Advertising Airsoft

CrazyRabbit

One of the problems we face with Irish airsoft today is that not enough people play it (yet) in Ireland. The natural way to fix this is to advertise.

I believe I can get a fair bit of low cost/high visibility advertising for Irish Airsoft & local skirmish sites (Hi Paul ), but I am not sure if this is the right time for it. I'd like to have the official press release from the IAA available first.

As far as I know, the press release is almost ready. With this is mind, does anyone have any realistic suggestions on how we should attract new players?

With more players, more skirmish sites could be financially sustained and insurance would become far easier to obtain. And any local retailers would have more customers.

We'd also have a lot more teams and could organise team vs team tournaments etc. So everyone wins.

Fallschirmjager

one surefire way is to get companies to do a day out sponsor team building BS...that has worked for paintball, but the cost of paintball seems to put people off IMHO. we can also use our percieved weakness to our advantage...the fear people have is, they buy the kit, go out to play and are up against seal team 6 warming up for afghanistan...i played once the laser thing against a team, incredibly boring as we were playing for a laugh -- they were not...most of our team bugged out to the pub as some were not even getting a shot in. so the newness of airsoft, is an advantage...everyone is as crap as everyone else so to speak..

gandalf

The Milsim side would also be a great way to get people interested. I for one will be kitting myself out in full WW2 German army uniforms and replica airsoft aegs/gbb's down the line.

I am positive that there would be others intested in this aspect as well (eh Fallschirmjager ).

Dave!

Yeah good ideas chaps. You've actually reminded me to do a banner, I'll make a start on one now.

Also the company that is hosting the site (simplenode.com) said that they'd sponsor us for a competition in the future, so that's something that can be considered.

(They only small though, so don't get carried away or anything........)

[--SC(+)PE--]

Team Galway's ready *pumps shotty*

Dave!

lol

Here's a banner idea......... Do ya think Sigpo would give out to us for it being >20k? ¬_¬

o1s1n

DaveMcG wrote:

lol

Here's a banner idea......... Do ya think Sigpo would give out to us for it being >20k? ¬_¬

Walter Mitties are most definitely NOT welcome

I quite like crazyrabbits "friendly way to shoot someone". Go with that instead!

Dave!

But... aren't we ALL walter mitties?

That's a good idea though, I'll put that into another one.

Dave!

Another idea ¬_¬

I quite like it, I'm gonna throw it in my sig now methinks. For those who use it, bear it mind that it's bigger than 20k so if Sigpo catch you, you don't know me ¬_¬

o1s1n

Bow to my 1337 ms paint sk1llz



only 13.1k too!

o1s1n

Although, you'll have to remember, these all break the sigpo height rule. Bah. damn that anyway.

Dave!

The Sigpo thread says 300x125 is okay...

o1s1n

ooh, just gotta make mine a little shorter

Fiach Dubh

My sig is withing the forum limits. Unfortunatly scaling 4 megapixel images down that much wrecks the sharpness of the image. That's why my AK74 looks so bad in my sig

CrazyRabbit

Problem with sigs/banners is that only people who already know about airsoft will see them.

I'm thinking along the lines of getting airsoft known by by people who currently don't even know it exists.

The MilSIM idea and Company 'team building' events are a great idea. I did try to organise this where I worked, and almost got sacked though. Someone (yes,1 person) was offended and reported me to Global HR!

Anyone know the cost of a full page advert in the popular newspapers???

Anyone know someone who can get us a slot on The Late Late Show?

....etc. Let's think big.

o1s1n

I don't know about you lot, but I post all over this forum. So more than just the airsoft crowd will see it.

It's a start anyway!

CrazyRabbit

o1s1n wrote:

I don't know about you lot, but I post all over this forum. So more than just the airsoft crowd will see it.

It's a start anyway!

Good point. Forgot about that.

Spitfire666

and you have the likes of kdouglas who posts in the mustard forum....why i dont know but seen him in one.

And i post alot in the motors section and after hours and the likes

Fallschirmjager

CrazyRabbit wrote:

Problem with sigs/banners is that only people who already know about airsoft will see them.

I'm thinking along the lines of getting airsoft known by by people who currently don't even know it exists.

