The 3 Necessary Steps to Make Money Selling Information on the Internet

There are three main steps to selling information,Packaging Information
and with a little practice (and sometimes a littleThis isn't what color or type of packaging you
help) it's something anyone can do.should use, but the format that you use. The
Step #1 - Researchformat is the medium which you convey your
The first step in selling information is the researchinformation through. This could be anything from
or gathering step. If you know a lot aboutan ebook, to a DVD, to hosting a live seminar.
something or have a core expertise, a good partPerhaps one of the most important aspects of
(but not all) of your research may lie ininformation marketing is how the information is
determining that the information you have ispackaged, or put together into a format that is
something other people want. In the upcomingeasy to follow, can be quickly accessed, and can
paragraphs, we'll discuss how you research,achieve fast results. That is what makes the
discover, acquire and/or organize your ideas.information that you have to offer so much
What do you know that we don't? Or who dobetter then that of all the other information
you know that knows something that the rest offloating around out there. There is tons of raw
us need or want to know? You don't need toinformation swarming all around us. But most of
spend years becoming an expert in something.us don't have the time to sit down and decipher it
You do however need to borrow, license, acquireinto something that is easy to understand, and
or rent the expertise from someone. If you don'teasy to use. Not only do you need to provide the
have an expertise that you can write or speakinformation, but you must provide the tools for
about, the easiest way to go about findingthe user of the information to integrate it into his
someone who does is to look for an expert whoor her business and/or life.
is under marketed. Then ask them if they wouldThere are tons of different ways you can
consider letting you repackage their informationpackage your information. Thirteen of the more
and take it to the marketplace. Negotiate a waypopular packaging techniques are listed below.
to split the profits that will be mutually beneficial;1. Publish a book or article
then they're happy, you're happy and you'll both2. Host a seminar
have more money in the bank. Here's an example:3. Become a public speaker
You go to a PTA meeting at your kid's school4. Host a teleseminar
there's this guy there speaking on how to5. Publish a newsletter or ezine
influence your children to form good study habits.6. Create a computer program or educational
He really seems to know what he's talking aboutgame
and is selling an under-priced Saturday seminar on7. Produce a television program or infomercial
the subject. You could approach him with an offer(informative commercial)
to either market for him on a commission based8. Become a consultant
basis, or better yet, take his information and9. Teach or train
repackage it in the form of a self help book,10 Publish a magazine or newspaper
ebook, audio or video disc, or anything else for11 Become a talk show host
that matter, then split the profits with him.12. Create a product (how to course, audio CDs,
No matter whether you yourself are the expert,video etc.)
or you are using someone else's expertise, proper13. License your information
research is essential. No matter how much youPut yourself in the shoes of your target audience.
know, or how great your expertise, you need toWhat format of information would you want
be able to back what you have to say up withmost? What would work best for your needs and
facts, studies and real world examples. Takelifestyle? Don't stop at just one format though. If
some time to make sure that what you're sayingyou start with an ebook, put it on CD. If you
is correct and can be verified. Nothing ruins yourhave a home study course, teach it in a seminar
credibility more than when a customer catchesor teleseminar. Start with one format, then
you saying something that is not true. If theybranch out and expand. Different people like
catch you just once, how can they know thatdifferent formats. Some people might like a home
everything else you say is correct? Check, andstudy course, then to go to a seminar and learn
double-check the facts before you put anythingthat way, then listen to audio CDs in their car as
to print.a refresher. Give some choice, but not too much
There's been a saying that's been floating aroundor people will put off making a decision.
for quite a while; it goes like this: "Copying fromOrganizing Your Materials
one or two books is plagiarism, but copying fromThe big thing about organization in general is the
many is research." That doesn't mean to copyfact that it keeps things neat and tidy and puts
anything word for word, or to take other's ideasthem in a place where you can easily find and use
and call them your own. But it does mean thatthem. When you're organizing information the goal
you can learn from the experience of others,is much the same. A good information product
form your own conclusions, then put them tomust be:
print, audio or video. Take any non-fiction book- Organized
for example; most of the concepts and ideas in- Simplified
the book have surfaced somewhere, sometime in- Systematized
the past; everything is not by any means a- Personalized
completely new idea or concept. The key is how- Interactive
you package them. How you put them together- Ready to use, on demand, instantly
into something that is concise and easy to applyMost people don't have the time to spend
and understand.studying and reorganizing the readily available data
I believe it was Jay Abraham who said "All theinto something that fits their unique circumstances.
notes had already been discovered long beforeThey want something they can use now, which is
Mozart came along." It's not the notes that areeasy to understand and provides fast results. And
important, but how they are packaged togetherthe best part is, they're willing to pay for it.
