Virtual Race Label

As 2/3 of all virtual balloons never get moving - I think the balloon page needs changing to something like this......

Affiliate Balloon Race Concept

More details of the Affiliate concept:

Affiliate Programme

We would suggest that the 'link from their page' be a widget like Amazon use on their affiliate programmes - see here for examples - https://widgets.amazon.com/

The widget would show a mini leader board and have a sign-up link and find a balloon etc, with some animation. The widget could take them to the Balloon Race site or 'pop-up' it's own overlay on the affiliates website. The Cost to implement this will be £2,500+ VAT.

Surely this would be a no brainer for Nabas - it would be another reason to join, instead of just insurance. Every member could add their site to the track and get traffic, it's a win win.

BOC Fail again

This time - it's spectacular.

They have failed to deliver 20 disposables to our client (we sent the balloons and they are now useless).

Would you believe BOC put the cylinders on a TNT carrier that does not guarantee delivery within 5 days - why would any company use a service like that? You lose your product for 5 days - out of your control.

The cylinders were collected from Rotherham Monday and we've just been told they will not be delivered today.

Met with Air Products last Tuesday - bring it on........
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Affiliate Balloon Race

OK - my 3 balloonists

I said I'd keep you in the loop.

Esterling have been on the ball this morning with more bright ideas.

They are fixing the cookie/refresh thingy at a cost of £1200 to me. I know this might seem expensive to some but it's 3 days work - and so far the work they've done is quality.

So I've OK'd it and they are on it (they usually don't meet deadlines but hopefully it will be fixed in a week).

I also talked them into changing the widget - included in the £1200

Affiliate Balloon Race

They reckon they can build an automated affiliate scheme including a widget on each site that when you click on it - a small leader board appears and more details.

It sounds fantastic - and I feel it needs to be automated as nobody can afford to spend time selling something that will only make both parties £50.

The cost of this is £2500 (they are prepared to spread the costs over a few months). I'm thinking I need a partner to get involved here. If NABAS or BalloonHQ or any balloon association coughed up the cash - all their members would benefit and gain a product worth more than £30k - I'm happy to give away a percentage of the income - but I feel I need some help here, not just cost wise but with marketing the idea etc.

I've asked them to send a description of the Affiliate project they have in mind.

Virtual Balloon Race - a bit of history

Oh my god - I've just found out I've got another long term follower (that's why I thought I better post something quick) - anyway he's a VIP and he's sent me this link on how Poke came up with the original idea of the balloon race:

http://www.computerarts.co.uk/in_depth/interviews/iain_tait

Now then - it's been a mad couple of days for balloonrace.com. We had a genius break into the balloon bank and travel 1307km in one night, so we paused the race. This left a problem - the racers who have been racing fare and square (emailing all their aunties around the world for a boost) were left high and dry.

The object of balloonrace.com/balloons was to get a bit of interest and see where it takes us - by stopping the race we were letting down the very people who were taking an interest. So we've re-started the race whilst the issues are being fixed - if anyone breaks into the bank we're pop their balloon.

Anyway..... as a result of the above problems, Marc Summers (who seems to have contacts with balloon company everywhere) - recons he can build some traffic to the current race. He has also come up with the idea of an affiliate program where all balloon companies can offer a virtual race and get a cut.

Now then - stand by your beds - there's gonna be a stampede - I'm gonna add printedballoons.com to the race asap (Alleycat, you should add balloonprint.co.uk and undercut me - 100's of balloon companies will have no choice but to look at your site for 30 seconds as they fly across).

You can add a site here - http://www.balloonrace.com/site-register.asp

We're also working on making the widget smaller (or lower on the page) - maybe put it at the bottom right of the web page rather than the web screen. Loads of sites have added it and then removed it - we need to stop that.

Balloon blogs

Hey Alleycat

Why don't you write a blog about all the balloon blogs you read?

You've been 2 timing me (or 3, 4?).

What's really funny about this latest balloon race is that I used the phrase 'Just for fun' several times - it's caused more trouble than Tiger Woods.


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Virtual Balloon Race

See below - typical questions for the virtual balloon race. I know I could build a questions and answers page but every person buying a race asks different questions and want different settings - as the average order is only £100 it's proving a nightmare constantly answering questions:

How far does the balloon get boosted if you do well in a Quiz?
Do donations generally boost balloons further?
The reason I ask this is that I'm a bit concerned that those with lots of money will donate lots and boost their kids balloons, and those with less money will not have that ability, and that doesn't seem fair.

So...I was wondering...can you boost the balloons further if the kids do well in the quizzes? So there's the motivation for the kids to do the quizzes every day (which is also sort of educational?). And if I could tell them how far they'll get boosted if they do well in a quiz/game, that would motivate them too?