The MilSIM idea and Company 'team building' events are a great idea. I did try to organise this where I worked, and almost got sacked though. Someone (yes,1 person) was offended and reported me to Global HR!

Anyone know the cost of a full page advert in the popular newspapers???

Anyone know someone who can get us a slot on The Late Late Show?

....etc. Let's think big.

in the modified words of highlander..' there is always one'. terrible dude that u get the hr wallop for nothing

Fallschirmjager

gandalf wrote:

The Milsim side would also be a great way to get people interested. I for one will be kitting myself out in full WW2 German army uniforms and replica airsoft aegs/gbb's down the line.

I am positive that there would be others intested in this aspect as well (eh Fallschirmjager ).

as soon as i get my current gear sorted, i am all over that like a cheap suit...i cant wait till u out what the mp40 is like tbh...i am just waiting for a whole batch of ww2 aeg's to appear riding on the success of the bar and garand sales, which as far as i can see have suprised a lot of the airsoft companies.

gandalf

Fallschirmjager wrote:

as soon as i get my current gear sorted, i am all over that like a cheap suit...i cant wait till u out what the mp40 is like tbh...i am just waiting for a whole batch of ww2 aeg's to appear riding on the success of the bar and garand sales, which as far as i can see have suprised a lot of the airsoft companies.

Yeah drooling waiting for the MP40...I probably won't get a chance to get heavy involved in Airsoft until September in reality as I am in the middle of an apartment purchase at the moment. If I never have to talk to solicitor again it will be too soon.

I have already had a shopping list for a uniform, officers cap, tin helmet from that site you linked me to and I have found another in the UK where I can get replica SS insignia, medal and ribbons from. Looks like I'll have a busy little ebay account in the Autumn.

BTW I don't see why the suppliers were surprised after Saving Private Ryan and Band of Brothers there is a hell of a lot of interest in WW2 at the moment and lets be honest who here did not play WW2 when they were kids.

kdouglas

Spitfire666 wrote:

and you have the likes of kdouglas who posts in the mustard forum....why i dont know but seen him in one.

And i post alot in the motors section and after hours and the likes

ah the good old mustard forum.....

i post here and there too, mostly in airsoft but in other forums too when i feel the need after hours/dit/bargain alerts/tech and a few others.
will add a banner to my sig later

Fallschirmjager

Gandalf, thats what a lot of reenactors are also saying...i am stunned none has done cheapish (i.e. affordable) mp44, or even the russian ppsh...always loved the movie 'cross of iron' and the major steiner using ppsh's.

it would be a good laugh to do one day out like that..as for solicitors...dont get me started...

Fallschirmjager

on topic...how about a run of tshirts..?? i was also thinking arm patches

we could call ourselves 'the pathfinders' and obviosuly open to suggestions

i will hunt out something and post it...here


oops...looks like someone is using it already here www.pathfinderireland.com/

tonyj_mc

the obvious answer to me is to try and get out to the college during freshers week or rag week, get them to organise trips to HRTA and get the word spred that way Maybe?

If not get a load of IAA t-shirts printed up and get people to wear them out as much as possible.

Fallschirmjager

how about GOT AIRSOFT??

or

who need NVIDIA when you have AIRSOFT?

or

AIRSOFT, for the person who thinks they have everything

or

I learned about life playing AIRSOFT

or

psst...AIRSOFT, pass it on...

or

AIRSOFT, where size is EVERYTHING

or

AIRSOFT, THE ONLY game where .2grams of plastic makes all the difference...

or

DO YOU KNOW WHAT REAL FEAR IS, WHAT REAL PANIC IS?
its radio silence, your trained team is gone,
the enemy is advancing,
a half empty magazine of plastic,
an empty pistol,
thank god for regen
AIRSOFT where u always have a second chance...

etc

ambro25

AIRSOFTw

All - Ireland Ranger & Special Ops Fun Teams

AIRSOFT - The Way It's Meant To Be Played - For Real

"No Graphics Card Upgrade Required"

...with appropriate graphics/logos/etc.

CrazyRabbit

T-Shirts are a great idea. Coming into the summer they would be worn a lot and could look really good with the right slogan/pic.

