Social media has revolutionized promotion, marketing and net-working and the kayak fishing industry has been swept into the craze. Filled with tweets, trolls, hashtags and memes, it is easy for a kayak angler to go viral—in a good way or bad. Whether you’re posting grip and grins of the weekend catch, or running a campaign to get sponsored or start a business, will you win the Internet game? I asked three pros how they handle their social media handles.
Keep It Fresh
Tammy Collins is a rookie Wilderness Systems team member from Alabama. “I post and share as much as possible without letting my readers, followers and friends get bored with it. I like to keep them interested and hit them with an occasional shock and awe story.”
For example, Collins was the only female angler competing against 158 guys in the 2015 Kayak Bass Fishing Classic. “I did it all on my own against bad weather and tough fishing con-ditions,” she boasts. And the experience made a great story that got a lot of attention on Collins’ social media outlets.
This type of smart promotion has helped Collins win pro-staff deals over the past two years. “Social media helps companies see what I am doing with their products, which in turn helps everyone gain valu- able exposure.” One piece of advice, stick to the sites with the biggest networks and focus on reaching the most people.
Don’t Hate
Knowing when to speak up and when to zip it are important, says Native-endorsed guide Tim Taramelli (www.ncpierman.blogspot.com) of North Carolina. “I post about my fishing adventures, not my family problems or issues with anyone else. I don’t put down any website or company, because I give respect and expect it in return.”
He admits that social media can bring out the worst in people. “I have deleted posts after I took some time to think,” he says. One time, he made comments against mo- torized kayaks then reconsidered his position. “I didn’t think about the whole issue, so I took the comment down,” Taramelli says. He urges social media anglers to use constructive criticism and always offer help. “Pro-staffers should be the ones bring- ing people together in the brotherhood and sisterhood of kayak fishing.”
Do You Accept PayPal?
Donald Corbett is the owner of 412 Bait Company (412BaitCo.com), a grow- ing lure manufacturer with no brick and mortar store. “I always planned to use social media, but the benefits it now possesses were unheard of a few years ago,” he says. Corbett stresses that the key is proper use. “Start a business page on Facebook,” he says, “don’t turn a personal page into a business page.”
Corbett also emphasizes the importance of remaining a peer to your customers and supporting their online feedback of your product. And if you want to get sponsored, your social presence better measure up. “I use social media for sponsorship decisions all the time,” he states. “Does the candidate post offensive things, does he alienate groups and is he effectively promoting products?” Social media exposure is a double-edged sword and a kayak angler must wield it wisely.
This article was first published in the Summer/Fall 2015 issue of Kayak Angler. Subscribe to Kayak Angler Magazine’s print and digital editions, or browse the archives.
