BOTG MTB Videos, Vanlife uk, SUP uk, Hiking in the Yorkshire Dales and FREE Mtb GPX Files.
With less and less BOTG MTB content on Youtube, is this the turning of a new page or the bringing back of that over due book to the library? Let's face it, Boots has been creating more and more content for Vanlife, Hiking and Paddle boarding than the usual MTB videos and content across social media, the question is.. why?
Other MTB Video Creators.
Having been on Youtube on and off for over 8 years and creating BOTG MTB Videos I have have had plenty of experience with Youtube and social media, I used to have a gaming channel with 10k subs, and VR channel with 3.5k subs, (Paraplays, Paraplays VR and Box of Demons) I always got to the point where I felt the amount of time and effort I put in was never returned. The financial gain was so minimal that it didn't even cover the music costs, let alone the price of editing software, cameras, fuel, travel and most importantly .. my time.
Having never had 1 sponsor after nearly 800 videos, but then seeing smaller channels with less than a quarter of mine with 5 or 6 is a bitter pill to swallow., am I not good enough? is it me? the quality? my face or age? Youtube eats away at it's creators, choosing who they like and deciding who they won't support.
Social Media Jail Time.
As an advocate for free speech on Youtube and Facebook, I am probably at the bottom of their 'Bothered' list. In fact I am 100% sure I am shadow banned, meaning you will never be shown in others video feeds, no matter how good your SEO is.
Youtube is a cruel place, you try so hard to make it and hope it may change your life possibly open some door to a new career, instead it brings desperation and anger. Throughout my journey with BOTG or Boots on the Ground, I have met some amazing people, some of which I would class as friends for life, I no longer have a patreon site, so that was said in honesty and not in the hope they keep paying.
"I hope you get cancer" "We know where you live" "I hope you come off and break more ribs" "You are a shit rider" "Your channel is sh*t and your a Cu*t" Just some of the messages I have received while making videos on youtube, yes I know!.. what did I do to warrant this abuse?
Stage 1:
I dared to comment on Robrides video about my Haibike All Mtn 7, mentioning that half an hour is not long enough to establish a bike review. For that comment I got abuse beyond belief, who am I to comment on his website or have an opinion against the god that is Robrides.
Stage 2:
Other smaller mtb youtube channels, joining forces with a larger channel to put me out in the cold, this included slagging me off to other riders on the trail, slagging me off on videos they made about my riding skills, my logo, the way I talk, the way I edit and present my videos, even to go as far to ask a friend of mine if they could get a logo sticker so they could could burn it on a video for a joke.
I won't names these channels, but I did nothing to warrant any of this, I have never publicly demeaned or criticized any of them, I am still to this day confused as to what warrants any of this, there was rumor I took a GPX file off Komoot and didn't credit TrailFinder for it. I had no idea it was his GPX but why complain if you put it on a public site if others download and use it, all very childish.
Stage 3:
The affect of above and the views getting lower and lower and lower, to the point it became a resentment for me to put all the effort into wanting to create more content for free to the benefit of others, why put so much effort in, if people wont comment, like or even watch your videos? 5k subs but only 20% actually watch my content. A recent MTB trail I rode called the Lost Boy, I found one of the above mentioned sites rode it a week later, this was another clear 2 fingers up, and with that the final nail was in the coffin, I just can't face a large portion of the MTB community it is toxic beyond belief.
The of Future Boots on the Ground
There will still be the occasional mtb video, but the main core emphasis is not EMTB trail riding anymore, for me Vanlife, Paddle boarding, and Hiking have grabbed me especially now I have 'Peper' my Citroen Dispatch Camper Van. The Campervan has brought me freedom, escapism, and that joy back for adventure and getting out there into the great outdoors.
I do plan in 2024 to organise paid Hikes, Van life Trips, Paddle board Trips, and possibly paid MTB days out, if this is something you may find of interest please let me know below.
Remember life is an adventure, so get out there and enjoy it.
Leave me a comment here, or drop me a message on any of the BOTG Adventure Channel videos on Youtube if you have any feedback or suggestions. Andy..
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