Diane Corriette from England
One of the most difficult parts of being online for most business professionals is knowing exactly how they can use the internet to bring in additional profits to their business. One of the proven ways I often recommend comes from writing information products.
Have you ever bought an ebook or an audio/video online? You buy it, download it and use it. Well that is an information product and it is the easiest thing for you to create because you already have the knowledge – you are just putting it down on paper or in a video.
I often caution professionals on writing about a topic they are not sure about or have to research. You are already in business and you already know your profession so it stands to reason that the easiest place to start is with the knowledge you already have. Whatever it is that you do in your business I know I can help you figure out how that can translate online into an information product.
Writing and putting together your information product is the easy part. The most difficult part of this process is actually putting it up on the internet and selling it, not because the process is hard but because sometimes before putting up your first product you may suffer from a crisis of confidence and delay finishing it so you don’t have to put it up. You sabotage your own efforts. When I was ready to put my first product up I hesitated. All kinds of negative thoughts went through my head:
“What if people don’t want to buy it” (there is a way to make sure they do!)
“What if people buy it and say they don’t like it and want their money back” (it happens)
I was afraid and my fear stopped me in my tracks for months. At some point I had to take a leap of faith and decide to get it up there. Once I got my first one up the second and third were easier. They were only £9.97 reports/guides at the time but it was a start. Now, I put all my work into one place and promote a membership site (I will write about the power of membership sites next week).
Every expert/professional has the ability to create an information product and get paid for what you know. With the number of people using the internet to search out solutions to their problems you will be crazy not to get involved.
You may need help setting up the actual process and system so that you have a site to sell it from, a payment button so people can buy etc – but you can hire people to do that – my business helps people set that up. Don’t let your lack of putting up the system by which you will sell your product stop you – just begin to think about what you could possible offer and do your research to find out if it is in fact something people want.
Your biggest error will be to think that you know what people want and create a product based on that – it is the biggest reality check when nothing is ever sold! Research is essential to this process.
What might stop you from creating your first information product? Leave a comment below and let me know.
Diane Corriette helps business owners and professionals use the internet to bring in more visitors, leads and business. If you are an entrepreneur looking to build a persona online that will bring in work for you or a local business who wants to use online marketing to attract customers call her on +44208 242 4339 or via Skype at local.business. She is a regular speaker at events and seminars, as well as online webinars and shows. Runs training workshops in online marketing in London and offers a 45 minute coaching session for anyone wondering if the internet is for them. Visit http://www.littlefishmediacompany.com
Hi Diane,
I love your article, bringing real answers to questions I have at the moment and for once not in a “guru-style” and/or “simple, fast & easy and you win £1,oooo a day” 😉
Thanks for sharing, I have got a few questions I drop you an email on BWIE.
Speak to you soon,
Regards,
Laura
Glad you are finding this series useful! Both you and Diane have great information to share.
Glad you enjoyed it Laura. I am what I call a “non-guru!” 🙂
Just like to tell it as it is – no sugar coating – sitting on the beach with your laptop is a real possibility but entails a few years of solid work to make it happen. Unless of course you happen to start the next Facebook or something!
The potential is there and it truly is unlimited – I think that is what I love most about the web. You can create 50 products that sell at £10 each, managing to sell 20 or 30 a week and it is product 51 that suddenly goes viral and sells like crazy and you end up suddenly becoming an “over night success!” – you just never know what’s going to happen – another thing I love about the internet.
I was trained by the Mark Victor Hansen Enlightened Wealth Institute and they bypass all the hype most of the time. When I read what it really took to promote one of his products I knew then that like a snowball it takes some solid marketing to make this work and its like pushing your snowball uphill a lot of the time but when it grows big enough it can roll and grow on its own without any assistance from you! Most people just don’t market their product long enough or hard enough to really succeed.
Glad you enjoyed it Laura. I am what I call a “non-guru!” 🙂
Just like to tell it as it is – no sugar coating – sitting on the beach with your laptop is a real possibility but entails a few years of solid work to make it happen. Unless of course you happen to start the next Facebook or something!
The potential is there and it truly is unlimited – I think that is what I love most about the web. You can create 50 products that sell at £10 each, managing to sell 20 or 30 a week and it is product 51 that suddenly goes viral and sells like crazy and you end up suddenly becoming an “over night success!” – you just never know what’s going to happen – another thing I love about the internet.
I was trained by the Mark Victor Hansen Enlightened Wealth Institute and they bypass all the hype most of the time. When I read what it really took to promote one of his products I knew then that like a snowball it takes some solid marketing to make this work and its like pushing your snowball uphill a lot of the time but when it grows big enough it can roll and grow on its own without any assistance from you! Most people just don’t market their product long enough or hard enough to really succeed.
Dianne has hit the nail directly on the head. It is so easily to get swamped with over-hyped (even conflicting) messages that you can become constipated and confused.
Dianne has the unique ability to cut through the fluff and give you the bare-bone steps you should take. She is coaching me right now to get my product (how to meet, treat and marry a great Christian husband) up on the internet. I feel secure in the hands of a coach/mentor who keeps it real and won’t allow you to slack off. I love being on the radio and speaking at churches but I also want to ensure that passive income comes from through sharing my knowledge through downloaded products on the internet.
If you don’t have a coach I highly recommend you get one and Dianne is as good as they get!
I am feeling like a busy body right now (Blackwomen in Europe remember), but I am totally addicted to good ideas and in writing. Diane is a purveyor of both.
‘Non-guru’ eh? Nevermind what you call yourself, as long as the good ideas keep coming. Yeah, I bear testimony to the numerous ideas that has been part of the journey to where you are. Methink the idea of this site is a GREAT idea.
Thank you Kayode!
Good luck with your project, Hilton.