We’re really please to anounce that you can now buy a gift voucher to exchange for any of out 700+ experineces located across the UK. What’s more, as many of our listings come from real people as small passionate business’ you’re sure to get a personalised and memorable experience!

When you buy one of our gift vouchers, you can use it to pay for any experience in whole, with other vouchers, or as part payment toward a larger experience. With over 700 experiences across the UK, we’re sure you’ll find something to get excited about! If not, then add your thoughts to our wishlist.

The pricing could be a little clearer but for now, that’s the way it has to be. Basically we offer 5 vouchers – £10, £25, £50, £75, £100 – and the base price is £10. So for a £25 gift voucher the price is £10 + £15. Simple really, so don’t get confused.

This means that any listing can be on-demand, have a single date or be repeated.  This is ideal for weekly courses or seasonal ones and it also means that listings can be filtered by date so that people can quickly find things to do, which makes life easier and that’s always a good thing!

When a listing has expired, we’ll also send you a reminder email to add more dates, if the course is still live.  If you haven’t already checked to see if your listing is up to date then click here to do so.

In additon to this, there are always things bubbling aways and right now, in the pipeline are the two big improvements for -

• - User Messaging
• - Booking and Payment System

We’ll keep you posted as to how we’re getting on with these.

Do get in touch with any features you think would make the site better.  Nothing is too big or too small to consider!

Each time we get a new listing there’s the anticipation of finding out…

“What is it!?”

There’s often intrigue at the title and then the unveiling of the experience and its location.  It’s fun every time.  This month we’ve had a few notable highlights, which is great for us as the press loves all things quirky.  If you’d like to browse some of the more unusual content on the website then click here.

The biggest change we’ve made recently is with the search page and categories. Search is central to what we do and we’ve updated it to make everything accessible in a few clicks. When you first go to the search page you’ll see there’s a guide to help explain how things work, it’s pretty simple.

You can now filter content by -

• Keyword Search
• Location Search (limited to 70 miles to increase relevance)
• Category Filter
• Price Slider
• Distance Slider
• Order Results (Newest, Coming Soon, Low > High, Near > Far etc…)

So, in short, there’s no excuse for not finding what you’re looking for!  Unless of course it’s not there, which is why we’ve created a wishlist section, so we can find the things you’re wishing for!

The most notable slices of limelight came form an interview on ‘Radio 4‘ thanks to the ‘You and Yours’ show, with 3 million weekly listeners.  The experience was a little bizarre as I met nobody related to the show before, during or after the interview!

Currently we have to thank ‘Webuser‘ magazine (available in all good newsagents, and even my local Sainsbury’s!) who very kindly dropped us a note to say that in their ‘Best New Websites’ we were the cream of the crop, earning a 5 star rating and their ‘Website of the fortnight’ accolade, ahead of Amazon, Rio2016  (the official Olympics site!), LastFM and many other higher profile, big budget websites.  Go Blink!

“Superb. Impossible to Fault…”

We were also DailyMail.co.uk‘s website of the week and mentioned in The Guardian amongst others.

Please share our good news so we can bring you even more funs things to do in the near future!

‘Superb. Impossible to fault…’

As a startup, it’s always nice to get recognition, whether in the form of encouraging words, nice little blog posts or reviews and articles in the major news outlets.

On Thursday 6th September, we received news from Web User Magazine on Twitter that they’d selected Blink as their ‘Site of the Fortnight’. Web User is a fortnightly publication and the UK’s best-selling internet magazine. Not only have they selected Blink as their highlight ‘New Website’, but they’ve also awarded us five stars!  An accolade reserved for websites that are: ‘Superb. Impossible to fault in terms of design, content and features’ .

To claim the accolade of ‘ New Site of the Week’, we had to unknowingly fight off competition that included:  The Gadget Show, Amazon, Last.fm and even Rio 2016′s new Olympics page.  Quite an achievement!

Admittedly, the nerves were running a little higher than when I last spoke in public, which was to toast a friend at the pub! Read on to hear my excuses for not being as eloquent on air as I would like to think I am in person.

BBC Radio 4 is the second most popular domestic radio station in the UK and the ‘You and Yours‘ show has a weekly audience of some 3 million listeners. My intrepidation however, was heightened by the fact that nobody at the studio showed much interest in me. Reception pointed me vaguely to the left and then another person I asked for help, told me to wait… After 20 minutes I found someone to get me into the studio. I was placed in a small booth, alone, and told to put on some headphones (which fell straight off, tired and worn as they were). I was now listening to the show, still with no instructions.

Some 10 minutes later, a voice boomed in my ears and suddenly I thought I was on air with Julian Worricker. But no, it was the producer of the show. I had no idea where the presenter or the producer were and no idea of the questions I’d be asked. I was up next…

No sooner had I started and the whole thing was over!

“Congratulation to Peter, Pat and Michael for capitalising on a number of very important paradigm shifts.” 

