RBFF report details social media's impact

The Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation released new research that it says helps define the impact of anglers and boaters in social media.

The Social Media Audit, conducted by RBFF and Magnet 360, evaluated anglers and boaters in three market segments: new, casual and avid.

Key findings include:

• Fishing and boating are very popular topics in social media
• More people share experiences about fishing and boating in social networks like Facebook and Twitter
• Avid anglers and boaters tend to post more in forums, where the conversation is focused on specific topics like techniques, equipment and repair.

"We knew it was important to learn how anglers and boaters are using social media in order to more effectively reach them with our program and product information," RBFF president and CEO Frank Peterson said in a statement. "We hope this research will not only help us inspire participation in boating and fishing, but also help guide our stakeholders' marketing and communication outreach efforts."

Additional findings about boaters show:

• Facebook is the lead channel with posts by individuals sharing their own boating experiences
• Forums have engaged followers/participators. Content is technically focused on equipment, repair and buying/upgrading boats. Strongest forums are at the state/regional level and cater to avid anglers
• Twitter comes in third with posts best summed up as real-time "shoutouts" from people socializing on boats.