If you’re not subscribed to Tailored News (you can by sticking your email address in the field top right of this page – it’s 100% free) then odds are your certifiably insane.
And Dan’s been appreciate of some information and inspiration I’ve given him over the years.
So yesterday Dan called in with a carton of beer and to say thanks.
Dan Has Tapped Into A Powerful Strategy
By calling in to say “Thanks for your help” Dan has tapped into 3 very powerful techniques.
1. Rewarded behaviour gets repeated.
2. People like people who like them – Dan’s demonstrated he likes me by giving me a gift and saying thanks. (He also said “Man, you are sooooo good looking Brendon! I wish I looked like you!” (Get in the line Dan, get in the line.))
People are more like to buy from people they like.
3. Social gifts (like beer) gets shared. By me being able to share the beer makes me feel good and most of that goodwill is attributed to Dan.
It also means his generosity gets mentioned by me a few times and that helps build his brand in my head.
Dan’s Nice Touch
Now, Dan knows I’m a Tasmanian lad.
He also knows (I presume) that Tasmania has the finest beer in the world (as well as food, women, cricket teams, actors, writers and more).
If It’s Tasmanian It’s Good
Basically, if it’s Tasmanian you can bet your ass it’s good!
So that’s why he bought me a carton of Boags finest.
And I noticed he bought the Tasmanian beer and assume he put some thought into it.
And $$$ too, because Boags Premium is one of the more expensive beers.
I like Dan’s style!
More positive brand building in my perception of Dan.
Smart Marketing
Saying “Thanks” can be one of the most effective marketing strategies you can implement.
But here’s the thing – you can’t say “Thanks” and give gifts as part of your marketing campaign because people will see it for what it is – a cynical grab for your business.
Give gifts and say “Thanks” because it’s just plain good manners.
Yesterday some friends of mine contacted a local radio station with the story of some good friends of theirs.
Tony Webb was first diagnosed with Sarcoma in late 2002 after finding a lump in his thigh.
Major surgery followed by radio therapy was the course of action recommended by his doctors. This treatment was highly successful and in the ensuing years Tony was given the all clear by his doctors at the Wesley Hospital in Brisbane.
A Further Tumour
In February of 2008 Tony was diagnosed with a further tumor this time in his chest; specifically, Metastatic round cell liposarcoma. Once again major surgery was required, however, this time the doctors recommended chemotherapy as a back up to the surgery.
Tony endured all of this with immense grace and dignity and following a scan and consult with his specialist at the Wesley, in Febuary 2009 was given the great news that all was clear. It was with great shock then in September of 2009, another tumor was discovered in a routine check up.
This tumor is inoperable due to its location, and leaves Tony unable to work and currently undergoing continuous chemotherapy. Last week it was found that the tumour has grown and the chemotherapy is not working and options are basically nonexistent.
Then Son Corey Gets Some Bad News
All this for one family in itself would be more than they could possibly endure, however, the Webbs have recently been dealt yet another tragic blow with Corey, one of their 14 year old twin boys, being diagnosed with Ewings Sarcoma.
Corey too has now commenced chemotherapy at the Wesley Hospital and faces his own battle with this terrible disease. Whilst from the same cancer family these cancers are unrelated. Father and son are now receiving chemotherapy (literally) together, sitting side by side in the Wesley Hospital.
The Run Up The Q1
The radio station have taken up the challenge to help raise some much needed funds for the Webbs and on Thursday one of the announcers will be running upthe Q1 (one of Australia’s tallest residential buildings) to aid that cause.
If you’d like to donate to this most worthy of causes, contact SEA FM on 13 12 16 and they’ll be happy to help!
After 20 minutes of staring at the screen I decided to head to a photo library I use and check out the Free Photo of the Week and write a blog post on whatever that image sparks in me.
So this post might be complete rubbish. Who the hell knows??
Firstly, the image:
Happy Kids
They kind of remind me of my 3 kids if you get rid of the smaller girl. I’m not advocating having her killed – just imagine she’s not there.
A lot of people hate my humour. Really hate it. Like that “I’m not advocating having her killed” line – I’ll get hate mail because of that. It used to worry me. Now I don’t care.
I went to see a psychologist once (before my son and I did this big bike ride) and he said, based on the info I’d provided/the answers I’d given that essentially I was a “….loud mouth, obnoxious, forward looking idiot who is extroverted and just looking for the next bit of fun. That’s you and there’s nothing you can do about it.”
I gladly accept that I’m all that now. A leopard can’t change its spots. But a tattoo artist could do it for him.
See that – more humour. Geeez, I’m funny.
Like those gap teeth kids in the photo, one of my kids needs braces. I simply don’t get $5,000 for a bit of metal on a kids teeth. Seems excessive to me. But my wife won’t let him be forever known as “Buck Tooth Boy”.
