I actually know a few people who are making millions a year through home-based operations (and a few others who have been able to subsidize their incomes from low risk business ideas). In most cases, all it took was some good market research and the get up and go to actually put the information product together. Believe it or not, the biggest obstacle to overcome when putting together an ebook or DVD product is actually having the motivation to get started - it?s not as hard as it sounds!
The most common, and usually the most successful information products are e-books, audio cd / tapes and increasingly, DVD?s. We?ll take a look at each of these categories in more detail below:
Writing a successful ebookYou really have 2 options here. You can develop the content of the e-book yourself, or you can get someone to do it for you. There?s a few other ways you can go about creating an e-book, for instance, obtaining the rights to an out of print book, but these methods and considerably more complex and don?t offer any guarantees.
If you?re a semi-confident writer, my advice would be to try and write the book yourself. A good way to start is to write about something that you are interested in ? spend 15 minutes a day putting down your ideas, if you find you are struggling, do your best to outline your ideas and then investigate the possibility of hiring a writer to research and draft the remainder of your ebook.
There are loads of good writers around who will put together polished and concise copy for around 10 cents per word. Take a look at http://www.profitpuppy.com/freelance-sites.htm for more information about finding a freelance writer.
Some writers expect up to $175 US an hour for their services, although thanks to the internet, it?s not impossible to find a reasonably talented scribe for around 10 cents per word. It?s important that you are clear in what you want to achieve when advertising a project so that you attract someone who is well suited. If you don?t have any luck with Elance or Freelance Writers, you could also try posting to Yahoo Groups or approaching people at your local uni.
It?s important to remember that your reader probably won?t be too concerned about your command of the English language - just make sure you clearly explain your concepts and ideas (especially if you are writing a ?how-to? style ebook). For more information about writing and marketing e-books, visit http://www.profitpuppy.com/writing-and-selling-ebooks.htm where you will find a number of valuable resources.
Audio CD?s and Tapes
If you don?t fancy yourself as a writer whatsoever, another option you have is to create and audio tape or CD. It?s not as expensive as you might think, and audio products still have great appeal for buyers.
While DVD?s and Videos have become easier to create, tapes and CD?s are still the mainstay of the information product world. The reason of this is that media savvy buyers aren?t enticed by the often amateurish production qualities of video or DVD info products. Another advantage of tapes and CD?s is that you can listen to them anywhere, for example in your car on the way to work.
To produce a CD or Tape of reasonable quality, you are going to need to purchase (or hire) the necessary equipment. If you can afford to buy some studio time, it?s worthwhile, but if you just starting out, it?s an undue expense that you can avoid. Your local electronics store should be able to arm you with a noise reducing microphone and some high quality audio tapes (another option is to record to your computer first). You can expect to pay around $50 - $80 all up. You don?t need expensive equipment to get started, although you may have to upgrade if as you go along?
Assuming that you?ve researched your topic (and target market properly), you can begin working on your information product which should give some step-by-step advice on how to overcome a particular problem or achieve a particular goal (there?s more about picking your topic below). Just remember that when you start recording you deliver the essence of your experience (or research) in an entertaining and concise way. If you are producing an instructional CD or tape, a simplified and bare bones approach is often best. Come up with steps that will help your customers achieve their desired goal/s.
When you?re ready to go, shut off the phones and start recording (it?s also a good idea to have a script in front of you). Record your tape in less than 60 minutes. Play it to your friends, make any changes you think might be worthwhile based on their advice. When you?re happy with the final product, create some duplicates (or get someone to do it for you) and then start selling your product on the Internet ? It?s that easy!
Making your own DVD information product
If you think your idea is an exceptional one, or something that could work better visually, then you might consider producing your own DVD of Special Interest Video (SIV?s). This type of information product (often referred to as Guerilla Video) is becoming more popular as the required production technology becomes more accessible. Anyone with a DVC, a computer and some editing software can now make fairly professional looking DVD?s.
DVD?s like tapes and CD?s are also more valuable in terms of what your customer might pay for them; although they are more expensive to produce, people are more likely to pay extra money to watch a DVD (especially if it can show them how to do something instead of having to listen or read about it). For example, showing someone how to dance or swing a golf club would be much more valuable then telling them how to do it.
