close the nearest medical centre is to your property .

list of genuine property size . not we have 70,000 acres . that's fine but let the hunter know its on 7 different properties.
and that there may be several hours travelling .

whether your property is both bowhunter/riffle...

trophies fees in more than just American dollars.( this im starting to see more and more .)

definitely added costs , ( not all surprises are good )

lists of community generated projects you are involoved in .

lists of other activities for the missus and kids . with prices and time and travel expectancies.

details of who your choice for ,dip and pack , taxidermy , export freight is ,with references.

picture of the hunting vehicles , butchery and skinning shed .
 
The most important aspect is for the website to be easy to use and navigate. If I can't figure out how to get to the information pages etc or its in a language I don't speak ex. Afrikaans or German I'm going to skip the site. You need to keep it up to date and lots of photos, preferably dated. Have updated info and photos, lots of them. If a website has outdated info, say your price list is still the 2011 one and hasn't been updated sense that year, or if you only have a couple photos, or all the photos are old I will be more skeptical and if your website is outdated I probably won't bother with that outfitter if I don't know them because if your website hasn't been touched in 5 years whats the chances you'll even respond to an email. Other important thing is a price list of your hunts, whats included in the price, were you are located, travel, other expenses, info on your operation. Photos of your camp/lodge, hunting area, herds, trail camera photos if your offering lion/leopard/cheetah hunts on bait. Info on your PH's, it makes a hunter feel more comfortable when they have some background info on the PH. I like it when there is a page about their PH's, staff, etc. Also the true size of your property, how close to town/amenities and any other things you offer, hunting styles, etc. Some hunters will be bring a bunch of non-hunters wife, grandparents, kids, etc and send them sight seeing etc during the day depending on your location etc.
 
I have to say most are grate at answering what a Client needs.
My peeve is when I go the site and look punch up rates and Price list and it just explains
What is inclued and excluded.
If I am doing a Safari I like to know the price of everything without contacting the company first.
Maybe it is me but I like to calculate things and compare.
I recently talked to an out fitter from a show Emailed them what my needs were and their prices were $500 to $1000
Higher on some animals then a lot of other outfitters.
I have to so far one of the best I have talked to is from the Cape
On here.
 
If a picture (photo) is worth a thousand words, then a video is worth a hundred thousand!!! Seriously, I have found a lot of good websites by going to Youtube and typing in
""Kudu hunting south africa" or "cape buffalo hunting", etc. There is usually a link to the outfitter who did the video. They don't have to be flashy or professionally done, but they do have to be interesting.
Most of what else has been said I agree with ......one thing I don't like is websites that are "static"; if you have a blog section or news letter, post up something new every month or two.....it keeps those of us who are interested coming back (same with photos/videos....not just of critters, but what's going on around the farm/camp, sightings of other non game animals, etc.).
 

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