8 LinkedIn Tips to get you Started

LinkedIn

LinkedIn is a fantastic resourcing and networking tool that can be of great use to your career.

Many people believe LinkedIn is a job hunt website. Whilst it can be used for that purpose, restricting your use of LinkedIn to job search is like going to a seminar or conference with the sole objective of looking for a job. It’s missing the point and shooting yourself in the foot at the same time.

Here are ten tips that I have learnt through experience and seminars to help improve your LinkedIn experience:

1. Have a profile picture – This is essential as it humanises your profile. It also makes your profile a lot more attractive and approachable. Make sure the picture contains only you (head and is business appropriate. Ie. Not you at BBQ with a beer.
2. Don’t be a hermit – The whole purpose of LinkedIn is to connect & share with others of similar interests, industries and professions. There is no point to you being on LinkedIn if you are going to only connect with those you work with. Connect with those in your industry, suppliers, competitors etc.
3. Join Groups – You will see there is a tab called Groups. This is, in my opinion, LinkedIn’s most beneficial feature. There are thousands of groups about a myriad of topics. Groups about Automotive Parts Sales, Automotive Customer Service there is even a group for those who use the NPS (Net Promoter Score) measurement. Groups are a fantastic way to network and to find out useful information about specialised fields.
4. Use key words – The heart of the Internet is search. LinkedIn allows Google to crawl its site. This means that via LinkedIn you will appear in Google. LinkedIn also has its own powerful search feature. Search engine ‘bots’ crawl your profile and index the content using recognised words for categories. If you are a Parts Manager, using Parts related words such as Parts Sales, Parts Manager, Service & Parts in your profile with help you being found by someone search for Parts For example in your experience field you could type “As Parts Manager I increased Parts Sales for the Service & Parts division”
5. Put it out there – Found an interesting article on the internet? Learnt something new that can help others? Have a question you need outside expertise on. Put it on LinkedIn. Insert it as your status, ask it in a group. It’s amazing the responses you can get. Keeping confidentiality in mind, of course.
6. Recommend others – LinkedIn has a recommendation feature that acts as validation and a reference for you. Recommendations add positive weight and expertise reinforcement to your profile. It tends to be a reciprocal thing. You usually have to recommend someone else, before you, yourself get recommended.
7. Monitor and maintain – As busy as we all are, there is no point having an online profile of any kind if you are let it grow old or never come back to check any messages. People will connect with you and contact you. Not monitoring your profile will result in missed opportunities like new products that can make our lives easier, connections to employees of other companies that can help us save money, other professionals in your field that have learnt things to make your life easier.
8. Pay attention to detail – Dot your I’s and cross your t’s. Put your profile in Word and run a spell check over it. Elaborate on your passions, achievements and skills. Tone down on the acronyms. Tailor your profile for someone who has come across you for the first time.

With the Internet soon set to become the world’s prime economic driver it is essential for you to be online professionally. LinkedIn is just the first of many possible tools that can help you.

Get on there and give it a go. Do on to others as you would have them do on to you and it will open another world for you.

What are some of your LinkedIn tips?

Related articles

• The Ultimate Cheat Sheet for Mastering LinkedIn (hubspot.com)
• Are you being found on LinkedIn? Should you care? (sharemarketing.wordpress.com)

Honey I’m home! – Using Facebook Places and Foursquare at home.

I am here, there and everywhere.

When I first started Foursquare many years ago, I was checking in everywhere.

I was possibly Foursquare’s best user for the bayside and south-eastern suburbs of Melbourne. I was adding everything, from the service station I filled up at to the cafe I grabbed a coffee at. What the hey, I’ll throw every public place in I can.

One day I had a seemingly brilliant idea to add my own home to Foursquare. Another check in, brilliant!

My digital diva tech savvy sister called shortly after and referred me to this link: Please Rob Me

It highlights the following issue with Foursquare, Facebook Places and others such as GoWalla: When you add your house, you are most likely adding its exact location. When you check in, you broadcast out to the web you are home, we you check in elsewhere, you broadcast out to the web that you are NOT home. Hey everyone, I’m not home, please rob me.

