Proudly, a Veteran-Owned Business
EASTERN WASHINGTON GUIDES
Witness firsthand how online reservation tools are reshaping the outdoor guiding industry.
Client
Eastern Washington Guides
Date
Mar 2022 - Present
Role
Agency of Record
Contributors
Chuck Granade
Business Strategist, Website Designer/Dev
Pete Gade
Brand & Content Strategist
Steve Birds
Photographer
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Relationship Summary
Let me tell you about Aaron Echternkamp, an Eastern Washington local through and through. Born and bred in Moses Lake, he's following in his father's footsteps as a successful guide and outfitter in the region. Aaron's specialty lies in waterfowl hunting, skillfully guiding clients in the pursuit of ducks and geese. But that's not all he does. He's also well-versed in guiding trips for doves and fishing trips targeting steelhead, sturgeon, bass, and walleye. To meet the demands of his clients, Aaron employs up to 10 additional guides during peak seasons. And when he's not busy hunting or scouting geese, he's out winning bass tournaments or giving trophy deer a dirt nap.
What truly makes this project so special is the history that Aaron and I share. You see, he's not just a client of CRRNT, but a trusted guide and friend. Our relationship dates back to my early duck-hunting adventures with Moxie, my first chocolate lab. Aaron was my knowledgeable guide on most days, teaching me the intricacies of calling, decaying, and general waterfowl hunting during plenty of unforgettable weekends. Hunting with Eastern Washington Guides completely spoiled me; none of that reckless "Sky Busting" you might encounter elsewhere. Aaron's approach is to land birds in the decoys, aligning perfectly with my values, and besides, with my aim, I need them close! These days, I bring along Nelli, my new chocolate lab and Master Hunter (link to her Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/superbenelli_duckdog), for the best fully guided duck and goose hunting experiences in Eastern Washington.
Photo credit: Steve Birds. Eastern Washington Guides, Trips page.
Aaron is a man of many talents. In addition to his guiding business, he also owns and operates a rapidly growing telecom company (insert link to his business). Juggling the demands of both ventures, along with the countless hours spent scouting, building blinds, and booking hunts over the phone, he's one busy small business owner and devoted father. He's one hell of an angler too. Ask him how many boats he's won from bass fishing tournaments on your next hunt.
My mission was clear—I genuinely wanted to enhance Aaron's life by providing the digital and reservation management solution Eastern Washington Guides needed. It was a matter of utmost importance to me, and I was confident that once we set the wheels in motion, we could achieve remarkable results. After all, with his telecom business thriving, it was time to deliver on our shared goals and execute an effective launch strategy for his waterfowl business.
"I'm not sure people will reserve hunts and pay deposits online"
Aaron Ecternkamp, Owner, Guide
Our objective was clear—we needed to give Eastern Washington Guides a serious facelift. We had to say goodbye to Front Page 98 and hello to a sleek, modern online reservation system for fully guided waterfowl hunting and fishing trips. This wasn't just about slapping on a fresh coat of paint; we needed to transform his business operations in a way that his website grew from a mere brochure to a secure commerce-enabled platform. We set out to create a tool that would skyrocket his productivity, streamline the booking process, and effortlessly assign guides to clients. We nailed it!
Here's the breakdown of our objectives:
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Implement an easy-to-use online booking engine and easy-to-manage admin guide assignment tools. No more outdated contact forms or email addresses. We went all-in, making it a breeze for hunters and anglers to secure their waterfowl trips with just a few clicks.
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But it wasn't just about integrating an online booking engine; we had to ace the SEO game. We conducted extensive keyword and market research and crafted a lightweight content strategy that would boost their visibility in search results. Our organic search efforts are all about incrementally building Eastern Washington Guides traffic from the right audience.
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And hey, we couldn't forget about the visual design. We were not rebranding, so our aim was to create high-caliber content for their website. It was time to showcase the excitement of guided hunting and fishing in Eastern Washington
Aaron had serious doubts about people booking hunts online. But guess what? We respectfully disagreed. We knew that with the right strategy, design, and a custom implementation of the SquareSpace reservation engine, we would prove him wrong. The majority of the hunting market has no problem with online bookings, as long as the rest of the site exuded confidence through a user-friendly, elegant visual design, has compelling copy, and a strategically developed web platform.
