Friday, December 26, 2008
Christmas; A time for Reflection
A Time to Reflect.

The pressures of the life we build around ourselves can be unrelenting, but we do get the occasional opportunity to stop everything and reflect. Today is a good day to stop, and have a look round. Take a deep breath. Ahhhhh.

Snowmobiling is a rugged activity, fraught with preparations and concerns. Getting the sleds setup, greasing the wheels on the trailer and check the tire pressure, checking the weather and the snowfall, calling ahead to book the room, and then checking out Quebec Rider or Trail Conditions.Com on line, to see what the boys are saying about the trails, is a big job. Finally, we fill the truck with gas and head north.

In my case, I need to get my snowmobile gear ready, and my web gear ready. The physical stuff is one thing, then I have to have the website ready too, and that requires months of hard work. And then, there's the rest of the coincidentals, that means cameras, batteries, computers, soft ware, two stroke oil, helmets, gloves, bibs etc etc. .

In order to go out on a trail, collect fresh web content, then come back to the hotel room and hook up on the computer, you have to be organized. The reporting has to go out the same day. Photos, videos, and stories must be updated daily, as well as all the regular daily tasks like checking email, and updating pages that need minor changes and tweaking. Throw in the occasional web virus, or computer crash, and you get the picture. Somedays, it's all I can do to get a connection to the Internet.

Well, right now, I have everything ready. My web site has taken four months of work, but she is looking pretty good. My sponsors are all lined up, their ads are installed on the site, and they should be pleased with the results. My sled is tuned up and ready to ride.

Now I need just three things. A bit of money to trickle in to pay for travel and gas expenses, snow on the ground, and continuing good health. If all that comes together, I will have the perfect storm effect. So far so good. (Remember last winter? I got pnuemonia in January, and I had to work from home for the rest of the sesason.)

I have been on the road for about 13 weeks now. Any sponsorship money that came in was spent on attending six snowmobile shows, travelling to visit some of the sponsors, and a little bit of riding. This is a great time for donations to trickle in. A fifty will fill my snowmobile tank for one day of reporting.

Next, I will spend another four weeks, photographing snowmobilers, and telling their stories on my web pages. After that I will go home, and work from an organized office.

The goal is to promote the sport through the Internet, and somehow keep the wolf away from the door at the same time.

I hope you will share your snowmobile experiences with my readers this winter. Send me three photos, with three short paragraphs. Tell me who is in the photos, when and where they were taken, and then fill me in on some of the fun details of your trip. I will post your content on this blog, and on the front page of www.zenwaiter.com.

Remember, when you send in a report, it gives me a day off from the actual trails. That is a good day for me to play catch up. Did you know that I spend six to ten hours a day at the computer screen in the winter months, to bring you Zenwaiter.com? Usually I am bellied up to the little desk in my room, typing and cramnping up. But I love it.

Have a happy Christmas holiday, and remember, safety first.

Cheers! zw
http://www.zenwaiter.com/

Zen's Canadian Snowmobile Blog is produced and owned by Zenwaiter Internet Services, Box 53, Mossbank Saskatchewan Canada e-mail zen@zenwaiter.com We welcome your snowmobile stories and photos, and all your ideas. zw

Honest Trail Conditions Canada
Snowmobiling, being in the tourist industry, is a very competitive business sector in Canada.

Packages for vacationers are offered of all sorts, from the basic "here is a room and the kitchen is open over there at noon" arrangements to the all-inclusive, fully-guided, fully-equipped, chilled champagne on arrival, chocolates on the pillows, private ice fishing huts and on-site security.

The winter tourism dollar is reward enough for adventure providers like us, to carefully craft a marketing strategy. One that is friendly, open, honest and interesting.

We are fortunate being this far north as snow fall and cold are not at shortages here in the James Bay Frontier. It is always cold and snowing in the winter. Snow, in fact, becomes our region's greatest winter tourism resource and manage it well.

