This is a question I'm asked repeatedly. Others related to it
include ...
"I saw this neat whatever. Do you think I can make money
selling it?"
"I like the idea of multiple income streams. How do I do this?"
"I haven't much time. What's the easiest way to start?"
"If I read this book and follow the plan in it, will I do okay?"
You can't make significant bucks selling "whatever" without a
site that works. The same is true of building multiple income
streams. As to time, if you haven't got it, there's no place to
start, easy or otherwise.
The Real Challenge
The last question above is the one toughest to answer. Say a
fellow buys a book, then reads it. Assuming it offers a good
approach, can he expect to succeed with the plan suggested?
Possibly, but there's a point here that is being ignored.
Infoproducts explaining how to succeed on the Web are generally
sold with the implication that this product makes it easy to
succeed. But is it so?
A bit of common sense brings a definitive answer quickly.
First, if it was easy to succeed online, anybody could do so.
Second, there's a difference between reading about an idea and
implementing it.
Implementing Even A Simple Idea May Not Be Easy
I love Joe Robson's book, "Make Your Words Sell." (Click here
for my review.
It's the best approach I've seen to producing great ad copy for
the Web. I've read it four times now, made voluminous notes, and
have produced half a dozen pages seeking to follow Joe's
methods. I haven't got it yet. And I am not likely to get it
soon. I did not expect otherwise.
Suppose you took Geometry in high school. Suppose you really
understood it, that you even got an A. Does this mean you are
prepared to teach the subject? Not at all. It only means you
have essential tools with which to continue your study of
mathematics. Further, if you do continue, you will learn even
more about Geometry.
There is no book, teacher, or consultant that can provide you
with the experience required to build a successful online
business. Quite the contrary. You'll need to understand the
contents of many books. You'll want all the quality input you
can get. And all must be internalized so that you can
effectively implement what you have learned.
The Wrong Question
One who asks such questions has things backwards. As I've
stated elsewhere, the first question should be who do you want
to sell to. Having answered this, the task is to find where they
hang out on the Web and join in. While interacting with people
with whom you enjoy, continue looking for a product that suits
their needs.
A Great Site Is A Must
Slapping up some banners or a sales pitch won't ever work,
regardless how grand the benefits of the product being offered.
You need a core content that attracts visitors. It must be of
interest to search engines, and to those with whom you may be
able to swap links. Without this, there is little that can be
done. Even advertising is likely to fail.
So What Products Do Sell Best?
This is still not really a good question, for several other
factors need to be considered. The one that matters most is what
product can *you* sell most effectively with *your* site. Still,
while searching for potential products, consider the following.
> A combination of related products so the cost of generating a
first sale can be distributed over others as possible. (Not all
will return.)
> Products visitors will buy repeatedly - fancy soaps, maybe.
> Products you create and control. Some can be marketed with an
affiliate program.
Say No To Web Related Infoproducts
There are flat too many people out there trying to sell all
sorts of stuff to those new to the Web. Unless you can come up
with a brilliant plan bound to work, you are competing with
thousands of others, many far more experienced than you are.
On the other hand, there is grand profit in selling
infoproducts that provide specialized information in a field in
which you excel. Most any successful site can add a good deal to
their bottom line by producing and selling one or more.
The Best Plan
Focus closely on a small target. With a newsletter, and later a
site, develop core content that establishes you as the expert in
your niche and draws visitors. Then, as possible, introduce a
line of related products including items repeatedly purchased.
Further, continue to produce and sell your own infoproducts
It Isn't Easy
The above over-simplifies the challenge of building a
successful business. To fully understand the paragraph above
will require a good deal of effort and time. It's not easy. Only
those fascinated by and committed to the task will discover the
rewards of building a successful online business.
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