Remember that the ?if you can?t do it, get someone else to? principle applies for DVD?s and audio information products as well. It will cost you a little extra, but will usually be worth it in the long run.
Regardless of your current level of video expertise, if you have the basic equipment, you can produce your own SIV. The first time around, you should consult with a sound and lighting technician and hire a video editor who can help you assemble your masterpiece. Picking a topic and selling itI probably should have covered this at the beginning? Anyway, by now you?ve probably got 3-4 ideas for your own e-book? If not, you?d better get brainstorming!
Have you ever trained an animal? There?s a product right there. Do you have a fantastic way to save money? There?s another product. Do you know how to build anything? That?s definitely a product. There?s potential for information products all around you. The most important thing is that you research you target market properly and find out what they are interested in. A great way to do this is to post a short online questionnaire which you can advertise through pay per click Google Adwords. You could offer to give away a free copy of your product to anyone who helps you out with your market research.
Before marketing your product, decide how much it?s worth: as a rough guide, you can sell an audio tape for at least $10 - $30 or a series of tapes for a lot more (depending on the subject) and you should be able to double that price for a CD or DVD product. At the end of the day you really have to test your price -you need to understand how much the market values your information. If your product can help other people earn money, you should be able to sell it for $97 per unit or more. If you?re trying to market a dog grooming manual you may find it more difficult to generate good returns ? you must pick your topic carefully. Some killer website copy, targeted ads and packaging can all help add value to your product. You will also need a merchant account so you can accept payment for your information product. Visit http://www.profitpuppy.com/accepting-payment.htm to learn more about merchant accounts.
E-books, tapes and SIV information Products can be the ideal business to start - they are easy to produce, simple to ship, and enjoy high returns because people aren?t paying for the physical form the product is delivered in. Remember, that after you?ve completed your product, you?ll be making nearly 100% profit (that?s if people are interested enough to buy it). For example, if you produced just 1 DVD and can sell 500 copies at $50 a piece, you stand to make $25,000?
Regards, Rob Rawson
eBooks, or electronic books, mean big business for all aspiring writers. Not only can eBooks be sold in their own right as standalone products, but eBooks are fast becoming the weapon of choice for marketing gurus!
Here's a fast, easy list for you. Use it as checklist to see what you need to do to increase traffic. Or use it as a review list if you have already been working on improving your website traffic. It will help you find ways that you might have known or forgotten.
Can you encounter the number of times where a Credit Card Sale was generated, only to receive a "Refund Notification" from your contracted e-commerce processor on behalf the "customer"?
How do you decide to create a new speech? A new report? A net product? Most of us have an idea, then start to work on it. It's only when we are well into the creation phase that we determine whether or not it will sell.
Take Control Sale: 50% Off All Ebooks TidBITS We're having a 50%-off sale on all Take Control ebooks and Macworld Superguides through 07-Jul-09, so you can expand your library with our highly practical ...
How to Boost Your Business with PLR Articles PowerHomeBiz.com (press release) Visit her site at http://www.seymourproducts.com for hundreds of PLR articles, $1 resell ebooks & software, free tutorials, affiliate programs, ...
Elonex launches 6-inch e-book reader Electronista UK-based Elonex International has partnered with the UK division of Borders to release its first 6-inch eBook Reader. Users can download ebooks via Borders' ...
RELATED ARTICLESWebsite Promotion: 10 Uncommon And Unusual Free Product Bonuses
Giving away free bonuses is one well tested website
promotion strategy that can help you make more sales.
Internet Journey - From Storms To Desktops
After battling the sea for nine years, it's time to move on.
That's what I told myself when I first stepped ashore to search
for a land job. The decision was not made on the spur of a
moment but after much thought and soul searching.
eBook Solutions
Free Information Products inundate the web these days. eBook performance denotes miraculous sales and marketing procedures abound. Procedural documentation of a marketing article can be referred back to an eBook sold on your website. While most entrepreneurs may be seeking positions working at jobs online, others are actually seeking independent careers they can start working from home. An eBook representing a new method of business development, touting an ingenious financially beneficial business one can start on a shoestring, and proclaiming vast amounts of dollar success will sell well on any site, promotes well as a marketing article, and reprints well on other people's websites as a loss leader to bring traffic back to your site with a reference and signature ad.
How to Harness the Power of Ebooks for the Benefit of Your Website!
