A small percentage of current readers will remember this survey I initiated early last September. I say small percentage, because as you can see from yesterday's March '09 review, I was getting 8,000 visits per month with 10,000 page views, and now we stand at 40k and 70k, respectively. That is many magnitudes of growth, and from the comments and emails I receive, I see nothing but up up up, from here.
That survey convinced me of the market potential of this endeavor, as well as a top-notch marketing professional with whom I've had a personal and business relationship with for 15 years. However, it was not enough, at the time, to bank on or to risk other people's money on. So, we decided to see if I could build traffic while we worked on a comprehensive business plan behind the scenes. Well, the time has come to move forward.
Could I beg of you to take this brief, 10-question survey? If you took it the first time last September, please take it again. It is somewhat modified.
I will leave this up for all weekend while I head out of town. I will also leave it up next week, because I'm going to actually lay out my entire business plan for you, one post per day, Monday through Friday (as well as the normal postings).
Please take the survey now, but feel free to go back and modify your answers over the next week as the business plan is revealed to you day by day. For those who have cookies enabled, the survey site will recognize you and allow you to change your existing answers.
As a final note, the survey is completely anonymous. Neither I, nor anyone else will know the identity of anyone taking the survey, so feel free to be as frank and direct as you can. I value your very honest assessment.
Random Interaction With Readers: Progress, Reports, Misc.
Hi Richard,
It would be informational to you if you could allow comments for your questions. Just a suggestion.
Thanks,
Kyle
I agree with Kyle. There were several responses that I wanted to expand with comments.
Not sure, but I'll check and if possible, will do.
But certainly feel free to include comments here.
Richard Nikoley
Richard,
Just FYI, I said that "No, I would not buy a streamlined version of your book" because that's not my style. I read your blog, Art De Vany, Taubes, Eades, Stephan and the original medical literature you guys link to because I want as much detail as possible. But I know plenty of people who have looked me in the eye and said "Whoa buddy, too much detail. Just tell me what to eat."
I think there's a market for your book. But I think the readers of this blog may not be that market – we want the details. We'd probably be good people to recommend your book to their friends though. I've been waiting for Art to finish his book for YEARS just so I could buy it and give it to people. His loss if you publish first.
Unfortunately, there's no comment option. Can have as many different answers as I want, but no free form comment. Sorry, but again, feel free to reference the question and post comments, criticisms, and/or suggestions right here. I shall address each and every one.
Brock:
This is actually what I expect, and actually the plan. I'll lay it out in more detail next week, but the book is definitely going to be for beginners, for the mass market — something aunt sally can read, follow, and get benefit from.
Almost all of us become experts in our own right, in time. Hell, many of my readers know far more than I. But, unlike Art or Mark, I was THERE, and so I don't choose to be the expert, and even if I could, it would take a decade to get up to their speed in terms of metabolic knowledge. But, I can speak to the hearts of those who are in the shape I was in, or worse, and that's what I'm going to do.
Then, they'll be readers of the blog, and before anyone knows what happened, they're going to be helping the new newbies.
That's why the blog will always be free, unchanged, and for the advanced. In time, I'll develop some products and services to entice even the most knowledgeable (probably in conjunction with some of those same top voices out there), but lets first go out and do our part to spread the Paleo message to the unwashed masses!
All I can tell you is that I've spent hundreds of hours contemplating this, and I think I have it pretty well figured out. I'm glad to know others are on the same page. Gives me great confidence.
The "average person" questions are tough, because the way modern society trends, the average Jenny Craig type person won't be able to break from the pack of modern culture to live the paleo way.
Hi Richard, I don't think the questionnaire is clear about your business plan and then asks questions like would you invest if you could, etc. if you laid out the idea of your plan in steps one, two, three at the beginning and then asked the questions, it would be a more informed answer rather than just taking a guess from the previous questions or just giving an instant response. Hope that helps. I would hope your website remains free as it creates an open community which is limited when there is a charge.
By the way, I would definitely buy your book, because I am book junkie, and would be great as an intro to your ideas and website, so I would buy it for friends as well. Living in the UK, I wouldn't be able to attend any local events.
But maybe a few million can?
Richard Nikoley
The blog remains as is.
After all, it's my baby.
The survey is purposefully geared to the newbe, which is why the 'old hands' are having a bit of a time with it.
However, response has already been fantastic (more responses in the first hours than I got in a week last time) and we want to see if and how it changes as plans are laid out over next week.
Richard Nikoley
Until we come to the UK…
Richard Nikoley
That is really Excellent . I like that most . I will watch it regularly.
The Jenny Craig question is not one that anyone outside the USA would answer necessarily, I haven't head of Jenny Craig in the UK but have heard of her through other USA weight loss stories. Remember your website is international and has a broad reach of readers.
