YouTube Sellouts

[Sting_NC_USA]

Interesting discussion...

Personally, I don't fault anyone for peddling products and trying to support their hobby, or even making a living doing it. Yes, it's very clear some are sponsored, though it seems to boil down to what each of us get out of watching the videos.

Many (if not most) products found on our favorite Jeep sites simply show a picture (or pictures) of their product. The Vlogger videos, whether they're sponsored or not, provide a better view of what the product looks like, how it's installed, and they often include feedback on product performance (whether biased or not). It would be great if everyone had the resources and/or ability to create video feeds like Quadratec and a few others do, but not everyone can pull that off. I guess that's where I see value in the Vlogger feeds.

Further, one of the primary benefits of being a member of this forum (at least to me) is the ability to get candid feedback on just about anything. Meaning, it's pretty easy to put "influencer" comments to the real world test here.

With all that being said, I still don't understand the perpetual need for the personal attacks that keep popping up here (why get personal? SMH!). Absolutely everyone has the right to have and share their opinion... There's a better way to get our points across, without being cruel, hurtful and/or offensive.

Just my .02

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[RubenZ]

I don’t mind influencer marketing as much as I hate that annoying Jeep couple. Having that chick’s voice grate on my brain while she uses her phone to admire herself makes me want to nose dive into an oncoming bus.

They are members of this forum. No need to talk shit. I’d like to see that video of you nose diving onto a bus though! Make it! I’ll even give it a thumbs up on YouTube.

 

[Ma$$iveDebtAche]

I've seen this on here, also. A "review" for a sponsor provided product, without upfront disclosure. If you get a product for free or discounted: it definitely will influence your "review". A "review" of Bestop's Sunrider for hard top comes to mind.

 

[sundevil827]

The issue is most YouTube "personalities" make a choice it seems, they are either entertainers, or they have credibility, it's not as easy as one would expect to find people who inhabit both spheres.

The other challenge I see, is that it's hard to give credibility to folks with either limited experience, or only running one product. For example, there is a tire thread here, where folks are rating tires on multiple things, and I see some folks saying the tires they have are 10 in terms of being quiet. The catch is, if you haven't spent some time with more than one choice, how do you actually know how quiet it is? Your frame of reference is vastly different from people who have a wider breadth of experience. I rarely see people say "I spent $3,500 on this lift, and it's not as good as that "$800 lift." Or how often do you see people say "hey, my Mopar lift is awesome, it's better than a ton of higher priced lifts." (With the addendum that the person has actually run more expensive lifts.

All that leads me to two conclusions:

1) Most people think whatever they end up with amazing, and easily worth as much as more expensive products.
2) People almost never admit "yeah, I spent money and it was not money well spent."

Generally that's why I think ya gotta take YouTube and a lot of reviews with a huge grain of salt. It can serve as an intro to something, but I've learned my by talking, and wheeling with people, seeing what works and what doesn't work for them, and importantly how it holds up. As a side benefit, while I love wheeling, I'll take an afternoon every now and then, and ride a along with a friend, and try to see/feel how their products work for them. I always feel better about stuff that I can see, touch, feel, or experience, than taking some random dude on the internet, who I have no idea what their criteria really is.

 

[twisty]

l

Advice - use multiple sources either videos/blogs/forums/reviews/etc and see what people are saying all over the place if you see something common in all of those places your best bet is its true, if you see little things here and there the consumers/installer could have been the issue not the product, some people for install go cheapest route = cheap results (most of the time) or they install themselves having no idea what they are doing - know your own skill level

This. I said it in an earlier post. Look for patterns in opinions. Both good and bad.

 

[twisty]

The issue is most YouTube "personalities" make a choice it seems, they are either entertainers, or they have credibility, it's not as easy as one would expect to find people who inhabit both spheres.

The other challenge I see, is that it's hard to give credibility to folks with either limited experience, or only running one product. For example, there is a tire thread here, where folks are rating tires on multiple things, and I see some folks saying the tires they have are 10 in terms of being quiet. The catch is, if you haven't spent some time with more than one choice, how do you actually know how quiet it is? Your frame of reference is vastly different from people who have a wider breadth of experience. I rarely see people say "I spent $3,500 on this lift, and it's not as good as that "$800 lift." Or how often do you see people say "hey, my Mopar lift is awesome, it's better than a ton of higher priced lifts." (With the addendum that the person has actually run more expensive lifts.

All that leads me to two conclusions:

1) Most people think whatever they end up with amazing, and easily worth as much as more expensive products.
2) People almost never admit "yeah, I spent money and it was not money well spent."

Generally that's why I think ya gotta take YouTube and a lot of reviews with a huge grain of salt. It can serve as an intro to something, but I've learned my by talking, and wheeling with people, seeing what works and what doesn't work for them, and importantly how it holds up. As a side benefit, while I love wheeling, I'll take an afternoon every now and then, and ride a along with a friend, and try to see/feel how their products work for them. I always feel better about stuff that I can see, touch, feel, or experience, than taking some random dude on the internet, who I have no idea what their criteria really is.

good post. I have dirt biking buds who buy bikes and it's THE best bike in the world. You cant say anything bad about them, its like its their girlfriend of something. lol

I pay no attention to anything they say about anything, Worthless info, I do listen to those that tell you both the good and the bad, No product is perfect, all have warts. If I dont hear about the warts my BS meter pegs.

Any youtubers with high production value would do well to remember this.