Objective
Aaron's previous website? It was stuck in a time warp. We're talking about a design that's been chilling out for nearly two decades, untouched and gathering digital dust. Remember the good ol'days of Front Page 98 and Macromedia Dreamweaver? Yeah, those are the tools he was using to manage the site before we got involved.
Who they're for?
Eastern Washington Guides (EWG) caters to a diverse clientele, ranging from youth hunters to seasoned veterans but welcoming to everyone. The customer base is a mix of local Washingtonians (60%) and out-of-state visitors (40%), primarily from neighboring states. EWG's inclusive approach attracts both experienced hunters and first-timers, fostering a safe environment that often converts novices into lifelong enthusiasts.
With a high repeat booking rate of around 70%, EWG has built a loyal customer base, many of whom have been returning for a generation or more. While waterfowl hunting, especially for geese and ducks, remains a primary draw, early fall dove hunts are popular and a fun option as a prelude to the main season.
Why they do it?
Why does Eastern Washington Guides (EWG) offer guided trips? Simple: Aaron Echternkamp knows every nook and cranny of Eastern Washington like the back of his hand, and he's itching to show it off. With EWG, you're not just getting a guide; you're getting a local legend who'll hand you the keys to the best hunting and fishing spots & leases, deck you out with all the gear you need, and help you catch a limit or experience a waterfowl facial.
It's Aaron's way of turning his childhood playground into his office, and trust us, he's loving every minute of it.
What Eastern Washington Guides does?
Eastern Washington Guides (EWG) offers a diverse range of outdoor experiences in the waterways, lakes, and corn fields of Eastern Washington. From waterfowl and dove hunting to bass, walleye, and salmon fishing, EWG provides expert-guided adventures, including unique combo trips like 'Blast & Cast', catering to both seasoned waterfowl hunters and those seeking to hook a fatty bass.
WHAT WE DID
Brand Platform and Strategic Recommendations
We dove headfirst into the swampy waters of guided waterfowl hunting and fishing. First order of business? Cracking the code of Aaron's guide service. This wasn't your run-of-the-mill outdoorsman - Aaron was running his growing telecom start-up alongside his hunting business. Talk about a man who can juggle more balls than a circus clown.
With the lay of the land mapped out, it was time to whip up an online booking system that would make even the most tech-allergic hunter salivate. We're talking a digital Swiss Army knife for all your hunting needs - property lowdown, newbie FAQs, guide specs, and pricing clearer than a calm lake at dawn. But why pump the brakes there? We tossed in rebooking options, gift certificates, and a mobile app slicker than duck grease.
Here's where things get spicy. We unearthed a shocking truth - the hunting and fishing guide industry was stuck in a time warp when it came to online bookings. Most of these old-guard guides thought people wouldn't book hunts online. Hah! We were about to blow that misconception out of the water. After sifting through more booking software than a duck has quacks, we landed on SquareSpace. But off-the-rack wasn't gonna fly for our boy Aaron. We had to tailor this digital suit to handle everything from rotating guide duty to keeping tabs on those ride-or-die customers who had Aaron on speed dial. The end result? A website and booking system so cutting-edge, it makes the competition look like they're still using smoke signals. Strap in, folks - this is the dawn of a new era in hunting guides, and it's going to be one hell of a wild hunt.
"Well, you’ve convinced me that booking hunts and fishing trips online will save me time. It did! If anyone can make it happen, I’m calling CRRNT"
Aaron Echternkamp
Owner, Eastern Washington Guides
Repeat customers booking online
30%
Yearly increase in trips booked online
50%
Time saved per week managing clients
35 hours
TURNING RESERVATION MANAGEMENT IMPLEMENTATION INTO MORE TIME IN THE FIELD
Streamlining Success
Through our detailed business audit and a custom Acuity reservation system, EWG's booking process went from time-sink to smooth sailing. Suddenly, clients were booking online with ease, FAQ's were answering themselves, and repeat bookings were rolling in without Aaron lifting a finger. The result? More time in the great outdoors, happier clients, and a business that practically runs itself. Who knew a new booking engine could lead to more birds in the bag? We did.