Listening to the show, I was particularly grateful to hear Professor Luiz Moutinho’s resounding endorsement of our work at Blink (04:50 minutes). I have subsequently been in touch with Luiz who has kindly offered a strategic brain-storming session. As a ‘future scientist’, Luiz has many original and interesting ideas so I can’t wait to set a date in the diary.

Needless to say, I was pleased to be on air and very grateful to promote the website. Since the airing of the show, we’ve had loads of positive feedback, listings and enquiries. So thanks to all of you for supporting Blink!

Looking for inspiration? Why not learn to play the drums, become a magician or – if you’re feeling really daring – have a go at fire-eating.

Today we’re looking at how to promote your Blink listings using new kid on the block Pinterest. As well as being a visually engaging and stimulating way to scrapbook content, it is also a very powerful took for building your brand and image. We’ve put together some tips and tricks to use Pinterest to its maximum potential and enable you to share the excitement of your experience with everyone.

1. Understanding Pinterest 

To get started, you’ll need to create an account. Like many sites these days, you  have the option of registering via your Facebook or Twitter  account – or you can create an account using an e-mail address. Once your account has been created, Pinterest will ask you to tick some boxes to tell what what topics interest you (eg. food, interior design, music, etc) and will then suggest some users you may be interested in “following”.

And after that, it’s pretty simple. A pin is an image added to Pinterest. “Pinning” something is when you add an image from a website using the “Pin It” button, or when you upload images directly from your computer. You can also “re-pin” things that other users have pinned by clicking the re-pin button. Think Twitter, but with images, not tweets.

Still confused? Pinterest has a great FAQ page that should answer anything you have questions about.

2. Create Your PinBoards

A board is a set of pins created about any topic and you can add whatever you like to them. Check out Blink Collective on Pinterest if you’re struggling for ideas – and don’t forget to follow us!

The handy “Pin It” button can be placed on your bookmarks bar for easy pinning – so whether you’re reading a news website, shopping for new clothes or perusing a friend’s blog, if you see something you like, pin it! Popular board topics are food, design and photography.

3. Let the Pinning Begin

You will probably want to start by pinning your own listings to your board. The great news is that you can pin these directly from Blink, using the “Pin It” button located at the bottom of every listing’s page.

You can then start building your networking, subscribing to others’ boards and gaining followers for yours. An easy place to start is by following your Facebook friends – Pinterest lets you join your accounts and in one click your social group will be transported.

4. Pin Beautiful Pictures

Pinterest is a visual tool and you can trigger the interest of other users by posting interesting and exciting photos. Forget small, pixelated images – high quality photographs will boost not only your Blink listing, but will intrigue users on Pinterest too. This will encourage them to click on your pins, visit your listing, and hopefully repin it for their followers to see!

5. Don’t Underestimate Keywords

There are two ways people can explore Pinterest. They can either trawl the vast array of images – or they can search for something particular using keywords, like a regular search. With this in mind, make sure you use words in your description that will make your pin easy to find to the right people. I know we’ve just stressed the importance of engaging visuals – but your keywords are also of great influence. We suggest you briefly describe what your experience is and where it takes place – think about the words you would use to search for your own listing. And remember that Pinterest also supports hashtags – so tag your listing the same way you would on Twitter.

6. Don’t Be Boring

Pin and re-pin things that are interesting and relevant to your activity. This will keep people coming back for more and will build the foundations for you to offer various experiences and activities via your boards. For example, if your activity is a cooking class, you could pin recipes, exotic foods or quirky cookware.

Here’s our “Favourite Recipes” board for inspiration.

7. Make the Most of It

Once you’re confidently using Pinterest, there are lots of ways to make the most of it and to see the impact it is having. PinReach is an exciting tool which enables you to analyse the activity surrounding your boards and will help you gauge how successful your “pinning” is in terms of promoting your listing. Mashable also recently explored how users browse boards, which may help you steer more traffic towards yours.

We hope this helps you get started with promoting your Blink listings on Pinterest. And don’t forget to follow Blink Collective on Pinterest – we post lots of cool stuff which may interest you and will happily repin your listings!

1. Go to the Paralympics

This one is an obvious place to start! Whilst we still have the union jacks and face paint, we can put it to good use by supporting the Paralympics. More than two million tickets have been sold so far and it is tipped to be the first sellout in the history of the games.

(Image via Beth Arnoult)

Millions will be transfixed by wheelchair rugby – having grown in popularity since the 2005 film Murderball – with its crunching collisions and eye-watering intensity. At the more sedate end of things is Boccia – a game where participants attempt to land a ball near a target ball in much the same way as boules. But, of course, the Paralympics will fill the void only until 9 September.

2. Take up an unusual sport

This summer’s Games have reminded people that the Olympics isn’t just about running and swimming. Have people ever been so transfixed by taekwondo? Or amazed by the gymnasts? The legacy of the Games is inherently about all those children – and grown-ups – who now take up some of the more unusual sports.

