stdClass Object ( [nid] => 138058 [vid] => 138183 [type] => task_discussion [status] => 1 [created] => 1224370685 [changed] => 1224370686 [comment] => 0 [promote] => 1 [sticky] => 0 [revision_timestamp] => 1224370686 [title] => Re: Trekking [body] => Hello Alyssa - one of the challenges for the supply of handicrafts is the remoteness of Kandabari -the cost of transport by plane to get the goods to Kathmandu in thamel - conversly the other option is to bring the tourists to khandabari from thamel- I think this maybe an intial way foward that will complement or sustain any other activities that - I sent tej an email (see below) with suggestions on work that the community can do to support themselves based on the develpment of their tourism website - please read and tell me what you think - jen has already seen it.# Thanks Andrew ============================================================= Please read the following on my thoughts for the website – more so on the marketing strategy:- One of the keys to successes of a website is good search engine registration – however whilst you can register with yahoo/google etc you will be competing with businesses who have paid a lot more money for their website and registration and so it is difficult to compete with them on a web commerce basis if you are a small project with limited money. Especially a lot if the trekking agencies in Kathmandu and in the west have more money. Don’t rely solely on search engine registration to get clients!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So my suggestion would be don’t rely on search engine registration for your marketing because whilst it may give some success there are other ways to get business using technology The trekking market in Nepal is saturated with trekking agencies – especially in Kathmandu – there are over 500 trekking agencies and many many guides. The project therefore needs to be proactive in its marketing – what this means is that the project will need to seek out its customers as follows:- Use the internet to find lists of 1. Trekking agencies in Kathmandu 2. Trekking/walking clubs in the world 3. Volunteer organisations Create a database of all of the above and then begin emailing them details of your website and what the area has to offer. I can say that some will not reply – but some may have an interest. 1. Trekking agencies in Kathmandu You will need to have a representative in the market in Nepal – you do not have a trekking shop so try to find a good agency that is willing to promote your region and your project and maybe use your porters. 2. Trekking/walking clubs in the world Concentrate on English speaking countries initially for ease of conversation. 3. Volunteer Organisations Many volunteers go trekking and you are also seeking volunteers for the schools. All the above an be achieved by the people in the village – I can send Tej a little money to cover extra internet costs – it maybe good to give the project of searching the internet for trekking agencies, walking clubs and volunteer organisations to a student in one of the schools – it will develop their internet skills – the database can be just excel spreadsheets with lists of contact details. The website itself is still under development – but I would suggest initially it needs more photos – especially of the region – the people and the Himalaya. What do you think of my suggestions? Andrew [teaser] => Hello Alyssa - one of the challenges for the supply of handicrafts is the remoteness of Kandabari -the cost of transport by plane to get the goods to Kathmandu in thamel - conversly the other option is to bring the tourists to khandabari from thamel- I think this maybe an intial way foward that will complement or sustain any other activities that - I sent tej an email (see below) with suggestions on work that the community can do to support themselves based on the develpment of their tourism website - please read and tell me what you think - jen has already seen it.# Thanks Andrew [log] => [format] => 1 [uid] => 3150 [name] => ablake [picture] => [data] => a:0:{} [path] => village/khandbari/project/task/discussion/re-trekking [comment_type] => task_discussion [og_groups] => Array ( [0] => 82890 ) [og_groups_both] => Array ( [82890] => Khandbari ) [og_public] => 1 [tags] => [nodewords] => Array ( ) [trid] => 0 [language] => en [i18n_status] => 0 [taxonomy] => Array ( ) [field_embedded_video] => Array ( [0] => Array ( [embed] => [value] => [provider] => [data] => Array ( ) ) ) [field_external_link] => Array ( [0] => Array ( [url] => [title] => [attributes] => N; ) ) [0] => Array ( [url] => [title] => [attributes] => ) [translation] => Array ( ) [cid] => 138058 [pid] => 132377 [hostname] => 82.5.8.212 [thread] => 04.00.01/ [mail] => [homepage] => [comment_target_nid] => 94203 [depth] => 2 )