Pushing An Info Product

[hooperman]

Good morning!

Has anyone got experience of creating and marketing an "info product"? I’m interested in any advice you can give that might help me in pushing something I’ll be creating soon.

Later this year I’m going to be creating a set of video tutorials similar to those on Lynda.com. I’m aiming for around 6-7 hours worth of video.

I’m running 3 sites that are related to this subject and all 3 link to my “subscribe now” page where visitors can register an interest. Get Response tell me I’ve got 56 subscribers (yay!). The sites generate a total of 60,000 visitors per month (and growing) so I’m hoping to generate some sales from that traffic too.

Does anyone have any advice I can use to push this product when, or even before, it’s created? I think I remember tke saying in another thread that you should use every channel to monetize content, so I need to think about that.

What are the pros and cons of creating a physical DVD vs a membership site? I could do both, couldn’t I? Are there any pitfalls associated with membership sites I should be aware of?

Thanks for any help.

[Michelle]

Good morning!

Has anyone got experience of creating and marketing an "info product"?

Yes

I’m interested in any advice you can give that might help me in pushing something I’ll be creating soon.

Later this year I’m going to be creating a set of video tutorials similar to those on Lynda.com. I’m aiming for around 6-7 hours worth of video.

Get affiliates to help push it. Listing in ClickBank is one place to start.

I’m running 3 sites that are related to this subject and all 3 link to my “subscribe now” page where visitors can register an interest. Get Response tell me I’ve got 56 subscribers (yay!). The sites generate a total of 60,000 visitors per month (and growing) so I’m hoping to generate some sales from that traffic too.

Only 56 subs from all that traffic, yikes, let me at it!

Does anyone have any advice I can use to push this product when, or even before, it’s created?

Increase your subs, increase your subs, increase your subs. You will then have a targeted list to pitch to during the lead up and launch.

Start networking now with someone who you think might have a list of subs in the target market with a view to a JV promo.

I think I remember tke saying in another thread that you should use every channel to monetize content, so I need to think about that.

Not sure what you have in mind there?

What are the pros and cons of creating a physical DVD vs a membership site?

Difficult to compare these, they're so vastly different to each other.

I could do both, couldn’t I?

Of course.

Are there any pitfalls associated with membership sites I should be aware of?

Attrition.

If you run a forum with it it could get painful keeping up with the posts etc, it but depends on your enthusiasm for the subject at hand and the caliber of the member base.

Thanks for any help.

How is the opt-in page set up? How are the three sites promoting the opt-in page? What are you offering that 56 people gave you their email for? Have you sent the 56 people anything since they signed up?

Good luck with your project, sounds exciting.

[hooperman]

Thanks for the advice Michelle

Get affiliates to help push it. Listing in ClickBank is one place to start.

Isn't CB a bit tacky? Maybe I'm put off by the over enthusiastic sales pitch. Do you think that CB is a good venue for high quality (sorry!) video tutorials? I'll take a look later and see if I can find anything similar to what I'll be creating.

Thanks for that, because I'd ruled it out completely, but maybe it is an option.

Only 56 subs from all that traffic, yikes, let me at it!

Ha ha - are you for hire? I suppose I was kind of hoping the traffic would convert and the subs were a bonus.

Increase your subs, increase your subs, increase your subs.

Hmmm. I'd not really paid much attention to getting subscribers. Time for a rethink.

Start networking now with someone who you think might have a list of subs in the target market with a view to a JV promo.

I know of someone in the same area who I suspect has a big list. So approach him with a view to marketing my product to his list in return for a commission?

How is the opt-in page set up? How are the three sites promoting the opt-in page? What are you offering that 56 people gave you their email for? Have you sent the 56 people anything since they signed up?

OK, these are embarrassing questions! I guess the opt in page needs work. I've simply got a subscription form at the top with bumf describing the product below it. You're going to tell me that creating effective opt in pages is an art form, aren't you? The 3 sites have banner links to the subscription form but not on all pages. I know, I'll put them on more pages - duh! The only thing I'm offerring is the opportunity to be alerted when the product is ready. Doesn't sound like much, does it.... I haven't sent my subscribers anything yet. I've created a demo video but not had chance to mail it out yet. No time, no time!

Appreciate that Michelle, thanks! There's a lot for me to think about there.

Any more?

[hooperman]

Just had a brainwave: I'll use the demo/preview video I created as a reward for subscribing.