Our world class Quebec snowmobile trail systems simply outclasses the rest.Canada's snowmobiling industry, and has gone through its share of ups and downs over the years. In the bright times, most of the tourist operators celebrate in a moving display of camaraderie. In the darker years though, the industry tends to take on a meaner marketing dimension.

Desperate tour operators can resort to unsavoury means in order to get additional business. When threatened or hurt, they easily announce false accusations on forums about specific competitors or even entire regions and provinces. Sadly, some may even blatantly lie about the actual weather or trail conditions on the ground in order to rent a room or just to keep the deposit.

This type of business practice can hang a dark cloud on an entire region's industry when it is left unchallenged. That is why sled paths reporting, the actual happenings on the ground need to be delivered to potential vacationers in a completely honest way. Not only is it a reflection of good ethics for the winter destination but it is also a testimony to the industry as a whole within a region, an entire province or even the whole snowmobiling industry in Canada.

If it hadn't snowed for three weeks and the temperatures have been consistently hovering in the low teens, then it is unethical to report that a snow storm just passed through. To continue in the charade and to suggest that the groomers are warming up is an unspeakable act of distrust. To take the whole play to the point when you declare that they have just headed out to make a way for you ... is a downright, low-down, terrible, terrible thing.

(Originally posted by a guy named posted by Fred!).

For 30 years the Quebec Canada region has been renowned as the best place for snowmobile vacations and holidays and is a prime international destination among snowmobile enthusiasts the world over. The riding season often begins as early as mid-November, with plenty of snow through most of March and April, especially in the forested areas. The typical annual snow coverage In Quebec often exceeds 2 metres (over 6 feet) - even more in the north. The average January temperature is around 8° F. Temperatures may range from about 20° F up to the freezing point. Sudden temperature and weather shifts and heavy snowfalls can create great riding opportunities.

Promote Your Snowmobile Business 2009 - 2010 Zen Tour - Promoting Your Snowmobile Business

Is your snowmobile motel or garage stuck in the middle of no-where? Do you have a quality snowmobiler accommodation or snowmobile & ATV rental service to offer, but have no way to promote it? Let Zenwaiter get the word out for you fast, with the power of the World Wide Internet. I have been promoting snowmobile, ATV, hunting and fishing camps and destinations, for nine years. I can help you, and it doesn't have to cost a fortune!

Here is the offer.

A) ZENWAITER FRONT PAGE STORY: $ 300.00 During snowmobile season, from two to five thousand snowmobilers a day, visit the main Zenwaiter.com web site every day. Now you can get your photo with your friends and clients, and your logo, on our front page, with a link to your site. This is very powerful advertising for your motel or snowmobile related business. When our readers see a photo of your snow, your trail, or your motel, or your snowmobile product, they will call and do business with you. Our front page report/stories are usually under 100 words and include a photo. This story will stay on the front page, at the top, for a few days, then it will start to move down the page, as new stories are added at the top. After a few weeks, the story will be moved onto a permanent Archived Page, and will be accessible for years. (This product does not require Zen to visit your location.) In the snowmobile season, this front page changes daily. It features important news items daily, plus occasionally, we slip in a sponsored story, like yours! See Zenwaiter.com front page here.

B) 'ZEN TALK' SNOWMOBILE RADIO PODCAST SHOW: $ 225.00Thousands of snowmobile fanatics visit Zenwaiter.com every day, and now they could listen to you, talking to Zen on 'Zen Talk' , our popular radio podcast. The listeners will learn about your place, and find out about your web site. On the show, you can talk about your hot tub, your trails, the friendly staff in your bar, or your excellent snowmobile club. (This product does not require Zen to visit your location.) Our podcasts can run from fifteen minutes to 40 minutes. This will be our third season. We produced 63 shows last year, and all the shows are now available for free download to your ipod, on ITUNES.com. This weekly show is heard by snowmobilers all over the world. Listen to one of our Archive 'ZEN TALK' podcast shows here.

