Digital Marketing Solutions For Outdoor & Leisure

Adventure awaits – capture outdoor enthusiasts online with a marketing strategy as bold as their next trek.

The great outdoors has never been greater in the public imagination. Whether it’s hiking, camping, cycling, or just general outdoor leisure, interest has surged in recent years as people seek adventure and wellness. In the UK, sporting and outdoor equipment retail is a roughly £12 billion industry , and that robust market means one thing: plenty of competition vying for the attention of adventurers and hobbyists. Outdoor consumers are a savvy bunch – they read gear reviews on specialist blogs, follow travel vloggers for inspiration, and compare prices and features meticulously online before investing in equipment. They also form passionate communities (think local rambling clubs or online forums for anglers) where word-of-mouth and brand reputation carry weight. For outdoor and leisure brands, a generic marketing approach won’t do; you need to speak the language of enthusiasts and showcase the lifestyle as much as the products. RiseUp helps outdoor gear retailers, adventure tour companies, and leisure brands connect with this audience through immersive, intent-driven digital marketing. We’ll elevate your brand story (be it one of technical gear excellence or eco-friendly ethos), engage the outdoor community, and ensure that when someone is planning their next adventure – from a weekend camping trip to a once-in-a-lifetime expedition – your brand is a trusted companion in their journey.

Core Digital Strategies for Outdoor & Leisure:

• Adventure-Inspiring Content & SEO: Capturing an outdoor lover’s attention often starts with inspiration. We create content that fuels their wanderlust and positions your brand as the go-to guide. This includes blog posts like “Top 10 Hiking Trails in the UK (and the Gear You Need)” or “Camping Checklist for First-Timers”, which naturally weave in your products as recommended essentials. We also produce gear guides and comparison articles (e.g. “Tent Buying Guide: How to Choose the Right Tent for UK Weather”). By targeting popular search queries such as “best lightweight sleeping bag” or “family camping tips”, we pull in organic traffic of people actively researching for their adventures. Every article is optimised with the right keywords and internally linked to relevant product pages, driving SEO authority and nudging readers toward making a purchase. Over time, as your content library grows, your site becomes a trusted resource hikers, campers, and outdoor sports enthusiasts rely on – and a steady stream of high-intent visitors flows your way
• Social Media Challenges & UGC: The outdoor community loves to share experiences – it’s inherently social. We leverage this by orchestrating social media campaigns that encourage user-generated content. For example, a seasonal Instagram challenge like “#MyOutdoorChallenge” where participants post a photo of themselves doing something adventurous with your product (be it reaching a summit in your hiking boots or setting up your tent by a lake). We can incentivise participation with contest prizes (gear giveaways, adventure trip vouchers) which turbocharge engagement. This not only creates buzz and organic brand impressions among the friends of participants, but also provides you with a trove of authentic content to repost (with permission) on your channels. In parallel, we maintain a vibrant presence on platforms like Instagram and Facebook, sharing breathtaking user photos, behind-thescenes looks at product testing in the wild, and short videos (a mountain panorama captured via drone, anyone?). By celebrating the lifestyle – not just the products – we tap into followers’ emotions and dreams, strengthening their bond with your brand.
• Influencer & Ambassador Partnerships: We identify and partner with outdoor influencers who align with your brand’s ethos. This could be a well-known UK hiking blogger, a travel YouTuber with a focus on adventure tourism, or a micro-influencer who’s a respected voice in niche communities (like a rock climbing instructor on social media). We’ll send them products for honest reviews or collaborate on sponsored trips where they use and showcase your gear. For example, an influencer might do a multiday trekking vlog in Snowdonia featuring your backpack and apparel – giving viewers an in-context look at your products’ performance. Additionally, we can establish an ambassador program for passionate customers or athletes, equipping them with discounted (or free) gear in exchange for content and grassroots promotion. These partnerships add credibility and reach – it’s one thing for you to say your waterproof jacket is great, but when an outdoorsperson with thousands of followers swears by it, that’s next-level influence.
• Paid Campaigns with Precision Targeting: We deploy paid advertising to ensure you’re capturing consumers not just when they’re dreaming of adventures, but also when they’re ready to buy gear or book experiences. On Google Ads, we target specific product searches (e.g. “buy inflatable kayak UK”, “GoPro alternative camera”) with compelling text ads and Shopping ads that highlight your USPs (like “Free 48h delivery” or “Lifetime warranty”). We also utilise geo-targeted Google Ads for any locationspecific offerings – for instance, ads for “Lake District guided hikes” that only show to users in northern England. On the social side, we run Facebook/Instagram ads segmented by interests and behaviors: we might target users who follow major outdoor magazines, or who have recently been traveling. Facebook’s data can even let us target by upcoming travel plans or recent location, which is perfect for promoting, say, a local outdoor festival or last-minute sale on ski gear before winter. By combining seasonality cues (promoting climbing gear in spring, camping in summer, ski in autumn) with fine-tuned audience filters, our paid campaigns ensure every ad speaks directly to someone’s current interests and needs – leading to higher engagement and conversion rates.
• Community Building & Email Engagement: Outdoor enthusiasts often form tight-knit communities, and we help your brand become a valued member (or host) of those circles. We can assist in creating online community groups (like a Facebook Group for customers to share adventure stories or a Strava club for runners using your gear) that deepen engagement beyond transactions. Meanwhile, our email marketing keeps your audience informed and inspired. We’ll send out newsletters that don’t just sell, but also tell stories – perhaps a monthly “Adventurer Spotlight” featuring a customer’s experience, or expert tips (“How to pack light for a week-long trip”). Of course, we also weave in product spotlights and promotions subtly (“…and if you’re planning a similar trek, our new ultralight rucksack might come in handy.”). For customers who have purchased big-ticket items like a tent or kayak, we might set up a follow-up series with helpful info on maintenance and best use practices, reinforcing that they made a great choice with your brand. All these efforts serve to build loyalty – when people feel part of a community around your brand, they’re far more likely to come back for their next gear need (and bring friends along).
• Reviews, Ratings & Reputation Management: In the outdoor sector, reviews can make or break a sale. We make it a point to help you generate and showcase positive reviews across platforms. We’ll automate follow-up review requests after purchase (timed so the customer has had a chance to test the product outdoors) on both your site and third-party sites like Trustpilot or Google. We integrate review feeds on your product pages so new shoppers see real feedback. For any negative experiences, we establish a protocol to address them swiftly and publicly where appropriate – showing that your customer service is as solid as your gear. Additionally, we keep an eye on outdoor forums and Reddit for mentions of your brand, ready to engage diplomatically to correct misinformation or highlight solutions (never in a spammy way, always authentically and helpfully). By cultivating a strong, positive reputation, we ensure that when potential customers do their due diligence (and they will, in this category), they like what they find about your brand.