Any Seeds of Wisdom for Me?
 

Hello,

I've just surfed in, on a referral from someone at the Friends In Business site. I'll be bookmarking this forum too!

Does anyone have any pearls of wisdom for me on how to generate income in a part of the world (Whistler, British Columbia) that relys heavily on tourism and logging - both of which are severly hurting at the moment? Never before have there been so many people out of work here as our lumber mills are shutting down and tourists are afraid to travel. So needless to say, trying to make a dollar and sell anything here seems near impossible.

I operate a travel/tourism website that, although it is unique from all the others in that it encompasses our whole region (including 5 communities - Whistler included) rather than just one community - I average only around 10 hits per day, compared to Whistler.com that averages a few thousand per day. Yes, I am listed in yahoo, google, excite, etc. but only the "free" listings. I can't afford to pay for premium listings, although I am often in the "Top 10" anyway.

I do offer a free, opt-in newsletter, but I only have 20 people signed up so far. I need some incentive to get people to sign up, and then some way of generating income from it. So far the newsletter is just to inform people about what's happening in the region (especially in Whistler).

I'm still trying to figure out what my "niche" is, or USP (Unique Sales Proposition) that will make me stand out and become irresistable.

Any ideas?

Thanks very much,
Anya.


SeaToSkyZine.com

Here's what you should do....
 

In my town, in the lobby of every restaurant, hotel and motel...is a stack of TWO different Real Estate magazines.

These mags have property for sale, they are FREE and they come out every month.

So...here's what you can do;

Make up a "package" of these real estate mags, local newspapers, local shoppers, a map and brochures (usually free in racks in lobbies)

Now, you can offer this "package" FREE to people who subscribe to your NL
OR...
offer the "package" for $39 for one "package" or $97 for a Monthly "package".

So...since these items are FREE to you, your only costs are for an envelope and postage.

Go to a local restaurant or hotel and see what is available for freebies...then see if those who distribute these will give you as many as you want...or just pick up what you need as you get orders.

You will be offering a "service" to those who would like to know about the area.

You can also run ads for your "package' in travel mags or on travel sites;

"The Vancouver, BC Visitor's Package". All you need to know about Vancouver, BC...homes and property for sale, newspapers, maps, brochures. Send $39 to box 123, Vancouver, BC"

or put up a web page showing photos of the stuff included in the package and an Order Form and put the web page URL in the ad.

Hope this gives you some ideas.

Don Alm

> Hello,

> I've just surfed in, on a referral from
> someone at the Friends In Business site.
> I'll be bookmarking this forum too!

> Does anyone have any pearls of wisdom for me
> on how to generate income in a part of the
> world (Whistler, British Columbia) that
> relys heavily on tourism and logging - both
> of which are severly hurting at the moment?
> Never before have there been so many people
> out of work here as our lumber mills are
> shutting down and tourists are afraid to
> travel. So needless to say, trying to make a
> dollar and sell anything here seems near
> impossible.

> I operate a travel/tourism website that,
> although it is unique from all the others in
> that it encompasses our whole region
> (including 5 communities - Whistler
> included) rather than just one community - I
> average only around 10 hits per day,
> compared to Whistler.com that averages a few
> thousand per day. Yes, I am listed in yahoo,
> google, excite, etc. but only the
> "free" listings. I can't afford to
> pay for premium listings, although I am
> often in the "Top 10" anyway.

> I do offer a free, opt-in newsletter, but I
> only have 20 people signed up so far. I need
> some incentive to get people to sign up, and
> then some way of generating income from it.
> So far the newsletter is just to inform
> people about what's happening in the region
> (especially in Whistler).

> I'm still trying to figure out what my
> "niche" is, or USP (Unique Sales
> Proposition) that will make me stand out and
> become irresistable.

> Any ideas?

> Thanks very much,
> Anya.




Some of my UNIQUE home-based businesses

Also......
 

About 7 yrs ago, I found out that my local Chamber of Commerce received about 500 inquiries a month from people wanting to know about my area.

I put together a floppy disk which had photos of the area and ADS of local businesses.

I charged $595 ($50 a month...10cents per contact)for an ad on the floppy and sold the program to 74 businesses ($44,030)

The floppies cost me 25cents and were delivered FREE in the Chamber's package to the inquiries.
25c x 500 = $125/Mo x 12 = $1500 cost.

You could also put together a CD with photos of the area and ADS of local businesses and CHARGE for the ads.

Have the Vancouver Chamber deliver them for FREE.

I'll bet you could get $795 or even $995 for an ad that goes out each month for a year. And in a town your size...you should be able to get 100 advertisers.

Think about it.....

Don Alm

> In my town, in the lobby of every
> restaurant, hotel and motel...is a stack of
> TWO different Real Estate magazines.

> These mags have property for sale, they are
> FREE and they come out every month.

> So...here's what you can do;

> Make up a "package" of these real
> estate mags, local newspapers, local
> shoppers, a map and brochures (usually free
> in racks in lobbies)

> Now, you can offer this "package"
> FREE to people who subscribe to your NL
> OR...
> offer the "package" for $39 for
> one "package" or $97 for a Monthly
> "package".

> So...since these items are FREE to you, your
> only costs are for an envelope and postage.

> Go to a local restaurant or hotel and see
> what is available for freebies...then see if
> those who distribute these will give you as
> many as you want...or just pick up what you
> need as you get orders.

> You will be offering a "service"
> to those who would like to know about the
> area.

> You can also run ads for your "package'
> in travel mags or on travel sites;

> "The Vancouver, BC Visitor's
> Package". All you need to know about
> Vancouver, BC...homes and property for sale,
> newspapers, maps, brochures. Send $39 to box
> 123, Vancouver, BC"

> or put up a web page showing photos of the
> stuff included in the package and an Order
> Form and put the web page URL in the ad.

> Hope this gives you some ideas.

> Don Alm




22 Ways To Make $50,000 Starting with $50

Stroke of Genius....
 

Thank you!

I think I could actually do that!

All of you have really given me alot of helpful information - thanks to all.

I will let you know what I've done and how it went!

Anya.
:)