The firearm industry is a complex and diverse field. It encompasses so much from firearms and accessories to hunting and shooting sports. You also have to be aware of the nuances of the firearm world and take into consideration the political climate that it has to endure with school shootings, political movements, and war drums being beaten by international countries. Content creation for this industry is crucial to inform and educate customers about the latest products and trends, as well as promote responsible ownership and safety. Because who knows, but you may be the next targeted lawsuit. Creating content for this space is a balancing act and marketing for the firearm industry is not for the feint of heart.
In this blog, we will discuss some of the essential tips and strategies for creating compelling content in the firearm industry.
Understand your target audience:
The first step in creating effective content is to understand your target audience. In the firearm industry, this can vary significantly depending on the niche you are targeting. For example, if you are creating content for hunters, your audience may be interested in information on the latest hunting gear, tips on tracking animals, and other hunting-related topics.
On the other hand, if you are creating content for gun enthusiasts, your audience may be interested in the latest firearm models, reviews, and discussions on the legal and political climate around guns.
Understanding your audience is key to creating content that resonates with them, engages them, and ultimately drives conversions.
Focus on Education and Safety:
Given the polarizing nature of firearms, it’s crucial to prioritize education and safety in your content. This is particularly important if you are creating content for a broader audience that may not be familiar with firearms.
For example, if you are creating content around how to clean a firearm, be sure to emphasize the importance of proper handling, safe storage, and the use of appropriate protective gear.
Additionally, content that focuses on responsible ownership and use of firearms can help shift the conversation around firearms away from fear and towards education and safety.
This is especially important for firearm manufacturers. Much of what we are seeing from a lawsuit is directed on marketing practices, though firearm manufacturers are protected by the protection of lawful commerce in arms act (PLCAA). Their marketing strategies are a target and though many would be fine to go to court, the legal arbitration costs to get it to the final judgement, is the reason many firearm manufacturers would fail.
Creating informative videos driving the importance of safety while having fun create an almost stale mate, yes you are driving high impacting video content to motivate buyers but you are also teaching safety and always drive home the importance of safe practices. There is not a single manufacturer or dealer that wants to be the guy that sold the gun to the shooter, 99% of gun owners are enthusiasts of guns and of safety.
Use Engaging Formats:
The firearm industry is a visually appealing one, and using engaging formats can help your content stand out. For example, creating video content that shows firearms in action can be an effective way to capture the attention of your audience.
Similarly, using high-quality images and graphics can help illustrate key concepts and make your content more engaging.
While stating the above, remember your brand and the goals associated, use your brand guide as a tool for better marketing. Remember that simply aligning all your content to a similar color palette will help you get remembered.
Example, while scrolling through my feed I start to identify a pattern of what images and graphics come from certain brands I follow, at times I’ll stop and look at what they have and most of the other times I will simply scroll over it, but flipping the image up I still see the color palletes and if you have created your brand correctly, the brand name that I just scrolled passed pops in my head (company name). Being remembered helps drive customer loyalty and remembrance of a product they want to get.
Stay up-to-date with Industry Trends:
Like any industry, the firearm industry is constantly evolving, with new products, technologies, and trends emerging regularly. To stay relevant and provide value to your audience, it’s crucial to stay up-to-date with industry trends.
This can involve regularly reading industry publications and attending industry events to stay informed about the latest developments. Keeping up with industry trends can also help you identify gaps in the market and create content that addresses these gaps.
Be Authentic:
Given the sensitive nature of firearms, it’s essential to be authentic and transparent in your content. Avoid sensationalizing firearms or using fear based tactics to promote products.
Instead, focus on providing accurate, useful information that helps your audience make informed decisions about their firearms related purchases and activities.
At all times be honest and stay as close to possible with target dates or releases, breaking your word to customers in this day in age is unacceptable however if you are honest with customers even when you are unable to achieve a target, or something happens you can not meet a deadline then be open to it. Customers are far from stupid, they’ll give you their trust once but will rarely give it back, be cautious eventually time will run out and sales will be impacted.