According to British Rowing, the latest figures from Sport England’s Active People Survey reveal that 48,300 people now row on the water at least once per week in the UK, an increase of more than 10,000 compared with April 2011. The same survey shows that 161,000 more people are cycling now than eight months ago – but there’s always room for more!

3. Get a sixpack

It could be because women athletes tend to wear cropped vests now, but the female six-pack has been a ubiquitous sight during the Games. Jessica Ennis’s toned stomach seems almost as famous as her face and many gym and diet adverts are already trying to persuade ordinary people that they can achieve the same.

“Six-packs are about having very low body fat, that is why so many of the female athletes have them, because they are carrying such a small amount of body fat,” says personal trainer Ricardo Macedo. ”Sit-ups won’t get you a six-pack. It is about your body overall. Try repeating 100m sprints – short bursts of exercise are good. Weights can also help. High repetition is good, 20 to 25 reps on low weights till you really feel the body burn will help.”

4. Stage a mini-Olympics in your garden

Those with decent-sized gardens could organise their own track and field events. A 400m course might involve more than the traditional one lap, but snaking between the washing line and the barbecue will test the competitors’ speed and their skill at running corners.

For smaller gardens, why not build a sandpit and try the long jump? Don’t be tempted to buy builder’s sand – it is coarse and scratchy to jump into. Splash out on some children’s play sand for a much softer landing, although at around £3 a 15kg bag the sand pit may have to be very small. Chariots of Fire must be played on repeat.

(Image via Furwillfly)

5. Pretend your work ID lanyard is a medal

Office workers take a bow. The British workforce kept the greatest show on earth running. Get out of your swivel chair and stand at your desk. Feel the podium beneath your feet. Place your hands on the back of your neck, stretch out your fingers and reach for the cord of your employee lanyard. Close your ears to the ephemeral noise of office life and concentrate on your inner Olympian. Allow the opening bars of Chariots of Fire to wash over you.

Caress your medal. Think about the years of pain, the early mornings training in the rain, the nights where glasses of sauvignon blanc were declined, and all those people who doubted you. Bring the medal to your lips. Hum along to God Save the Queen. Fight back the tears, knowing that your face is being broadcast around the world. And finally just to check it’s all real – bite your medal. You may find it a bit plasticky. Then sit down and get on with your work.

6. Watch other world championships

If you loved watching the Brownlee brothers race in the triathlon and you have a hankering to watch it again, why not try the Iron Man World Championships. For the uninitiated, Ironman is a super triathlon – a gruelling 2.4-mile swim and 112-mile bike ride, followed by a marathon. The championships take place at Kona, Hawaii, on 13 October.

7. Take up skimming stones

The World Stone Skimming Championships 2012 will take place on 23 September on Easdale Island in the Inner Hebrides. Refreshingly, this competition is open to anyone of any age and skill level. Each competitor is allowed three skims using specially selected Easdale slate skimming stones. Easdale was once the centre of the Scottish slate mining industry, and the championship’s version of the Olympic stadium is one of the island’s disused quarries.

For a skim to qualify the stone must bounce at least three times – it is then judged on the distance achieved before it sinks. It is your chance to become a world champion. And don’t forget the Opening Ceremony, err, I mean the Pre-Skim Party, that takes place the night before in the village hall.

(Image via Mark & Nat’s Travel Blog)

8. Visit Yorkshire

Yorkshire has spawned many of the Team GB Olympic medallists, so why not take a trip there, drink some of the water and see what it does for you. From gold medal boxer Nicola Adams’s distinctive Leeds accent to Jessica Ennis’s less distinctive Sheffield tones, it’s hard to escape the Yorkshire factor. The encomia to the sporting prowess of “God’s Own County” note that its athletes won more golds than Spain, Brazil or Canada despite having a population of just over five million.

9. Start training for Rio

Rower Helen Glover only started rowing in 2008 – four years later she has an Olympic gold. It is not too late for a new sporting hero to be discovered. In her favour, Glover was already fit – not only a PE teacher but also a national standard hockey player with a physique that stood out to the rowing officials who spotted her.

But which sport might the ordinary person be able to master? The trick perhaps, is to look for sports where youth is not essential – giving years, possibly even decades, in which to get up to the Olympic standard. Someone calculated there were 187 athletes over 40 at this year’s games, including the oldest, Japanese dressage competitor Hiroshi Hoketsu at 71. Britain’s oldest gold medal winner, 54-year-old Nick Skelton, was part of the showjumping team.

10. Just be grumpy

The last dinner party guests have left. The music has been turned off and the party is over. After a fortnight spent being friendly, smiling ambassadors of the UK, is it time for British people to take a big sigh and be miserable for a bit?

The British spectators seem to have impressed. An Australian news website paid tribute to the friendliness of Brits, stating; “as awful as it is to admit, London 2012 was bigger, slicker, almost as friendly and more thoughtfully planned than Sydney in terms of the legacy it will leave the host city.”

But how long can this happy feeling of friendliness and pride last? Probably not long. Bah, humbug.

Inspiration via BBC News