I Don’t Get It – Over 24,000 Views On Instagram In A Day? Really? UPDATE NOW 41,000
Will he make it?
After doing this for close to 10 years now, I am always amazed at what people like to look at. While loading Scarlet onto her trailer I decided to capture the moment. Not even the best trailer load to be honest. Jimmy has done this a thousand times. There was some wake action going on. So I loaded it on Instagram and WHAT? Out record is the reveal of Stinky in her barn at 4,000 But this darn video just keeps going. Can someone please tell me what we did? Cause I will do it again!
Headed to the ramp! Who knew it was so dramatic?
We gained 300 new followers on Instagram in two days as well. For those not familiar with Instagram, its where all your kids are. You wont like it, its all hot rod cars, and barely dressed women posing like contortionists to get likes. And to think Jimmy and his boat is what they liked. Here it is in all its glory! The sound you hear is Jimmys truck. I didnt care? Who was ever going to watch this anyway?
Here is a link to our Instagram page if you would like to follow us there. Lots of behind the scenes stuff
Thanks for capturing the weirdness of the new media followers.
And of course it is safe to assume that Jimmy’s power loading only takes place on long hard ramps, not the more common short ramps where power loading digs aggravating trailer wheel – capturing drop-offs.
Well as i like to say, the best free entertainment is at the boat ramp.
I can understand the interest. It’s really a steering moment!
No! And this was the third try. We were laughing so hard, it caused a small wake! No scratches though and thats all we care about
The ramp drops off into a dark deep area. So this is it. We normally love to float onto the trailer. I get twitchy everytime we use the ramp. Scratches all happen there
Since posting the story this morning, Already almost 25,000 views? Will there be a sequel? BOAT RAMP 2, And will jimmy star in it, or charge to much?
When you take WECATCHEM out for the first time would be an interesting video. Talk about a nail biter.
So Jimmy is expert. Now I don’t feel so bad because that happens to me frequently. Getting on the trailer is the only time I wish I had two outboards instead of one inboard.
The best free entertainment is spending some time watching people launch and retrieve boats…you get to see who’s a pro, and who shouldn’t own a boat.
We have floated the boat on before without touching anything. This ramp is nerve racking. Jet skis all around, it drops off, rocks on one side. I sweat backing down the ramp! The fun part of this is that folks love it. For some odd reason.
Can’t wait to see the ramp action for the first time with Wecatchem. Gotta get it on film. High Drama!
OH CRAP! thats right. AHHHHHHH!
Now 25K views. 1,000 views in an hour. We are in Kardashian Country now!
Well the boat does have a big stern…
Between trailer backing and boat loading, boat ramps are a comedic paradise. Upon visiting our humble little town in the South, one of our distinguished Yankee guests once casually remarked “So what do you folks do for entertainment down here?” Our reply “Well, we like to go down to the boat ramp and watch the pilgrims. Over the years, boat ramps have provided more pure entertainment and divorces than one can imagine.”
Trailer boating remains one of the very few areas unencumbered by licensing regulations requiring any modicum of demonstrated proficiency, other than the ability to write a check. Hence, each Spring we are rewarded with new entrants to the Ramp Gong Show. We dutifully assemble overlooking the ramp with Lawn chairs, cold beer and Olympic style judging cards for some great laughs.
Darn, cannot wait to show my better half! Wish she could”feel” where the rudder “is” after spinning the wheel…daughters get it. Still, easier to teach boat loading; as opposed to trailer backing!
Aside from the boat ramp entertainment, I have a question about Instagram – the real point of the story.
What do all these views or likes tangibly accrue to mean at end of the day? Higher site visits, more ad revenue, more ACBS or CCABC or chapter members or operating revenue and profit? Or is it an ego stroke for those whose narcissistic yearnings impel them to display for the consumption of untold, anonymous masses these mundane activities?
