Hello again; Recently, I’ve been blessed with a lot of amazing opportunities. I was asked to write a guest post for Adrienne Smith, I wrote an article for Red Wine Magazine, and I was a guest on the Real Talk with Lee radio show. I am working on an interview for Gill Andrews of True Stories with Gill, and I have several more online radio show interviews scheduled.
Now, some of these breaks came from continuing to be active in building relationships through blog commenting. But some of these opportunities came from actively seeking to be a guest on blogs, podcasts, and radio shows. Today, I’m going to share the methods I have used and the results that came from each. I hope that I can help you to create more chances to introduce yourself, share your message, promote your business, raise funds for a non profit, etc.
Now, I should mention that until recently I didn’t openly solicit any of the many guest posts or podcast appearances I have received. I was able to come to the attention of other bloggers through blog commenting. I would read their posts, leave quality memorable comments, share their content, and eventually contact them directly by email. Or sometimes they would write to me. The point is I got to know them by supporting and helping with their site. And then they would decide all on their own to reach out to me.
I learned this strategy from Adrienne Smith, the blog commenting super star, and it has obviously worked for me. I believe in it with all my heart. And it will always be part of my marketing efforts. It is one of the most effective uses of my time in my opinion.
But last month I read a post by Ann Smarty on Boost Blog Traffic entitled How to Get Interviewed by Popular Blogs (Even If You’re Not a Big Shot In it She says that any of us can become one of the experts that the top bloggers, authors, podcasters, and radio and tv show hosts turn to when they need a source for their next article, blog post, . or show guest. And with the hundreds or thousands of people out there who need experts its just a matter of putting yourself where these people can find you. And she included several sites where you can go to meet these authors and show hosts. I’m going to share my experiences with the sites she recommended along with a couple that I found on my own.
HARO and MyBlogU
For guest posts and newspaper or magazine interviews she recommended HARO, Help a Reporter Out and her new website MyBlogU.
MyBlogU
I signed up to MyBlogU about a month ago. I had some trouble signing up, so Ann created my account. I went there and tried to use it but found it lacking in accessibility. I ignored it for about a month, but then I decided to give it one more try.
When I returned, I found that they still had some issues; but I was impressed with the progress they had made. They still have too many links that don’t have individual description tags, but i was able to work around this. And I believe other blind and visually impaired people would be able to manage their site now too.
I answered some requests for brain storming ideas and collaborations. I also answered some questions from people working on articles and blog posts. And finally I responded to some requests for interview subjects.
I actually received positive responses from three of these submissions. One was for the interview with Gill mentioned above. He specializes in long interviews where he asks questions other bloggers either don’t think of or shy away from asking.
I was also one of the people used as a resource in a post on Don Sturgill’s site titled Email Marketing Basics. What he did was ask several people the same set of questions and then share their answers in a post about building and properly using email lists. In addition to having my answers included and a link in his post; he also mentioned the fact that I am a blind blogger and that other bloggers should take inspiration from me.
The other one is for a video podcast called the Social Web Cafe hosted by Deborah Anderson. I don’t know when it will air, but I am scheduled to record it with her via a google hangout on air.
HARO Help a Reporter Out
Next, I moved on to HARO. Again, I had trouble signing up. Part of this was the usual difficulty of a site owner not designing for use with a screen reader. And part of it was a misunderstanding about the site. Like all the sites I will recommend it is free. But they have to sign up forms one for there three different paid option and a second one for the free sign up. Even after the people at technical support told me about this, I still couldn’t set up an account. I asked them if they would do it for me, and they agreed.
Okay, after you sign up you will start receiving email newsletters three times a day. They will have announcements about people looking for sources for newspaper and magazine articles, book projects, and even radio and tv shows. Each will have an email address. However, you can’t just reply to that email. You have to copy the email address to the submit pitch form on their website. And then the HARO system will forward your pitch email to the author, reporter, or show producer.
I have only been using this one for about a week. I have submitted half a dozen pitch emails. So far I have not received any replies. And I have noticed that many of the offers are for opportunities that require you to have a degree of some kind or other official credentials. Also, many of them are only looking for contributors that live in their city or general area. It has potential, but I feel MyBlogU has much more at least for me personally. Of course the fact that I have gotten results from MyBlogU could be coloring my opinion.