C) ZEN BLOG STORY: $ 300.00 There is nothing like a well written story about your motel written by Zenwaiter himself, to make riders want to come up and visit you for their snowmobile vacation this winter. Zen will write a promotional article about your snowmobile accommodations, and publish it on the Internet. This is a great way to publicize a spêcial event at your place, such as a snowmobile race, or fund raiser. Thousands of readers will find it, read it, and get excited about your motel. Zen will explain the best features of your place, such as your food, your comfortable beds and clean rooms, your great helpful staff and more. He will give some of the history of your place, and introduce the readers to your family, your club, and even your dog! When people have the chance to read the whole story, they feel like they know you. It takes the fear out of the decision to come and stay with you. Our blog stories usually include about 300 words, and include two photos or more. (This product does not require Zen to visit your location.) If Zen visits your place, he will use his own photos at no extra charge, otherwise you must provide the photos. View the main snowmobile Blog page here.

D) Snowmobile BLOG TV LIVE: $ 250.00 Something new. Blog TV is a new technology that allows you to broadcast LIVE from your motel, if you have a wireless modem. Zen will walk around your motel, through the rooms, hallways, bar and restaurant, and even out into the parking lot. The production value is not strong, but the fact that the people can watch it LIVE, or on tape afterwards, is what makes it so effective. PLUS, the viewers can also log on, and 'chat' with Zen, while he is broadcasting! This is really fun. People can go back to the archives any time and view the shows over and over, for free. When they see Zen actually walk up to people in your bar or parking lot, and ask them how the trail conditions are, WOW, that is true LIVE excitement, and really makes them want to come see your motel! Our Blog TV segments are usually about ten to fifteen minutes to a half hour in length. (Zenwaiter must visit your place to do this work.) To view BLOG TV, click here.

E) Zen's BLOGCHEESE: Video Blog: $ 200.00 Blogcheese is a very powerful tool, for helping people to find you. It is a web site that allows us to post a 1 minute video about your motel. When people search through Google, MSN or Yahoo, they can easily find this one minute Video, where Zen Talks about You and Your snowmobile destination motel. On the Internet, people like to see the information quickly and clearly, to help them make a decision about where to ride this winter. Once they listen to the video, they can click on your link, and VOILA, they come to stay at your place with their friends and family! Our Blogcheese videos are one minute long, usually featuring Zen sitting at his desk with the fur hat on his head, headphones, and a short description of 100 words. (This product does not require Zen to visit your location). View Blogcheese now!

F) Custom made Photo Album $ 225.00 Many snowmobilers search through the online Zenwaiter Photo Albums every year to find their next snowmobile destination. Get your own album inside the Zenwaiter Photo Site. We will build an album for you. This price includes the virtual album, and two hours of instructional support for you over the phone. You must learn how to post your own photos. We will create the photo album, and get you started. (If Zen has visited your place, we will also post some of his best photos for you, at no charge, otherwise we must use your pictures). Visit our Photo Album site here...

G) Your Own Snow Conditions Bulletin Board: $ 225.00 We can set you up your own personal snowmobile trail conditions bulletin board, where you can tell the world about current conditions in French and in English if you choose. Your bulletin board encourages readers to write to you, to ask specific questions about your motel, and when you answer, everyone can read the answers that you give. We will build and promote your bulletin board inside our main disscussion board site, and even create topics within the board for you, such as, "How to get here, Snow Trail conditions, Upcomming events in your area, Get your Trail Pass Here, and more topics, that engage the reader. This price includes the virtual board, plus two hours of instruction and support for you over the phone. (This product does not require Zen to visit your location.) Go and read articles now on our snowmobile bulletin board.

H) YOUR snowmobile business on YOUTUBE.COM $ 50.00 per video clip. We will produce some very short, raw, and exciting snowmobile videos of your motel and then post them on YOUTUBE.COM for you. Thousands of snowmobilers will freak out when they watch your people, your trails, and the beauty of your motel, on a short video. Our You Tube videos are usually under one minute long. They will be posted on the Zenwaiter Youtube channel.(Zenwaiter must visit your place to do this work.) Go to our You Tube Channel now.

