Every so often something interesting happens with my site, people get in touch and new connections are made.
The latest of these approaches came from a chap called James Wilson, a marketing associate for Viking Group - a California-based company serving bikers with products ranging from apparel to saddlebags.
Here are some websites that you can visit and see for yourself.
www.vikingcycle.com
www.vikingbags.com
Here’s what he had to say “I visited your website randomly but I must say I like the content you are producing and the reason why I am outreaching you is that I am very interested in having a collaboration with your website.”
After I’d got over my surprise, and verified that the whole thing wasn’t a hoax, I was quite pleased that a cool, Californian, motorcyclist-serving business came across adrianbaldwin.com. .net .co.uk etc.
So, I replied to James with this:
“I am a rider and would have to express an interest in cool biker gear. My site does have a number of biking related posts, but my blog is wide ranging, and it's UK domiciled.
What would you like from me? A link is easy, but I'll do more depending upon how you respond. I'll write up a whole post about our engagement if I am inspired.”
And clearly, I was, because look what you are reading now.
He came back to me with a proposition, basically he’ll send me some products over from the U.S.A. at his expense, and that I’ll get to keep, in return for honest product reviews and some links from my website.
I’ll admit to being intrigued. Let’s be frank, getting free motorcycling gear in exchange for honest product reviews works for me. Given that motorbike riding and writing are two of my most favourite pastimes, what’s not to like? I get to try out some new stuff and get to write about it too. And I don’t have to lie about my experiences if they aren’t positive.
Being very British though, I didn’t bite James’ hand off; instead I went back and gave him a chance to change his mind. I pretty much apologised for my bike, my age, my site and my country. Here’s what I stated:
Hi James,
Okay, you’ve got my interest. Writing honest product reviews based upon user experience works for me.
I have visited both websites and can see that you stock the kinds of products I genuinely use all of the time.
I attach a photo of my bike, it’s a Yamaha adventure bike rather than a cruiser or a café racer, so not as much of a lifestyle statement as a Harley for example. You’ll note that I already use saddlebags too; these are slung over the bike and secured under the seat. I have a Givi rack that can accommodate hard panniers, and the bags are also attached to that frame. The bags aren’t dissimilar to items you stock.
In terms of riding gear, I wear leather when the weather is good and fabric (because it’s waterproof) when it isn’t – and in the UK we have plenty of rain.
I ride about 5,000 miles per year. While I prefer the sunshine, I ride in all weathers.
I am 50 years old in case that is relevant to you in terms of your target market.
I have shared this insight so that you can determine if I am the right fit, or not, for the Viking brand.
If you are interested in moving forwards, please let me know what the next steps are. If you are not so sure anymore, that's fine, no hard feelings.
Kind regards,
Adrian
Being frank again (he’s like a alter ego), I expected that my honesty would have killed the deal stone dead. But, after a slight pause, James got back in touch, said “Thank you for the detailed reply” (seriously, that’s verbatim) and offered up some choices as to what I could test first.
So we’ll see what happens next. I’ll follow up this post regardless of whether or not anything actually arrives.
If some product arrives - and I am excited to think that it might - you’ll get to read a review; if it doesn’t, well it doesn’t matter because I have had some fun already just by being approached.
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www.vikingcycle.com
www.vikingbags.com
The latest of these approaches came from a chap called James Wilson, a marketing associate for Viking Group - a California-based company serving bikers with products ranging from apparel to saddlebags.
Here are some websites that you can visit and see for yourself.
www.vikingcycle.com
www.vikingbags.com
Here’s what he had to say “I visited your website randomly but I must say I like the content you are producing and the reason why I am outreaching you is that I am very interested in having a collaboration with your website.”
After I’d got over my surprise, and verified that the whole thing wasn’t a hoax, I was quite pleased that a cool, Californian, motorcyclist-serving business came across adrianbaldwin.com. .net .co.uk etc.
So, I replied to James with this:
“I am a rider and would have to express an interest in cool biker gear. My site does have a number of biking related posts, but my blog is wide ranging, and it's UK domiciled.
What would you like from me? A link is easy, but I'll do more depending upon how you respond. I'll write up a whole post about our engagement if I am inspired.”
And clearly, I was, because look what you are reading now.
He came back to me with a proposition, basically he’ll send me some products over from the U.S.A. at his expense, and that I’ll get to keep, in return for honest product reviews and some links from my website.
I’ll admit to being intrigued. Let’s be frank, getting free motorcycling gear in exchange for honest product reviews works for me. Given that motorbike riding and writing are two of my most favourite pastimes, what’s not to like? I get to try out some new stuff and get to write about it too. And I don’t have to lie about my experiences if they aren’t positive.
Being very British though, I didn’t bite James’ hand off; instead I went back and gave him a chance to change his mind. I pretty much apologised for my bike, my age, my site and my country. Here’s what I stated:
Hi James,
Okay, you’ve got my interest. Writing honest product reviews based upon user experience works for me.
I have visited both websites and can see that you stock the kinds of products I genuinely use all of the time.
I attach a photo of my bike, it’s a Yamaha adventure bike rather than a cruiser or a café racer, so not as much of a lifestyle statement as a Harley for example. You’ll note that I already use saddlebags too; these are slung over the bike and secured under the seat. I have a Givi rack that can accommodate hard panniers, and the bags are also attached to that frame. The bags aren’t dissimilar to items you stock.
In terms of riding gear, I wear leather when the weather is good and fabric (because it’s waterproof) when it isn’t – and in the UK we have plenty of rain.
I ride about 5,000 miles per year. While I prefer the sunshine, I ride in all weathers.
I am 50 years old in case that is relevant to you in terms of your target market.
I have shared this insight so that you can determine if I am the right fit, or not, for the Viking brand.
If you are interested in moving forwards, please let me know what the next steps are. If you are not so sure anymore, that's fine, no hard feelings.
Kind regards,
Adrian
Being frank again (he’s like a alter ego), I expected that my honesty would have killed the deal stone dead. But, after a slight pause, James got back in touch, said “Thank you for the detailed reply” (seriously, that’s verbatim) and offered up some choices as to what I could test first.
So we’ll see what happens next. I’ll follow up this post regardless of whether or not anything actually arrives.
If some product arrives - and I am excited to think that it might - you’ll get to read a review; if it doesn’t, well it doesn’t matter because I have had some fun already just by being approached.
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Blog Library
Home
www.vikingcycle.com
www.vikingbags.com
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