My daughter is the smartest one in the family by a mile. Her intelligence is at a whole different level to everyone else.
One son is, according to his teachers, super smart but too lazy to study. He can’t see the sense in spending his time on homework when there is a soccer ball to kick. I agree 100% with him.
My kids are happiest when: Boys: Eating. Daughter: Reading.
My wife is happiest when 1 of 2 things happen:
She has just done a large grocery shop and the pantry is full of food, and
Her 3 kids are with her at dinner.
Weird.
If both things occur on the same day I usually get laid.
Humour people. Just more humour.
After writing my book I used to worry that I couldn’t be the slightest bit offensive or stupid online. I’m over that (as you can probably tell).
I’m happiest when my wife is happy.
Happy wife, happy life.
And, in a surprise to no-one, yes, my wife does read this web site.
Kids are great when they’re that age in the photos. Kids are great at any age.
I think this blog post has run it’s course……………………
I added Adsense (Google’s advertising program for publishers – sign up for free in about 5 minutes) to the site (means I get $ every time someone clicks on an ad on the site)
Once the site gets to # 1 for the term “Melaleuca flights” I’ll be approaching one of the 2 airlines that fly into Melaleuca (this is the start of the walk and the only way to get in) and see if they’d like to take an advertisement on the web site.
The Numbers To $10,000
So let’s take a look at the numbers:
About 1,000 people a year walk the South Coast Track
There are about 2,000 searches done a month (on average) for terms related to walking the South Coast Track
When you’re preparing for a major bushwalk like this, you tend to check out a ton of web sites.
Searching for the South Coast Track
I’d be pretty confident of getting 60% of those searching to the South Coast Track site.
That’s 1,200 visitors per month to the web site
Let’s assume we sell just 1 book per week. Each book gives us about $7 profit.
That’s $364 in profit per year from the book.
Let’s estimate we make $1 a day from people clicking on the Adsense ads (can’t divulge the Adsense income we’ve got already, but let’s just say $1 a day is very achievable even at this early stage).
That’s another $365 per year.
If you were marketing your airline doing $190 per person flights into Melaleuca (the starting point of the walk) then having a prominent ad on the most popular and extensive web site that talked about the South Coast Track would make a lot of sense.
Let’s assume we charge just $1 per day for that ad.
That’s another $365 per year.
$364 + 365 + 365 = $1,094.
Let’s round it down to $1,000.
$2.74 Per Day – That’s All
That’s just $2.74 per day this web site is aiming to make.
That is chicken feed.
Or is it (insert scary music here!).
The web site has taken me a day to do.
It will make a minimum of $1,000 a year.
It will make that much for the next 10 years.
That is $10,000 for a day’s work.
The Naysayers & Haters – Their Angle
The naysayers and haters will come up with the following arguments:
1. Not everyone can set up a site as quickly, easily or as cheaply as you.
If you have Windows, then you have Movie Maker for the video editing (the video I’ve done isn’t at all sophisticated).
2. Not everyone can get a web site up in the search engines like you can.
Answer: Every single thing I’ve done to get the site into the search engines is stuff I’ve talked about for years on this site.
You can find all you need to know here, here and here.
Spend a couple of hours reading and you’ll be good to go.
3. You’ll spend more than a day on the site by the time you deal with orders and sell direct advertising.
Answer: Yeh, you’re probably right.
But that extra time (about 5 minutes per week) is offset by me being conservative with the numbers.
Remember I rounded down from $1,094, I could make more money by adding affiliate programs, sell more direct ads, etc.
I could also spend that extra $94 dollars a year employing someone for the 4.3 hours it will take to maintain the site per year.
4. Not everyone can write as well as you can.
Answer: Oh for heaven’s sake, stop ya bloody whingeing and get on with it! Start writing and you’ll get better at it.
5. I can’t afford to go on a wilderness trek.
Now you’re just being stupid. The trip isn’t the important thing. Just write about something you do/did/enjoy.
Aside from a $30 pass and $190 flight, the walk is free.
6. Not everyone is as good looking in photos as you are.
Answer: Yeh, good point. You’re probably right on that one ;o)
I am a very attractive man – I’ve been compared many times to a famous movie star…..Shrek ;o(
Ongoing Site Expenses
And sure, I’ll have ongoing site expenses – about $20 per year.
Can You Do The Same?
Can you do something similar to what I’ve done with the South Coast Track site?
Of course you can.
And if, like me, you have to go on the trip of a lifetime for a week long wilderness trek with your kids to get something to write about, then so be it!
All 4 Together + Phil
l-r: Harry, Brendon, Phil (fellow I met on the track), Jack, Neil (brother-in-law). Click for larger image
