Anyone remember the best job in the world?
It was a brilliant piece of marketing. Hundreds of hours of news coverage, 35,000 people making 60 second movies about why they should be chosen to go to Queensland, and the more savvy among them promoting their videos into the top tier – and promoting Queensland in the process.
I was among the 35,000, though I didn’t have the savvy to read between the lines and realize I had to promote my video, not just make it. I watched and learned, though, and now that Tourism Queensland has teamed up with ProBlogger for a similar offer, I know that promotion is going to be a key component in deciding which people are chosen.
If you’ve been reading this blog for any length of time, you know that I strongly believe that Passioneers have an advantage when it comes to creating solutions to complex problems. So here’s a problem to chew over – in a contest in which there is no video or page for each contestant to promote, how do you convey that you are the perfect choice for this trip?
To start with, I’m using my passions. I have four blogs with different topics and different audiences, and there’s no way I’m not going to distill an experience this big into content for all four of them. This is a *huge* plus for Darren and Tourism Queensland, because they’ll get four blogs (and four blog audiences) for the price of one person. Plus, they’ll get four completely different types of coverage, and the potential for longer term promotion through any products that I create based on my experiences. I’m thinking a guide to productivity on the road for Personalized Productivity, a collection of short stories for Written Insight… my potential for keeping the promotion running is multiplied by four. All because of my passions.
Takeaway: What are your passions? How can they benefit the people holding the thing you want? Look for win-win-win scenarios.
Next, I’m doing my research. I don’t know the itinerary, but I can read about the five regions of Queensland and start to brainstorm ideas for short stories and travelogues. I can look up bloggers in the area who are Passioneers or productivity experts and plot how to meet up with them for interviews. I can plan out questions to ask, places to see and things to do. 90% of people don’t do even the most basic research before jumping into something, and while jumping in head first can be great to build momentum and get experience when you’re starting a new passion (or a new business), when you want something specific it works to your disadvantage.
Takeaway: Do your research. Show that you’ve done your research. Save jumping in head first for when you want non-specific, quick and dirty experience.
Third, I’m tapping my audience and my networks. A competition like this isn’t decided on my awesome attributes, but on what I bring with me to the table. Tourism Queensland wants bloggers who will show the best of Queensland to their communities, and tight communities are more likely to read, watch, look at or listen to the content produced. In this specific case, I’d like to know what you would like to see from me if I went to Queensland. Interviews with Passioneers? Insights on using your passions to pay your travel expenses? Something else entirely? Leave a comment and tell me!
Takeaway: Networks are worth their weight in gold, whether you’re looking for a Passioneer-friendly job, starting a business or entering a competition to win a trip to Australia. Use yours.
And please, leave a comment and tell me what content you’d like to see on GSL if I win a spot on this trip to Australia!
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