Yes, it’s a bit dramatic, it is entirely possible.

There are two solutions to retaining some “check in” privacy:

1. Move your “home” to a different location. I moved mine to an intersection up the road.  (I’ve only been able to do this on Foursquare. Let me know how for Facebook Places)
2. Don’t add your home at all.
3. Check your Facebook Privacy settings. With Facebook Places, others can check you into a location without them asking your permission. This is under “Friends can check me into places”. This feature can be disabled.
4. Facebook places aggregates those who have checked-in into a “People here now” for that location. This feature can be disabled.

There also seems to be a misconception out there, judging by comments on other blogs about Foursquare and Facebook Places that these apps track your every move. This is not the case. In the case of Foursquare, it will only check you into places  you tell the app to check you in to.

Always be mindful of what location-based data you are broadcasting out there.

In the end always remember one thing: If you want information kept private, don’t put it on the Internet.

Related articles

• Facebook Is Killing Off Places (huffingtonpost.com)
• Why I Deleted Foursquare from My iPhone. Have You? (windmillnetworking.com)

How to make better YouTube videos – Introducing the YouTube Playbook

Image via CrunchBase

YouTube. It’s more than Charlie biting fingers, Paul Potts and a sneezing baby Panda.

Did you know:

• YouTube has 3+ billion views a day
• 70% of YouTube’s traffic comes from outside the USA
• YouTube’s prime demographic: 18-54 years old
• Over 8 years of content is uploaded to YouTube every day

Those are just some of YouTube’s amazing facts.

Considering the above, it is essential to your digital and SEO strategy to create relevant, engaging, quality content.

Ask yourself how YouTube can assist your business and customers. Take for example this video of mine.

It is an instructional video on how to pair a iPhone4 to a Mercedes-Benz W245 B-Class COMAND system. It’s been up a few months and nearly 7000 views thus far. That’s not a lot of views for YouTube but thousands are finding it of value. I have gotten a lot of questions on iPhone pairing to Mercedes-Benz cars from it as well.

So how do you produce content for YouTube that people want to watch?

I saw this being tweeted out by YouTube partner Jonathan Paula (@JonnyPaula) of Jon’s World Fame the other day.

@JonnyPaula's YouTube Playbook tweet.

I rushed over to the site and discovered the YouTube playbook is the perfect guide on how to make better content. You can see from the image below the sort of detail the playbook goes into.

A brief view of the YouTube Playbook

I have found the playbook of great use and think you will too. Enjoy.

Click here to download the YouTube playbook.

What are some of your tips for better YouTube videos?

10 Customer Service features Automotive Dealerships can learn from Luxury Hotels

I am lucky enough at times to be able to stay in a Luxury Hotel. Whether it be a Shangri-La, Sofitel, Hilton, Westin, Hyatt etc. the experience is most of the time, faultless.

Being in Customer Service in the Automotive Industry I pay close attention to the processes, systems and little touches that make one want to come back to a hotel. After all, it seems most Automotive Customers don’t really want to get their car serviced. It’s something that has to be done regularly and when something is wrong; like a dental or medical check up.

I am not for a moment saying the Automotive Industry does not do any of the below at all. Some of you may be well versed in the below.

Here are 10 things I have spotted in a luxury hotel that could be used to improve customer service in an Automotive Dealership:

1. Be a good Host

I personally think the best hotels ultimately get it right because someone is always there for you, willing to help. No request is to great or too small.

Be there for your customers. Accompany them from the moment they step out of their car to the service advisor. Show them the necessary facilities and the features of the dealership that will help them. e.g ask if they would like wi-fi access, ask if they would like something to drink or eat. Check on your customer every so often.

The host should treat the customer as if they were in their own home.

2. Check up on the check in

About 10 minutes after you arrive in your room at a luxury hotel, what do you get? Usually it’s a phone call to check if everything is to your satisfaction, if you have everything you need and if there is anything the establishment can do to help.

