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Well, we have succeeded in getting some more online coverage, and a few mentions here and there, but have yet to break into the mainstream newspapers. We have continued to receive registrations on the website and to expand our network of affiliates, which can only help us to continue to increase our traffic.
I am still working hard to continue to gain more supporters for the project, but I am finding it difficult to do that, as well as all the other things that need doing for the site. Do I work on marketing the website? Generating visitors? Or trying to gain media attention?
I have some great ideas (well I think so anyway) on what to do next with the project to push it forward, but I am quickly coming to the realisation that I cannot do everything myself. This leaves me with two options; either to clone myself so that I have an army of mini me’s (first the website and then the world – ah ha ha ha) or to try and rope in some help from a benevolent marketing/advertising company.
Now, I am sitting here wondering, which is going to be the most difficult to accomplish. Cloning myself or finding an organisation willing to help me for free. It’s a close call, but if anyone has any suggestions then please let me know – Michael
Well happy easter to you all! I think...(touch wood) that I may just have managed to get the website its first media coverage, which is a relief I can tell you, as that means I don't have to pull any crazy stunts...phew.
There should be an article going out in a few days time in at least one newspaper and I am waiting to hear back from the others on Tuesday when everyone is back into work. Its been a slow process this week as I think everyone has had their minds set on the Easter Bank Holiday.
On the website front the site continues to receive more and more registrations, and hopefully if we can get some press over the next week or two then we can really start doing something. Anyway, time to go, I have an appointment with a rather large easter egg. Its been staring at me all day from the corner of my room, it looks scared, its hard to tell but its either sweating or melting. I think its time to do the humane thing and put it out of its misery - don't worry I'll make it quick.
Well we made it! another sale and we are over the $1,000 marker of money raised for charity, now time to see if we can develop some media attention for this project. I have had a few enquiries over the last week, so I think its time now to go back and get some stories out there, get more people registering and more money raised for charity.
So next target a couple of stories in the press, I’m not sure how easy that will be, but as always only one way to find out ...its all a learning curve. Well I guess the first thing is to put together a press release of sorts, then get it out there, O.K. so note pad – check, obligatory stubbed pencil behind the ear - check; now I feel like a reporter of sorts, all I have to do now is write like one?
My friends have been getting very enthusiastic about this part project, coming up with all sorts of useful suggestions, maybe I could try some guerrilla tactics to get press, chain myself to a famous landmark, climb an important building or why not project the websites name on the parliament buildings......hmmm or maybe I could just try ringing them first. I appreciate the thoughts guys but;
a) I’m not that brave,
b) Funnily enough I don’t own a super strength projector.
c) I have my suspicions that some of my so called `friends' may be more keen on seeing me make a fool of myself, rather than generating publicity for the site!
Time to go, hopefully next time you read about me it will be in the papers, but if not then look out for me on the 6 o’clock news... I will be the one sporting the designer padlocks. Two more sales and two more applications pending if this keeps up I may be looking to reach the $2,000 marker rather than the $1,000 by the end of the week. If these two applications go through then that will be 6 sales so only 4 more buy one get one free adverts left.
Its great to see things starting to move along, I have even had a couple of queries from the press! The project is in very dangerously close to looking like its starting to suceed, touch wood.
A few more sales and then it may be time to go to the media and get some press coverage for the project....as my mam would say - one step at a time Michael. A few more sales first I think.It has been a good last few days, my eyes have gone a little bit square from staring at the computer, but its been more than worth it. We have been receiving lots of emails of support (see the Press page for a selection of some of the feedback), it’s great to know that so many people are supporting this project. We are now nearing 10,000 visitors to the site which is amazing.
I have put in place an introductory offer, so now the first 10 comanies to buy advertising will have their purchases matched by us (up to 5 squares), which means they effectively get twice as much for their money. This seems to have helped to get things moving as we have made another sale, and also had interest from quite a few companies so I’m hopeful that we will be able add to our tally again very soon.
Time to get back to work, next target that $1,000 barrier, now let’s see if we can break that before the end of the week.
I have been working flat out for the last two weeks making changes to the website, adding photos, a press page, and a Support Us page where people can download badges of support for their Websites or My Space accounts. I have also set up a MySpace feeder site which has already had hundreds of visitors, check it out (www.myspace.com/tickettoamillion). Which has helped increase our traffic once more and I have even seen a couple of our supporter’s badges around MySpace already which is excellent news.
Well now that that’s all sorted, its time to start contacting companies, making some sales and getting some money in for these charities. I wonder how many companies can I email in a day?…. well I guess there’s only one way to find out! Hopefully next time I write I will have a few more sales to report.
I have been working hard over the last week to try and make some improvements to the website, so keep a watch out for these new developments which should be added in the next few days.
I am not really doing any promoting or trying to make any sales at the moment, I am just trying to focus on putting these changes into place and then it will be an all out offensive to try and attract some companies. If there were only a few more hours in the day!
For you companies out there – come on, lead the way and advertise on our website, help us raise one million dollars for charity!Well it’s been a hectic first few days; I have had a lot of interest from people and companies, lots of messages of support and we have had hundreds of people register. I have been interviewed for Century Radio North East and the website has featured in several on line articles.
We have had a quite a lot of questions and suggestions regarding the website from both companies and the public, so I am looking into these to see how I can improve the website. Well better get cracking.Welcome to Ticket to a Million, the family friendly free lottery which aims to raise one million dollars for charity and make one lucky person a millionaire.
In this website you have the opportunity to win one million dollars, help raise money for charity and to even help to benefit your favourite charity. If the website is successful then $100,000 will be donated to five charities, which I have nominated. These are: Sense, Peace Direct, FARM-Africa, The Institute of Cancer Research and Hope for Children. The rest of the money will be given to charities chosen by the public.
You can help me decide who receives the other half a million dollars by voting for a charity which you think deserves to receive a donation. The five Charities with the most votes at the end of the promotion will each receive up to a $100,000.
The website will be using Family Friendly Guidelines, which aim to make the website accessible to the whole family. Therefore, websites which promote certain products or activities such as gambling, alcohol and pornography are banned.
I would like to take this opportunity to say a big ”Thank you” to all the people who have helped me, all the charities involved and especially net-essentials who believed in my idea and helped me build the site (www.net-essentials.co.uk).
Thank you for visiting and good luck with your entry.
Michael Blakeley
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