Shows
April 8, 2021
The Watersport "Gold Rush" & Predictions For The Future - Episode #31
Kevin and Greg talk about the surge in bookings and what they recommend operators should be doing to get the most out of it. They also discuss what the think the future might bring for the industry in a post-covid era.
April 1, 2021
Supply Chain Issues, Kevin's Rogue Boat, Creative Lead Gen Idea - Episode #30
The guys talk about recent events in both the industry and with their businesses. Supply chain issues are hurting the ability to get more equipment and parts, and Kevin talks about what we need to do to prepare our businesses. Greg shares a new feature to more easily get customer info and re-target them, and Kevin shares his infamous story that made its rounds through social media.
March 25, 2021
Real Talk About Refunds & Cancellations - Episode #29
Kevin and Greg share their thoughts on how they handle refunds and cancellations, and what operators can do to provide a better customer experience. Some of the things you'll hear about in this episode include... Why negotiating with customers on refunds can often save you time and money. How your cancellation policy can hurt bookings if too aggressive. What to do when bad weather cancel's a trip. What Kevin thinks of customers who disregard cancellation policies.
March 18, 2021
Reselling Your Tours & Rentals (What Your Need To Know) with Christian Watts, CEO of Magpie Travel - Episode #28
Christian Watts, CEO from Magpie Travel joins the show to talk about what operators need to know about reselling your tours and rentals. Some great takeaways from the show Never let a single reseller be more than 20% of your business. Work with resellers that bring something to the table that you can't otherwise do yourself. Companies that are serious about growth use resellers.
Guest: Christian Watts
March 11, 2021
Pricing Your Rentals & Tours PLUS Some Chatter On Dynamic Pricing & Groupon - Episode #27
Kevin and Greg discuss how operators should be pricing their tours and rentals, and some deep dives into some new and old topics. In this episode, you'll hear about... The 3 principles of pricing: Margins, Market, Movement. What dynamic pricing is, and why you should care about it. How to figure out what your price should be. Experimenting with different pricing concepts. Why deep discounting is not a strategy that works for most.
March 4, 2021
Enriching Your Check-In Process With Ben Calder, CEO of WhereWolf - Episode #26
In this episode, Kevin and Greg speak with Ben Calder, CEO of WhereWolf about enriching the check-in process. WhereWolf is an industry leading waiver software based out of Queenstown, New Zealand. Ben shares why getting data from customers during the check-in process is an amazing opportunity.
Guest: Ben Calder
Feb. 25, 2021
The Instagram Paradigm - Growing Your Fans With Cali Hlavac From Sassy Tangerine Creative - Episode #25
Kevin and Greg get social with Instagram influencer Cali Hlavac , CEO of Sassy Tangerine Creative out of Destin, FL. In this episode, you'll learn about... Finding your followers through hashtags and location The Do's and Don'ts Tips on managing your Instagram page Why it's important to have an Instagram presence What to look for in a social media manager Kevin's great idea to make Preparation H go viral... ;-) Listen on your browser, or on your favorite podcast app!
Guest: Cali Hlavac
Feb. 18, 2021
What You're Looking For When Acquiring A Business With Tim Murphy, CEO of Boomers Parks - Episode #24
Are you looking to buy a business? Or maybe you have an opportunity to buyout a local competitor? Kevin and Greg are joined by Tim Murphy, CEO of Boomers Parks to talk about what you should be looking for before and after an acquisition. In this episode you'll learn about... What to look for when buying a business. How to obtain financing (and what not do to). What you should do with the existing brand. How to know whether it's a good deal.
Guest: Tim Murphy
Feb. 11, 2021
Understanding Facebook's Privacy Debacle with Marica Brewster From Von Mack Agency - Episode #23
Many operators use Facebook as a means to advertise to their customers. However, a recent iphone update could change the way you reach customers. Marica Brewster from Von Mack Agency breaks it down for us, and shares some tips on how to work though it.
Guest: Marica Brewster
Feb. 4, 2021
Increase Your Profit Margins by 50% With These Unique Upsells - Episode #22
Kevin and Greg discuss some unique ways to increase your profit margins by using both tangible and intangible upsells. Some of the ideas you'll hear about are... Cancellation Protection Damage Protection Affiliate Programs Photos & GoPro Rentals Boat upgrades Life preserver upgrades
Jan. 28, 2021
Understanding Customer Acquisition with Watersport Marketers Jaden Cymbaluk & Stephen Edwards From The AAMP Agency - Episode #21
Kevin and Greg are joined by watersport entrepreneurs Steven Edwards and Jaden Cymbaluk from the AAMP Agency out of Las Vegas. In this episode, you'll hear... Why customer acquisition matters Which metrics are worth tracking Which online marketing channels offer the greatest returns If Email marketing is still worth it
Guests: Stephen Edwards , Jaden Cymbaluk
Jan. 13, 2021
Is Rack Card Distribution Still Worth It? - Episode #20
Greg & Kevin discuss and debate why operators should still invest in rack card distribution.
