Special Announcement from BoatTEST - 08/17/21
BoatTEST Shares Videos with 13
Media Companies
Newport, R.I. (Aug. 17, 2021) – BoatTEST.com announced today that it would share all of its boat test videos with 13 boating media companies, seven in North America plus three in the Pacific Rim. BoatTEST will be sharing 600 boat test videos on more than 400 boats that are in production, as well as its product demonstration videos of engines, equipment and accessories. The videos are being distributed at no charge to the content-sharing partners.
Beta Testing a Success
A beta test of content sharing was conducted over the last two months with BoatTEST and its first partner, Southern Boating. Southern Boating has placed BoatTEST videos prominently on its website and as the lead item in its weekly newsletter “Southern Exposure.” Skip Allen, publisher of Southern Boating, said, “We like being able to offer our readers rich video content from BoatTEST. These videos bring extra sizzle to our newsletter and website.”
BoatTEST CEO Jeff Hammond said, “We have rolled out our video links to all of our partners within the last few days and they will reside on their websites as well as on BoatTEST.com. They should start appearing as soon as the media companies can build them into their websites.”
International Content Sharing
In return for sharing the videos, the 13 partners are letting some of their content be published by BoatTEST for its subscribers. This means that in the future, BoatTEST can curate the best articles on a panoply of wide-ranging subjects from boat handling, seamanship, destinations, new products and useful information from some of boating's foremost editors. “We expect to be sharing with boating magazines in more countries in the next few weeks,” Hammond said.
The 13 media companies that are part of the BoatTEST content sharing are:
- Southern Boating (US)
- Pacific PowerBoat (NZ)
- Great Lakes Scuttlebutt (US)
- Asia-Pacific Boating (HK)
- Canadian Yachting (CA)
- Pacific Yachting (CA)
- Yacht Style (SG)
- The Fishing Wire (US)
- Waterway Guide (US)
- Chesapeake Bay Magazine (US)
- Plugboats.com
- E-Ribbing
- Scuttlebutt Sailing News
- Marine Life
- Argo App
Large International Audience
The total number of newsletter subscribers of the 13 media companies in the network is about 400,000. All partners have weekly newsletters, except two that are daily — BoatTEST and the Fishing Wire. The total monthly website unique visitors for the 13 websites are estimated at about 700,000.
The newsletters of the eight North American partners total more than 320,000 subscribers. Having the two most prestigious boating magazines in Canada and three from the Pacific Rim will give BoatTEST subscribers access to boating lifestyles and adventures that Americans are not used to. In fact, some of the very best cruising grounds in the world are in Canada and Oceania.
Advantage for Boatbuilders
BoatTEST’s raison d’etre from the beginning was to help consumers sort through the confusing aspects of a boat and explain how one is different from another. Its videos and in-depth written reports are designed to give serious buyers information they can get nowhere else. “For a large number of buyers, we are their go-to source for serious boat-buying research," Hammond said. “Now, we can serve twice as many consumers.”
Equipment, Accessories and Services
BoatTEST also plans to release its test, product and services demonstration videos to its partners. Some of these products include Seakeeper, Sharrow props, SiriusXM, Siren Marine, Talos Lightning Detection, ICOM, SiOnyx and other products.
BoatTEST will be making new product videos hosted by Capt. Steve that will also be distributed internationally.
Outboard Engine Buyer's Guide – “White Label”
In March 2021, BoatTEST launched a comprehensive Outboard Engine Buyer’s Guide. In just three months, it had more than 150,000 views on the BoatTEST website. It proved to be so popular among the content-sharing partners that it has been offered to all partners as a “white label.”
“White label” means that each partner can put its own brand on the iFrame that contains the guide on their website. Currently, the buyer’s guide gives the most relevant data on 207 engines.
The Streaming VOD Revolution
On Sept. 15, 2000, BoatTEST was the first business of any type in the marine industry to stream video, beginning with 100 boat test videos. It was literally a world pioneer in streaming client content, starting in the days of dial-up when only 4% of U.S. households had broadband. It quickly discovered that boaters would stream the videos at the office, in addition to watching the dial-up slide show at home. Slowly over the last two decades, major media companies have had the streaming VOD light bulb go on, as U.S. broadband penetration extended to 86% of households.
Sharing is the Sign of the Times
For the last decade, sharing virtually everything has occurred from Airbnb, Uber, private jets to boat clubs around the world. Boatbuilders have long shared dealers but now competing brands of boats even share the same factory and builder. “By sharing BoatTEST videos, we are able to help publishers all over the world enhance their online offerings for the benefit of consumers and their subscribers,” said Hammond, a 52-year veteran of the boating industry. “This content sharing will give all our partners a definite advantage over their competitors.”
Boating media companies interested in being considered as a BoatTEST content-sharing partner should contact Jeff Hammond at [email protected].
BoatTEST.com, 8A Halidon Ave, Newport, RI 02840