Managing customer expectation is more about being honest with yourself first than honest with your customers.
Leverage Social Media:
Social Media can be a powerful tool for promoting your content and engaging with your audience. Platforms like Instagram and YouTube are particularly popular in the firearm industry, and can be effective channels for showcasing your products and engaging with your audience.
However, it’s important to be aware of the platform’s policies and guidelines around firearms related content, as they can vary significantly from platform to platform.
Instagram for example, though they state in their community guidelines, that if you are brick and mortar store you can post giveaways, do not do this, you will be flagged and eventually flagged. My recommendation is create images and video that are shareable and do not sell, simply cool factor. Anything else and IG will ban your account.
Facebook, though owned by the same parent company is a little more lenient in allowing you to post giveaways.
All Social Media platforms are heavily invested in seeing interaction with customers and will push your brand and company page if your interactions with your customers are a higher priority than your competitors. This was a part of the reason a low tier company was successfully outpacing social media growth by 1% higher than any of their competitors.
Collaborate with Influencers:
Working with Influencers can be an effective way to expand your reach and tap into new audiences. Influencers in the firearm industry can range from firearms enthusiasts to hunting experts, and collaborating with them can help you tap into their existing audiences.
When working with influencers, be sure to choose someone who aligns with your brand values and can represent your products or services authentically.
Influencers are trust factors and working with influencers is designed to trade a trust value from them to you and your brand. If influencers say similar things about you, the natural assumption is there is trust. Now the opposite can occur, multiple influencers script reading the same thing loses the influencer credibility with their audience. When working with influencers, you need to accept their honest review, you will only gain the trust of their audience when this occurs.
Measure and Analyze your Results
Finally, it’s crucial to measure and analyze the results of your content marketing efforts. This can involve tracking metrics like website traffic, engagement rates, and conversion rates to determine which types of content are resonating with your audience and driving conversions.
By analyzing your results, you can identify areas for improvement and make data-driven decisions about the types of content you should create in the future.
Tools like Google Analytics can be useful for tracking website metrics, while social media platforms often provide their own analytics tools for tracking engagement and reach.
Conclusion
Content creation is a crucial component of marketing in the firearm industry, and there are many strategies and best practices to keep in mind when creating content for this niche.
Understanding your target audience, focusing on education and safety, using engaging formats, staying up-to-date with industry trends, being authentic, leveraging social media, collaborating with influencers, and measuring your results are all important considerations to keep in mind when creating effective content.
Leverage Social Media:
Social Media can be a powerful tool for promoting your content and engaging with your audience. Platforms like Instagram and YouTube are particularly popular in the firearm industry and can be effective channels for showcasing your products and engaging with your audience. However, it’s important to be aware of the platform’s policies and guidelines around firearms-related content, as they can vary significantly from platform to platform.
Instagram for example, though they state in their community guidelines, that if you are brick and mortar store you can post giveaways, do not do this, you will be flagged and eventually blocked. My recommendation is create images and video that are shareable and do not sell, create content that is simply a "cool" factor, and grow based on your brand. Anything else and IG will ban your account.
Facebook, though owned by the same parent company is a little more lenient in allowing you to post giveaways.
All Social Media platforms are heavily invested in seeing interaction with customers and will push your brand and company page if your interactions with your customers are a higher priority than your competitors. This was a part of the reason a low-tier company was successfully outpacing social media growth by 2% higher than any of its competitors.
Remember, finding the right balance between engagement and promotion is key. If you're looking to enhance your online presence further, consider exploring our Social Media Marketing services. Our team at BRIM DESIGN specializes in creating strategies tailored to the firearm industry, ensuring your brand stands out in the digital landscape.
By following these tips, you can create compelling and informative content that resonates with your audience and helps promote responsible firearms ownership and use.