A month or two ago we started profiling different Rod Builders around the country on our Facebook page and the posts have been wildly popular. If you'd like to see the background and work of some friends and/or fellow builders scroll our page. We plan to continue so "follow" our page if you'd like to see more.

[www.facebook.com]

Jim once I settle in I'll send you mine. I didn't forget, but the show and now MArdi GRas, and then a few gatherings when I get back are in the way. I appreciate you asking me, thank you.

Any type of promotion like this is good for the craft, hopefully people take a few minutes to look at the link and read the profiles and get to know a few people who share the passion for the craft.

I wonder how many excellent builders don't do Facebook??

Depending on your definition of excellent, I know at least one!

i don't face book either

Nor I.

Bob,

New Bern, NC.

Nope , not me either & never will .

Good to see so many cavemen still build rods

Add one more.

Dennis J. Danku
(Sayreville,NJ)

Be nice, Billy. I'm another.

Mark Talmo
FISHING IS NOT AN ESCAPE FROM LIFE BUT RATHER A DEEPER IMMERSION INTO IT!!! BUILDING YOUR OWN SIMPLY ENHANCES THE EXPERIENCE.

Why should I be nice? Jim is trying to promote the craft, and the only replies he gets are negative. When I started this was the same thing I dealt with regarding DEc WRaps, the dinosaurs had all these backhanded, negative, and snide remarks about them. WHat's the point of telling people you're not on FB?

"Facebook is not a crime"

You are right David, but I agree with others that I won't use Facebook.

Pat Doyle

I think the point is to remind industry persons that Facebook is not the end-all, be-all of marketing for custom rod building. Not that Angler's Resources/Fuji is doing that (they're not). With probably 50% or more of custom rod builders not being on Facebook, to reach them you have to use more traditional advertising and marketing approaches, along, of course, with newer mediums such as Facebook for those younger builders who are there. From an industry marketing standpoint, the craft is in a long transition phase where more and more are turning to social media but also where many are not likely to ever go that route. It'll be different in another 20 years, but for now, mediums like Facebook are just one piece of a larger overall marketing pie.

.............

Billy, good for you.

I also avoid all the social networks, see little or no value in them for me.

The most successful rod building manufacturers and component suppliers all have one thing in common - they all offer hard copy catalogs and heavily engage in print advertising. When Orvis, Cabelas, Bass Pro, LL Bean, etc., stop publishing catalogs, then it will be safe to assume that the bulk of the business has moved online.

In the meantime, given that so much online marketing is available at little to no cost, it makes sense to at least be there. I think what Anglers Resource/Fuji is doing is employing a broad advertising and marketing approach. It's a smart way to do things.

.............

I watch rodbuilding topics on facebook, I do not have a page. Ugh.

I think there are two perspectives to this one.

The first - Jim is promoting Rod Builder profiles, which is a great way of marketing and I personally get a lot out of seeing how others do their thing, some of their background, how they have been successful, etc. FaceBook is perfect for this. It is visual, instant, shareable, etc.

The second - Others who are not on FaceBook are trying to point out that there are other forms of social media available. Perhaps they feel like they are being left behind? It is hard to tell as reading posts always allows for interpretation by the reader, and motives are then assumed. Personally I don't enjoy hijacking of conversations in this manner, as it then kills the original purpose of the post and takes everyone on tangents. I don't employ marbling on my rods. But if I see a post on marbling, do I take the time to post "I don't do marbling" and then wait for others to pile on and bring the conversation down? No, as there will always be varying opinions on any subject and I try to look for parallels and take value from that.

Communication can be such a delicate and complex thing. But it is also wonderful. That is why I have been a long term sponsor of this board since the early 2000's as I value there being a forum for opinions to be expressed. I just hope that all people who use the forums that others pay for remember to support each other at each step of the way.

"FaceBook is not a crime" is a reference to a conversation started recently on the NERBs FaceBook page which laments the battle of attitudes often observed that "the traditional is best, so you are wrong if you want to do anything else". It is a good read, but you need to visit FaceBook in order to do so! (and be aware it contains some expletives) [www.facebook.com]

Sorry Jim for hijacking your previously hijacked thread.

Dave Boyle
[threadcentral.net]
"Thread Art is not a crime"

David Boyle:


"I just hope that all people who use the forums that others pay for remember to support each other at each step of the way"



People who use these forums are just as valuable as the people that pay for it . Sponsors need to respect the fact that despite the belief by many that everybody on the planet is on facebook at least half or more wan't nothing to do with it for a variety of very good reasons that they don't have to explain to anybody .

It's not a personal thing , i think it's a good thing to remind advertisers that many don't do facebook and rarely do people speak up and say that when these never ending "Join us on facebook" posts appear .