Internet Marketing 101
April 25th, 2003
Hey ya'll;
Previously I have talked about some concerns I had when making the jump
to fulltime self employment. I also mentioned about my business growing
and a few things that helped it keep growing which was "in itself
another story".
I want to talk about one of those things that helps my business to grow.
Since discussing all of them would mean a very long newsletter I'll limit
it to one this time around...grin...
Creating New Products:
As you may know adding products to your current line of products is one
of the best ways to increase your income.
Many people add products that relate to their current product line, however
they are usually someone else's products. This is an excellent source
of additional income, normally called backend sales. After a customer
buys from you they are most likely to buy from you again. You have gotten
their confidence.
Better yet, develop your own product. Yeah I know you are saying:
"But, but Gary I don't how to create a product."
Hey, I don't want to hear it. Anybody can create a product. Some can do
it easier than others, but ANYBODY can create a product. I'm not being
harsh here, but the problem is, people let their traditional way of thinking
stand in the way of their abilities.
My Dad and Mom always thought you should get married, raise kids, and
work for someone else all of your life until retirement. They could never
understand that I just wasn't cut out for working for someone else my
whole life.
Nope, nada, not me, I'm not an 8:00 to 5:00 person. I'm just glad my Mom
got to see that my way of thinking eventually paid off for me before she
passed away.
Now don't get me wrong, self employment is not for everyone either, I
have many friends that have done very well by working for someone else.
Ok, so back to the products thingy.
Now let me state, when I say products, don't think just in terms of ebooks,
software and stuff like that. Don't forget a product can be a service,
a website and many other things. THINK outside the box of traditional
thinking.
So Ok, here are a few tips on generating ideas for creating a product.
1. Always write down any ideas, regardless of how silly they may seem.
The reason being even though one may seem silly,
it may induce another idea that's not so silly. In other words, ideas
spawn ideas.
The whole concept behind this is to keep your brain or thought process
always working. I know this sounds crazy, but the more ideas you can dream
up, then the easier it gets. You will also find as the ideas flow easier,
that they get less silly and many more workable or good ideas start coming
from this process.
Hey folks, don't ask me to explain why, I'm no doctor or anything, I just
know over a period of time that it works. Maybe the brain starts computing
all this new information and thoughts you start throwing it and computes
it more sensibly.
All I can say is it works for me...grin... and
geessh if if works on my brain then it should work on anybody's brain...
2. Keep a notebook or pad and pen handy at all times. Write down these
ideas when you get them. If you don't they may never come back. Believe
me, you won't remember them later most likely. I know you have probably
heard this a hundred times, but just try it rather than thinking
about it.
3. ASK your friends, customers or readers what they want. Geessh, this
is so simple I hate to list it. But, it's amazing in conversations with
other business owners how many have never done this. If you already have
a customer base or newsletter then you have a readily available source
of information for possible products. But you have to ASK them what they
want.
4. Use someone else's expertise. Many people have some great ideas or
software that they would love to take to market. However they may not
know how to do it. This can be an excellent opportunity for you to approach
them about buying the rights to the product.
An example of creating a product by using other people's expertise is
18 year old Joe Kumar's new ebook "30 Days To Internet Marketing
Success". Joe had over 60 experts respond to the following scenario
(I participated as well in this project):
"You suddenly lose all your money, along with your name and reputation,
and only have your marketing know-how left. You have bills piled high
and people harassing you for money over the phone. Plus, you have a guaranteed
roof over your head, a phone line, and an internet connection for only
one month. You no longer have your big guru name or JV partners. Other
than your vast marketing experience, you're an unknown newbie. What would
you do, from day 1 to day 30, to save yourself?"
Ok, was this simple enough or what? He sent out a challenge to the many
marketers for their response. He ended up with a 500+ page ebook product,
without having to furnish hardly any of the content himself. What I love
is his approach to getting experts to contribute to the project.
If you decide to check out his ebook, below is my affiliate link, no cloaking
or hiding the link or anything. If you decide to order I hope you will
consider using my link. What can I say, I still believe honesty and integrity
exists today..grin.. his sales page is worth reading for the approach
he used.
http://hop.clickbank.net/?promote777/joekumar
Ok so let's move on.
5. Don't ASSUME anything. We assume too much today as it is. We assumed
we would never be attacked by terrorists, however life is changed forever
as we once knew it here in the USA.
Just think about other people in other parts of the world have lived with
these events all their life. Yet how many times have Americans just assumed
it wouldn't happen here?
Sometimes we assume that others on the internet know what we know, such
as unzipping files, reading PDF files, copying and moving files, etc.
This brings to mind the time I decided to fix fried chicken for my wife
before she got home from work. This was 12 years ago before I was blessed
with success and we both worked full time jobs. I fixed a full supper
with vegetables and to include southern fried chicken.
When dipping the chicken in the flower prior to frying, I assumed it was
flower. It was in an unmarked cannister, it was white, and it was powdery
like flower. So it was flower...I assumed...
Well after several minutes of frying, the chicken would not get brown
and crispy, I kept frying and frying, and the more I fried the worse it
got. My wife come home early and found the sticky mess I had going. Turns
out, it was powdered sugar, and not flower. She tried to save it by converting
it to Bar-B-Qued chicken however that was the sweetest mess I ever tasted.
It ended up in the garbage.
Hey, I assumed too much.
6. Consider a cheap digital voice recorder. That way you can quickly record
any thoughts, ideas, etc. and transcribe them later to paper or a project
manager software program or Outlook, etc. These recorders are especially
handy when these ideas come to you while driving.
It's hard enough talking on the cell phone and driving, much less taking
notes...grin... at least for me anyway.
:-)
Send me your comments and/or marketing questions please:
comments@InternetMarketing-101.net
Comments from last week:
-----------------------
"Gary, thanks.
I really appreciate your down to earth style and your honest sharing of
knowledge, perceptions and self.
Amidst a vast and turbulent sea of blabbering, self centered panderers,
occasionally someone like you sails along, riding the waves, offering
a lift to anyone who is struggling to keep afloat.
When you really get down to what is important in life, the sharing of
ourselves and the lending of a helping hand are truly the things that
count. That's what builds loyalty these "daze" ( pun intended.)
It's been a real pleasure to run into you. Keep up the great work.
Thanks again."
------------------------
<Thank you for your comments! - Gary>
Well it's again the end of the week and I'm busy preparing to head down
to Pensacola Florida next week. I'm speaking at Willie Crawford's Internet
Marketing How To Workshop, plus we get the opportunity to visit our daughter
while down there. She graduates in May at a local college down there.
I always enjoy my trips to Pensacola because it's beautiful down there.
(I love palm trees, I wish they would grow up here in Tennessee). Anyway
I want to invite you to join me at the workshop.
Myself and 7 experts will be showing people how we market on the internet
including how to create your own products. I hope you will take time to
visit the site and read about the workshop. More so, I hope to meet you
face to face down in Florida at the workshop. You can read more at the
below link:
http://gary.internetmarketinghowtoworkshop.com
I will also probably send out the newsletter on Thursday evening of next
week. That said I would like to ask everyone's opinion on something.
In your opinion:
What is the best day of the week for reading newsletters?
What is the best time of the day to receive a newsletter?
Please send your answers and comments to:
comments@internetmarketing-101.net
See ya'll next week, same day, same place!
Thanks for joining me and my rambling!
PS: Send your comments and/or marketing questions to:
comments@InternetMarketing-101.net
Let me know if it's ok to use your comments or questions in my newsletter.
If you would like a copy in article form to run in your newsletter just
let me know...grin...
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