If the customer is staying in the dealership while their vehicle is being serviced, check on them after 10 minutes and every so often after that. If the customer is going to be elsewhere for the duration of the car service, give them a call 15 minutes afterwards asking if everything is ok and confirming the service being performed and any other instructions they may have given. They may have forgotten something during the check-in that they were too afraid or did not deem important enough to call you back about, but would be nice to have for them.

3. A ‘Welcome Back’ Pack

When you check into a hotel you get asked what paper you would like in the morning, asked any other questions about what you’ll be requiring, handed any information needed, your keys and you are on your way.

The key is arm your customer with the tools they need to maximise the experience at the dealership. If your customer is going to wait at the dealership (or not) while their car is being serviced, why offer them a welcome pack? This pack is designed to keep the customer happy while the service is being performed and can be customised to the customer.

Some of the things that could be included are:

• Daily Newspaper
• A brief personalised welcome note containing a thank you for chosing our dealership to service your pride and joy,  re-enforced offer of assistance if required, confirmed and agreed time of completion, essential staff members or points of contact, expected daily weather statistics etc.
• An electronic device such as an iPad. The welcome note could be on the iPad as well as games to help the time fly.
• A customer loyalty discount on their next service. Make the decision of returning easier.
• Menu of food and drink in the customer lounge. Offer assistance if required again.
• Did you know note: Did you know we offer and pick up and drop off service? Did you know that… etc. anything that assists the customer in servicing the vehicle with you.
• Is your customer accompanied by a small child? Offer a fresh colouring book and a child safe pack of pencils or small toy. Help the parent as best as you can with keeping the child occupied and happy.
• Coupons on any services you offer or offer into any other linked and supporting businesses around the area e.g a 2 for one at the cinemas, pizza voucher etc. Add more value.

4. Own the experience after the experience

One of the best touches that a luxury hotel can provide is assuring that your fantastic experience continues even after you have left the premises. All the good service can go to waste if your customer is going to have to endure a Man vs Wild style adventure to get to their next destination.

Politely ask if the customer requires assistance to get to their next destination. Do they need a loan car? Do they need to be at the airport after? Is there a meeting in 45 minutes.

Organise the transport to be there before hand. Ask for the customers flight number, check and notify the customer of the flights status upon arrival. Does the customer’s car need fuel? Ask their permission to give it a full tank.

Make sure you do whatever you can to ensure your fantastic customer service continues well after you have parted company.

5. Have you eaten?

Some hotels, especially express ones I have been to, recognise that some clients are time poor. They offer a pre-packed breakfast kit to take with you to your destination.

Think of the customer that has been booked in for 7am. Think of the customer that picks their car up after hours. Think of the parent that is accompanied by their children. Have they eaten?

There are a few companies out there such as Travel Fare offering tailored small pre-packaged food boxes. Perfect for:

• The customer who skipped breakfast to drop their car off to you and now have to get to work. Fast.
• The parent who waits at your dealership with an arm full of children. Why not provide them with a tailored “Happy Meal” style food box. Note: It of course must be made abundantly clear what the box contains in case of allergies. Have back up boxes if possible.
• The customer who has worked all day and has to pick up their car at 8pm. Wouldn’t it be nice to leave a nice wholesome snack and drink on the passenger seat for the drive home. You know how famished one can get burning the midnight oil.

6. Express Check Out

As stated above, recognise that some of your customers are time poor. Some customers also prefer not to discuss the work performed and go through every single item on the invoice. Why not have an advance payment system so the customer can simply collect their car. Why not offer a car drop off service? You should be constantly looking at ways to improve the check in and check out service.

7. Keep it spotless

Impeccable presentation in all areas the customer is exposed to is essential.

Luxury Hotels are constantly being dusted, wiped and polished. Showing pride in the dealership will translate in a customer’s mind into confidence in you looking after their pride and joy. It will also be a place that your customers won’t mind being in and returning to. Demonstrate that you care and are proud in the dealership and it will show in more ways than the obvious.

8. Keep it fresh

Stale biscuits/cookies, year old magazines and stained old chairs . Doesn’t exactly say “thank you for the hundreds to thousands you are about to spend with us”.