I) Zenwaiter Personal Visit: $ 200.00 (plus at least two other services above). ***Zen will visit your motel for three nights. During his visit, he will create whatever services you have ordered (above). At the same time, he will mix with your clients, and take photos of your place at no charge. Zen will also evealuate your snowmobile business, at no extra charge, and give you some marketing tips, which will help you to attract your target market segment. You must provide Zenwaiter with a clean comfortable room for three nights, all his meals, expenses, snowmobile gas, a guide, and high speed Internet Access. All your products will be created and delivered live, on the Internet, from your location where possible. Zen will tell the world how great your place is, and collect photos of your most beautiful local trails and landmarks. See the result of one visit I did recently.

*** (The travel prices on this page are for locations which are in the Mauricie Region of Quebec, and only during a limited time during Dec - Jan - Feb 2009-10 . If you live in a different locations, or need us at a different time, please call us at 306-354-2216 for a quote. Zenwaiter is prepared to help promote your lodge anywhere anytime, but it may cost a little more, depending on the details.)

J) Mini Website Page: $300.00 incl one year of hosting. We can build a one page, promotional web site for you, which will be hosted inside of Zenwaiter.com, one of the most powerful snowmobile/atv web sites on the Internet today. Your mini web site, will be powerful on the Search Engines, and will attract much attention to your business. The price includes one year registration of your own domaine name, and hosting. The annual renewal for your page is only 199.00 and includes an update of your page, just in case you have a better photo to add, or you have changed your prices. It's a great deal. Click here to see an example .

K) Get a brand new web site - Zenwaiter Internet Services : Click Here

L) Promotion of your media: Included Promotion of the products we created for you, is provided at no extra charge. Once we promote your photos, videos and stories online, you will experience more traffic on your web site, and get more new clients. You are paying us to create photos, albums, radio podcasts, stories and video. We will promote these products on our web sites for you, through our very popular web sites, and through the search engines, so that many potential customers will see them. You can help us promote this media as well, by placing links on your own web sites, and in your printed materials such as brochures that you distribute at snowmobile trade shows. As a bonus, if you order any of our services, your logo will appear on our Sponsorship Page.

M) Ultimate Zenwaiter Power Sponsorship $ 735.00. There are only a few businesses that have become a Zenwaiter Power Sponsor over the years. These are the logos that you will see on our front page www.zenwaiter.com . You will see their logos on the top of our busiest pages, and also on the right hand side of the page. If you are a Power Sponsor, your logo goes all over the Zenwaiter web sites, with a built in link to your web site, and you also get a Mini Web Site included. (J) Within a year, your logo and link will be on dozens of web pages and will bring you targeted traffic.

N) Front Page Story on Zenwaiter Interactive Web Site Sale Price $ 150.00. Hit the front page of our Interactive web site and get some attention! click here to see our Zenwaiter Interactive Snowmobile Site.

Payment:

You will be billed for the products you have chosen above, when you order. ( A - N )

If you have Zenwaiter come to your location, you will be billed a $ 200. fee for gas and travel expenses, for every visit. You must pay this fee in advance.

Pay 50% deposit of your total, when you order.

Pay the balance when the product appears on the Internet.

All Canadian orders, must pay GST.

We accept major credit cards through PayPal.

Discounts. If you sell our service to another outfitter near you, we will give you a $100. discount for each new client you find for us. We can help out all your friends in your area to get more business. Work together!

* We can do any or all of the above services for any snowmobile, hunting, fishing or ATV related business, that means, motels, hotels, dealerships, repair shops, or even snowmobile clubs. We use the power of the Internet to bring snowmobile riders and customers through your doors. We have been doing this work since 1999!

Place your Motel Hotel add here!