Question of the week:
Would you be interested in attending a product creation e-class?
Please leave a comment below.
Note that I don’t reply to all comments, but I do read them all. If I don’t reply to your comment, it most likely means that I agree with what you say and don’t have anything meaningful to add, myself. I appreciate and read all comments and your comments play an important part in what I write about, so keep them coming.
Spammy comments are always filtered or removed. No surprise there.
Note that I don’t reply to all comments, but I do read them all. If I don’t reply to your comment, it most likely means that I agree with what you say and don’t have anything meaningful to add, myself. I appreciate and read all comments and your comments play an important part in what I write about, so keep them coming.
Spammy comments are always filtered or removed. No surprise there.
Hello Shane,
I’m not at the point where I’d like to create my own product yet. It’s definitely a possibility, though.
Although I’m not ready, this sounds like a good idea for those who are ready for it. Of course, you could record all the webinars for future customers.
Hotseats and one-on-one time would be a great incentive, in my opinion.
Also, just wanted to let you know that it must’ve been over 2 weeks ago now that I submitted about 5 articles to EZA. So far, one’s been approved, and one needed editing.
I’m not a Platinum author, but still…it sure seems to be taking them a while to approve articles these days. It’s none of my business, but I wonder if their staff has shrunk in size due to the Farmer.
What do you think of Articles Base? I might switch and focus more on them. They seem to be faster.
And, for anyone who’s wondering, it seems that, if you select your keywords properly, EZA and Articles Base still rank fairly well. Of course, I try to select my targeted kw phrases very well, so there’s not too much competition to begin with.
Concerning EZA: It looks like they might not be a great place for getting traffic from anymore. I’m still not quite sure yet, though. They might recover, they might sink.
Articles Base could be a good alternative, but if EZA was hit, I don’t see why AB would fare much better.
Hey Guys,
Sistrix and Potpiegirl did some interesting analysis of the impact of the Farmer update on article directories and content farms.
Potpiegirl shows eHow doing better, Squidoo holding steady and Ezine, Articlebase, and others tanking after Google’s update. She also offers her opinion as to why.
Personally, article submission is only a small part of my marketing plan and I don’t plan to change a thing. I’ll still be submitting an article here and there as I always have.
TJ
Hi Shane,
I’m interested in the creation of niche sites and their SEO, backlinking, etc and yes I’m very interested in product creation. So if you do those things I’ll like to be part of it, watching and learning from you as we go.
Ben Wan
Thanks for your reply!
I would be very interested in this e class and product creation. I am currently doing affiliate marketing but am ready to create my own product and support the idea. REgards, Paul
Product creation webinars gets my vote. Run with it man!
Hi Shane,
Thank you for the Sunday update video and the tips you share in it.
I’d love to be part of your e-class on product creation. As long as it does not involve to technical stuff, like programming and the like.
All the best,
Anant
Here’s the good news: I have exactly zero programming skills and I’ve created and launched lots of products anyway. So that’s definitely not something you need to worry about. :)
Hi Shane,
Count me in for the product creation eclass. Definitely interested in signing up for that!
Hi Shane,
I am a fairly new reader to your blog and subscriber to your list, and I am liking everything that you have here on your corner of the web. I was on the secockpit webinar today and was very impressed with what I saw with this tool. When will the special offer end? I don’t remember hearing how many days we have left to sign up, and I hate the fake scarcity just as much as you do especially when prices don’t go up like we are told they would. It would be great to know the last day for the special offer so I know when I will need to make a decision to sign up at the best price.
With your question of the week:
I’m with DK, as I’m not at the stage where I’m ready to create my own product. I’m still trying to make a full time income with affiliate marketing, so that is my priority. Which was why I got your BBP to help rank my affiliate sites. I submitted a question through your contact form in your BBP support area so hope you can answer my questions. It didn’t look like you got a ticketing system so hope you got my questions okay.
Anyways, although I’m not creating a product, it would still be nice to attend a class (maybe a free one, on the basics/product outlines etc.) just to see how the process works. I suspect some people might want to head down that path when they become successful affiliate marketers further down the track. I know I will be.