Ebooks can be a powerful tool when it comes to promoting and profiting from your website. To be able to benefit from ebooks, it is important to know how to use them to their full potential.
Just One Quick Question
Ever notice the number of times a client or prospect says some variation of 'I just have one more question,' or 'Just a quick question?' The answers to those questions are the grist of a tips booklet. You may be asked the same or similar questions repeatedly. And whether you think you are a good writer or not, you can always develop tips based on what people have already said they want to know from you.
Shorten Your Journey to Book Success with Teleclasses - Part 2
Are you an author who wants your book to be a success? Have you read books, but still need some handholding on how best to promote your book? Are local seminars on book marketing and promotion just not available to you?
Little Known Ways To Make More Money With EBooks
There are a myriad of free information products on the internet today, and actually looking to make some more money out of the act of 'giving' them away can be a constant source of much frustration.
In conjunction with Johan Mok and Ewen Chia, Geoff Morris has compiled a list of some15 points that should remove some of these frustrations and actually start to make a deal more money foe the site owners.
Invasion of the Amazons
The last few months have witnessed a bloodbath in tech stocks coupled with a frantic re-definition of the web and of every player in it (as far as content is concerned).
3 Steps To Turning OK eBook Sales Into Unbelieveable Results!
Have you noticed that 90% of "How To" information about creatingand marketing your own information-based products online is basic beginner stuff?
5 Guaranteed Ways To Snowball Your Resale Right Profits
Resale Right Products are a huge market. Unfortunately, may
people are losing more money than they're making. Ebooks are
quickly devalued as everyone tries to offer them at a lower
price than their competitors. Finally, the ebook is given out
for free and it becomes nearly impossible to sell.
Your First Step To A Digital Publishing Empire
There is only one way to climb a mountain - step by step.
Sell 100,000 eBooks By Letting It Be Read For Free?
Did you know that if just one person goes into a library and asks for your eBook and if it is listed in the librarians' catalogs, then the library will buy a copy of your eBook in order to lend out.
How to Almost Guarantee Your eBook Market Success
Conceptualizing a profitable idea and formulating a marketing plan to sell it is a relatively exhausting task. Not everyone is gifted with the creative juices to come up with a cutting edge concept.
How to Write Your First Ebook
Writing your first ebook may seem like a daunting task. But like many projects, it won't seem so bad when it's broken down into manageable chunks. Not all projects are successful, so don't be too disappointed if your first ebook isn't a best seller. Whatever the outcome of your first ebook, you can at least say 'You did it'.
What Comes First - The Cover or The eBook?
One of biggest trend these days is related to ebooks. Because of their viral nature, ebooks are a great way to increase traffic to a site and that's why everyone has to write at least one.
Your e-Book - 7 Best Reasons to Create Your First e-Book
1) Speed to market - One of the biggest problems with regular books in the book store is that you have to get the book in the bookstore (a publisher or distribution house) and then you have to get the book out of the bookstore (people buying your book). This process from conception of idea to sale of your book can take years. With an e-Book the process from conception to sale can be done in days.
How To Bring In Your First $100,000 With Infoproducts
Can you really earn a living creating and marketing ebooks,
special reports, courses and other infoproducts?
Cashing In by Writing How-tos
If you enjoy explaining how something is done step by step, you may just have an saleable article or book idea. How-to articles and books are favorites at many magazine and book publishers. And the range of topics is practically endless. Think about it for a minute. Almost anything that you have had some experience in doing has potential. For example, can you explain how to install a hardwood floor, make paper toys, choose good doctors, invest money, buy businesses, or start a relationship? Of course, a subject such as how to make those sit-ups more effective might be a great magazine article. On the other hand, a subject such as how to make wooden toys might be effective as a book.
How eBooks Can Be Used As An Online Business
Times are hard today! Though the economic data would indicate otherwise, we are now facing a world economic problem of such massive problems that could result in a large economic downturn. In many countries we have massive property bubble that is just waiting to burst and the recent large increases in the price of crude oil are certainly not going to help inflation and if sustained will lead to interest rises that will have a devastating effect on the world economy. This will mean a lot of people will find themselves out of a job whereas many others will struggle to make a living.
Make Your Own E-book!
If you have a newsletter or knowledge you wish to share with
others, you might think about making your own ebook.
