Kyle MacDonald & His One Red Paperclip

Kyle MacDonald's "one red paperclip" is yet another story where someone achieves the seemingly impossible by setting up a simple website. Kyle's achievements came through the use of Blogger and Craigs List - two free services on the internet that are available to anyone and everyone.

Kyle set up a free blog (one red paperclip) and stated his intentions - to trade his red paperclip for a house. His first entry was posted one year ago... and he now owns a house as a result of his trades on Craigslist...

It began when MacDonald, an aspiring writer, doer of odd jobs and apartment dweller, advertised in the barter section of the Craigslist Web site that he wanted something bigger or better for one red paper clip. He traded it for a fish-shaped pen, and posted on Craigslist again and again.

Roaming Canada and the United States, he exchanged the pen for a ceramic knob, and in turn: a camping stove, a generator, a beer keg and Budweiser sign, a snowmobile, a trip to the Canadian Rockies, a supply truck and a recording contract. Next, in April, he got himself really close, obtaining a year's rent in Phoenix.

His adventure became an Internet blockbuster. He did Canadian and Japanese TV and "Good Morning America." He made dozens of local radio appearances...

source

It took him 14 trades and one year. Let me re-word that. It only took him 14 trades and one year. It's incredible when you imagine what can be accomplished in a short period of time... if a person sets their mind to it.

Interesting to note was what Kyle said in one of his more recent entries about all of the publicity his blog and his project have received:

"A lot of people have been asking how I've stirred up so much publicity around the project, and my simple answer is: I have no idea. These interviews are all from unsolicited, incoming media requests. I've never made a single call to any media outlet. I don't have some PR team working on this project or anything like that. My email and phone number are posted here on the site and people keep calling. That's it. It's nuts."

It gives you something to think about, doesnt it? 😉

Best,

Technorati Tags: kyle macdonald, oneredpaperclip, one red paperclip, publicity, blogger, craigslist