Keep up the great work! :)
Hi Shane,
I like all the ideas for products you threw out today. I would be interested in product creation webinars. I’m a glass etcher/carver by trade, but I also have some skills with local internet marketing. I’ve kick around the idea of creating a product/membership site by combining the two. I’m also thinking of offering classes at my studio. So, creating a product would be of value to me.
Thanks,
Tim
PS. Keep up the good work. I look forward to your Sunday Updates every week.
Hey Shane,
Yes I would be interested in a product creation e-course. I truly believe that by eliminating the middle man, ie clickbank and creating your own product, you could potentially stand to make alot more plus offer a better quality product. Long story short, I am in too.
Troy
Hi Shane
First many thank’s for your honest opinions & valuable content.
Product Creation is new to me, but from a business aspect the only solid way to develop a business on the net. Branding your own name & developing a relationship with your own list.
So, Yes I would be interested, but would give preference to a product with video tutorials. Webinar great but video is more important to me.
Just my opinion, NO offence meant.
Thanks for your reply!
I totally understand that some will prefer video courses, some will prefer the e-class model, some will prefer good ‘ol ebooks or printed books etc.
That’s one of the reasons I asked about it and I’m greatful for your honest comment. :)
Hi Shane,
I’m in the same boat as DK Fynn (I’m not at the point where I’d like to create my own product yet. It’s definitely a possibility, though.)
I’m still wokring at getting my Affiliate Business off the ground and I need to stay focused. But, I know down the road I would like to start working on creating a product, just not right now?
Thanks again for the weekly videos (watching your video is the 1st thing I do every Sunday!). Keep them coming!
Best,
Clifton
Oh no!
Not another PC-P (Product Creation – Product).
How can you do it better or differently and keep it simple Shane?
Let’s see what you come up with?
I know you’ll do a good job. :)
Kal
Yeah, not exactly reinventing the wheel, is it? But then, the wheel doesn’t need reinventing. I’m out to create something better than anyone else has ever created, obviously. Although the e-class model is new to me, so it would be somewhat experimental.
Thank you for your Sunday Video!
Yes, I would be interested in your Product Creation class.
Fran :)
I’m on the fence. I did a product creation program about five years ago. It was a HUGE amount of work. I would be interested to see how things have changed since then.
Hi Shane, I think product creation is ideal for someone who already has a good list of potential customers. Like for yourself, that seems to be an ideal stage to get into.
For me that is not something I am focusing on.
I’d be more interested in anything to improve ranking and outsourcing.
Cheers, Andreas
Thanks for your reply. More on ranking and outsourcing is coming up as well. :)
I would but only if it includes methods for promotion. After all, what is the point of having a product you cant get eyeballs and hence sales on!
Yes, absolutely. In fact, I’d say the course would be about 1/3 how to create a product and 2/3 how to market it, how to get people to promote it for you etc.
product creation – nope.
Niche marketing / extra backlinking / seo / affiliate sales – yes please
:-)
You’ll please some people and displease others whichever options you take!!
Very true, I can’t please everyone. Although more on the topic of niche marketing/SEO is definitely coming!
Hello Shane,
Product creation is not a one of my pressing needs. However, based on the quality of your previous offerings, I would certainly be interested and you might consider me a very receptive prospective customer.
If offered as a membership, I would definitely pass. I dislike the business model. I don’t join groups, clubs, clans, political parties, and definitely not IM memberships. The membership, paid subscription, or continuity business model is the preferred business model of, and currently in favor with the Internet hucksters, “gurus”, and scamsters.
I would encourage you to create a quality “product creation” product or course. You might create a private forum for Q&A. You might deliver the product over a specified time and adjust and modify the content guided by feedback derived from the associated forum. Perhaps you could supplement the course content with a private webinar(s) for purchasers of the product.
In summary, I would welcome a “product creation” course or product if it were not offered as a membership. Price would be my only consideration. Everyone does their own cost/benefit evaluation.
Side Note 1: I’m surprised that you brought up the membership concept again. I recall that a few months ago you ran a poll and asked how respondents felt about memberships. As I recall, the response was overwhelmingly negative toward memberships.