Keep your customer area well stocked with the latest media. Keep the magazines fresh. Holding multiple copies of the same publication for switchover when the magazine gets tatty after a week, is good planning. Leaving a single newspaper on the table will lead to them being spread everywhere. Why not buy a paper for every customer that arrives? $1.20 each? Recycle the paper afterwards. Always ensure the area is kept as tidy as possible.

Keep good fresh food and drinks on hand. Supply quality bottled water, juices and sodas. There are so many good local caterers that can deliver good fresh food and drinks daily. Work with them to provide a menu that works for everyone. Some larger dealerships even have their own kitchens keeping a constant supply of fresh food moving through to their large customer base. I have even noticed some smaller dealerships now have a professional barista on weekends.

Good coffee machines are not hard to find. It is surprisingly easy to buy a good coffee machine that everyone can use with a service plan to keep everything in order.

Don’t skimp on the beans. At least have a few options. Some customers only drink Starbucks. Supply Starbucks for them. Others prefer Lavazza. What ever the brand, supply premium tea and coffee with great quality, classic accessories to complete the experience.

By doing the above you show that you also care what goes into their bodies.

9. Keep your customers connected

Your customers should not have to put their lives on hold while their vehicle is being serviced. Keep them connected as best as possible.

I suggest that having Wi-Fi is a bare minimum. Have a separate Wi-Fi network for your customers. There are plenty of decent inexpensive routers on the market and plenty of Internet Service Providers with 500gb to unlimited data allowance if you are concerned about usage.

If you are also concerned about security and wi-fi leechers? Change the router password daily and separate the customers Wi-Fi network from the dealerships network.

Provide a quiet area with workspaces for customers who would prefer to continue working.

Customer’s device low on battery? Make sure you have the most popular chargers on hand and multiples of ones for the most popular devices.

10. Maintain your online reputation

The simple fact is this. Your customers talk about you online, whether you think they do, like it or not.

There are plenty of service review websites around. There are online forums for car clubs, car lovers and brand advocates.

With sites such as Tripadvisor, customers are able to review the hotel experience as well as upload photos of their rooms etc.  The luxury hotel industry is well versed in online reputation management via sites such as these.

If a customer has had a negative experience and expressed that, a good hotel will apologise and offer to sort the problem out via the official channels. If the customer has had a positive experience, they are thanked and told that the hotel hopes to see them again soon.

Online feedback is to be embraced, utilised and leveraged; not feared. Never argue with a customer online. Never enter into any debate. The simple and most effective thing you can do is apologise for the customer feeling that way and continually offer to assist and fix the problem offline.

Take note of your presence in online directories. A lot of these directories enable reviews, especially Google Places. Chances are you are already in many directories, but unclaimed. If you find these it is imperative that you claim and monitor the listings where a customer can leave feedback so you can action any feedback left.

The above ideas are just skimming surface. Of course there are loyalty programs and other CRM programs to assist in customer satisfaction, but we will get into them in depth in future posts.

Maybe your dealership does some of the above. Maybe your dealership does all of the above, either way it is always the little things that lead to big impressions with your customers.

Most of all, be different and seperate yourself from the majority.

What are some of your tips to supplying better service to customers in Automotive dealerships? Have you taken any tips from other industries and implemented them?

Related articles

• How to retain your customers (chrislocurto.com)
• 10 Customer Service features Automotive Dealerships can learn from Luxury Hotels (millionsofmyles.com)
• The Mercedes Benz customer experience shines (customerthink.com)

6 Tips and 4 Examples to Help Provide Better Online Customer Support

Mashable has written a fantastic piece combining some great tips for online customer support.

