Fancy Photo and Huge Favor (Patreon)

Richard is revamping my author website for next spring's book launch and as allergic as I am to photos of myself at anytime anywhere, the above one popped up from a couple years ago, and thought I'd share. *Deep breath*

Okay, so I've decided that I want to seriously look for some affiliate markets to work with on the UJ podcast. This living hand to mouth is getting a bit scary. I'm getting a bit old as well. I have two aging parents -- Richard has one -- and it would be great to have some savings in case we have to make an emergency trip back home. The yen is crap and ticket prices are the highest i've ever seen them in thirty years. Also, I really do want to make little road trips and bigger road trips to find more stories and interesting anything to write about and share with you all. Oh, ironically enough we both need new glasses 😆, too. My favorite computer glasses broke the day before Hokkaido and Richard's had a lens pop out while there.

I'm just not very good at this monetizing thing. Talk about allergy.

iHeart has approached me again wanting to talk. And again I have a little bit of an idea what an offer from them might look like (my friend has a podcast on an iHeart imprint and it's holy shit! money). Problem: they own all your IP AND they just inundate your show with ads that you have no control over. At least that's my friend's deal. Richard said the first three minutes of an iHeart show is nothing but ads.

My gut is screaming, "No! Don't do it!"

But in order not to do it, I need to put on my big girl (let's use) hachimaki and learn how to find really good and beneficial-to-my-listeners businesses to work with. I took the first step (*gasp*) and signed up for a course on how to do affiliate marketing and am now working my way through that.

So, first thing, you all (patrons) are golden. Once I do find a sponsor or someone to run ads on the show, I'll put up a completely ad free version here. So no worries there. You'll get episodes add free 👍

The "huge favor" then is I'm at the part of the course where I need to brainstorm ideas that listeners might be interested in and companies I might be able to reach out to and see if we can work together. At this point, it's just to gather things listeners want (to find, use, learn from, etc.) AND make a big ol' list of companies that offer such things.

From those I've chatted with and gotten to know, I came up with these general areas of interest:

1. Travel (tours, cruises, particular places to stay that offer neat perks... more?)

2. Language (online courses, in person courses, books, tutors...more?)

3. Food and Snacks (monthly boxes, places that sell and ship specialty Japanese items... more?)

4. Buddhism and Shinto ... (I know there is quite a bit of interest here, so maybe courses or books? Religious items, like statues or what not?)

Does the above look alright? Can anything else be added?

🌟But then the big question: is there anything you're using or have used that is Japan-related that you really love or like (or don't like for that matter)? Perhaps a company I can approach. Or something you're interested in but aren't sure about? Again, I can reach out and see if they'll let me try out whatever it is to give you and other listeners insight into what it's like.🌟

I'm Googling around myself, of course, and making my lists but keep getting overwhelmed. The idea is to get as many ideas as possible, then do some sifting, then email and try, if at all possible, to find something listeners of the show might get some nice benefit out of.

If you'd like to help you can comment or send a message or email at uncannyjapan(at)gmail.com. Anything is fine and I appreciate your help so much. Even asking for it is out of my comfort zone, actually contacting businesses and working with them I can't yet imagine. But I'm wearing that big girl hachimaki, dangit, and I want to try ᕦ(ò_óˇ)ᕤ.

Thank you so much, XO,

（＾Ｏ＾☆♪

terrie