Create a Big Money Project - Part 2

07 Sep 2009

In the last issue, we talked about the benefit of getting your business on track by creating a sustainment project to both encourage you and to feed the coffers a bit. In this post, we’re going to cut the BS and show you how you can do that.

Finding Inspiration

If you blog, you already have your niche identified, but if you don’t…where can you turn? Make a list of what interests you. Next to that list, write down what you like about those topics. What inspires you? What makes you tick? What topics are you passionate about? There is a fan for every niche, but in order to sell to them, you’ve got to figure out how to best serve them.

The short list of things that people need are:

How to guides
Insider’s guides
Designers
Coders
Writers
Musicians
Tech Geeks
Installers
Motivators
Experts

Are you or can you offer one of these products? Do you have special insight into how something works? Can you solve the mystery for us “normal” folks? Can you teach me something I don’t know about your topic? There are many ways to carve a niche, but besides being unique, you have to be effective. You have to be able to deliver on your promises.

Who are you?

What’s your niche? Are you an authority blogger or a behind the scenes ghost writer? Do you find it easier to create content on your own or would you prefer to hire someone to do it for you? The options are numerous, but in order to create that big money project you will have to do some soul searching to see if you really have what it takes to see the job through. I can tell you firsthand that diving into a project and then losing the motivation to finish it can be a monumental blow to your business. Not only does it create a quitters mentality, but it makes the next project feel like an even bigger task. This is why I prefer to start with exploratory projects to see if I really have what it takes to close the deal.

If you plan on writing an ebook, spend some time fleshing out your outline and planning your progression from start to finish. Grab a few of your blog posts to give you some inspiration and keep you on track. Once you start writing the actual content, you’ll find that you can’t make it happen on inspiration alone, so you’ll have to be prepared for the inevitable low that comes with writing about the same subject for hours at a time.

If you provide a service, then I suggest that you spend some time developing your website to improve your landing page and your web copy. When someone visits your site, you’ll have only a few seconds to make a good first impression, so make sure that your design and implementation says what you need it to say. Consider hiring a designer to create a logo for you and help you craft your personal brand. Share some examples of your work and make sure to create a FAQ to answer questions before they pop up.

How to Advertise

The best way to build traffic and start making some cash is to get other people to spread the word for you. If you sell an online product, then you should be recruiting affiliates on a weekly basis. By the time you launch, you should already have a list of people on board. There’s nothing worse than a launch that ends the same day it begins (I’ve had a few). Also, don’t forget to send out advanced copies of your products so that you can collect testimonials. Make sure to position them on your sales page in a way that compliments the design but doesn’t detract from your copy.

Don’t forget to set up an opt-in box to collect email addresses….many people won’t buy on the first visit, but a 2nd or 3rd email can do the trick. I like to use an exit popup, but you can use aWeber’s built in pop-up if you like. Create a 5-10 message auto-responder series that alternates between offering content and chances to buy. Although some internet marketers will tell you to pitch until they unsubscribe, I’m not a fan of that strategy. I prefer to use email as a way to build a relationship and keep people around until they’ve learned enough about me to buy or they become interested in another product that I offer. At worst case, you convert them into a blog reader…at best case they buy and become a lifelong fan.

Follow Up

I’m a huge fan of using surveys to see what my customers think about my products. I add a survey to my post-purchase auto-responder series so that I can always receive input about how to improve my products. If I have a product that sucks, I’ll find out why. If I have a success, then I’ll know what made it so. If you don’t survey your customers, you’ll never know how to duplicate your success.

I also use Twitter to monitor mentions of my product. I’ll set up a custom search and monitor my affiliates as well. I also set up Google alerts to keep tabs on new reviews, good or bad. Using Twitter and Google alerts, I am always aware of what people are saying about my product. I don’t like being left in the dark.

You Can Make it Happen

Don’t give up on your dreams. If you fancy being a flamenco guitar teacher, then find a way to create a membership site that teaches flamenco guitar. If you like running, then open a store online that sells specialty running products. If you like to write, then find a way to create content for people. You can make money doing what you love, but it will take some time to get the formula right. I’ve been at it for years and I’m still learning…changing…and evolving. Find your own balance, your own way. If you keep following your passions, you can’t lose.