My sense is it does not translate in any measurable way to the achievement of any defined objective, beyond the farming of views alone – which apparently leads to nowhere but the opening question. Maybe we can ask this question or make this point to WB, ACBS, CCABC or any hobby related group or business – has social media exposure contributed directly and positively to the achievement of any clearly defined goal, aside from self-fulfillment of getting likes, views or whatever? How has it helped you?
If the answer is no, then why even bother?
My friends frequently implore me to join instagram or snapchat and I simply say “Why?” Other than them creeping on their kids, their appears to be no real answer to the question.
All I can say is what I have said in the past.
I was on FB, by brother sent me a link on FB to WoodyBoater, I started following WB (not on FB, but on the site itself), Matt did a story on The Brass Bell, I wanted a copy so I joined the CCABC. Matt did a story on Dora, Sandi and I talked about it and decided to go see what it was all about. We met a lot of GREAT people and I am now President of CCABC. Not at all how I saw this playing out, but who can see into the future.
I don’t know that the percentages are good for marketing through social media, but it got me here.
That is the question. And to be honest the answer is more complex. Like all marketing, it works as an orchastra. How ever thats spelled. We reach an audience on instagram that is not on Facebook or WoodyBoater. BUT does create awarness, and as the traditional sales funnel will tell us, Awarness leads to interest, interest leads to desire and eventualy action. Regardless of how I spell those big words. There are entire, sucessful business on instagram, it is a Milenial group. Actually theu are now on Snapchat. So. Also there is Twitter which I just cant stand so I avoid it. We have a very visual passion and therefore instgram is good for that. now, why this video has been viewd by 25 people, that I can not explain. It does give me some insights though, and that I am keeping to myself as part of my world domination plan! But first I need to get spell check
“…………. barely dressed women posing like contortionists …………”
And I know nothing about is?
This is crazy, I guess I need to learn about Instagram now.
My favorite launch ramps story…actually view:
gaggle of rookies swarming all of the boat and trailer…a few duck into the restaurant for drinks….other mill about….finally they cut the boat loose…with the trailer…honest to god…they wondered where the trailer went and why the boat was sluggish.
Trailer hanging under the boat 50 feet from the tow vehicle. what a hoot!….seen the tow vehicle go in more than half way a time or two also…..god I am old….seen it all.
Went boating this weekend….new motor for whirlwind in shipment! more to come
John in Va.
Trailer launching — the best sales pitch for owning an ‘in-the-water’ moored cruiser!!!!!
Matt—is that “world domination plan!” or
“word” domination…?
Either won works for me!
In Seattle, we tell people to go to the locks on sunny afternoons to watch boaters coming back into the lake from Puget Sound. There are always interesting, entertaining approaches to be seen… Sorta like ramp watching on steroids. 🙂
I’m at the ramp, next in line. The guy ahead backs his boat down the ramp. Mom and the kids stay in the car while he gets all the gear out of the car and puts it in the boat. Of course the boat is in the water on the trailer so he has to wade out to it. Then he gets in the boat and turns the key. Nothing, the battery is dead. He hauls all his crap back out of the boat and puts it back in the car, and THEN he drives off. About a thirty minute wait while this idiot shows every one in line how not to launch your boat!
Sandi and I were renting a cabin in West Boothbay Harbor back in about 1990 when across the bay we saw a tow truck back down the ramp across the bay by the Coast Guard station. We watched intently as the the tow truck winched a brand new Jeep Grand Cherokee with a boat trailer attached out of the abyss. (That would be Atlantic Salt Water by the way)
Matt,
Just the fact that it’s video will captivate many.
It’s the life and death suspense of “will he make it?” Or will there be a Hollywood fireball ending.
YES! The HERO pulls it out at the last second and lives to boat another day. Drama. Everything now seems to be about drama, have to have a “dramatic storyline”.
I prefer Instagram over Facebook because it requires a visual to start and I have not noticed the rediculous rants that seem to be soup of the day on FB.