If she can do it, you can...

MarkHarrison · Joined: 14 Dec 2005 Posts: 15

In the last week, Pippy has made 7 affiliate sales.

The number isn't high.

However, considering that Pippy is only 4 years old, I thought this wasn't bad going.

Right, time to explain:

Pippy is my daughter. We're in the UK, and the BBC's pre-school TV channel (CBeebies) is exceptionally good. Mid-way through the year, they started mentioning the CBeebies website, which Pippy started asking about.

Sure enough, under parental supervision, we let her on the site, and for a 3 year old (as she was then), it was fantastic. Not only did she learn how to surf fast, but her speech and reading got noticeably better.

Then, three things happened about the same time.

- She noticed that Mary (my wife) and I both have blogs, and asked if she could have one.
- A new TV programme called "Numberjacks" came onto CBeebies.
- She turned four.

I have to rave about Numberjacks as an educational programme. It introduces pre-schoolers to numbers in a fun, animated way, but doesn't dumb down, but that's another story for another day.

Anyway, Mary and I discussed how to handle the "blog issue" over a week or so, and decided that Pippy COULD have her own blog, but that she wouldn't be given the username / password to it, and wouldn't be able to type in - instead she'd have to dictate what she wanted to say to daddy (me!) and I'd type.

In fact, it turned into a fun experience, talking through with her what she wanted to say, helping her read on-screen what she was saying, and so on.

She chose, early on, to blog about her new favourite TV programme - Numberjacks.

Within a week, two more things had happened:

- She got onto the front page of Google for the search term "Numberjacks".
- The head of the production company who produce Numberjacks, Chris Ellis, had found her website, and posted a comment on it that he was glad that she liked it.

Daddy took the decision that HE would respond to comments - getting Pippy into interactivity on the Internet at age 4 felt a step too far... so I emailed Chris to say thank you.

Over the next month, more and more comments appeared on the blog from readers who'd clearly found it via google - comments like "my three year old son loves Numberjacks"... and so on...

... which is when the big break came.

The Production company broke the news that there is going to be a Numberjacks DVD --- as a commment on my daughter's blog.

I picked up on this, and that night, Pippy and I posted a blog entry called "there is going to be a Numberjacks DVD".

... which is why my daughter, age four, beats both Amazon and Play in the google rankings for the search term "Numberjacks DVD".

In February, when Amazon.co.uk and Play listed the DVD (which isn't due for release until April), I added an affiliate link onto the blog.

... so, in the last week alone, my four-year-old daughter has averaged an affiliate pre-order per day.

Pushy parent? You decide Smile

Sign of how the NEXT generation is going to take to Internet interactivity? Oh yes!

Mark

BradleyD.Haslam · Posted: Thu Mar 22, 2007 4:32 pm Post subject:

WOW Mark,

That's one of the best stories I've ever heard!!
Thanks for sharing it with us.

I'm looking at Google now,
(results for "Numberjacks DVD")
and the only page to top her so far,
still says "According to pippy.wordpress.com".
And she has #5 slot for "Numberjacks" alone.
(results for "Numberjacks")
That's an amazing start for an online adventure!

So many things are true about the near future.
I feel our children are in for one heck of a ride Wink

But if they have half of the direction Pippy seems to,
I bet they'll be able to reach ANY dream they choose.

Congratulations Pippy!!!

Brad.

ps-
Good parenting IS helping with the things our children choose.
Making sure THEY have the lessons "choice" alone can teach.
Not always choosing for them, is good for them.
So... congratulations to you as well Mark. Very Happy

MarkHarrison · Joined: 14 Dec 2005 Posts: 15

Bradley,

Thanks for the comments.

I do confess that some days, I do feel a hint of envy when her blog stats beat mine Smile

My blog tends to appeal to people at work, hers to people at weekends, so I normally win Monday-Friday, and she beats me Saturday and Sunday!

Mark

5starAffiliatePrograms · Joined: 30 Mar 2006 Posts: 39 Location: The OC

Wow I LOVE that story!

You and Pippy are an inspiration to us all!

Rosalind Gardner · Posted: Wed Jun 06, 2007 12:01 am Post subject:

Can't believe I didn't find your story until today, Mark. How fabulous!

I'll definitely mention it in the blog and to the NPT subscribers. Pippy's site should see some MORE good traffic that way! Smile

Cheers,
Ros

MarkHarrison · Joined: 14 Dec 2005 Posts: 15

thomasjames201 · Joined: 04 Jul 2007 Posts: 7 Location: New Jersey

That is truly amazing , a sign of the future we and future generations are moving into. Hey proud mom dad good move on recognizing the opportunity and taking action with the little ones help of course…..Family Team work like that is unbeatable. And motivating….

rayray · Joined: 09 Aug 2007 Posts: 3

Great and exciting story Mark.

Good luck to you in getting back to #1....!!!

catherinel · Joined: 13 May 2007 Posts: 62

This is a great story. My son has websites and now my youngest is wanting one. I thought she was too young at ten, but after reading this, I may have to reconsider.