Side Note 2: A couple days ago I noticed that someone created a product to teach IM marketers how to create nano-memberships. That spells cost-cutting in the membership community. And that indicates desperation.
Best regards.
Terry C
Hi Terry,
Oh, it wouldn’t be a membership. I’d do the e-class for a one-off price, it would just be delivered live, over the course of several weeks. Just because you get content for several weeks doesn’t mean you have to repeat payments, IMO.
I don’t know about pricing yet. It would certainly cost more than your average ebook, but I’m not about to charge silly guru-prices for my stuff anytime soon, either. ;)
Hey Shane,
I throw in my hat for the product creation course and judging from the point of owning your existing courses it´s going to be of great value for anyone studying it. So go for it and thanks for another cool sunday update.
Mirko
I’m onboard
Hello Shane,
Although it must be the ambition of many serious marketers to create their own product and market it, I ruled that option out a couple of years ago.
To be honest, I don’t have the time available for product creation because my other ventures would suffer if I took time out.
Great ideas Shane!
I personally love the idea about being a part of an e-class… just not product creation. The problem with other e-classes I’ve been a part of before is that they sound good in theory, but often my questions aren’t getting answered— which wouldn’t be a big deal if others in the class were asking questions that would help me as well. So i feel like i end up sitting through an hour webinar that feels like time wasted.
For that reason I’ve like forums but the problem with that is usually the guru has someone else responding to people’s questions… so you’re still not really getting the help you’re after… it ends up being more like “encouragement” rather than true wisdom/advice.
Thanks,
Lance
Hey Lance,
Good points about problems with e-classes. There definitely needs to be a balance there. I can understand that not all questions can be answered (especially when there are many members), but if anyone feels left out or ignored, that’s a very bad sign.
Hi Shane,
Another great Sunday update from you.
A product creation product would be a great idea and I’m definitely in!
Keep spreadin’ the IM love,
Graham
Thanks, Graham!
Coming from a learning perspective, I give it a yes vote.
Thanks for the Sunday Update!
Regards
Stanley
Hi Shane – It looks like most people are clamoring for a product creation course – and that’s certainly something I’d like to do at some point in the future.
For the short term, I really hope you still good ahead with developing your Video Marketing Blueprints. Since I’ve just launched a Video Marketing business, I may be biased on the subject. I’d be especially interested in your take on using Video to generate traffic…!
Cheers, Neil
Hi Neil,
The Video Marketing Blueprints will definitely be expanded. The question is only: Now or later?
There are some modules for which I’d really like to take a bit more time to create some more case-studies and test some new ideas, before I add them to the product. That’s really the main reason I haven’t already gone ahead with the further development.
Great Shane – as long as Video Blueprints are still on your ‘to-do’ list!
Do you remember when you said (correctly) that my last video was too long? – well THIS is what I’m shooting for for ‘promo’ type videos:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CTf1ObV8qoo
Hi Shane,
Here’s my opinion on the e-class idea: a product creation e-class is something I will be interested in (finally get my product out there) but only if you figure out a mechanism to almost “insure” people will get results with the course. The word I’m looking for is accountability. Can you think of a way to make this happen? otherwise, it’s just another “webinar” where people learn but are not committed. If you aim to have a UVP I think this is what you need.
I think it is a very interesting idea and has lots of potential…kind of a virtual classroom with homework and a lab.
Unfortunately I have way to much on my plate to take on learning more stuff until I can get my brain wrapped around my present involvements.
How could this be done as a products, after the live event? I know it wouldn’t be the same but there may still be a lot of value for those of us who cannot attend the live event(s). Perhaps like an autoresponder or virtual lessons where when the student enters the correct info they can go on to the next course and have a forum for question/answer.
Anyway I always appreciate you Sunday updates.
Clarence
Thanks for your reply!
I think this could be set up as a product after the live event. Or maybe (if there’s demand), I could do more e-classes later on.
At any rate, your decision to focus on what you’re already doing and not let yourself get distracted by new info is certainly the right one!
Hi there Shane.
I think the eclass for product creation is an excellent idea.
