Web advertising
I'm currently on three months (paid!) garden leave following resignation from my day job to join a competitor. As well as various DIY projects that have been on hold I've decided to plunge into the world of internet advertising. I've already got a good adsense foothold but this will be something different.
I have a network of established 'medical related' sites - some of them ranking very nicely i.e. 'G' and 'Y' page 1 for various common search phrases. I intend to use one or two of these sites to act as an advertising platform for European companies who offer much cheaper medical services than their UK and US counterparts. More and more people are travelling to get these services overseas (often at 30% of UK prices).
There are a few companies who offer "medical tourism" type services but very few of them have the network and search rankings that I've managed to build over the last couple of years. Hence I reckon I should be able to attract a fair number of European advertisers if I offer reasonable rates. The other guys doing this are currently charging £250 for a simple website listing and £750 for a single page summary of services (per year) - now that adds up!
I just pinged out my first 35 speculative e-mails detailing my offer, benefits I can bring etc etc. I'm looking forward to seeing what happens next - as long as its not being added to a spam black-list 
I think I've built a pretty solid infrastructure in this niche over the last few years - now I need to exploit it better and this certainly seems worth a try.
Dave J
Comment by Dave J — March 19, 2007 @ 11:42 am
Got my first subscription overnight - Eu 450 recurring!
Kinda shocked
Comment by gary — March 19, 2007 @ 1:34 pm
Nice - the pwer of having good sites in a portfolio cannot be underestimated!
What's this about a job move?
Comment by Tom — March 19, 2007 @ 1:52 pm
Well done Dave, seems like you're onto a winner.
Comment by Dave J — March 19, 2007 @ 1:52 pm
Yep - I think the Harley Street clients may be doing the trick for us. We've dropped lucky with that lot - I made a punt for a web build for a local guy a few years ago and subsequently he recommended us to all his posh buddies down south.
Job move - I got approached by a competitor of the company I've worked for over the last ten years - more dosh, strategic position working alongside the FD and MD etc. Couldn't turn it down really. Now on "garden leave" until I'm allowed to go
- I'm gonna make the most of it as I'll be working my cans off again once the new role starts. However, if this advertising project takes off, I might just stay at home!
Comment by gary — March 19, 2007 @ 2:18 pm
If you're in the corporate world, there surely can be nothing better than being head-hunted? The new employers know of you, and know that you have strengths that they require…
Good luck!
Comment by Dave J — March 19, 2007 @ 5:42 pm
Just signed up number 2
Comment by Umran — March 20, 2007 @ 9:21 am
Hi Dave!! I got this message of your through google search. Interesting for me because I run (or try to run) a medical tourism company and would be very happy to discuss your project further to see if there is a mutual benefit.
Hope to hear from you.
Umran
Comment by Dave J — March 22, 2007 @ 10:23 pm
Hi Umran,
I'll contact you via your website within the next day or so. Let's see what we can do….
Dave J