DiscoverBoating.com re-launches with new features

CHICAGO – DiscoverBoating.com re-launched earlier this month in conjunction with the soon-to-begin Discover Boating advertising campaign, having been redesigned to motivate interested consumers to become boaters, the National Marine Manufacturers Association reported yesterday in a release.

NMMA said DiscoverBoating.com was redesigned for an audience primarily new to boating, and its look and feel are intended to make users feel comfortable navigating through the pages.

Hosted and personalized by “The Boating Guy,” visitors can ask questions about boating and related topics and expect an answer by close of the next business day. There are also elements that help industry stakeholders track and retrieve valuable sales leads.

“The newly-redesigned DiscoverBoating.com is an A to Z guide for boaters, whether they are beginners or more experienced,” says Armida Markarova, NMMA’s Internet marketing manager. “It is a hands-on, interactive site that helps a new boater find all the information they need to know in order to get started boating, including suggestions on the right type of boat to purchase.”

One of the site’s features is a Boat Selector Tool that allows a user to narrow down the type of boat that best suits their needs based on answers to a series of simple questions. Consumers will then be able to request more information from manufacturers of that type of boat.

Those leads are collected and stored in the Discover Boating Lead Generation System, where industry stakeholders can review and track them through GrowBoating.org.

Other features of the site include: a comparison function, where users can evaluate boat types side-by-side and examine the various features of each; boating activity and destination information; monthly questions, articles and features; how-to and safety information; and a financing calculator.

NMMA said DiscoverBoating.com will grow to include: a local dealer finder, where users can look up information about boat dealers in their area; a list of marina and boat launch ramps organized by state; and an alphabetical list of manufacturers carrying specific boat types, including their contact information and links to their respective websites.

Through the website, consumers can request a free copy of the “How to Get Started in Boating” DVD. Visitors can also sign up to receive The Wave! Newsletter, a monthly e-newsletter offering subscribers everything from helpful how-to tips, to great boating destination suggestions.

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