Spreading the word?

[BigBassin144]

Alright, I've had my jigs out a couple months now and I need to spread the word. My problems is, I'm running out of ideas.

Most forums won't let me post my website, and I can't afford ads on a forum. I've tried ebay, but didn't do any good. I am definately going to ask some local tackle shops if I can out up some fliers or something, but I still need some help.

Does anyone have any ideas?

Thanks guys,
BB

[bamabassman]

anthony, i am gonna ask you to bring a few i am gonna pay you for at the get together, ok? i don't know how to help you other than tell folks about em. i'll show em after i buy some ok? and give them your site. see about getting a few cards to send with them.

[BigBassin144]

bama, I am definately bringing some to the get together.

I probably should look into making some business cards too. good idea.

BB

[MIbasser]

BB, check out some local tournaments. Go there, give a couple (one's that didn't pass your quality test) away and pass out some flyers for your product as well. Have the good one's there as well for purchase.


A good cold call to a local tackle shop won't hurt either

[MississippiBoy]

I agree with MI, up to a point. You gotta spend money to make money, so giving them away as incentive for people to come back for more is a good idea. However, I don't know if I'd give them the ones that didn't make the cut. They may see what's wrong with it, and figure that's what all of them will be like. Give them your A++ lures, so they'll be impressed with the quality and workmanship, and be interested in getting more.

Just my $.02

[bamabassman]

i agree mb. just don't give out too many, maybe 1 to a couple of boats. then wait for da orders,hahahaha.

[Nitro 640]

If you have a site and have some money to spend on advertising look at www.adbrite.com
Search the sites you could advetise on and see if there are any fishing sites.
Could advertise for as little as $5.00 a week.

[Bender]

I got advice a long time ago never to give any out for free. This sends a mixed message and then your friends and soon everybody you know will want some. I try to stick by this, but there are exceptions.

One thing we do is to "sponsor" local tournaments. We just give them some products to hand out and they put our logo and website on their fliers. It hasn't really paid off yet, but it is some way to get your name out there. Check out the Fishers of Men, ABA, NBAA, and other local events. There are a lot on Erie down by you.

Also maybe make a fan site on Facebook. It is free and you can get people to join.

But right now I don't think that many people are buying a whole lot of fishing stuff in general with the economy the way it is. Plus the "season" hasn't really started around here.

[MississippiBoy]

BB, how about bumper stickers and stuff like that? Put them on your cars, your friends' cars, the cowling of your boat motor, etc. I'm sure you'll have to order a minimum amount, maybe a couple hundred at least, so the up-front cost might be a little high.

Now that I've said that, I found a couple web sites that don't have minimum orders by searching "custom bumper stickers" in google. Interesting...

[aikenyounggun]

cant you sell them on this website? .....

[66KingFisher]

tryin to get free advertising when you can't afford to spend any money on advertising is tough.....I know,i've done it for years with my airbrushing hobby.....What I did was find one of those sites that will let you build a website for free(Angelfire.com)and spent a couple of afternoons building a simple website using their tools,and another several afternoons registering my new site with search engines to make sure they would find me quicker.....now days you've got sites like youtube and facebook and stuff that allows you to post videos and such that will act as commercials that will point folks to your website. It takes some time but eventually the ball seems to get rollin and before ya know it your spending hours everyday answering emails regarding your product.

On the local front you could hit bait and tackle shops about promoting your product.....as mentioned hit your local tournaments and hand out a few of your best jigs along with a nice designed business card......not just a cheapo black lettering on a white card style of business card either.....something in full color and glossy finish....hopefully a nice catchy lookin logo or something that makes your card stand out from the rest.....that makes folks want to hang on to it longer just cause its a cool lookin card.....i'm serious...it works....so spend a few extra bucks for a good lookin full color card and you'll be glad you did.....leastwise it made a huge difference for me.....hope this helps.

[BigBassin144]

I've got a pretty sweet logo (thanks JB) that I can use on cards. It's on the front page of my website.

Kingfisher, I used a free website making thing like that. You can upgrade to get more stuff like email addresses and a domain name, but I don't need that right now.

