What do newbies really want? Or need?

[Kay]

I was reading this other thread, and FlipFilter came out with this on the subject of newbies:

It's ultimately the Henry Ford paradox -
"If I’d asked people what they wanted, they would have asked for a better horse"

It's funny, but it's also a very apt reminder about knowing your demographic and understanding what they want or need. The subject has come up before - What do people over 50 want to buy? What do readers of FHM-style magazines want to buy? But I don't think we've recently discussed what newbies want or need.

Maybe FlipFilter is right and they'll want a new and better version of what already exists. But, please bear with me, and let's try this by answering the questions: what do newbies want? what do newbies need? You can answer either as a newbie or as a more experienced person trying to wear a newbie hat, or even as a Henry Ford type of innovator.

Also, what do you think of Henry Ford's attitude of giving people what you think they should have rather than giving them what they think they want?

[grynge]

I think there is 5 very common breeds of newbies (and even more)

The first is the can anyone show me the easiest way to make money, I don't want to invest any time, money or effort, actually can you do it all for me and I will just reap the profit.
The second is the lurker, lurking in the shadows, reading everything and hoping that they will read that ultimate secret that only they can see and will take advantage of.
The third is the one question wonder, joining up asking one question hoping for an answer that comes quick and to the point, once they ask the question they dissapear into the wilderness never to be seen again. (this one also tends to be oh this website has linked to me I must see what it is all about)
The fourth is the newbie IM'er, website owner, link dropper, webdesigner they join hoping they can trick everyone and get quick and easy converts to whatever they are selling/offering etc.. etc
The fifth is probably the rarest breed he/she is the joiner they come in and join the conversation trying to learn whatever they can. They tend to stick around, and even if they get busy they disappear for a while, come back for a bit stay have a good time, learn some stuff and also teach some stuff.

[benitez17]

What each newbie wants depends on the newbie of course, but they seem to fall into 2 major groups: Those that want to learn how to make money online, and those that want to to told how to make money online. The first group stands a much better chance of being successful.

I think what newbies need is to get some basic information (this forum is a great place for that) and then jump in with a small site to get their feet wet. I think one of the best ways to learn how to be successful is to pick up a successful site, keep doing what the owner was doing previously, and then applying what you've learned to other sites or business models.

[grynge]

Also, what do you think of Henry Ford's attitude of giving people what you think they should have rather than giving them what they think they want?

They actually made a better mouse trap, it was quicker, cleaner, less cruel to the mice, what they didn't take into account is the person that empties the mouse trap, normally the lady of the house who didn't want to empty a humane mouse trap she wants to throw the silly thing in the bin hopefully without touching it.

[Kay]

Ooh! Sexist! Anyway, what are you supposed to do with the darned thing once you've caught it? Let it loose to come back or to go and destroy the neighbours' quality of life? Harsh though it is, sometimes it's necessary to kill vermin, especially if it has invaded your home.

Let's get back to newbies. I had it in my head that the "Where do I start?" question was quite important. Thus you could do loads of "Where do I start?" guides about how to get traffic (need to crib from your thread, grynge), how to make money, how to do link building, etc. But that's not new. That's often what the MMO merchants are selling.

The problem is that if you ask a lot of the newbies, they'll tell you they want a better horse. So is it a "good thing" for others to tell them that what they want isn't really what they need? How do you get that message across without being patronising? How can more experienced people cater for newbies without preaching or churning out the same old messages?

Bentz, I agree that this forum is a great place for info, but I've found that a lot of newbs want a step-by-step approach rather than have to figure it all out for themselves. It's all very well offering heaps of information, but it seems that their reaction to it is "Where do I start?" Am I wrong?

[grynge]

The problem is every noobie will have different requirements, you will have 1 which has a lot of money but no time looking to make more time, you will have someone with no money looking to earn a living, then someone retired looking for a bit of spending cash. Each would also have a unique set of skills that could be used in completely different niches. So where do you start when there is so many different variations on the question. Then of course where you would start again Kay and where I would start gain would be completely different areas again, so my advice and yours while similar in nature would be completely different.

