Random Thoughts Part II

halloo.. i forget which one of you wrote to me (via bootsnall) to confirm my registration but i’ve been reading your blog since then. pretty interesting. i’ve been wanting to say some pretty rude (yet insightful) things about some of your entries but I thought I should hold back for a while…

People’s stories, why they decided to travel, their reactions to cultures and how their travels have affected them.

Aloha,

You guys are doing something most people dream of - you’re expats. When I lived in Bali, hundreds of people would ask me “How I did it” Perhaps you could show us how to start a weblog, a travel website, etc.

I work on this stuff every day at my job (I’m an internet marketing consultant in Honolulu)and I lived in Kuta for quite a while, so I really like to see what you are doing with your site.

I believe as you add content, you’re going to start creeping up on the search engine rankings as well, especially if you strategically place keywords in your articles that people actively use when searching information about Bali. After a few months (or perhaps even less) you may start getting top 10 searches for terms such as “Bali Information” or whatever. Type in “Bali” at http://www.overture.com’s term suggestion tool and you’ll get heaps of ideas for content to focus on.

Bootsnall.com comes up very high in search rankings. I believe this is because it is so content heavy and has so many links.

A Bali Blog Email newsletter would be a great way to market whatever you’re offering (by the way, what is it that you’re offering us - some of us may want to buy whatever it is you are “selling”) You’ve got all those email addresses - put on those marketing hats and sell us some stuff!

You have a unique site in that most Bali sites are run by Indos with subpar English. It’s about time you guys came along!

Also, I’d consider partnering with other website owners and offering products of theirs related to your niche (independent travel, travel writing, sabbatical travel, backpackers, etc.) Find out what’s selling and offer their products for a commission. (You probably already do this in some form)

I’m hoping that I’m not “preaching to the choir” here as you guys are doing a fantastic job. You’ve got two great sites up and that’s more than most “dreamers” do. They say they’re going to do this and that but nothing ever materializes.

I’ve been guilty as charged in that area until recently. When my site “finally gets up” I’ll no doubt use your site as a form of inspiration, as there are other travel sites that, well, just plain suck ass.

Keep up the great work on this site. I admire how you must deal with those absolutely shitty internet connections down there. You must be some tenacious bastards. Good on you!

Peace,

Jason G.
Waikiki, Hawaii

sean, i’ve really have enjoyed this bali blog.

i’ve been writing for you guys for some time now (mostly emailing Ant back and forth on my articles), and i never really got into the bootblog that you guys were writing in eugene, but i love this new chronicle of your latest efforts.

i finally feel like i’m slowly getting to know you guys now. and reading your reactions and impressions on even the most common things is always so interesting. makes me feel like i’m there. and that is what all of us *not* there want — a little vicarious living!!

So far my fav bits from the blog have been the streaming video images. Couple those with the words and all of a sudden Bali becomes real. I think integrating more video into the site would help more travellers decide to travel there.

I liked the suggestion of the language lessons. Perhaps keeping a dictionary of phrases translated into dif languages would be handy.

Thanks for all your feedback…we will keep working to improve what we do…

video images - yes - we are interested in doing more - the cost of the bandwidth to do a lot could be prohibitive. Paul, glad you like the BaliBlog, I like you blog as well! June, I wanna hear those comments..I can take it and Jason, thanks for feedback. - good stuff.

I wouldn’t mind getting a sneak preview of June’s “pretty rude (yet insightful)” comments as well as the new BaliBlog content. Let the Blog Wars begin!

*grin*

No intentions of starting a Blog war at all. I have too much of a short attention span to maintain one anyway. No really, I do enjoy your blog overall - after all, why do i keep coming back for more???

A comment on this site about the couple from the east coast who are there filling up a container of goods really interests me, I am thinking about doing the same thing, I would like to talk with others in the import business, I have talked to the owner of Bali Sierra. I’ll bet that there are others who would be interested too. Hmmm, there are so many possiblities for someone who is living there to interact with those of us who are wishing that we could be there too. I love the photos-keep it up!