I never though of youtube. I've regestered with Google, but they say that they can't garuntee when or if my website will show up...

BB

[Jim80]

Step 1 - mail a big ole box of jigs to Ct
Step 2 - i didn't really have anything past step 1 but it was worth a try .I would just give your local shops a shot and see if they will put some out for you . Also check into a local school team and see if they will give them a shot . The hardest part of anything is getting people to know what you got it will pay off with time .

Jim

[Christopherkeene9]

Originally Posted by MIbasser

BB, check out some local tournaments. Go there, give a couple (one's that didn't pass your quality test) away and pass out some flyers for your product as well. Have the good one's there as well for purchase.


A good cold call to a local tackle shop won't hurt either

One of the WORST things you can do in the manufacturing/retail business.

PM me some pictures of them, got a couple ideas for you.

[lowrider]

Originally Posted by MississippiBoy

BB, how about bumper stickers and stuff like that? Put them on your cars, your friends' cars, the cowling of your boat motor, etc.

thats what i did, i had a local sticker shop make me some simple www mysitehere stickers and put one on several peoples cars, including my bike's windshield. got alot of business from people seeing it parked at bike rallys. i'd also leave a stack of cards on my seat, when i came back they'd be gone. the next week i was usually shipping out a few orders.

[bcklash]

BB, hang in there. You keep making good jigs they will sale. I've got a couple of your jigs and they are well made.

[fishin spro]

for a few free jigs, i will advertise for you....i will put a sticker on my back windshield and wear a shirt advertisin your site anytime i fish a tourney.

PM me if u decide u want too

[CCbass]

If your thinking of youtube I have a great video avenue. Make a video kind of like Kevins showing all the things that make your jigs the best, how to work it ect. Then put it on a bittorrent sight for file sharing, on the desciption of the torrent you can put your websight, I noticed this from downloading movies off the pirate bay. One day I saw a fishing show as a torrent it had 60 seeders and 45 leachers. I had my old cable access fishing show so I loaded them as torrents. By the time I had the torrent seeding I had 5 leechers ( 5 min. ) now a month and a half later over 1500 downloads and counting. These shows have been on youtube for as much as 6 months some have maybe 200-300 views, 22 million users on the pirate bay alone and evidently a lot of fisherman. I'm thinking of doing something with the show again so I am doing this to try and get a following. Seems to be working 9 people downloading right now 7 have it waiting to start.

[Bassboss]

I like CC's idea and Mississippi boy's idea!

Hang in their, you'll get some business soon enough

btw....... what's your web site called!

[bcklash]

cabinfeverlures.webs.com

[pcfisher]

Have you tried using Craigs List ? I have bought and sold items there.

[BigBassin144]

Originally Posted by fishin spro

for a few free jigs, i will advertise for you....i will put a sticker on my back windshield and wear a shirt advertisin your site anytime i fish a tourney.

PM me if u decide u want too

I'll think about and let you know. that could help. What area do you live in?

Originally Posted by Bassboss

I like CC's idea and Mississippi boy's idea!

Hang in their, you'll get some business soon enough

btw....... what's your web site called!

Originally Posted by bcklash

cabinfeverlures.webs.com

^^^^^^^^^

(and in my signature )

Originally Posted by pcfisher

Have you tried using Craigs List ? I have bought and sold items there.

I never thought of that... I may have to try that too.

BB

[fishin spro]

i live in south carolina Big Bassin.

i usually fish 2 or 3 tourneys a month...i fish with a club that i would be more than happy to advertise them too also.
also fish some open tournaments too.
i fish mostly lake marion,lake waterree, cooper river, lake murray, lake robinson, and a few other places around the area.

just pm when u decide

thanks,

-spro

[CCbass]

Bigbassin144 the more lagit you seem the more you will get respect, trying Ebay, craiglist, ect. only makes you look like your trying to make do. Showing confidence and believing and going in those directions is in fact the only path to make your product a success. Me, 11 years second guessing my product = 11 years of no profit.

[MrPhotographer06]

haha hopefullly i'll be in those tourenys and get to make sure hes doing his advertising job