Like Pauline, I would buy your book, for myself and for friends, but I won't be coming to any local events because I live a bit too far away! (NZ>)
Hey, I filled in your survey. I think its a great idea!!!! I would certainly buy your book etc. But my only concern is that your are preaching to the converted. My worry is that most people will tend to think this is a very crazy idea and simply ignore it.
Richard
You are living proof it works. I am interested in simplicity backed by science. Biggest concern for me would be heart disease and to be surte my arteries aren't getting blocked up.
I would like to be a testimonial case – I wonde rif that's possible living here in the UK?
Best wishes
John
Hi Richard, wanted to add that your parents story about your influence and the effects of EF on their diabetes, would be fascinating for people of all ages facing that prospect. I always find success stories fascinating, just googled low carb success stories and found a few I could really relate to. Nutrition and diet has been my interest for about two years now and those stories always get my attention, although I know we each have to find our own unique path on this journey.
There's an irony here for sure. The title of your site is 'Free the Animal'. Yet the results of your 'program' and 'philosophy' (and those terms are used loosely) are the unfreedom and mass torture and disregard of countless non-human animals.
My domestic partner would like to take your survey but since I already took the survey myself the computer won't allow it a second time. Can that get fixed!
I love the idea. I keep thinking of asking relatives to read "Good Calories, Bad Calories" but to be perfectly honest there are so many people out there who wouldn't get past the first 15 pages without falling asleep. Or turning on the TV to catch "The Bachelor". So are you thinking of a more simplified book with lots of pictures?
My mother in law is a TEACHER and she is constantly saying to me that she can't understand why anyone would read the book when they can just watch the movie. A grade 3 teacher.
Anyways for those of us up in Canada, any of the physical seminars are out of the question.
And unfortunately, at 25, newly married with a new mortgage, my husband and I would probably not be able to invest. Wish that all of us were affluent enough to put our money in what we believe in!
It's going to be so simple, easy, fun — and most of all: effective — that people won't be able to ignore it. The book will be a far different thing that the blog, appropriate for 12-100 year olds.
Sure is. Testimonials can come from anyplace.
Richard,
I couldn't respect you more for all the work you've put into this. You are one of the top three links (along with Keith and Art D.V) who I give to people who want to find out more about how I do the things I do. I've played around with a few business ideas myself and would wholeheartedly support your endeavor.
Ryon
Hi Bo,
What is your opinion about the habitat destruction that has come about because of the constant need for new cropland, as well as the countless deaths of animals that occur every harvest?
There are testimonials here and everywhere from people who are utterly astounded at how fun, easy, enjoyable and sustainable this is. This is why they become the perfect evangelists for this sort of thing. They are anxious to tell friends, acquaintances, and loved ones because they have a Golden Helmet in doing so: it really does work, and it's harmonious with our evolved biology.
Feeling great, fantastic, energized, and attractive to the opposite sex is our birthright, as it is for all animals.
Easiest way is to use a differently browser, as each ones store their own cookies (the bit of software that makes you recognizable). So, if on a PC, use either IE or Firefox, depending on which one was used before. If on Mac, use Safari or Firefox, depending.
Another solution would be to go to the security area of your preferences for the browser you are using and delete all the cookies from 'esurveyspro' or anything with an esurvery in the URL.
A more drastic measure would be to delete all cookies. I do this periodically, anyway, just to take out the garbage, so you might want to consider that.
Your partner's preferred solution, I'm sure, would be to go out and get him or her their own computer.
Heard it all before, Bo. Can you come up with anything new?
http://www.proteinpower.com/drmike/peta-cspi-and-other-menaces/a-better-way-to-die/
FTA is about freeing the animal in all of us. That means living in accordance with that animal's nature and enjoying the profound benefits derived therefrom. To the extent you fight and rail against that is the extent to which you are living out of touch with reality.
You can choose to do that, of course, but you can't choose whether or not you'll live the consequences.
Definitely simple. I'm not sure yet about the pictures.
Thanks, Ryon. I fully understand the huge deposits people have made in the bank of respect, in my regard, and I take those deposits very seriously. I hope to grow them.
I like the idea of a book–and in general, I like the idea of self-publishing and print-on-demand publishing.
However, may I make one suggestion? Please have someone proofread your manuscript for you–preferably someone who is known to be a good speller (doesn't have to be me).
I have worked in several occupations which have required me to be a top-notch speller (including as a proofreader); however, I know several writers who can tell a good story but can't spell, and as a consequence some of their stuff looks less professional than it otherwise would.
I read books every week, no matter whether self-published or through "regular" publishers, where the number of glaring errors is embarrassing in some cases. It's as if no one bothers to proofread anything anymore.
Yes, there will be a number of editing and proofreading phases, by myself and others.