[eddiebooth]

As a noobie myself I would rather be pointed in the direction needed to help answer my queries/help me improve than be given a definitive answer.
Ive always believed in the adage 'give a man a fish and you feed him for a day, teach a man to fish and he can feed himself for life' and I think guiding noobies towards the answer should eventually let them research their own answers to future problems rather than becoming reliant on others all the time.
And after all, if we still cant find the answers or dont understand them, we can always come back and explain what we dont understand so that the experienced members can see why we may have come unstuck.

[Kay]

@grynge - yes, you're right. Noobs aren't a homogeneous group any more than the over 50s or FHM readers or any other group that people like to stick a label on.

@eddie - I agree with what you say, it makes sense, but a lot of people don't act that way. They want a bit more hand-holding or spoon-feeding.

I'm not complaining about this state of affairs, it's more a case that if you're going to create a product (or a new website) and your target demographic is newbies, now it looks as though that's about as daft as saying that people over 50 will want to buy a shopping bag on wheels (for £100). So what's the next step? Go more niche? Target one or more different subsets of these newbs?

I still think that the "where do I start?" group is a big one. Otherwise, how come there's such a demand for "recipes for success"? I think a lot of people can become confused by the vast amount of information available about all this interwebby stuff and they jump at the chance of a step-by-step approach.

Anyway, the step-by-step approach only suits some personality types. I've tried it but invariably I end up going off and doing my own thing. If it doesn't sound too immodest to say it, I'm a pretty good cook, yet I find it almost impossible to follow a recipe. I don't want to obey instructions according to someone else's ideas. I want to have my own ideas. So, on a similar analogy (cooking again!) are we looking at the difference between chefs and line cooks?

But if there's a demand for people wanting the recipe book of making money online, then why not sell it to them?

Going back to you, Eddie, and thanks for taking the time to join in, what could we offer you to point you in the right direction? Maybe a training course of learning skills and techniques rather than a recipe?

Anyway, you've just identified yet more groups of so-called newbies - those with real-world business experience, who are new to online business, as opposed to those who are newbies to all of it.

[visegrip]

EP,

As a newbie I want to do something important for myself. I want to learn a new way of creating monetary income that makes me feel smart and intelligent, but without the effort. I want to buy sites and flip them for profit without losing any money. I want to start learning the steps how to build sites, flip sites, and making money from the internet, but I rather not because it's takes lots of energy and thought. I need a magical 1 step, hit the lottery solution to success without breaking a sweat. I've made myself believe there is a magical system hidden out there that I have not found yet. I'm selling the idea to myself and being stubborn and delusional, thinking there is a 1 time sign up fee and start earning money with no effort system. You know, "the ever green passive income for the rest of your life or your money back guarantee program". (I give credit to the IM who are effective at reaching my kind of audience.) That's what I as a n00b need, innovators to create solutions so I have more time to play with my phones, pads, pods, games, and watch tv. I'll make passive income, creating equity and having fun all at the same time. I'll borrow against the equity to buy more expensive toys to help the jobless and the economy make a speedy recovery. I want this kind of program exclusively for me and nobody else so I can have more for myself and contribute to others by selfish means.

[Kay]

Thanks for the laugh.

Unfortunately, there's a hell of a lot of truth in your sarcasm. That's what a whole lot of newbies really do want. Is it a waste of time trying to 'educate' those ones into a different mindset or keep trying to help them?

On the subject of "helping people", I've noticed an increasing trend these days with those selling MMO ideas and products - they're not there to make themselves rich, they've no ulterior motive to make more money for themselves, they have plenty already. They are doing it for the sole purpose of wanting to "help" people. (Pass the puke bucket.)

OK there are a few exceptions, and this forum is one, but would you agree that "helping" is the new black? And how can one differentiate real help from just another slimy sales pitch?