Who wants to make the same mistake twice? No one. Wise entrepreneurs learn from their mistakes and the mistakes of others...including the wild and crazy world of social media. The following are 5 mistakes that can set your social media campaign back especially if your a hunting or fishing outfitter or guide. We don't want that to happen to you so take a moment to "learn" from these tips (we sure wish someone would have mentioned these in the beginning).Mistake #1 - No Plan
Imagine if you started your business without a goal or a plan. Imagine you didn't know who your potential client was or what hunts or trips you were going to sell. Do you think it could be a recipe for disaster? The same goes for your social media. Take the time to plan your strategy BEFORE you dive in to Twitter posts and Facebook status updates. By having a plan, it will keep you focused, allowing you more success and more time outdoors.
Mistake #2 - Picking the Wrong Platforms
You can drive yourself crazy trying to manage twenty different social media sites and the odds are - unless you have a whole social media team - you won't excel at any of them because you are spread too thin. The idea is quality vs. quantity. Part of your plan (stated above) is to consider where do your potential customers hang out. Is it Facebook, Twitter, Blogs, Pinterest, YouTube? In our experience, we've found that most hunters and fisherman love to watch videos on YouTube and connect on Facebook. If you think you need to be on more sites, ask your clients and narrow your focus down to a few that you can manage well.
Mistake #3 - Tracking & Tweaking
Social media as a hunting and fishing outfitter, guide or lodge is not a "just for fun" tactic. This is a legitimate marketing venue that can offer tremendous success in the outdoor industry. Just like specials, advertising and other marketing ploys, you have to measure your success to know if and how well it's working. If you don't track what you are doing and make changes with each success or failure - you're wasting your time. Most of the social sites offer analytics and there are other free resources available.
Mistake #4 - "Push" Selling
When you spend all of your time pushing your followers and fans to 'BOOK NOW'- their going to do the opposite. They'll un-follow or un-like you and odds are, they're never coming back. Social media is about building a community and providing valuable information. Think about those potential customers and what they are interested in. Do they like DIY tips, quotes, funny images, special discounts, contests etc.? Give them what they want (integrated around your brand and services of course) and soon you'll be engaged in "pull" marketing which creates a much stronger relationship. They'll WANT to be connected with you and when they are ready to book - guess who they'll call? Plus these kinds of fans will probably share with their friends too.
Mistake #5 - Thinking this is Easy
Social media is a huge venue for hunting and fishing outfitters and because there are so many tools available, it's easy to get sucked in to thinking this is all a piece of cake. It isn't. Creating a social media platform that engages with followers and nudges them on their way to becoming customers is WORK. You didn't start your business without education of some kind, right? It's time to start learning the tricks of the trade and educating yourself so you can maximize your social media plan. (Hint - the Sold Out Season System)
BONUS MISTAKE <--- (Quite possibly the biggest of them all!)
Giving Up Too Soon
There is no getting around it - social media takes time. Success won't happen overnight and if you're only spending a few minutes a week on your posts, it's going to take a long, long time to reap rewards. To get a good start, expect to dedicate at least an hour a day to your social media marketing. Social media is about building relationships and there is no shortcut to creating trust. Remember, you have a plan and you are going to need to dedicate at least 6 to 9 months to achieve measurable results. Don't quit just yet!
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