I'm one of those people who are really never away from work. I may be away from the physical office, but never out of reach or out of mind. It must have started in my early years when I sold pagers out of a briefcase. I sold to anyone who would listen and since I was on straight commission, if I didn't sell, I didn't eat. It was a tough way to go since I could only sell my plasma once a month. Even today, when my wife and I go out I talk about web design, search engines and our newest feature: bulk email. This can be hard since I live between two corn fields and whenever I talk technology, most people's eyes glaze over.
For the past couple years, my daughter and I have been traveling to Mexico to acquire products to sell for another company. She learns a new culture and I buy cheap products. This year was the second time we've gone and we always have a great time and we even manage to squeeze some fun time in.
Probably the best thing about these Mexico trips is that I don't carry a cell phone and don't even know where I'm staying until I get there and find a hotel. That means I can't be reached. No business. No phone calls means no problems. Rest and Relaxation. In fact, as you can see from the below picture, I got a little sun:
This year I met some tour operators who I found out were looking for a website and information on getting listed in the American search engines. After several discussions, I came away with a couple web site deals and some SEO. After arriving back home in the States and doing some research, I find that many of the Mexican tourist businesses don't have websites. They all rely on big tour companies. Well that sucks. They pay the tour company a large percentage of the ticket price when they could be keeping the money themselves.
After a couple days of research I decided Mexico needs me. I've booked another trip for next month and will be pounding the pavement advising all the tour operators that they need me. Below is how we travelled this last time.
Since I can get an informational website designed and even have the capabilities of customers booking tours online for about $1,000.00, the tour operators should be beating a path to my door. However, if they don't know what they are missing, I may need to educate them a little bit.
I should be able to come home with multiple website deals! That is, unless we have a run in with the Mexican police again. This time my daughter can't come with me so I shouldn't have to bail her out. She can't hold her Tequila.
Attention Yahoo! Small Business: I have to set these sites up using HTML because Yahoo! Small Business doesn't operate outside of the USA. You may get the business with your hosting packages, but your missing the rev share opportunities by not allowing them to have a Merchant Solutions package. Just thought you should know. Anyone know of any alternatives or how to get Yahoo Merchant Solutions to work from outside the USA without having to be responsible for the monthly fees myself? Please let me know.
So in summary, never travel without your business cards. When you least expect to need one is when you'll need many. I gave away about a dozen and wasn't even hard selling. You can bet though, the donkey won't be fast enough with my next trip. I think I'll have to move up to something a little faster so I can cover more territory in less time.
Labels: mexico
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