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Posts: 401
| Hello all.
I am looking for some suggestions from the folks on the internet. I am in the process of building a new web site for my custom fishing rods. So much has changed since the current site was put up several years ago.
My question is this. What can I add to the site to help answer some of your questions about custom built fishing rods and particularly my custom built sticks? This includes ice, spinning, casting, float and fly rods. I have built for several folks on this site. What helped you in deciding to have me build you a custom without ever meeting me?
My goal is to have this as informative as I possibly can. My business has been about 100% internet related so I want to make sure I cater to what you want. I have decided not to have an online store with checkout. I think it is important for me to make sure the person ordering is getting exactly what they are looking for and the only way I can do that is by direct contact. I think the extra time I have spent on the phone with people has helped them and me in making ordering a fishing rod a positive experience. Is not having an online store a bad idea?
If you are thinking about building a web site, I would strongly recommend the folks here at OutdoorsFirst. Their prices are reasonable and they have a great program that allows for you to make simple changes to your site. Thanks Steve and Zach.
If you do not want to post here you can send me a PM, email or call me 612-802-4629.
Hope all is well.
Keith
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Location: The Yahara Chain | Good luck, Keith. You will be hearing from me as soon as the season is over. I need that new bucktail rod. |
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Posts: 2865
Location: Brookfield, WI | Might be just me, Keith, but I love the telephone. When I first got started, talking to you a couple times made all the difference. Of course, only you know what the time you spend on the phone costs your business in the long run.
Being new to the sport when I ordered my rods, there was no way I would have clicked on "add to cart". Would have been a sale for Gander Mountain, instead. Because you talked me through it, the couple extra bucks was easy to spend as I felt I understood the quality of your products.
They're real pretty, too. 
Kevin
I can't see Ben Franklin sitting down to a huge plate of Tofurkey. |
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Posts: 2037
Location: lansing, il | keith, I think you need to have an updated product list. I bet most people do not even know you are making a custom fishing rod for the suzy sucker, pounders, and other big baits. That is an awesome big meat stick!!!! Pictures of the different guides and thread options would be nice. if you have differnt cork options availible etc etc...Current pricing should be on it. I bet people do not know they can order a custom stick on a stcroix blank and save money from store price.
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Posts: 7038
Location: Northwest Chicago Burbs | Here's what I would personally like to see: more info on WHY different components/rod weights/blank types make a difference and the benefits of each. As much as I love to fantasize about adding more custom rods to my arsenal of overspending, sometimes I think "why does THIS rod cost this much more/feel better/perform differently?". A section describing the differences in the choices of what can be put on the custom rods would be something I would like to see. |
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| just as a tease: our November contest coming VERY soon is sponsored by Professional Edge.
Keith is being very generous with prizes - you'll definitely want to get in on this one!
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Posts: 2515
Location: Waukesha & Land O Lakes, WI | Keep it simple...nobody wants to come to a web page and read a novel. Bullet points work best. Bullet points and nice photography. Take quality pics of the different components. One of the biggest mistakes you can make is to put too much into it. K.I.S.S. works best.
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Location: Athens, Ohio | I agree with GMG. For an example, try going to the MuskieFool website. Dark and confusing! K.I.S.S. and you'll be fine. One suggestion is a 'contact me' feature that gives the customer a form to fill out rather than dumping him onto a Yahoo mail system. good luck, m |
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Posts: 8781
| Keith
I think you need to be able to cater to both ends effectively. What I mean is this:
Angler 1 may know what what color wraps, what guides, what handle, what length/weight/action they want, and would want a website where they could hand pick components, sort of like when you order a car. It would be really cool for that angler to be able to go through a menu and choose all the components themselves -- this color thread, this brand of guides, fat cork, long butt length, 8'XH fast action St Croix blank, etc.
Angler 2 might just want a rod for throwing heavy baits, or a topwater rod, etc. and have no idea what length/weight/action etc they want -- they are relying on you and your website to help them choose. In that case, all of the stuff I described for angler 1? Over their head. You'll never sell a custom rod to angler 2 with the approach described in #1.
You're going to get people who know exactly what they want, you're going to get people who have no idea what they want and need you to help them figure it out, and you're going to get everything in between.
So what does that mean for your website?
1. As with any website, it has to be easy to navigate.
2. At the same time you need to have options -- choose a rod by function, choose a rod by length, build your own, or "help me choose a rod" for example.
I think the most important thing is to explain right away, on the front page, WHY IS A CUSTOM ROD BETTER?
What does it mean to spine a rod? Why is it important? Why does guide spacing affect the performance of the rod? Isn't a blank a blank? What is "fast" action?
And PICTURES. I wanna see some of your cool wraps, inlays, decals, etc. I might just be looking for a rod that matches my boat or my reel, or my wife's hair.
Lastly? Warranty. What if it breaks? What if it breaks and you've since gone out of business? Will I be able to even find you if there is a problem? |
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Posts: 1996
Location: Pelican Lake/Three Lakes Chain | Keith,
I will second your recommendation on Outdoorfirst website hosting and design.
Zach and Steve Rock!!!! |
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Posts: 401
| Thanks for the feedback. This is good stuff. Keep it coming.
Keith |
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