Advanced Project
Introduction
WATER SPORTS · INFLATABLE EQUIPMENT · AFFILIATE MARKETING
From tier-1 product testing in CNET and Travel + Leisure to affiliate-driven commerce coverage, we helped BOTE dominate the inflatable water sports category across four years—generating $20M+ in measurable affiliate revenue while building the brand as the innovation leader in packable paddleboards, kayaks, and floating furniture.
Services Provided:
– Brand Positioning & Messaging
– Product Launch PR & Reviews
– Affiliate & Commerce Strategy
– Evergreen Gear & Gift Guide Seeding
– Multi-Year Partnership Management
The challenge:
BOTE needed to move beyond niche paddleboard enthusiasts to become the category leader in inflatable water sports—competing against legacy brands while launching new products (hybrid kayaks, magnetic coolers, floating furniture) that required consumer education. Our mission? Build sustained media presence that drove both brand awareness and measurable e-commerce revenue through affiliate partnerships.
We needed to secure coverage across outdoor, lifestyle, and commerce media while proving PR could deliver directly attributable sales—not just impressions.
Approach
We built a four-year integrated PR and affiliate program (2022-2025) that secured BOTE in tier-1 product testing across CNET (“Best Stand-Up Paddleboards for 2025”), WIRED (“The Best Coolers”), Travel + Leisure (“The 10 Best Inflatable Paddle Boards, Tested and Reviewed”), Forbes, Popular Mechanics, and National Geographic. We positioned BOTE across six product verticals—SUPs, kayaks, coolers, chairs, furniture, and accessories—ensuring year-round coverage beyond seasonal paddleboard reviews.
To drive performance, we partnered with affiliate editors at GearJunkie, OutdoorGearLab, The Inertia, and commerce-focused outlets, building evergreen “Best of” content that generated sustained conversion. We secured 40+ gift guide placements across four holiday seasons, maximizing Q4 revenue. We also activated YouTube creators and positioned CEO Corey Cooper as a thought leader on inflatable technology innovation.
Key Results:
1,5k Pieces of coverage | 300M Estimated Views | $20M+ Affiliate revenue | 5M views from YouTube creators | 545+ SEO Driving Backlinks | 20M Print readership
Highlight Coverage:
– CNET – “Best Stand-Up Paddleboards for 2025” (97.1M audience, DA 94)
– Travel + Leisure – “The 10 Best Inflatable Paddle Boards of 2025, Tested and Reviewed” (8-15.8M audience)
– WIRED – “The 11 Best Coolers We’ve Tested for Every Kind of Adventure” (18.8M audience, DA 93)
– Forbes – Multiple product reviews across kayaks, paddleboards, small coolers, and dog gear (144M audience)
– National Geographic – “Best kayak accessories for 2025” (6.89M audience, DA 93)
– Fast Company – “Meet the inflatable Adirondack chair” (10.2M audience) – Elevated BOTE from outdoor gear to design innovation story
– GearJunkie, OutdoorGearLab, The Inertia, USA TODAY, BuzzFeed, and 40+ gift guides