Blog Talk Radio and Webmaster Radio
For online radio shows she recommended Blog Talk Radio and Webmaster Radio.
My first radio appearance was with the Brian the Hammer Jackson Show on Blog talk. There are a lot of good shows on there. And they do have a search feature to find shows in your niche. I found that the number of results was kind of overwhelming for me to sort through. I thought there was a better way to find available shows. There is, and I will come back to this later.
As for Webmaster Radio I found the site confusing. And the audio that plays when you visit the site is set way too loud. It also appears that you have to be much more well known than i am in order to be featured on it. I could be wrong, but I choose to use sites that are easy to use. I can’t always do that, but in this case there are other better options.
Radio Guest List and Media Guest Connect
Now, I want to talk to you about two more sites for connecting with radio and tv show producers. One is Radio Guest List, and the other is Media Guest Connect. They both offer premium versions of their services, but you can get plenty of good use out of their free options.
Media Guest Connect
I’m going to start with Media Guest Connect. This site has profiles created by show producers and by people like me wanting to be their guests. You can upload a profile with your photo and an audio file for free. With the paid accounts you can add video files and even more audio ones.
I haven’t had any contacts from this site, but then I haven’t sent any pitch letters yet either. I wanted to see if anyone there would find me through my profile first. I have now started reaching out to some of the show producers on this site and am hoping for the best.
It does seem to have quite a few listings. The search results aren’t as well divided as I would like. But at least it is a site that I can use easily with my screen reader.
Radio Guest List
Well, now I want to tell you about Radio Guest List. It is another free service. After you sign up for it, you will receive a daily email with all the new requests for radio and tv show guests. The listings will include the name of the show, what its about, what type of expert guest they are looking for, where their show is broadcast, the audience size and demographics; and most importantly the producer’s contact information. Some of these shows will ask for or require a donation, but you can find this out before deciding whether or not to pitch to a given show.
This one has been very successful for me. It is how i received the slot on Lee’s show Real Talk with Lee. Its also how I got booked on Twanna Young’s Show. That one was scheduled for Nov 18th but has been postponed due to her having surgery.
Its also where I found out about the Rob and Slim Show that I will be doing the 28th of January. And I just found out that i will be a guest on Tell It Like It Is hosted by Stuart Vener. I hear he has over two million listeners in the U S alone.
Radio Guest List is the one I look forward to the most out of the resources mentioned in this post.
Writing pitch letters
Now, I wouldn’t want to close without saying something about writing the pitch letters. And while others will talk to you about the right way to create a successful Pitch email, I want to remind you that the most important part of a pitch letter or email is sending it. You won’t be perfect or even close when you get started. You also won’t get booked if you never get around to actually asking someone for a spot on their show.
And yes I realize I have an advantage in this area. One, I have spent a lot of my life making cold calls and writing unsolicited emails. I have had a lot of rejections and I don’t let it discourage me. I have also succeeded in getting booked on radio shows, so I am confident I can do it again. But trust me you can do this. And every time you do it you will get better at it.
But to help you out here is what I include in my pitch emails. I start by saying hello using their name. Then I share a bit of my story so they know who I am and why I think that I would be a good fit for their blog, podcast, newspaper, magazine, or radio or tv show. Then I encourage them to visit my websites and my as seen online page.
Most people say only include one link, but I have two businesses that are part of my story; so it only makes sense for me to add more than one url. And for anyone who has forgotten the as seen online page is where they can visit other sites where I have been featured. Some have even referred to it as a poor mans digital press kit. And I close by asking them to contact me to discuss it further.
I am not a rock star. Yes, I am a successful business owner blogger and podcaster. But most of these people don’t know who I am until I tell them.
You can do the same. There is something that you are an expert about. There is a subject that you know about and that other people are just waiting to learn it from you. You also have your own story to tell. And if you want some help with your pitch letter, feel free to email me for suggestions.
The lesson
I’m sharing this post because I want you to have the same opportunities that I have enjoyed. There are many opportunities that will come your way through building relationships online. Blog commenting is a powerful way to meet other site owners, get to know them, and receive chances to be featured on their blogs or podcasts. But once you start to get these chances to be featured, some of you are going to want even more of them.
