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Post by Lykos Packleader on Aug 3, 2011 3:32:34 GMT 10
Heyla,
Along with the coins, Kiva loans (hint! hint!), passports, stamps, flags, etc. etc., I'd like to start a section of this forum to discuss any and all ideas for how to promote your nation ---- the good, bad, idiotic, profound, and everywhere in between. I don't want this to be a "I did this; aren't I wonderful?" --- but a "why don't you try this; it might work!" subforum (under News? Maybe).We can move the threads that are bragging to the "General" subforum whenever they show up, and this could end up really interesting.
If there's a link, please include it: we'd all like to look. Thanks to all moderators for considering this idea... I've already got a thread planned.
Again, thanks to the moderators of this forum.
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George
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Post by George on Aug 3, 2011 13:48:27 GMT 10
The most effective way of promoting a micronation in its initial phase is to produce commercial quantities of collectable items - particularly stamps, coins and banknotes, and then promote the hell out of them via the specialist print media.
There are large worldwide communities of people who will pay you real money to add your products to their personal collections - and those collectors are supported by an active specialist print media who can and will publish articles about your micronation and its stamp and coin-related activities if you take the trouble to contact the editors of the relevant magazines and send them samples of your creations.
That is exactly what I did very successfuilly as a 15 year-old, with Atlantium.
The fact that you have been written about in specialist print media establishes your baseline credibility as a newsworthy subject, and this inevitably attracts the interest of the general media, leading to further coverage in local and national newspapers and TV - and this in turn, eventually brings all sorts of talented (and often wealthy) individuals into your orbit... with all of the attendant benefits.
Again, this is no mere theory; it has been my actual personal experience over the past 12+ years.
Any person who thinks they are going to successfuly nurture their micronation in compete isolation and secrecy - like some sort of rare botanical specimen - and then one day suddenly spring their "finished product" on an amazed world - is wildly deluded.
Marketing is the key to the success of any public venture - and the effective use of the print media as a free advertising vehicle for any cash-poor micronation whose pretensions extend into the real world, is nothing less than an absolute necessity.
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Dagostinia
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Monarchy of Dagostinia
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Post by Dagostinia on Aug 4, 2011 1:51:14 GMT 10
Dagostinia has been considering doing some sort of "Adopt a Public Throughway Because the Powers that be are Too Lazy or Broke to Clean it Themselves" or some such like that. The idea being (if not already gathered) that we would then take frequent treks on that bit to clean up the trash, report things that need fixing, etc. I suppose it's a way for folks to get their name out there and be active in their community at the same time. After all, do you want your name associated with a trash ridden throughway?
I can adopt a park bench for US$2000+, a hiking trail for US$1500, or a highway or county road for free (clean-up being required). I suppose the county road or highway fits the budget best. A lightly traveled section would be easy to clean but offer little exposure. A heavily traveled interstate would be a bear to clean up but exposure would be through the roof. A bike path might be ideal as it would promote our ideals of self-sufficiency.
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Post by Duke Casimir on Aug 4, 2011 9:09:58 GMT 10
Greetings all:
Some time ago, searching on Google, I remember finding something that recommended putting your nation's name on books, movies, food cans, clothing & tools, to the effect of:
"This [fill in the blank] donated by (name of micronation)."Include a Google voice number, a web site, and perhaps (if there's room), a sentence about your project. Use clear, printed labels, put "bookplates" at the rear of the volume, the inside of the DVD, and don't make a big deal about it. It looks good, you get "brownie points" in the community, and it's not prohibitively expensive.
You already have a website, eh? Your Google voice phone number is free (and it can be a "message only" recording). Don't let this be your only avenue; include it along with all the usual methods.
I use Tagline; it's only $12.95/month, and it allows anyone from anywhere to call me at no charge to them (and it's professional-sounding). There are also other, equally efficient "P.R." techniques, promotional as any used by a business or nonprofit concern. Give to charity; put your name as the giver; when people ask, "Who did this good deed?" the only answer out there where everyone can see it is your Nation.
... and, besides, it also FEELS good, too!
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George
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Post by George on Aug 4, 2011 11:30:29 GMT 10
I've always maintained that the most successful micronations - specifically Hutt River and Seborga - are succesful because of their commercial tourism-related activities.
If this is something you are intending to pursue it is obviously a good idea to (a) establish direct relationships with local tour operators, so that they add your micronation to their itineraries, and (b) ensure your local, regional and national tourism marketing organisations actively promote you as a destination.
Of course for that to work you first need to ensure your micronation is actually worth visiting; nobody in their right mind is going to visit an empty "micronational field" or half-collapsed "micronational woodshed".
That necessitates spending money to construct purpose-specific buildings, monuments and related points-of-interest and facilities.
It also means that you will very likely be expected to "put on a show" for visitors. That may be something as simple as "the prince personally greets every visitor on arrival, while dressed in full regalia" - or it may be something a lot more elaborately theatrical.
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George
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Post by George on Aug 4, 2011 15:14:02 GMT 10
Another idea that's worth pursuing is visits by service clubs and automobile clubs.
A friend of mine is very active in Sydney's Citroen car club, and I'm working to convince him to organise a visit by club members to Atlantium sometime in the next year.
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Dagostinia
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Monarchy of Dagostinia
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Post by Dagostinia on Aug 10, 2011 3:32:56 GMT 10
George seems to be intent on the tourism aspect for promoting his micronation. That is all well and good but I would beseech you to do some good in your community and not just try to milk them.
A thought that occurred to me the other day (and may be a good compromise) would be to donate some supplies to a local school in the name of your project. You also offer up your locale for a field trip for the little anklebiters. They might not have the cash to purchase your bling, but they may be excited enough about it to ask their parents to bring them back. The parents learned that you donated a mess of supplies to the school and want to see what you're all about. Parents return with excited kids and spend their hard earned money at your trading post / general store / midway.
But if you're going to be profit oriented, do be aware that the macro will find out about it soon and ask you to file a tax return. At least you can write off the donated goods against your income.
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George
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Post by George on Aug 10, 2011 9:21:42 GMT 10
Profit? What's that? :-) I'd just be happy to cover some of my costs, for starters, but I don't see it happening anytime soon. The tourism angle is not intended as an end in itself, but as a platform for generating wider public interest in and awarenes of the ideas that are embraced and promoted by Atlantium, which in turn will inevitably bring further wealthy and politically influential people into our orbit. It is the acquisition of a lot more of those sorts of people as Citizens which is our aim. It underpins our credibility, opens up serious financial possibilities, and gives us direct access to the world's real decision-makers. Our efforts in that regard to date seem to have borne at least some fruit. I just last night received an official invitation to attend this event next month, as a VIP delegate, with all expenses paid (other than airfares to/from China). Unfortunately the short notice and existing work commitments mean I can't attend... but hopefully next year...
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George
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Post by George on Aug 11, 2011 11:18:17 GMT 10
To the above I would also add that as far as future tourism goes, Atlantium's local community (namely the town and municipality of Boorowa) will certainly benefit from the injection of visitor dollars into a largely moribund local economy which has traditionally been based on farming activities.
As one example, we are looking to establish a relationship with local hosteleries, so that visitors to Aurora can be offered the option of overnight accommodation / dining of a standard well above what we are ourselves are prepared to deliver.
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Dagostinia
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Post by Dagostinia on Aug 12, 2011 1:23:47 GMT 10
I just last night received an official invitation to attend this event next month, as a VIP delegate, with all expenses paid (other than airfares to/from China). What happened to their 2010 show? Is someone a little slow on website updates?
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