6 Tips for Providing Better Online Customer Support.

This morning I witnessed this twitter conversation between Qantas‘ twitter account @QantasAirways & Digital Sport Guru, @seancallanan

@QantasAirways & @seancallanan Twitter conversation

After flying 14+ hours from LAX to Melbourne, you can imagine that all Sean would like to do is get home. If I were in Sean’s shoes I (after spending thousands on an airfares with Qantas) would like Qantas to own the issue and find my misplaced personal possessions. I would like to be kept informed of resolution time frames etc. What I would not like is a suggestion to call a support line which failed the first time. Do I want to be fobbed off by another employee of the airline and continue bang my head against a brick wall into a never ending cycle? No. Do I just want the issue to be owned and solved? Yes. 

Like it or not, if your company has a presence online, you will be expected to handle and own any customer complaint that comes your way. If you think otherwise, then the online community has news for you!

Personally I am a fan of online customer support because I have had some great experiences via online support methods.

Here are three recent positive examples:

Astrill.com – I recently had some questions of a technical nature for my VPN provider, Astrill. Astrill’s website encourages the use of their online customer support chat feature. The representative was connected with me within a few seconds, was very polite, clarified & confirmed the request, pointed me in the right direction, asked if there was anything else I needed and confirmed that they would of course be available if I needed. Quick, pain-free, enjoyable.

Australia Post – Twitter – A Twitter friend of mine recently had, from her account, an appalling experience at her local Post Office. She was doing what many folks online do in this day and age. Let others know of their experience online. Knowing Australia Post had a twitter account, I retweeted her and mentioned @auspost. I was impressed to say the least, that within an hour, @auspost had picked up the tweet and dealt directly with my friend. She thanked @auspost  shortly afterwards for sorting it all out.

Australia Post actioned the complaint quickly, took it into their service process and turned out a happy customer, who in turn became an online advocate. Australia Post obviously recognises the need to get in on the conversation and sort the issue out quickly.

Optus – Twitter – Optus‘ online customer support is a system that in my opinion is fantastic. When you first connect them regarding an issue, they will link your Optus account to your social media account. They send you a link to do this. They then know you and your support history from then on, making it qucik process to get on the same page.

I have tweeted @Optus on many occasions. They quickly acknowledge your tweet and will arrange to contact you on via phone, at a time that is suitable to you. They are even happy to sort it out via private message (DM) if it is possible.

Online Customer Support is proving to be a desired support channel of many.  Many companies demonstrate that with solid support processes and structures, they can turn a annoyed ‘detracting’ customer into a happy ‘promoting’ customer.

At the end of the day, happy customers come back and bring others along to keep you in business.

What have you experienced in online customer service? Have they been positive or negative experiences?

Has Television lost the next generation?

The video below has got me thinking. Has television lost the next generation?

The Gradual Report:

A YouTube channel featuring a ‘Jim Careyesque’ comedian, Danny.

Danny’s, The Gradual Report, vlogs mainly about questions but also features snippets of daily life. Recently Danny moved from the USA to Australia, where he is a regular on the Sydney Comedy circuit.

His channel has in excess of 3.7 million channel views and has 200,000+ subscribers. Very good numbers.

In the video Danny has recently moved to Sydney and is setting up his home.

Go to about 1min 35sec to see what happens next. (Warning: Contains an overly excited swearing teen)

I have witnessed and overheard groups of teenagers talking about who they watch on YouTube.

A few weeks ago my gorgeous girl and I were at Grill’d Burgers just before a movie. I overheard a group of young ladies talking about their favourite YouTuber, MeekaKitty. Not what happened on the latest soap.

Tessa (MeekaKitty) has over 62 million views and in excess of 750,000 subscribers. Judging by the group of excited girls talking about her, she has a young demographic truly engaged.

Just this week, Ray William Johnson from the YouTube show =3, became YouTube’s most subscribed of all time.

RayWJ’s stats:

– 3.9+ million subscribers

– 1+ billion video views

Ray also makes music videos on YourFavoriteMartian and has a weekly vlog at Breaking NYC.

Personally I have never seen the level engagement Ray gets. He posts on Facebook and a minute later, has over 1000 likes.

Is the future of media viewing, online? The numbers are there. Are the mass celebrities of the future going to be those the population choses organically and not those celebs who have been promoted until we are blue in the face?

Do people prefer media in short burts?

