The Importance of Anglers' Websites
by Steve Reed

If you look around the internet a bit its not hard to find a few angler websites. Almost every guy on the BASS Elite Series and the FLW Tour and now a lot of local anglers are starting to catch on and get websites as well. The digital age has changed a lot of how a personal markets themselves, and it makes finding information on people much easier. Now, although websites can be great tools for anglers most are not used properly or designed poorly; both of these factors limit the potential of an anglers website. We're going to take a look at a few angler websites and talk about what makes a good website and what makes a bad one, but first, why should any angler have a website at all.

Marketability:

Websites are used for a variety of purposes. People read news, watch videos, play games, interact socially, so on and so forth. When it comes to an anglers website most of the time people want to find out more about a guy they like or an angler they have seen. People will usually look around for a few minutes and after finding the information they were looking for they'll leave. That's what a standard angler website is used for; a one-time find of information. That website has a good practical use, but that person who visited the site is very unlikely to return. If an angler website is static then a viewer can look through an entire website in minutes and really have no reason to stay or come back.

Examples: The Bad

Vic Vatalaro's website has a few problems. First, the website is extremely word heavy and uses too many types of font and colors; the viewer has no focal point from which to begin and the navigation is very difficult. Also, Vic's website is just static information that a viewer could spend at most 3-5 minutes on and really doesn't give people the opportunity to see more about him. The website doesn't include many photos or videos and the most recent pictures are from last season. If Vic has had a jersey change for a sponsor then it is not reflected here well. The main ingredient that is missing is a reason for someone to comeback. Another example is the following website.

This is Scott Martin's website. Scott Martin is a great young pro-angler who is also the host of his own television fishing program, “The Scott Martin Challenge.” The show is one of the cooler fishing shows on T.V. and he is a very charismatic host. The problem with his website is that it doesn't relay his great qualities as a host and product endorser. Scott's sight is old and outdated with a very text heavy front image. Again, this website could give people some good one-time information, but it would be surprising if people visited it more than once. The site should reflect the angler and talk about Scott's recent accomplishments and his television show. The fact that he is on Television increases his marketability ten fold. Most anglers will be on TV maybe once during a season if they make the final day, yet Scott is on for 30 minutes during each one of his shows.

Examples: The Good

The next website is a basic style website. It's really nothing flashy, but it has a lot of good characteristics of a marketable angler's website and provides a reason for people to come back.

John Crews website isn't a complex website, but it has many features that make it a really good site. First glance you see a lot of good things without even scrolling. First off, the site immediately tells you who John Crews is as it lists, “ 4 TIME BASSMASTER QUALIFIER AND ELITE SERIES TOURING PROFESSIONAL ,” on the top bar of the website. So before you even get into the content you know who John Crews is. Next, it shows a picture of him. So, we know who he is and now we know what he looks like. Those two things are important to put a face with the angler, and it could help people recognize him. Third, he has only a bit of text in the main box of the website and a side navigational bar that clearly states where each part of the website leads to. The right side lists his sponsors and allows you to click into the companies own website for further information about that product.

John's website looks very good, but what makes it more appealing is that he offers a current schedule, tips, and videos that can be funny or informative.

This is his video page. The videos shown here aren't totally even about fishing, but at least give people a chance to view a little more about John and give them a reason to check back. If each viewer of the website comes back just one more time, he has doubled the amount of traffic a static website would get.

The next website is probably the best example of what a website should be. The website is Skeet Reese's website and has a lot of great qualities about it. The first is that the first page you go to before you entire the site is a slide show of Skeet and lists his two biggest accomplishments.

The first page once you enter the website is filled with more images of Skeet and immediately lists his two biggest accomplishments again as well as his logo. The site is also very easy to navigate due to the navigation buttons listed right at the top of the page. Skeet's signature colors and logo are very prominent on the page, this is good for his branding. Skeet can now be identified by his black and yellow colors as well as his Skeet Reese logo. Again like John Crews he has an immediate listing of his sponsors to the right side of the page. What separates Skeet's site from all others is the amount of content that is constantly being updated. Skeet has articles, videos, and a ton of voice blogs that he does after every tournament. People can hear and see Skeet and follow him around the country with updates at every stop and he even answers questions from fans on his site; this gives him a following individually rather then people following the sport as a whole which makes him extremely marketable and gives him a brand of his own.

.

Websites are marketing tools for anglers just like a jersey, a wrapped boat and car, or a speaking engagement. Many of the angler's on tour wish to become more marketable and bring in more sponsors, but seem to think results alone will do it. Unfortunately, that's not the case. An angler, whether on a national tour or local or regional tours, must constantly be aware of what he is doing to help sell for the company which is paying him. Like any other salesman or brand representative the image of the angler is important. A website can greatly increase the marketability and the branding of an angler, but it must be something that is engaging and representative of the angler.