I know it's all about making money for the school, but it's also about fun for the children isn't it, and I don't want any children upset as they can't afford to boost their balloons so much. I don't want it to become a race about who has the most money.

I also noticed on your website that it mentioned about boosting the balloons of the children who display good behaviour during a week at school? How would that work?

Also, I was wondering if at the end of it, I could know who completed/took part in the most quizzes/games, and they could also get a prize...once again rewarding hard work and not just having rich relatives!!

Thanks for your help.
We are currently looking at holding a race for the last 3 weeks before the easter hols...would that be feasible?
Thanks

Win a Conwin Duel Split

Win a Conwin Duel Split Second Sizer......

http://www.balloonrace.com/balloons

It's free to enter, the race starts Sunday.

Why? - Just for fun!

1.7 Million Balloon Release

I've just had the pleasure of uploading this to YouTube.

It's awesome - check it out:

Free Balloon Race

OK - here it is, don't be surprised if I change the start and finish date:

http://www.balloonrace.com/balloons

Balloon Race

I thought it might be time to have a bit of fun with the virtual balloon race - I'm gonna setup a free race with free boosts and offer a conwin split second sizer as a first prize.

Then I'll get the nabas email list and blast out an email.

It will be interesting to see the traffic and interest - it might also be possible to sell adverts on the race page to wholesalers etc - but for now I'm thinking of doing it just for fun.

I'll build the race today and sort out the mailing list.

1977 - The balloon shop I was saturday boy

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balloon race

OK - I'm coming back down to the land of the living - back to 3 days a week and 2 hours per day.....

Here's a few answers I've just done for the balloon race - to show I am doing some work, honest:

Thanks that's great. So just to clarify, the balloons only go through sites vetted by yourself. - YES

Also, the everyday quizzes and games, do the competitors have to pay to take part in these and 'boost' their balloons?

All the games are free - but you can only play one game per day, here's the games - http://www.balloonrace.com/games/

And the donations - do they feed directly back to the school or via you, and does all the money go to our school or not?

All donations and balloon purchases go direct to the School (you'll need a Paypal account). Paypal will take about 25p for every transaction - but it's secure and you can recieve funds from anywhere in the world.
You can also accept cash as you have full control over all the balloons and boosts (you could also add boost if a pupil does well in lessons).

Does a bigger donation push a balloon further? YES

Also, if a balloon joins the race say a week later than other competitors, could they realistically win it? Or should we really get everyone buying their balloons before a start date to make it fair?

They could win but they missed out on the daily games for the days they've missed. Once you buy a race and set the start date, the race counts down to your start date and you can still sell balloons.

Thanks, sorry for all these questions, I just want to have all the information to hand when tell everyone at the next meeting.

My Daughter

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I know this blog is supposed to be about balloons but as it's me that writes it - I guess it's also a bit about what makes me, me. Having witnessed the birth of my daughter Minnie I feel compelled to write about it.

After being messed around by the hospital for 5 days we elected for a voluntary c section.

Gill was awake for the procedure. A sort of curtain lay across her shoulders so we couldn't see what was happening below (and we didn't want to).

We played a silly word game for a few minutes - this kept our minds away from negative thoughts and also let each other know that we were OK - we had to think and say our answers, I could tell Gill was fine by the way she was thinking and talking.

10.09pm 8th Jan 2010 - 7lb 9oz
My chair was facing away from the business end and I turned and looked over my shoulder as I heard somebody say "10 09 pm" - I saw her and she had hair - I turned to Gill and reassured her "she's perfect" I said with tears in my eyes.
Minnie was placed into my arms only seconds old. My first reaction was to show her to her mother. Minnie was covered in moisture and a thin layer of blood. The blood settled in every crease, crack and wrinkle of her skin - it exaggerated how perfect she was. With the blood sitting in every crevice you could see every tiny detail, her nose breathing gently, her forehead creased, her eye lashes, her ears.

She yawned to reveal her gums and tongue (when I looked down into her throat I thought - she's perfect inside as well).

She tried to open her eyes and I got a quick look at her pupils which filled her eyes (no white), she closed them quickly as the blood and moisture flowed in. She continued to try and open them, and blinked the blood away.

I forced my little finger into her hand and she grabbed it tight.

After a few minutes I was taken to a recovery room with Minnie whilst they finished stitching Gill and cleaning her etc.

Me and Minnie were left on our own for 10 minutes. One of my first reactions was to take a photo or send a text (there were loads of people worried and waiting for news) - but I decided not to, I decided to just live that moment with my daughter. I spoke to her and walked over to the window to show her the snow (like Del on only fools & horses).

She gurgled and squeaked, yawned twice and even did her first sneeze.

I poked my tongue out and she copied me.

It was an incredible moment -

the world stopped.

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Minnie

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