Oh, and a few ideas.

liamo333

That is gerat ''Airsoft, it sure as hell beats golf" priceless:D

Fallschirmjager

liamo333 wrote:

That is gerat ''Airsoft, it sure as hell beats golf" priceless:D

since i hate golf ...priceless..LOL

o1s1n

liamo333 wrote:

That is gerat ''Airsoft, it sure as hell beats golf" priceless:D

Quite like that myself.

[--SC(+)PE--]

Rofl

Irish Trinity

heres one "its time to kick ass and chew bubblegum!..... but i'm all outa gum!"

Wossack

airsoft - who do you want to shoot today? - (in the microsoft font etc)

CrazyRabbit

Wossack wrote:

airsoft - who do you want to shoot today? - (in the microsoft font etc)

Microsoft would actually sue....I'm serious.

gandalf

liamo333 wrote:

That is gerat ''Airsoft, it sure as hell beats golf" priceless:D

This one is the winner but the piccie should have a guy dressed in golf gear, you know pink pullover with check trousers, a golf bag behind him except its filled with AEG's and he's wearing a facemask holding a big ass AEG himself

Now that would look great!!!

Dave!

Here's a couple more I've been messing around with........

The Master

In the old boards tradition







.

Dave!

2 more.......

liamo333

''Airsoft the most fun you can have with your pants on" That is the best so far:D

liamo333

How about?http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s320/liamo333/airsoft.jpg

Dave!

Hah, that picture is class! Can you send me the full sized one without the text please? Or upload it rather!

edit: nevermind, found it! Cheers

Dave!

2 more! Okay I'll stop posting them, lol. Start putting them in your sig if ye like them........ Or else make new ones if you don't

kdouglas

love the banners... if i had any creativity i'd create one myself

someone mentioned advertising in colleges, was thinking about this a while back, i've experience running a college society and would love to set one up for airsoft, but unfortunately i just finished, if i find anyone interested ill try and convince them to set it up though.

Dave!

I'm gonna try and set up a society when I go back to college! Anybody goin to UCD gimme a holla, cos I could use all the help I can get.........

HarryHirsch

You have to think about your target group:

Age? 18-

Gender : male/female (frensh girls love airsoft):D

Groups : 1)CS player (Don't you hate cheaters and too big hitboxes? Show your real skils)
2)Collectors (You gonna get them all).

3) Paintballers who want to try something different

How to address them? In Newspapers, Pubs, at work and friends?

I try to interest some colleagues...


P.S. Fallschirmjäger is written like this or Fallschirmjaeger.

Dave!

I was thinking that the best people to target would be people who play paintball every so often. Because (a) they obviously like combat simulation sports, (b) paintball is often prohibitively expensive, and (c) airsoft is arguably more realistic.

So I was thinking something like "PAINTBALL, ONLY BETTER", or "LIKE PAINTBALL? YOU'LL LOVE AIRSOFT" would be good slogans.

Except I don't wanna offend ditpaintball and the likes

ASI Casper

I'd fully agree on the careful consideration of target group. Was just about to post the same thing HarryHirsch.
And think very carefully about what message it is you're putting across and what it's going to portray to those who aren't in your target group. As there are some who simply don't want replicas pushed in their face ( both literally and figuratively speaking! ). There's even going to be some who will be downright totally against airsoft. You need to be very careful in case more harm than good is done.

fletch...

that - Airsoft, it sure as hell beats golf, is a good one, cause i work at greens maintenance on a golf course surrounded by the idiots 5 days a week!
would put somethn together myself but my photoshop has died.

il try think of something, or if you lot really want to we could make a promotional video? film making is what I do so throw some ideas together if yous want

CrazyRabbit

How about getting that Airsoft magazine on a few extra shop shelves? From a previous thread I got the impression that it was hard to find in shops.

I'm sure if 30 of us rang a shop and asked them to stock it, they would....rinse and repeat with a few of the large magazine retailers and suddenly airsoft gets lots of extra free advertising.

ASI Casper

Whilst they might certainly stock it if people ring up asking for it, they're unlikely to continue to stock it if it doesn't sell. Simply having it there isn't really going to make people buy it ( at least not to any significant extent ). The shelves are awash with mags on every concievable hobby. People are unlikely to notice it unless they're looking for it.