Are these Vloggers just a scam? SOL or Shmee etc? (Vol. 3)

[g3org3y]

Shmee said:

This is a bit of a curveball to the industry in which I work:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKSKMPwwRuk

A paid promo piece for BMW's flagship M car, months before any journalist from a magazine or online will drive the M8 GC, and that's the first presentation the world sees.

I'm worried that even what I do is now quickly heading towards being out of date

Social media will continue to be bizarre!

Just to clarify, BMW paid for this...

[Truckosaurus]

g3org3y said:

Just to clarify, BMW paid for this...

Did they hand over actual money or just some expenses? I'm sure some influencers put 'paid promotion' tags on things just to get extra kudos.

It certainly seems cheap advertising for them anyway, especially on an overpriced limited edition car, they'll get more views from a vlog than a one page 'first drive' story in a traditional magazine.

[jayemm89]

If a video, like hers, says "sponsored by BMW" in the description - I would take that to mean money has changed hands.

The rules for paid promotion are fairly simple - just flying her out there, giving an exclusive, even feeding and putting up in a hotel actually doesn't count.

The moment she is given something in exchange for a particular view, or paid to make the video, that's promotion.

[shinjuku]

ReaperCushions said:

Yes, and had my google home mini about 6 months into my subscription. Currently sitting on my desk at work, unopened as I have no use for it.

By the way, the $10 a month is the best thing I did to get rid of the ads and open up other content. Worth the money.

I just have adblockers chewing up RAM and burning through my energy bills instead.

[shinjuku]

Shmee said:

Social media will continue to be bizarre!

Social media will continue to be the pain of the species.

[S11Steve]

Shmee said:

To be fair, that would be quite funny. I'll see what I can do and how long it takes to get noticed from when that goes live in January (fingers crossed).

An empty can of Red Bull lying on the floor...

Or a massive fish hanging on the wall in homage to the "invisible fish" thumbnails. the occasional shot of it, but never mention it in any of the walkarounds.

[thelostboy]

Shmee said:

This is a bit of a curveball to the industry in which I work:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKSKMPwwRuk

A paid promo piece for BMW's flagship M car, months before any journalist from a magazine or online will drive the M8 GC, and that's the first presentation the world sees.

I'm worried that even what I do is now quickly heading towards being out of date

Social media will continue to be bizarre!

So out of curiosity, what would you have said if BMW offered you the gig? Too bizarre an offer for you?

Not sure I would call the M8 GC their flagship car; it is a derivative of a car already launched - something in a conventional car mag that would get mentioned in the "in other news' section.

I would say BMW has used this as a way of getting a car not many people care about more attention than it would organically.

[Beefmeister]

thelostboy said:

So out of curiosity, what would you have said if BMW offered you the gig? Too bizarre an offer for you?

Not sure I would call the M8 GC their flagship car; it is a derivative of a car already launched - something in a conventional car mag that would get mentioned in the "in other news' section.

I would say BMW has used this as a way of getting a car not many people care about more attention than it would organically.

The point here I think, is that Blondie has been paid a substantial amount of money for a fairly humdrum video. This is the type of video that Shmee or Carwow would put out on a very bad day and it would get half a million views, for nowt. Yet BMW has decided to pay Blondie for it and that has far reaching consequences for the rest of those at that level. Why would Shmee now do the same sort of video for nothing? Methinks that the left hand of BMW marketing doesn't know what the right hand is doing....

[jimmybell]

who is even influenced by her? if you're a petrolhead you surely just look at her as a muppet? do non-car people follow car influencers on youtube?

pretty terrible video, it's the sort of video you'd expect as part of the usual fluff of youtuber-non-journo intros that happen on a weak launch. Imagine if you're a potential 'BMW M8 Gran Coupe First Edition 1 of 8 Munich Jizz Experience' customer and you see that as the first exposure to your potential new car - way to put you off parting with the cash by completely devaluing it.

[Meridius]

I think Supercar Blondie has a slightly different reach and viewership to a lot of the other vloggers, you lot are also forgetting about the other social media platforms, she has 5.4m followers on Instagram which is a crazy number.

Carfection has a BMW M8 video out with Henry Catchpole on the same day so, just watch that instead init?

[washingitagain]

Meridius said:

...you lot are also forgetting about the other social media platforms, she has 5.4m followers on Instagram which is a crazy number.