That is what has happened to me. I’ve gone from not believing I had a story, to not understanding how powerful my story is, to having to be forced to tell my story to now actively seeking out and pursuing new places to share my story about how a positive attitude and consistent baby steps of improvement can allow you to accomplish your dreams and achieve your goals.
Sharing is caring
This is the part where I ask you to leave comments and share with your friends. And yes I would love it if you would tell people about me and the post. But I would love it even more if you would visit the people and websites mentioned in this post. The best way for me to receive future opportunities is to prove I can generate traffic to the ones I have already received. In addition to wanting to work with people with good stories, most site owners want people who can help put buts in the seats or in the case of the internet faces in front of screens. Perhaps you will decide to pitch yourself to one of them.
Well, that’s it for this week. I do love hearing from my readers, so feel free to send me a message via the contact page. Whether you have a question, want to enquire about coaching, or just want to get to know me better; I am here for you. I want to be your friend. Thanks for reading my post. Take care out there, Max
If you have enjoyed this post or my website and feel like supporting me on my journey; then you are welcome to make a small donation. As a blind person I do have expenses that sighted people don’t have. And I also understand that it can make someone feel better to help someone that they believe in.
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Hi Max,
I LOVE the new layout for your blog! Reminds me of mine a bit, at BFP….especially the top menu 😉 Well done my friend.
Adrienne and you get it. I’m learning more from you both daily that making friends wherever you pop up is the easiest way to multiply opportunities for yourself and others.
If we just help folks, promote others and get out of the way a whole Universe of prospering opportunities opens up for us, quickly, which benefit all. That’s the really fun part.
Funny that it took me about 3 years to learn this basic, simple, clear concept, lol.
Thanks Max, for your thoughtfulness, for your support and for your inspiration.
Onward and upward!
Ryan
Ryan Biddulph recently posted…21 Simple Blogging Tips
Hi ryan; well it took me about five or so before i found adrienne and learned how much easier it can be working together. people have said they love my quote about a one man band not playing too loudly for too long. Its something my dad always said. I’d love to find someone to create a graphic for it and sell some t-shirts and stuff. I loved your post. one of my favorite quotes is from neitzchi that goes something like if a man has a big enough why he can manage any how. I sold my first copy of the ebook. thanks for telling me about selz. i’m now on good reads and hope to soon have my book on create space so i can sell print copies and also order them for me to have at networking events. would love to send you a copy of the book and see what you think about me turning it into a video or audio and video series? Well, I got to get to bed. I have a sleep study tomorrow night and with my family the day before will be more entertaining than it should be. by the way have you got any pointers on how i finance my travels keeping in mind that I am totally blind and traveling by myself will be more difficult and traveling with a partner paid or otherwise would be lots more expensive. thanks and take care out there, Max
maxwell ivey recently posted…From blog commenting and community building to podcasts radio shows and beyond
Max, you sure have done a lot. No wonder you’re becoming so popular and well-known! Plus, the fact that you are blind makes you memorable to begin with. Who knew your blindness would be so good for you? 😉 LOL
Geez, I sure hope others reading this comment of mine for the first time does not give them the wrong impression. Of course, no one but the two of us know the bond we have. And yes, it’s also a result of blog commenting!
I still remember the shock and surprise I felt when you left me that comment on Ashley’s site when I had my guest post there. I still cannot believe that I was able to land guest post spots on both his site and Greg’s site in the same week, much less be the first person to guest post on each site!
We’ve both come a long way, baby. 😉
Congratulations, too, Max. All your hard work is paying off. 🙂
Lorraine Reguly recently posted…Readability: How “Readable” is YOUR Writing?
Hi Lorraine; i know how you intended it which is all that matters. but if you want me to edit it out just ask and i will be happy to. I don’t think there is anything wrong with it. I got a good laugh out of it while I was reading it. yes we have done so much and come so far and neither of us are anywhere close to where we want to be. 🙂 i have actually been called out by some blind and sighted who think that I shouldn’t be so open about being blind or shouldn’t be so proud of being a blind blogger. according to the people in the national federation of the blind we should all be doing what we can to remove the idea that any blind person is or can be an inspiration. I don’t agree with that. I choose to take yours and adrienne’s view that is its okay to be proud to overcome blindness and be the blind blogger as long as you did the hard work and earned it. and we both know not only have i worked my ass off but that i will continue to do so every day. so until more people know more bloggers who are visually impaired I’ll just have to keep being The Blind Blogger. but like underdog and his alter ego shoeshine boy I’ll always be humble and lovable. thanks for the great comment. xoxo max
maxwell ivey recently posted…From blog commenting and community building to podcasts radio shows and beyond
Max, you should be proud of that moniker! You’re amazing! Both as a person and as an online celebrity… if you want to call yourself that. LOL You might be a blind blogger among a sea of other blind bloggers but maybe that is where you can improve… by introducing the other blind bloggers to everyone in your circle of blogging friends.
