Digital Marketing Tips for the Fishing Industry

“There are always new places to go fishing. For any fisherman, there’s always a new place, always a new horizon.”

– Jack Nicklaus

Yeah, Jack Nicklaus was more known for his golf, but the man knew his fishing too.

Did you know he caught the 2nd biggest black marlin in history? 1,538 pounds. (And that was back in 1976—if we adjust for inflation, that fish would be almost 8,000 lbs today!)

And what Jack said is right. Any fisherman worth their salt knows that there are always new places to go fishing. New rivers to explore, new lakes to discover, new seas to conquer—or to get sunburned and sea-sick in.

It’s the never-ending quest for the perfect spot, the perfect catch.

And just when you think you’ve mastered it, there’s always something new waiting for you, just around the bend.

It’s the same with digital marketing. There are always new places to explore, new techniques to try out, and new ways to hook your target audience.

If you fish for business, then you need to know how to fish where the fish are. And with over 5 billion fish online today, there are a LOT of fish in the digital river. So how do you go about finding them?

Here are a few tips you can use to start reeling in some serious business:

SEO & Digital Marketing Tips for the Fishing Industry

1. Use the right bait.

You wouldn’t try to use the same bait to catch a snook as you would to catch a catfish—at least, not if you wanted to catch anything. Nor would you use dough balls to try and catch a sailfish. The bait you use needs to be appropriate for the fish you’re trying to catch.

The same goes for digital marketing for fishing brands: You need to use the right bait for the right fish.

Who are you “fishing” for? What are they interested in? What will get their attention? Once you know the answer to these questions, you can start creating content that’s tailored to your target audience.

For example, if you’re trying to reach boat owners with children, you might want to create content like, “Tips for Staying Safe on Your Boat this Summer.” Or if you’re targeting fishermen who own kayaks, you might want to create content like, “5 Secret Spots for the Best Kayak Fishing in Florida.”

If you were advertising fishing charter services to tourists visiting your area, on the other hand, you probably wouldn’t want to publish a blog post titled “How Out-of-State Visitors Are Ruining Local Fishing.” (Though it might get you a lot of clicks, it’s unlikely to result in sales.)

Instead, you might want to create content like “5 Must-Do Things for an Unforgettable Fishing Trip in (Your Area).”

These principles don’t just apply to content marketing—you want your fishing brand’s website design, PPC campaigns, and even social media profile pictures to be tailored to your target audience.

And when it comes to SEO, you need to use the right bait to attract the attention of the search engines (and search engine users). Search engine optimization is a very complex topic, but some of the most basic requirements are using the right keywords (but not over-using them), making sure your site is structured in a way that makes it easy for Google to understand what your content is about, and ensuring that your site loads quickly.

2. Don’t just drop your line anywhere. Go where the fish are biting.

If you’re serious about fishing, you’ll do your research to find out where the fish are biting. You’ll talk to other fishermen, look for signs of fish activity, watch the weather, maybe even consult an app or two.

If you’re fishing in a place that’s known for tarpon, but you’re only catching whitebait, then it’s probably time to move to a new spot.

The same goes for digital marketing. You need to go where your target audience is spending their time online.

One way to do this is to look at your website analytics. See where your traffic is coming from and what type of content is getting the most views. You can also use social media listening tools to see where people are talking about your brand or your industry.

Another way to find out where your target audience is spending their time online is to simply ask them. You can do this through surveys, social media polls, or even just by talking to people in your target demographic.

Once you know where your target audience is spending their time online, you can start creating content for those platforms. If they’re on Facebook, create a Facebook page for your business. If they’re on Twitter, start tweeting. If they’re on Instagram, start posting pictures.

Wherever you can find your target audience, that’s where you need to be.

3. Use the right gear—and keep it in good condition.

If you’re a serious angler, you know you need to have the right gear for the job. The same goes for digital marketing. You need to have the right tools and technologies in place to be successful.

Some of the essential tools for digital marketing include:

• Website: This is your company’s home base online. Make sure it’s optimized for search engines and conversion, that it’s mobile-friendly, and that it’s easy for visitors to contact you, book a trip with you, find information about your products and services, etc.
• Blog: This is a great way to attract new visitors to your website and show off your expertise, and can be used to drive traffic to your other marketing channels, improve your search engine rankings through SEO, and generate leads.
• Social media: This is a powerful way to connect with your target audience, build relationships, and drive traffic to your website. The fishing community is particularly active on social media, so make sure you’re using it to reach them where they’re spending their time.
• Email marketing: This is a great way to nurture leads, build relationships, and stay top-of-mind with your target audience.
• Influencer marketing: This is a great way to tap into the fishing community and get your brand in front of a new audience—and can be especially effective if you’re targeting a specific niche within the fishing community.

4. Try new things—and be prepared to fail before you succeed.

If you’ve been fishing the same spot for years and not getting the results you want, it might be time to try something new.

The same goes for digital marketing.

You need to constantly be trying new things to see what works and what doesn’t.

One way to do this is to experiment with different types of content. Try new formats, like video or infographics. Or try a different approach, like using humor, or storytelling. You never know what’s going to resonate with your audience until you try it.

Another way to experiment is with different platforms and channels. If you’ve been relying heavily on Facebook, try branching out to Twitter or Instagram. If you’ve been doing a lot of text-heavy blog posts, try marketing with some stunning 4k photos or video content.

If you’ve been focusing on organic or local search optimization, try augmenting your SEO efforts with pay-per-click (PPC) advertising.

The key is to constantly be trying new things. The only way to know what works is to experiment, and the only way to get better at digital marketing is to keep learning and refining your approach.

5. Be patient—and be prepared for a long-term commitment.

Fishing takes patience. The same goes for digital marketing. You need to be patient and consistent with your efforts if you want to see results.

You might not always get the results you want immediately; as with fishing, it can take time to reel in a big one. It takes time, effort, and a bit of trial and error to find what will work. But if you keep at it, you’ll start receiving returns on your investment that make the whole process worth it.

If you’re a fisherman yourself, you know that the best catches come to those who are patient and consistent. Digital marketing is a long-term game. Be patient, be consistent, and don’t give up when you don’t get results immediately. With time and effort, you’ll start seeing the results you’re looking for.

6. Hire a guide.

If you’re new to fishing, new to a certain fishing spot, or just want to increase your chances of success, you might want to consider hiring a fishing guide.

It’s the same when it comes to digital marketing. If you’re new to it, it’s best to go with a guide who knows the waters.

Guides can help you save a lot of time and effort by teaching you the best techniques and sharing their knowledge of the area. They can also help you avoid common mistakes, and show you how to maximize your chances of success.

If you’re not sure where to start, or you want to be sure you’re using the best digital strategies for your brand, contact Page One Fishing. We’re a full-service digital marketing agency that specializes in helping businesses in the fishing and marine industries expand their online presence and reach their target audiences.

We’ll help you create a custom digital marketing plan that’s tailored to your specific business goals, and we’ll work with you to implement it—and get results.

Digital Marketing—Only for the Fishing & Boating Industries

Digital marketing is a vast and deep ocean—but we’ll help you navigate it. Whether you need a website designed, help with your SEO, or want to launch a social media campaign, we can help. We’re here to guide you to success and make sure you land the big ones.

Whether you’re just getting started with digital marketing, or you’ve been doing it for a while but want to take your efforts to the next level, we can help. Contact us today to get started, and let’s go fishing!