I certainly don’t think that Television as a whole will die, but I certainly believe other mediums will be as much of a regular viewing choice.

Do you have a favorite vlogger/YouTuber/Vimeo’r? What do you think the future of television is?

OzAutoSocial – Automotive Social Media Meetup

Since my interest in Social Media has bloomed I have attended many clubs, user groups and events for those of like interest and mind. I have found these events to be educational but most of all, a fantastic opportunity to network.

However, despite my searching I was unable to find a group that was based around the Automotive Industry in Australia.

The Automotive Industry, like everyone else, are dipping their toes in the social media water. I thought it would be a good idea to start a group revolving around those with Automotive and/or social media interests.

To coincide with The Australian International Motorshow, please join us this Thursday June 30, 6:30pm at The Honey Bar for Automotive 3.0 – Automotive Social Media Meetup.

Please register here: http://ozautosocial.eventbrite.com/

This event is a chat and get to know you over some finger food and drinks.

We aim to make the meetup a regular occurence, especially at Motorshow time. We have had some demand for a Sydney event, we will be looking to making this happen.

Eventually we will also be looking to hold a regular Automotive Social Media conference with some cracking guests.

Let me know below what you would like to see for this group. Would love to hear it.

Intel Museum of Me

Intel Museum of Me

Have a look at the link below.

This is a fascinating look at what can be achieved in a web browser these days.

However, the other angle is, it’s a fascinating look at what you give access to when you log in via Facebook.

Click here > Intel Museum of Me

The Automotive iCloud

The Automotive Industry must take advantage of 'cloud' based systems.

Today Apple announced at the WWDC a myriad of products, one of those being iCloud for iOS5.

Some of us have heard of cloud computing and have been using it for a while. I am Dropbox user and also find Basecamp a great project management platform. Sure as hell saves the multiple version of the truth syndrome that can occur.

I believe Apple has today bought ‘the cloud’ into the mainstream. Apple tends to make creations that have been floating around for a while, cool, mainstream and no longer ‘geeky’.  I believe they construct that bridge between gadget confidants to those who are not so confident with gadgets.

By pushing ‘the cloud’ into the big time, Apple increases individuals/companies/industries awareness to the potential of this technology.

 So let have a ‘Brainstorm Blog’ on how the Automotive Industry could utilise the cloud.

I’ll start with some ‘technical stuff’ that you may find interesting and finish with some ‘fun stuff’ that will make being in a car more enjoyable.

The Technical Stuff

– A cars diagnostic data could stream to a manufacturers cloud constantly. By diagnostic data I mean anything a cars multitude of computers sense and read that can lead to recording of faults that highlight part failures, problems etc. This data could be used by the manufacturer to book the vehicle in for service without the driver having to explain to the dealership anything that may be wrong as well as assist the manufacturer in making a more reliable product.

– Bye bye service log book. All servicing work is synced with the cloud and with the car.

– All updates required for vehicle softwares downloaded when driving and installed when safe to do so. e.g a EMU (engine management unit) would install during the cars downtime i.e while parked at night.

– Softwares updates in the future will present new software based features in a car e.g a redesigned air conditioning dial on the vehicles touch screen. A brief update and how to video to educate the driver on these features could be synced with the cloud and played when it is appropriate for the driver to do so.

– A ‘What’s New ‘system in the cars entertainment OS that shows the latest offers from the manufacturer. This shouldn’t be blasted rudely onto the screen. We have learnt from social media and other advertising practices that people prefer to access advertising when they want to find it during research etc.

– A minefield in terms of privacy law, but a possibility all the same. Car check in’s. Would you like to tell friends of your car that you have now checked into Shell petrol station? What cars are filling up where and what cars are using what product?  

– Could these check-in’s be used as an expense claim method?

– Check-in to fuel station, car connects with petrol/gas bowser via web connection or other method. Driver fills up, car pays via cloud stored account information. On your way.

– Pay for parking via the cloud

– Car Criminal record. Speed cameras, police etc. able to access owner data via the cloud. Once again a minefield but a possibility.

– Tolls paid via both, eTag or cloud?