Of course, everyone is different and you have the personality that shines through in all of your comments and blog posts. That is what makes you so special. Of course, other blind bloggers MUST exist. However, I only know Kerry.
Who are the others? Do a post about them and give us links to their blogs!
Lorraine Reguly recently posted…Readability: How “Readable” is YOUR Writing?
Hi Lorraine; me a celebrity, hmm maybe i am at least a minor one. not in cardashian or ellen’s league but maybe i am a bit of a celebrity. so does that mean i can start charging for my autograph. oh wait someone has to ask for them first and you usually have to go out in public to get asked. i like your idea about the round up post of other visually impaired bloggers. I’ve been thinking about doing one for a while now and think i finally have five or six bloggers to include. i wanted to wait until kerry got enough confidence to want to be included because she was one of the few blind bloggers to reply to me when i reached out to a bunch of them last year. got to go eat breakfast. if you want me I’ll be in the green room with my people. lol have a great day, max
Hi Max — and I remember when I first read your blog about your amusement equipment and I thought it was so interesting. You may remember I commented and we had some correspondence. I didn’t know then that you were blind. I admire you so much for your tenacity in building your presence on social media. I read you post on Adrienne Smith’s blog and intend to leave a comment there, too. Bravo and keep the faith!
Jeannette Paladino recently posted…Giving Thanks to Our Wounded Warriors
Hi Jeannette; I remember that you left some of the best comments about the amusement equipment i shared. and i need to get back to that blog now that the ebook is finished. a lot of people have said that if i didn’t tell them i were blind they wouldn’t know any better. and a few have even been angry about me being so open about my blindness wondering why i would mention it because i don’t have to. I appreciate your continued support and these kind words. I read your comment on adrienne’s site earlier. I know we are all busy so thanks for taking the time to read and reply to both posts. looking forward to more spirited conversations, max
Max — did you read about the Coney Island Thunderbolt roller coaster opening in June? Here is a link to the NY Daily News article http://nydn.us/1jQd5TQ. I took a virtual ride on a YouTube video. I don’t I’ll be taking a real ride myself very soon!!
Jeannette Paladino recently posted…Giving Thanks to Our Wounded Warriors
sounds like fun; yeh right but maybe by june i’ll be ready to go with. happy thanksgiving, max
maxwell ivey recently posted…From blog commenting and community building to podcasts radio shows and beyond
Wow! You’ve certainly done a lot and put a lot of effort into all of this. Quite the database you’ve gathered.
I don’t know, although I appreciate all the help you’ve offered me with this sort of thing, if I have the fortitude to contact all these organizations and fight through the issues with unfriendly site navigation for VoiceOVer.
I just grew rather frustrated at attempting to leave a simple comment and a share of your guest post over on Adrienne’s site. I try to tab through each box for my comment and VoiceOver puts my name in the email box and my email in the URL…etc, etc, etc. I tried to add my Twitter where it requested it and ended up having it at the end of my comment itself. Grrrrr.
Anyway, I know you referred to the issues you’ve come across about “capitalizing” on the blindness thing and you know I’ve shared my thoughts on that with you before so I won’t go into all that again.
🙂 Let’s just say that I am conflicted. I am doing it myself now so I am probably a hypocrite, but like with most things in life, I can see both sides and am trying to find a balance. I wish we were at a time where it didn’t matter, either way, but you are probably right when you say that as long as there is hard work involved, that’s all that matters in the end.
Sorry I couldn’t share this post either, like I mentioned to Adrienne, but hopefully commenting will suffice for now and I will make the effort to promote you where and when I can.
I am working on the book review now and am locating you on GoodReads.
I did happen to notice that you reached out to the Ellen Show. 🙂
Good for you. I would love to see you on there sometime.
