What's the Point?

(originally written for my private 'Surviving Solo' website)

So, what's the point of it all?

I've turned into a total B&B bore and am still short of time because I'm trying to write a book, working title "Surviving Solo" which has got completely held up after 40,000 heartfelt words, and now needs an entire re-write as things havent quite panned out as predicted.

I'm also writing a second, particularly banal blog on my B&B website (www.wydemeet-dartmoor.com) which I understand will help keep it Search Engine Optimized - even though the drivel I pop in there is of little use or interest to anyone. I daren't write anything controversial or I might put off potential customers!

With demand for my B&B services having fallen off its cliff I must now move into Stage 3, which is to promote its existence to every contact I have - over 2000 'contacts' on my computer - ie everyone I've ever exchanged an email  with over the past ten years.

I am pretty scared of this prospect - my contacts range from national press editors, to people I've sued, to speakers agents, to past and existing B&B customers.  I am bound to say something that will offend somebody somewhere.

And after that I have to move on to selling via Facebook and Twitter.  Even worse than the above, I gather I have to 'hashtag' the entire world - not just a handful of contacts - and entice all and sundry to come and stay at my place by saying something short and pithy about it, which will go viral.  I wish!

And then finally somehow I have to make this blog commercial, after so much time, effort and thought has gone into it, or there's not really much point to its existence. How? I suppose Ive got to tell my 2000 contacts about it for a start, and hope there's not too much that's too offensive in it anywhere. And then include advertising space on it or something.

I may be a natural marketing person to my core, but the thought of people I vaguely know being bothered by stupid emailed messages saying "There's been a lot of action on your Facebook account recently" or "Here's the latest news from Twitter" as a direct result of my trying to flog them something, fills me with abject horror!

I gather this is how things get sold these days, though, and people accept the process.

I guess the only way to find out is to try it.

And then dig myself a hole and bury myself away with my head held in shame, for the rest of the winter.