 

[wordslayer]

interesting topic. I have a theory about why people get upset about things like this. Usually, when watching advertising, we see a celebrity pushing some product and we just accept it for what it is.

I don't think the lite brite people are really getting a fair break here. Their first videos weren't so heavily product influenced and people just liked them for who they were. We saw them as fun and enjoying a lifestyle that we all wish we could have. But after a few videos, they had the opportunity to become influencers. I think, when people see that happen, they then feel a sense of betrayal. They begin to think they aren't the people they thought they were when they began to first watch them.

Fact: sharing a product they like does not mean they have sold themselves out. It could generally mean that they actually love the product and want the social and financial currency that comes from them sharing the product.

Fact: No one knows for sure if there are products that they refused to promote. If they refused to promote some products that they did not like, then that totally negates theory that they have "sold out."

Most people that advertise are celebrities first and then advertise. They were liked before they became celebrities. There's nothing wrong with that. I hope they continue to do well.

 

[grady2hig]

You would sell out too...if it happened to you

 

[JimLee]

I don’t mind influencer marketing as much as I hate that annoying Jeep couple. Having that chick’s voice grate on my brain while she uses her phone to admire herself makes me want to nose dive into an oncoming bus.

Careful, the worshipers will leap of their prayer mats and freak out on you, I see a couple are already poised.

 

[twisty]

I've seen this on here, also. A "review" for a sponsor provided product, without upfront disclosure. If you get a product for free or discounted: it definitely will influence your "review". A "review" of Bestop's Sunrider for hard top comes to mind.

Dunno, that best top sunrider product is a dream come true for anyone hawking it. It's a pretty cool concept with only one negative I can see and that's price. And Lite Brite put up a promotion even on that. Pretty cool.

That sun rider will be on my jeep one of these days. My hard top is some what noisy at speed and likely the sunrider is quieter or equal. It's also VERY convenient vs those big honkin removable sections that you need to store. BIG PITA.

I'm fine with them making money, or getting discounts. I have seen a video where they even talk about the deals they get. I have zero problems with them, and say hats off they seem to be having a great time out there. Wish I could do it.

 

[Lou Bunn]

Catching up on this and saw Hickok 45 mentioned - as in hi, ol Hickok 45 here to show you how well I can shoot this gun that Bud's gave me to sell to ya'll, yep at least he's honest. And I still remember the feud Yankee Marshall started with Iraq8888 when he outed them for charging customers 4K to do a gun "review". Now, let's not get started on the politics and swing back to this discussion. I like the point about how people get something and if it's cheap - it's just as good as the pricey stuff, if it's expensive - well you better believe it's worth it! It's human nature, I think the word is rationalization. It's like you ask the best looking girl at the party to dance and she says she's not feeling good and you say well I had to go take a shit anyway. Now, I'm glad Jeep people are friendly toward other Jeep owners. I see another Jeeper at the gas station or Home Depot and I'll stop and ask if they went back to the dealer for service and if the dealer was any good. See, I believe you usually get more honest answers face to face and I'm honestly not sure of my dealership's service department, based on the on-line reviews naturally. Now, I don't need service cause knock on wood, nothing is wrong with my Jeep and I plan on doing my own oil changes. But, I would like to know if I did have an issue - if they are first rate. By the way, anybody go to Leith in Raleigh NC?

 

[Sgt Beavis]

Why are you frustrated? Who's holding a gun to your head to force you to watch the vids? In @Kevin8086 and Britney's (aka LiteBrite) case, they're trying to make a living off creating YouTube vids. It's their livelihood. They don't hide that they're sponsored by Bestop or Metalcloak. It's a helluva lot better living than selling insurance or processing hail damage claims.

If you have such a problem with it, then why are you even on this message board. Don't you know there are FOURTY message boards on this forum that are just for sponsors?
FOURTY!!

Seriously, I had to go count it again to make sure. There's even a Vendor Marketplace forum for hawking their wares. Beyond that, JLWranglerForums has EIGHTY sponsors. But I don't really see anyone complaining that the operators of this forum are sellouts. If you've got such a problem with people making a buck why are you even here?

The fact is, those YouTubers are small fry on that platform. You can't even start monetization until you hit 4000 viewing hours per year. That monetization is tiny until you get 100s of thousands of viewers watching hours of your content. Beyond that, it's easy for someone to get your vid de-monetized so getting a sponsorship becomes the most secure way to generate any revenue. BleepinJeep is the largest Jeep/Offroading channel, I know of, and they still have less than 300K subscribers. TrailRecon has 173K. They aren't making a killing off monetization. Money makes the world go 'round folks. If you want to check out a channel that doesn't hawk a damn thing then find mine with 5 subscribers and a crappy vid once in blue moon. I'm sure it's a great way to get yourself in the mood to take a nap.

 

[RubenZ]

Careful, the worshipers will leap of their prayer mats and freak out on you, I see a couple are already poised. You might get banished to [Banned Site], gotta love the censorship BTW, like we live in China or Iran.

No woshiping here. I've just seen one too many supposed "Grown Men" on the internet bash this poor girl and disrespect her. But I guess they have no balls or they haven't dropped yet that they feel the need to put down a girl on the internet.

 

[RubenZ]

Well said Sgt Beavies. Too many crybabies on the internet these days. Wuah whah mommy look someone is getting free products and making more money than meeeeeee please mommy get my pacifier.

 

[SilverJL]

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