Fun Stuff

– Why have a phone to use in the car? Why not have all your contacts and numbers stored in the cloud to use via the cars telephone system thus leave a ‘smartphone’ be a mobile device that also makes phone calls?

– Connect your iPod etc to a car via a cable? Why not sync all your music with your car via the cloud? Sync data with individual passengers. e.g player unit in the back seat can sync with your daughters library.

– As Jennaviere commented in this earlier post. Car has a McDonalds app. Pre-order and send to McDonalds you are going to go to, order is on time and paid for via car at drive through, or even without the order process the car could simply pay.

– Internet radio. Getting very popular. Possible via great mobile connections to stations and station preferences stored in the cloud.

– An app that is a game for the best economic and green driving style. App analyses car data such as fuel consumption etc. Scores uploaded to cloud, leaderboard per car model displayed. Prizes from Green companies etc.

– The mobile office. Colleague finishes Powerpoint Presentation on the way to a client. Presentation synced with car. Sales rep pulls over to discuss and fine tune presentation with colleague. Colleague works on presentation. Presentation ready and perfect for presenting to client.

These are just some that I was able to brainstorm during my lunch hour. What things do you think could be done when cars are cloud connected?

Let us know below. We’d love to hear them.

This is what we live for – Vancouver Canucks vs Boston Bruins – Stanley Cup Final

GO CANUCKS GO! credit: masey.com.au

[Click on the linked text for an enhanced story line.]

Those of you who follow me on Twitter will get the idea that I love the Vancouver Canucks. When I made the first trip to Canada to meet my gorgeous girl, I noticed the Vancouver Canucks were everywhere. Posters, merchandise etc. It was clear there was a whole city passionately behind this team.

I was fortunate to go to a Canucks game and was in awe. The atmosphere, the player introduction show, the crowd, the goal horn, the stadium going ballistic. Since then I have been a passionate Vancouver Canucks fan, to the extent that I do not follow an Australian sporting team or league anymore.

The 2010/2011 playoffs series is one I will never forget. It has been full of moments.

I was at my desk listening to Team1040 when we exorcised our playoff demons, The Chicago Blackhawks in OT in Game 7. I stood up and yelped, tear in my eye. It was a big game, it was a wonderful day for an exorcism.

It was a tough journey. Nashville was a puzzle, we never had it when we though we did. It was a tough slow grinding series. Pekke Rinne, Nashville’s goalie increased his by another zero with some of the most spectacular saves I’ve seen. Vancouver goalie, Roberto Luongo found more of himself and had come up a level by the end. Both sides lived in the moment and as such, learnt a lot about themselves.

After a series that didn’t look like it was going to end, we met the San Jose Sharks. They’d just come off an epic series against the Detroit Pistons and were a bit battered and bruised.

We would have lost to San Jose any other year. But the Vancouver Canucks had found another gear. Against a dangerous and injured San Jose, we did well. It was always going to be close and it was. Ryan Kesler scored via tip in with 13.2 seconds left to send us into OT, eventually going into double OT.

The Vancouver Canucks won with a nightmare knuckle puck game winner from Canuck Kevin Bieska, that sends us to our first Stanley Cup since 1994. That goal will haunt a team and more so its goalie for a while.

A few days later the Boston Bruins decided they were to meet us in the Stanley Cup Final. They went to a game 7 against a dangerous Tampa Bay Lightning, who had a habit of coming back with freaky goals from seemingly unwinnable deficits. Boston Bruins won, in a tough 1-0 game.

So here we are, Game 1. I feel this will be a series the Canucks take in 6 with a lot of focus on Luongo and Thomas in the goals.

I am nervous, I am excited and desperately want to be there.

This is what we play for. This is what we live for. Believe.

We are all Canucks.

P.S. An interesting stat for you all

1976 Montreal Olympics …. 1976-77 Montreal Canadiens win the Stanley Cup.

1988 Calgary Olympics …. 1988-89 Calgary Flames win the Stanley Cup.

2010 Vancouver Olympics … 2010-11 _________________ win the Stanley Cup?