All the best and a Happy Thanksgiving, all the way from your northern neighbour.
Hi Kerry; i too struggle with using voiceover and entering information on online forms. so there is no need for explanation or apology. they don’t make it easy. the only good thing is that most sites now have audio captcha options and most of them no longer use those audio files that sound like the a polo era astronauts calling home from the moon. lol I understand your concerns about using your blindness or me using mine. It is something I think about and have commented on. at the NFB conference i went to a couple weeks ago they spoke against the idea of a blind person being thought of as inspirational just because they do things that ordinary people do every day. I don’t know if i can go that far either. to me there are so many people out there that need a reason to take that next step that i would feel bad if i deprived them of their reason just like i feel good when people tell me that sharing my story takes away their excuses. I respect your wishes or try to. I’m happy that you decided to leave a comment. You usually email directly and i love hearing from you however you are comfortable talking to me. I also think that people like us balance out those who use their blindness in a negative way. I am planning a round up post for dec 1st so let me know if you want your blog mentioned and which one. I need to have at least five i think for it to be a good post. and well the promotor in me just couldn’t help myself with the post on ellen’s wall. i figured it would get deleted. I haven’t gotten a nasty email from them or face book for spamming so that’s a relief. and if you don’t take those chances how are you going to get noticed. I really appreciate your friendship and wish you all the best in 2015. the thanksgiving wishes are great too. xoxo max
As a matter-of-fact, I just tried to send a message and an interview request to an author/writer and there was no audio captcha at all so I had to, instead, request an interview in the comments of one of her blog posts. I have not heard any other than those strange moon-sounding ones. 🙂
hi kerry; i just checked the info you submitted for this comment. for some reason it had a combination of your url and your email address. I corrected the links but for some reason you still aren’t getting credit for the link to your website. will do some checking to see why this is. try going to your website and copying the url and then pasting it into the next comment form you use. no most of the audio captchas i use now have very clear audio and only five numbers to enter. we’ll get this figured out my friend, max
maxwell ivey recently posted…From blog commenting and community building to podcasts radio shows and beyond
Glad to have met you, Maxwell. Love the lineup. Don’t let up.
Don Sturgill recently posted…Email Marketing Basics – Perspectives From the Trenches
hi don’ great to meet you too. was happy to be mentioned in your post and look forward to collaborating with you more in the future. keep up the great work, max
Hi Max,
I read your post of Adrienne’s blog and I just can’t help but say How amazing you are to have done this. You have no idea how motivating you are. Or maybe you do.
I just started my blog. Although I was quite aware of blogging world but myself got involved in it very recently. The tips you have given here are of much help in that.
I am kind of a holdback when it comes to connections. I guess it will develop with time. Thanks you for this wonderful piece 🙂
Navneet Teotia recently posted…Use Google Contributor for ad-free browsing
hi navneet; i can understand being hesitant at first. you have to figure out who knows what they are talking about and who is just talking to hear themselves or to sell you products and services. you are off to a good start meeting adrienne. she has a good heart and will never steer you wrong. and i appreciate the fact that seeing my post on her site gave you the confidence to come on over and say hello. yes i do understand that i inspire and motivate people like you and i’m glad and proud that i can. i didn’t used to understand but thanks to adrienne and other great blogging friends i get it now and i’m trying to do even more to be a role model. looking forward to following your progress. best of luck, max
Hi Max,
Nothing beats connecting in the present day. Online, it is more than ever imperative that bloggers actively seek out ways to network and connect in new and creative ways.
The numerous resources you’ve shared here are supremely appreciated. Your kind (and generous) heart is a symbol of nobility: a nobility all bloggers should posses.
Do have a great day!
Always,
Terungwa
Akaahan Terungwa recently posted…Let Me Design A Professional Website For You For Free (Pay For Only Hosting And Get A Free Domain Name For Life)!
Hi Terungwa; thanks for the kind words. as i said in the post most of the resources came from a boost blog traffic blog article. but i thought it would be helpful to let people know what to expect from each and to share which seemed to be worth the time and which seem to be time drains. Let me know if i can ever do anything to help you. kind regards, max
Thanks a lot for referencing my article and giving MyBlogU a try, Max! We are still building it up but I am sure it can be already useful!