But how many 14 year old boys are looking to buy a new BMW?

[Beefmeister]

Meridius said:

Carfection has a BMW M8 video out with Henry Catchpole on the same day so, just watch that instead init?

That's the M8 Coupe, Blondie's vid is about the M8 Gran Coupe 1st Edition. Small difference, but one's new and never seen before, the other isn't.

[GFWilliams]

North West Tom said:

Refreshing change? A well-off posh white guy? Yeah definitely not enough of those out there.

Hopefully he makes more of the BTS photography/editing videos like he used and doesn't become a 'churner'.

I will put on a northern accent for my next video if that helps?

[Meridius]

washingitagain said:

But how many 14 year old boys are looking to buy a new BMW?

Haha yeah I did want to make a point about despite a different viewership that the conversion to sales rates or whatever they call it is probably lower than others but didnt want to get too long winded. Thats always something that comes into the deals that so called 'influencers' get paid and I do wonder how much influence the vloggers do have in that regard, its not exactly like fashion or makeup, high-end cars are whole different amounts of money. Maybe someone like Shmee could elaborate.

[Craig_89]

I do find the use of certain channels for launching new cars or getting exclusive content a bit odd but the marketing departments must have some reason for it.

Even though I mostly only watch YouTube for cars, the only thing I've been influenced into purchasing due to YouTube was an electric bike earlier this year. I just wish I was influenced into buying it sooner as it cuts my commute in half and saves cira £2k a year over fuel and parking costs.

[GFWilliams]

Thesprucegoose said:

mrtim said:

Good to see car photographer, GFWilliams throw his hat into the ring with a first vlog on his own Lotus Exige - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYfvjhvtEE0

Decent video and a refreshing change, an oasis in the desert of rich idiots eslewhere on YT.

Thanks for the kind words chaps, as someone who has been on this website since I was 13, I would consider myself a proper petrolhead. My Exige is a bit of an obsession, so it's nice to hear that other people are interested in it.

I'm only just starting YouTube, I'm doing it to open doors and help progress my photography career, but also to share fun stuff, with both photography and cars, with others who might find it interesting. Not everyone will like the videos, but to some it'll be enjoyable to watch.

[jayemm89]

Can confirm, his Exige is an obsession. He spends far too much time and money on it. Or, in Pistonhead terms, just the right amount.

Nice guy too.

[Truckosaurus]

washingitagain said:

But how many 14 year old boys are looking to buy a new BMW?

I believe the idea is to make 14yr old boys think that BMWs are cool, so they will get a 10yr old 120d for their first car and then aspire to a 320d when older.

I also suspect that the type of person who would pay extra for a limited edition M8 would be the type who does so because they and their friends have seen in plugged on social media.

I people want a 'proper' review they can read it in EVO at Easter or on TopGear next Christmas.

[johnwilliams77]

GFWilliams said:

Thanks for the kind words chaps, as someone who has been on this website since I was 13, I would consider myself a proper petrolhead. My Exige is a bit of an obsession, so it's nice to hear that other people are interested in it.

I'm only just starting YouTube, I'm doing it to open doors and help progress my photography career, but also to share fun stuff, with both photography and cars, with others who might find it interesting. Not everyone will like the videos, but to some it'll be enjoyable to watch.

Your attention to detail and result is fantastic, interior and exterior. Good on you for tracking it plenty too.

[ReaperCushions]

GFWilliams said:

Thesprucegoose said:

mrtim said:

Good to see car photographer, GFWilliams throw his hat into the ring with a first vlog on his own Lotus Exige - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYfvjhvtEE0

Decent video and a refreshing change, an oasis in the desert of rich idiots eslewhere on YT.

Thanks for the kind words chaps, as someone who has been on this website since I was 13, I would consider myself a proper petrolhead. My Exige is a bit of an obsession, so it's nice to hear that other people are interested in it.

I'm only just starting YouTube, I'm doing it to open doors and help progress my photography career, but also to share fun stuff, with both photography and cars, with others who might find it interesting. Not everyone will like the videos, but to some it'll be enjoyable to watch.

Good for you. I remember you and your fantastic photos from the photo threads from years ago. Glad you're giving it a go, great first video. (Yes I liked and subscribed for you!)

My only advice is to keep doing it and grow your confidence. Be more dynamic in front of the camera and bring out your personality a bit more.