Jan. 7, 2021
West Coast Update, Groupon, Marketing & More with Paul Bulka Jr. of Aqua Aviation - Episode #19
Paul Bulka Jr. of Aquatic Aviation and Bulka Media joins the AWG to discuss the state of watersports on the West Coast (USA). They also discuss their experience with Groupon and share their thoughts about digital marketing.
Guest: Paul Bulka Jr.
Dec. 23, 2020
Hiring & Inspiring Seasonal Workers with John Hall From Hall Consulting - Episode #18
Find the right people for your seasonal staff is not an easy task, but this week's guest John Hall brings a new perspective on recruitment. On this episode you'll learn where to find new employees, how to retain them, and why having a plan can make all the difference. Before you hire your next employee, make sure to tune in! John's top websites for recruitment Facebook LinkedIn Zip Recruiter (paid) Indeed (paid) Nextdoor Upwork (contract labor) Fiverr (contract labor)
Guest: John Hall
Dec. 18, 2020
Monetizing Your Knowledge & Business Byproducts To Diversify Your Offerings
Have you ever wondered what else you could do with all of the knowledge you've acquired by being an operator or watersport professional? Or maybe you have thousands of photos from your guides that are just taking up space in the cloud. Tune in for this episode as Kevin and Greg share their thoughts and ideas of how to make the most of it.
Dec. 10, 2020
Digital Hacks & Cool Tips For Running Your Tour Business With YourBikerGang.com Owner Ryan Turner
Ryan Turner from YourBikerGang.com joins us to talk about some of the cool hacks he has for growing his business.
Guest: Ryan Turner
Dec. 2, 2020
Glee Actress Drowns In Pontoon Rental Incident In California
Kevin & Greg break down the boating incident in California involving Glee Star Naya Rivera. You can read the full article here -> https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/naya-rivera-family-sues-wrongful-death-glee-star-death-224842971.html
Nov. 24, 2020
How To Choose A Domain Name
Kevin & Greg dive into the topic of domain names, and why you need to be creative when choosing one for your business. Greg also shares a story about how he nearly got sued by Facebook, and what he learned from it.
Nov. 12, 2020
The Growing Pains Of Expanding & Merging Two Businesses With Chris Woodruff From Paddles By The Sea
Chris Woodruff gets Awkward as he discusses the growing pains of acquiring Vero Beach Bait & Tackle, and how he plans to integrate with his existing business, Paddles By The Sea.
Guest: Chris Woodruff
Oct. 27, 2020
What We Can Learn From Vacation Rentals - An Interview with CMO Alex Husner from Condo-World
Alex Husner of Condo-World get Awkward and shares with us what watersports can learn from the vacation rental industry. She also shares a couple great stories from the Summer.
Guest: Alex Husner
Oct. 23, 2020
What Amazon Explore & The Movie "Surrogates" Have In Common
A lively discussion regarding Amazon Explore, the new platform for booking virtual tours and experiences. The guys also talk about how they view perception in both life and business.
Oct. 16, 2020
How Watersport Operator Donnie Coker Built & Expanded His Business Through Innovation & Inspiration
On today's show, the AWG are joined by watersport entrepreneur Donnie Coker from Paradise Adventures in Panama City Beach, FL. Paradise Adventures has been in business for 8 years, and offers Catamaran tours and watersport rentals. Here is why you will want to listen to this episode. Hear how Donnie & wife Tracey brought a popular concept from South Florida to Panama CIty Beach. Learn about Donnie's experience with finding the right vessel, and how the business almost didn't happen. Ge...
Guest: Donnie Coker
Oct. 8, 2020
The Social Dilemma, 401k Plans, Arival 360 Announcement
Kevin's Corner is our newest segment where we share what we learned this week and share anything new going on in our industry. 1- Kevin talks about The Social Dilemma and what he's done to improve his work life balance. 2- Greg talks about what he learned about 401k plans and how inexpensive they are. 3- Arival360 is now open for registration. Register Today 4- Watch Greg and Kevin's webinar with Douglas Quinby and Amber Merrell on replay. Watch Now
Oct. 5, 2020
How We Deal With Stress
Kevin & Greg talk about how they deal with stress as watersport professional and how they handle their work life balance.