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Post by dave on Jul 11, 2005 10:43:17 GMT -6
Why don't we put up a guide forum...it would maybe get a few more people to travel to our site. Just a thought
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Post by John Payette on Jul 11, 2005 10:54:36 GMT -6
Sounds good Dave need input from members and moderators. Why do we want guides? what do they get? What do our members get? I had thought about a free guide listing on our website. They could list name lakes and phone number free. Or buy a banner ad or list thier e-mail and website for a fee. Or maybe pick select guides to post reports for a free ad as long as they do it weekly. I am spending more time than expected just keeping up with this but will do what's best for the members
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Post by explorer on Jul 11, 2005 15:11:38 GMT -6
As a participant in several fishing boards I know that guides have been represented in a variety of modes but the one most often used is the free guide service listing based on regular reports. Reports draw interest, interest draws business to guides so it works for them. I think it works but you need to gather the thoughts and comments of lots of others to make that decision. Jeff is ready to pull his weight with the advertising but if it worked into something more beneficial he wouldn't mind.
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Post by John Payette on Jul 11, 2005 15:18:37 GMT -6
Thanks for the input George. This is the kind of help I need.
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Post by Robert on Jul 11, 2005 21:29:39 GMT -6
I agree with George as well, the more the better and beneficial too!
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Post by The Fishing Coach on Jul 12, 2005 14:24:18 GMT -6
As a guide I see some issues that might arise.
I would recommend some kind of "screening process" that leads to a "recommended" status. Why? Because some guides are not licensed, some don't carry enough insurance and some don't fish the lake in question enough to be that good! Some fish tournaments on the lakes they guide and that leads to a conflict of interest when it comes to putting folks on fish. Some even boost their reports when the fishing's poor.
Once recommended, then they should be allowed to post their reports and maintain their recommended status only as long as they remained legitimate in the eyes of BFW.
In addition, what benefit does a guide receive You say, reports increase business. well, in my years doing this, I Have not seen that to be the case. Most of us place reports on our on pages. There needs to be a reason to post them in another spot. I get request all the time from boards to post my reports. There is only so much time I can devote to that and the question (as crass as it may sound) is what's in it for me?
cbs
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Post by John Payette on Jul 13, 2005 6:51:56 GMT -6
I agree with you Bill that why I left this up for disscusion. We have both posted on several boards and written lake reports for several sources and in return got very few trips for the time invested. It did however serve to keep our name in front of the public which is part of advertising.
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Post by goose on Jul 13, 2005 8:15:41 GMT -6
One this board like many other fishing boards, you will not find many prospective clients. We would look at your report and say Bill and John are catching them on Fayette by c-rigging a centipede in 25 foot of water off main points. (not that the report is ever that detailed/I do not recall looking at anyone's report from this site) We then go out and test the report information unless we already have honey holes on a body of water.
On the other hand, if we have a championship on Conroe and we know that John will show you how to catch fish on Conroe. This is of course for those who have not been successful on Conroe in the past but just an example.
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Post by tailchaser on Jul 13, 2005 9:44:55 GMT -6
well, i tend to think that day to day a guide is not going to get much business from a site like this, BUT, if i were going to a new lake the old way to hire a guide would be to call local tackle shops/marinas.... now with the internet, if i want a guide for a lake i will do a search... i think that the more places a particular guides name pops up in a search the more likely he will get hired... so, the dya to day advantage of posting on these sites is not there, but i do think you will pick up business... i will bet if or when asked how they were refered, 99% of customers will say either a friend or the internet...thats my $.02
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Post by explorer on Jul 13, 2005 14:32:13 GMT -6
You know what? You are absolutely correct Tailchaser and we all know these are the facts. I put my son's site on this board because I wanted to support the board with another sponsor and Jeff doesn't get a lot of statewide recognition. His business is almost totally from local Austin based referrals or corporate business. In my enthusiasm for the board I jumped in to get another ad on the fader and used FAN as the vehicle. In spite of all that, it cannot hurt to have his name out there in front of people who might not get on "his" lakes yet want to venture up there now and again. Heck, I use a guide on Conroe once or twice a year myself if I want to hunt stripers or big slab crappie. I just don't know the lake myself. So, whether a guide forum is justified that is your decision but I do agree that someone needs to pull the reigns to determine who goes on there. Just read a few other boards and you will find a lot of scoundrels still lurking looking for suckers. Some are even running tournaments. Good discussion and what a good board is all about. 8-)dang nanner!!!
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Post by The Fishing Coach on Jul 13, 2005 19:15:37 GMT -6
It did however serve to keep our name in front of the public which is part of advertising. Problem is John, it has to be before the RIGHT public...someone in Missouri, Florida etc. does us no good. cbs
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Post by dave on Jul 13, 2005 19:48:05 GMT -6
That's not always true...You may have someone in other states who want to come here and fish, they would be able to find that. Not saying always, and not totally impossible...but it could happen!!
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Post by John Payette on Jul 13, 2005 20:05:41 GMT -6
Well we have nothing to lose by trying this. I will work on details and take suggestions. Possibly an application process and requirement to post on a regular basis. I know most of us are found on the internet.
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