Try to keep the product development costs low, make it newbie friendly or for intermediate IM’ers, and doable within 1 – 2 months.
Lay out clearly the resources needed with alternatives, eg, free and some low-cost resources for each particular task – and what do you recommend.
Fred
Thanks for your comment!
I’d definitely keep it low-cost. I personally take minimal risks and make minimal investments, before I know with certainty that there’s going to be a return on investment (at which point I tend to go a bit over-board with the risk-taking). My first product launch was entirely bootstrapped with the only investments being in an autoresponder service (which I was already subscribed to) and a membership script.
Hi Shane,
I’d definitely be interested in a product creation e-class.
I’d also be interested in some more information about how we can better attempt to market IM products as affiliates (including your products of course).
Many thanks,
Tony
Hi Shane,
I think an eclass on product creation is a great idea.
Cheers,
Val
Hi Shane,
I will be in the market for a good product creation blueprint in the future, but not just yet. Heck, I just purchased Backlink Battleplan and am busy implementing your suggestions. My God Man … There are only so many hours in a day!
Just wanted to says thanks and keep up the good work!
Regards,
TJ
Like Clifton, I need to stay focused on the thing I am doing and not get diverted until I have succeeded – having said that product creation is something I have been thinking of for a while now and I think I like the webinars idea best.
However, in the UK, we have a tv program called Dragon’s Den – I don’t know if you are familiar with it but the premise is that someone with a great business idea or product pitches it to successful business people who back it with their cash and expertise to get it to market and make it successful in return for a share of the profits.
With product creation, there must be many ‘newbies’ who have brilliant ideas for products and services but who ‘miss the boat’ because their lack of knowledge online prevents them from successfully marketing them – maybe there is an opening for a successful and savvy internet marketer (or team of people) to do something similar to Dragons Den – ok, maybe not putting cash in but helping someone to fast-track their product or idea in return for a share of the profit?
Just an idea to add to the pot!
Alison
Alison – that IS a great idea…! Someone for sure should steal that idea from you.
No, not product creation. I would like to see how to set up a complete Website starting from scratch, like how to sell products from amazon etc. That combined with traffic generation and what ever goes with it and do that until all the member in your e-class or Membership are successful.
cheers
Alfred
Shane… product eclass would be awesome!
I have a product I’m working on right now. Lets do it!
I will undertake the eclass if you are closely involved in helping each participant bring his/her product to fruition and to market.
Hi Shane:
Monday, March 14th, 2011 at 12:49 hours Yokohama, Japan
Frankly I am much more interested in the nuts and bolts of how you set up your screen capture videos and how you “architected” your im-impact user experience than instructions on how to scaffold a new product per se.
I need these techniques if I am going to be able to convey a unique value proposition (UVP).
Also I need UVP Roadmapping. What I mean is I need a hub and spoke way to fit x number of articles, a few videos, a dash of social media and what not together to get liftoff.
I would much prefer to get these essentials from you but I can go elsewhere if I have to.
Of course I don’t mind paying for your products like SE Cockpit and Backlinking and I have done so, however I don’t see how they actually work together holistically or in concert to create a desired outcome.
I think you need to clearly distinguish between those of your tribe who are aspiring affiliate marketers, authority site marketers and/or a combination of the above.
In other words, I either need to have a clear cut way to make a success out of promoting your products as an affiliate before I go off into the wilds of product creation
Keep in mind that I am not questioning the wisdom of having your own products but rather the time suck involved in creating them before having any sustainable income coming in regularly from affiliate products.
========================
Beyond that I am becoming a Neil Walker fan. (I found him here) When I click on his name above I am taken to a credible page about video marketing so I’d say you could add more value by nurturing the community you already have here by helping us leverage your products online and by enabling us to do productive work together in small groups via a wiki.
Jason Ball is using this concept over on Linkedin to inspire real world collaboration. I don’t see why it would not work here in the virtual world too. Obviously it would also burnish the im impact brand too to the extent that your acolytes went on to produce worthy content/websites/affiliate blogs/authority sites.
Yes, I am backtracking in a way when I talk about collaborating within the im impact community because it might be a better, more efficient, less time consuming way to actually get a decent product up and running productively-or not.
