Climber pays for advertisement on their Instagram send video

Was scrolling through Instagram when I was shown a paid advertisement for what ended up being someone's send video for a V10. I was a bit surprised that someone would go out of their way to promote just their send in this manner, and was interested in what the community thought. 

It seemed that they were not promoting anything else but just their Instagram and climbing ability. I can post a censored image of the advertisement if people are interested.

Thoughts?

Steven Neveadomiwrote:

Thoughts?

Why?

People are paying to promote far less than that. Users are the product and now they are paying to be said product. 

x15x15wrote:

Why?

Just figured it would spark good discussion on what we consider right/wrong in terms of spray/promotion/branding in climbing. I was shocked when I saw an Instagram advertisement specifically just someone's instagram post with a send video, and I was wondering what other people thought of this. Not trying to direct hate in any way or claim anything is right/wrong, but just to see if this would be a good topic if people were interested.

That’s the most serious form of spray down I could ever imagine. Hilarious. Anyway the gram can kick rocks, I’ll stick to climbing them.

Beanie Maker: "Wear our beanie in a send video. If you get N likes/views/thumbs/hearts by the end of May, we'll give you $X."

V10 Boulderer:"Oh shit, there's only two weeks left and I have N-100 positive feedbacks!"

Google Ad Dude: "I've got a solution to your problem for <$X. (Also, I found some sexy singles in your area.)"

I like the concept.  But I’m old school.  I wonder how much it would cost me for a 1/2 page magazine ad?

 Much more fun opening a rag and seeing your glossy pic jump out.  Gives more cred.  Anyone can have a pic on the internet.  You gotta be dedicated to take out a magazine ad on yourself. 

Why not? They’re just trying to grow their following.  

 They are pretty good at narrowing down their target audience if they reached you, a climber.  

Sonic reaches me with advertising for their milk shakes, and all I do is watch climbing on YouTube.   Their algorithm equates my screen time with lack of time for climbing, and knows I’m fat. 

Steven Neveadomiwrote:

Just figured it would spark good discussion on what we consider right/wrong in terms of spray/promotion/branding in climbing. 

Unfortunately, there is no right/wrong or set of rules, when it comes to spray. Be a whole lot cooler if there was though. 

Dan Cookseywrote:

Why not? They’re just trying to grow their following.  

 They are pretty good at narrowing down their target audience if they reached you, a climber.  

Sonic reaches me with advertising for their milk shakes, and all I do is watch climbing on YouTube.   Their algorithm equates my screen time with lack of time for climbing, and knows I’m fat. 

Yeah, I totally see using advertisements to grow a brand, youtube page, product, etc., but it struck me as odd that it seemed they were doing it purely for the spray and possibly their personal account. I think in my head I saw it as taking out a billboard after skiing a black diamond or something.

Almost like a step further in spraying, "pay to spray"

But impossible to know their initial intent, but it definitely seemed odd and figured other people would enjoy discussing it.

Here's a good reason. I'm just finishing writing a book, but in the beginning I was told since it was nonfiction I need an "Author's Platform." Which could be blog, a personal client list if you are a consultant, etc. Or Instagram with a minimum 10,000 followers. Something to let the publishers know that you are an expert that people listen to.

So I chose Instagram and went to work. I got up to 7,700 and was hacked, so started fresh at 0. I'm at 4,400 now. So yeah, I was just looking to grow the account for my book. Pure and simple. Occasionally I would try advertising with a post that did well. So I was that guy (not specifically that guy).

Book is www.fiftyclassics.com 

I have some send beta on my phone that I can't even pay my close friends and climbing partners to watch. 

I've hired photographers to follow me at the crags, just so chicks will think I'm famous, or something.

Spencer Moorewrote:

I have some send beta on my phone that I can't even pay my close friends and climbing partners to watch. 

I’ll give you $3 to watch it all.

Bryanwrote:

I’ll give you $3 to watch it all.

make share album and send er my way. Venmo works

I am still skeptical this is a thing, can you send us the link?

Princess Puppy Lovrwrote:

I am still skeptical this is a thing, can you send us the link?

Skeptical of what? It’s pretty easy to create a professional insta account and “promote” to similar profiles in the form of an ad. 

Not Not MP Adminwrote:

Skeptical of what? It’s pretty easy to create a professional insta account and “promote” to similar profiles in the form of an ad. 

It is even easier to include a link to said paid content...

Sounds like somebody trying to hop on the 'influencer' wagon. To my knowledge, that's one way of starting. You invest in the paid posts to get more views, which theoretically turns into more followers, which shows brands that you have influence, which makes them want to sponsor you. In my (maybe meaningless) opinion, the online influencer culture is fake, gross, and separates us from reality. But we all have the choice to pay attention to their 'influence' or ignore it. I choose to ignore it when possible, others choose to pay attention. I don't mean this to necessarily be a negative comment on it all, I know some people benefit from social media and the culture it has created.

J T wrote:

Not if you don’t have a link or your account is private. It’s like you’ve never seen an ad on instagram before ffs

ffs... no I have not... ffs...

x15x15wrote:

ffs... no I have not... ffs...

#privileged