[Michelle]

Just had a brainwave: I'll use the demo/preview video I created as a reward for subscribing.

Bravo!

[Michelle]

Thanks for the advice Michelle

Isn't CB a bit tacky? Maybe I'm put off by the over enthusiastic sales pitch. Do you think that CB is a good venue for high quality (sorry!) video tutorials? I'll take a look later and see if I can find anything similar to what I'll be creating.

Thanks for that, because I'd ruled it out completely, but maybe it is an option.

Tacky to who? You or your target customer? Is there a general consensus in your market that ClickBank only sells crap? If there is then I wouldn't list on there either. What is it that the videos will be about? Who is the target customer?

If you want quality control over who promotes the product then you need to look into something like Commission Junction if they allow digital goods...then you can preapprove the sites the product is promoted on etc.

Only reason I mentioned ClickBank is for the number of affiliates and I'm familiar with it as a digital marketplace.

Ha ha - are you for hire?

Yeah, I take payment in Rep power.

I suppose I was kind of hoping the traffic would convert and the subs were a bonus.


Hmmm. I'd not really paid much attention to getting subscribers. Time for a rethink.

Yup.

I know of someone in the same area who I suspect has a big list. So approach him with a view to marketing my product to his list in return for a commission?

Networking, building credibility etc with him first if you don't already have that. Then yes, he sends a promo to his list if he feels they would benefit from the product and he takes a cut.

OK, these are embarrassing questions! I guess the opt in page needs work. I've simply got a subscription form at the top with bumf describing the product below it. You're going to tell me that creating effective opt in pages is an art form, aren't you?

Well start with the basics of making it very visible, and offering something that's of value....like a free video.

The 3 sites have banner links to the subscription form but not on all pages. I know, I'll put them on more pages - duh!

Yeah on every page would be great.

The only thing I'm offerring is the opportunity to be alerted when the product is ready.

Well if you give me something of value in exchange for my email I get to sample the quality etc and if I like it then I'm much more likely to want your paid stuff when it's available.

Doesn't sound like much, does it.... I haven't sent my subscribers anything yet. I've created a demo video but not had chance to mail it out yet. No time, no time!

I hear you about the time factor.

[hooperman]

Michelle, thanks again.

Up to now I'd been focused on creating a site with good content on it and driving up traffic. There's no way I can start recording the videos till later this year, so I'd not put too much thought into getting subscribers, as I didn't think there was much to give them at this point. I only added GetResponse as an afterthought (not used it before)!

And I know nothing about building subscriber lists. I'm going to search for some information later when I get the chance, but any recommendations for homework reading are appreciated!

[tke71709]

And I know nothing about building subscriber lists. I'm going to search for some information later when I get the chance, but any recommendations for homework reading are appreciated!

As douchey as the place can be, I find that the place to learn about list building and the such is the warriorforum.com.

As far as writing good copy goes you need to go to copyblogger.com. Read the magnetic headline series there for a start.

[hooperman]

copyblogger looks good. A blog that's useful, that idea might catch on.

I'll need some liquid refreshment before I can tackle WF, though.

Cheers tke!

[benitez17]

I own a content based site that delivers information to subscribers who pay a monthly fee, so I felt like I could chime in with my experiences. I listed the site on Clickbank and use them to process the monthly subscriptions, which I have not had many issues with, but I have been very disappointed with the number of publishers who have been promoting the site. The site has a few dozen subscribers at the moment, and one of them found the site and decided to join due to a Clickbank referral. Out of the hundred or so people who ever signed up for a subscription over the 3 years that the site has been active, less than 5 were through a Clickbank referral. I spent a lot of time working on SE rankings when I started the site and no other sites in the niche seem to do any work in that area, so I get most of my new business from Google and Yahoo searches.

My point is that it's not as simple as just throwing the site out on Clickbank or any other similar site and having the sales roll in through the promotion of others. I have offered very generous terms to people who are able to refer sales to my site ($40 recurring each month per subscriber referred), but I haven't been able to generate much interest from people who are looking to promote the site. I know that marketing is a weak point of mine, which is why I hoped to basically pay others to do that work, but it hasn't worked out that way due to my poor marketing of the site to Clickbank promotors!

I haven't really known what to do about it, or had time to try and figure out what I am missing, but this thread has given me some new ideas. It sounds like I might need to hire Michelle as well.