I guess that about covers it.
Best,
PV
P.S. BTW, how do I get my gravitar to show up here?
Hi Pepper – thanks for your comments. For your future reference, sign up at http://en.gravatar.com/ & you can create a ‘universal’ avatar for all sorts of forums & blogs like Shane’s. Good luck with ‘Cool Eye Marketing’!
Hello Shane,
Yes I am interested in product creation, that is the reason I got into this whole internet thing in the first place.
(I was completely computer illiterate [didn’t even know how to switch one on] until it became clear that I needed to write a book. Got my father’s [yes my then 70-year-old father was into computers and the internet way before me] old Windows 98-run computer to use as a word-processor [I worked out that a handwritten manual was not going to be very popular with publishers :-)] and it all started from there. [My eyes and my brain has been suffering ever since.] Haven’t got any further with the book since I got that first computer – I wrote more of it by hand!)
However right now I am completely focused on setting up a business framework. (You know administration for accounting and taxation etc purposes: that artificial life-sapping depression-inducing stuff that this bizarre society values so highly [we are the ONLY animals on the planet that have created and mandated administration – to me indicates just how crazy we are!]
After that I will go back to setting up the technical frameworks for my websites.
(More fun than administration! [Although I am frustrated that I have so far failed to find an autoresponder script {or service} that I am satisfied with. {No, thanks everyone, but I don’t need any more recommendations for Aweber!] )
Then I will set up the framework for my product-creation system (audio, video, transcription software, web scripts etc).
And then, and only then, will I finally start creating products…
(And then, and only then, will I start promoting and “driving traffic”…although I might start “building [email] lists” earlier if I can finally find an autoresponder script that I am satisfied with. :-) [By the way according to the results of my autoresponder tests so far “deliverability” is NOT the reason I am unsatisfied with the self-hosted scripts. Deliverability by the {attained at no-cost}self-hosted scripts in my tests so far has been excellent. {In fact better than one of the best-known and most used IM autoresponder services.} However I am aware that even though I have sent masses of test emails to a variety of Yahoo, Gmail, AOL, Hotmail, addresses etc once I am in the “real {virtual} world” that things may change. And, of course there is the spam complaints and blacklisting, getting shutdown by webhosting services etc question. But if that happens {or my email “traffic” creates serv er overload challenges} I will use an email delivery service such as Amazon’s new Simple Email System in conjunction with my self-hosted script {when I finally find it}. A compromise but at least I will still be in control of my own “lists” and subscribers etc and it will still be cheaper than using a third-party autoresponder service.] Can anyone recommend a self-hosted autoresponder script?????)
Wow, got way off topic there (but had to tell someone :-) anyone reading?)
So, to get back to your question Shane, I am very interested in a good-quality product-creation course but I am not sure if it would be of any value to me and I am not ready for it now or very soon.
I don’t like webinar-format courses. If it is webinar-based I generally prefer recordings that have edited out all the time-wasted bits. (Or at least I can fast-forward etc through them.)
I have also had a negative experience with the group “let’s do everything together” approach.
(I am not very social and tend to do almost everything differently to other people. [As you may have noticed.] Us perfectionists are not easy to please :-))
And, as you may already know, contrary to some of your other commenters, I have no interest in products about niche marketing, extra backlinking (I already have Backlink Battleplan), SEO or affiliate stuff. (You know the old expression: “you can’t please…”)
Wayne.
I think a “learn as you work” product creation e-class is a great idea. Would it be free or a paid coaching type thing?
I’d definitely charge for it. It’s something I’d be investing countless hours in, so doing it for free would be an epically bad business decision. Plus, if it were free I can guarantee that hundreds would join up and almost no one would follow through beyond the first few days. “Free” is hard to commit to.
Hi Shane,
Sounds like a great idea though I’d have to pass.
I personally am not at a stag where I can say “oh, I’ve done this and that in the IM field and now I can move on to product creation”. Still gotta do the “this” and “that” first.
Yoav
Thanks for your reply, Yoav. Getting the “this” and “that” done first is a good plan, I think. :)