Episode 12 - The Dark Side of Business with Wollongong City Ghost Tours

Self Starter

Wollongong City Ghost Tours - Inspiration comes from unusual and unexpected places.

When Craig Bloxsome was asked by his children to take them on a local ghost tour in Tasmania, Craig could not have predicted where this fun family outing would take him.

Having years under his belt as a Social Worker and at the time as a Program Manager for an aged care facility, Craig wasn't exactly thinking about starting up a ghost tour business. That ghost tour however created a light bulb moment and resurfaced a life long interest in the paranormal.

Creating a Facebook page not long after in a hope to reconnect his interests in the supernatural, it wasn't long before the idea of starting his own ghost tours became a reality.

Fast forward through a successful stint operating in Tasmania which led to the sale of his ghostly business, Craig has returned back to his home on the South Coast (born and raised) where he launched Wollongong City Ghost Tours. In it's short time in operation, the business has seen a positive response and large uptake by the South Coast community. Being one of the only ghost tours on the South Coast, Craig has ensured that he remains as unique as possible with his locations as well as the interaction elements including paranormal investigative gear, bringing along a medium and also recently launching a mystery bus tour that visits 3 undisclosed locations around the area.

Craig's story that led him to operating a ghost tour business is inspirational and shows that by simply just giving it a go and having some self belief, the possibilities are endless.

Whether it be pursuing his ideas or entering the darkness of a haunted site, Craig's approach of "You've got to run at it, not run away from it" rings true in every sense.

What did you get out of this episode? Here’s what I learnt;

1. Create your own news stories – Want to get some local coverage in a newspaper or on radio? Don't just ask but pitch the story! Journalists and those who work in the media are always hunting for stories and content. Make their job as easy as possible by pitching a story, concept, angle, reasons as to why its valuable information for the readers/listeners and even include some high quality photos. Do whatever you can to ensure that the person taking consideration does not have to work too hard for you. Work for them!

2. Become a key person in that industry – Craig has ensured that he is in the conversation locally when it comes to paranormal topics and stories. At times he has been approached to comment on other stories and events that might initially be unrelated to him. By being referred to in related conversations, Craig has the advantage of further branding upside for his business with an indirect sales opportunity for more customers. How can you become the 'go to' person in your line of work, interest and/or industry?

3. Diversification – There is nothing wrong with putting single focus on one business, but there is also nothing wrong with expanding or creating new lines of work off the back of your initial creation. Craig is starting to use his profile in the paranormal world to seek private client work that is unrelated to the ghost tours. In addition Craig has also discovered the opportunities that come from equipment that he initially bought for the purpose of the ghost tour business, in this case a drone. Craig is ensuring that every idea an opportunity is considered and it's having great results. A good place to start pondering is Blog - Share The Knowledge by Educating Your Customers.

4. Embracing the naysayers – Craig has embraced the sceptics who are usually dragged along to ghost tours by having them included in every way possible from holding paranormal equipment to giving them opportunities to work with the on-site Medium. Craig believes that sceptics bring a balance to the tour experience which he welcomes and loves to show not only the believers but the non-believers what the tour experience is all about.

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