Ann Smarty recently posted…What We Are Thankful for at #MyBlogU #HappyThanksgiving
hi ann; thanks for the comment. i hope i made it clear in the post that you have improved the site a lot and it is now usable by people like me who browse the internet using a screen reader. I find it much friendlier site than face book or linked in. wishing you all the best with it, max
Hey Max,
This is a great post and I’m so glad you checked out what Amy had to share and jumped right in. That’s what I so admire about you, you don’t shy away from anything.
I know you’ve told me at times that some of the people you have approached you didn’t even realize how big they were or what kind of following they had because you are blind and can’t see that. So you aren’t really intimidated by anyone and you just go for it. Gosh you are so brave in my eyes because I look at myself more as a chicken in that respect. Granted, I too have come a long way because we’re all just people right!
I was thrilled to have you as a guest writer on my blog, you’re one of my favorite people and you definitely have a story to share. I know that for me and you as well we struggled for years to get anywhere. Once we found the right information and just started applying it then things started to happen for us both.
I’m just thrilled to see all the opportunities opening up for you and how you are putting yourself out there. Thank you for sharing what you’ve been doing with us. Great job with this post Max and great tips too.
Hope your week is going well, thanks again.
~Adrienne
Adrienne recently posted…How To Benefit From Your Blog Community
Hi adrienne; thanks for your wonderful comment. It is true that we have both had to go through the stage of frustration before finding the correct information. but once we found it we implemented it with an open heart and a brave spirit and received all the benefits. I have gotten a lot of new opportunities many of them coming from blog commenting. and now the ones that I’m openly seeking out. but i don’t know that I would have had the confidence to send pitch letters if i hadn’t done the interviews and guest posts where people offered them to me without my having to ask. then with the confidence in my story it was just a matter of applying my old skills. once a cold caller and email sender always one. 🙂 thankfully no one can accuse me of spamming any more because I’m only writing people who have put it out there that they are looking. yesterday one of your readers fabrizio bought a copy of my ebook and promised a review. he also asked about interviewing me after the new year. and one of enstine’s readers just wrote a comment saying that i have inspired them to inspire others. so the snowball is rolling down the hill finally. thanks for all your help and support. you are a great friend. xoxo max
Hi Max
I am always inspired reading your post. It is great that you are inspiring everyone as your story does touch the lives of people.
I also say congratulations for the Guest post opportunities that have come your way. This post is informative and the tips you shared for bloggers is great. I definitely will check the sites out.
Thank you for sharing an awesome post. Have a nice week
ikechi recently posted…Ask Yourself…Am I Where I Want To Be?
hi ikechi; thanks for taking the time to read my posts. I am encouraged by your comments. and i’m glad that i was also able to share some actual knowledge you could use in promoting your own blog. thanks so much and take care, max
Hello Max,
Nice to see you after a long time. I am glad to see the progress of your blog. The design looks nice. And thank you for sharing these valuable information. Take care.
Tuhin recently posted…Psychology of a Jealous mind: Effective ways to deal with jealousy
hi tuhim; thanks for your kind words about the post. i do my best to learn and then share it with my readers. looking forward to great things from you too, max
Hi Max, you’re doing an amazing job grabbing and creating all these opportunities, and thank you for sharing. Maybe, in one of your next posts you could share how you manage to find time for it all?
Tat recently posted…How do you plan for the New Year?
hi tat; thanks for reading my post and leaving an excellent comment. its gotten me thinking and i am working on your post suggestion right now. thought it would be a great way to restart my blogging now that my cpap machine is fixed and i’m recovering my energy levels. look for it tomorrow if not sooner. will leave another comment on your site when its live. thanks again and have a happy new year, max
Myblogguest was a very useful community for link building and content distribution but since it was targeted by google specifically, it is danger now to involve there. But MyBlogU seems very interesting and safe community for building relationships with fellow marketers.
Thanks Max for sharing your experience. It was great reading your article. Just got some great ideas.
Bilal Ahmad recently posted…Use UnoTelly to Watch Your Favorite Shows Anytime & Anywhere
Hi so glad you got some good ideas out of the post. I think the main difference with MyBlogU is that it is not a guest blogging site or platform. It is a community where people can meet ask for help get ideas share ideas etc. these will often lead to guest posts, interviews, podcast appearances, etc; but they don’t happen on the site; so I think they are safe from google. hope to see you over there soon, max