(into a song) that matters. Information is muchTo illustrate this, let's say you own a late model
the same, you can take the same information,car that requires lots of love (think maintenance
repackage it into something that is easier toand repairs) to keep it running in tip top shape.
understand and implement and you have a wholeYou may have a decent knowledge of how cars
new product. It's a simple concept calledwork and enjoy working on yours, but you don't
repurposing or repackaging information. An ebookknow absolutely everything about everything, and
could easily become an audio CD set, or a homemight need a little guidance once on a while. When
study guide.you need help, you have a few options:
In conclusion, make sure you take the time toÂ
produce quality work, and that means researchingAsk a friend or acquaintance for help who might
your information. Be sure others back up whatpossibly know something you don't.
you have to say, as a mistake can be drasticallyÂ
costly to you or your business. Don't forget thatPlop yourself down in front of your computer and
once you publish your information, there's noplough through webpage after webpage in an
taking it back -- it's out there forever.attempt to find something helpful (and correct) on
Researching the Marketthe internet.
Before you even start creating an informationÂ
product, or make a deal with an expert to use his Or, you buy a readily available book for
or her expertise, you need to research the$29.95 at your local book bookstore that explains
market. An easy way to do this is to look foreverything you'll ever need to know.
other people that are selling similar information. IfDo you spend the $30 for the book, waste
there isn't anyone selling it, there's probably acountless hours researching for credible
good reason - there's no market for it. Thatinformation on the internet, or ask a friend who
doesn't mean there's no one who wants yourmight know? Since I value my time, the choice
information, it just means no one wants to payfor me is easy; I spend $30 for the book.
for it, or not enough people want to pay for it toResearch shows that most other people feel the
make it profitable. It would be very rare that yousame way. Why? The book gives you access to
come across a category of information no oneimmediate, credible, specialized information that
else has tapped, and in my opinion you're betteryou can quickly act on.
off with something that is tried and true thanPrice
something new. There's no reason to try andA well-thought-out marketing strategy takes into
reinvent the wheel.consideration not only the marketing factors, but
Determine who your potential customers are andalso pricing strategies. While it's always important
then determine their needs, wants, andto make a profit, if the market won't bear such a
expectations; figure out if there is a demand forhigh price, it's better to lower your profit margin
your product. Get their opinions about it. Find outthan not do any business at all. You may actually
how they would like it packaged (book, audio CD)be able to make more money with a lower price
and how much they would be willing to pay for it.than you will with a higher one. Make sure your
Then take a look at who your competitors aremarketing plan combines marketing and pricing.
and how well they are doing. Find out whatAlso be sure your price is fair and competitive
they're doing, how they work, then do it better.with the marketplace. If your price isn't right,
It's as simple as that.people will pass you by without even giving you a
While market research may appear to be achance. Above all, always be sure you test
tedious, time-consuming process, it is oftendifferent price points adequately to determine
necessary if you want to be successful. It is anwhich will make you the most money, not get
invaluable tool that can save you time, effort andthe most sales.
money.Step #3 - Marketing
Step #2 - PackagingWhen you're selling anything, marketing is the
Packaging isn't limited to fancy graphics andabsolute most important skill to have. If you
showy slogans on the package of your product.wanted, you could market junk with right
Packaging is how your information is organized,marketing campaign (not that you would want to).
including the form you sell it in, at what price, andMarketing information can be both harder and/or
how easy it is to use. The main goal of packagingeasier than marketing other types of more
is to make sure that your product is desirable tophysical products. If you're trying to convince
the consumer. That means everything frompeople that they need the information you have
choosing the right format for selling yourto offer, it can be quite a chore to actually
information, to making sure that it is organized inpersuade them to purchase it; especially with all
a fashion that is easy to understand and simple tothe free information floating around on the
implement.internet. However, simply find the right audience
These are the three steps which are essential tothat knows the true power of properly packaged
proper packaging:information and the impact that it can have on
1. How you physically package ittheir lives and their business. If you find the right
2. The way you organize the materialsmarket and they'll be begging you to sell them
3. Selecting the best price to sell your informationanything they can buy...
for