Most Humbling and Useful Lessons I've Learned to Become a Profitable Infopreneur

After reading the success stories about people who turned their expertise into cash through the creation of information products, the idea of leveraging my expertise in this way became too intoxicating to ignore. My business had gotten to the point where I couldn’t trade any more time for dollars and still have time left to sleep. Make money while I sleep? Sign me up! In April of 2006, I put pen to paper to write the Media-Savvy-to-Go Publicity Tips Booklets. By July 12, 2006, the newly minted information products were ready for sale. Since then, I’ve created a line of information products and training programs and launched a path as a speaker to deliver my message one to many. Two and one half years later, the do-it-yourself publicity division contributes meaningfully to my company’s revenue streams and profitability. I can serve fewer retainer clients, earn similar income, and look ahead to even better results to come. Even my CPA is nodding his head in approval. That is not to say I haven’t struggled with moments of fear and self doubt or worried if the shift in emphasis from delivering professional services would backfire as I shifted a portion of my business to an online/retail model. Here are the most humbling lessons I’ve learned so far to help you as you take a similar trip to potential prosperity. 1) The road to information product sales is not a get rich quick scheme. 2) In the beginning, it’s easier and more profitable to trade time for dollars than to develop and learn the systems for sustaining and promoting information product sales. 3) Learn from experts to accelerate your journey. 4) Create a starter product, and add to the family as inspiration and opportunity strike to serve a distinct market need. 5) Create products in print and digital versions. 6) Products that appeal to sight, sound, and experience sell better than those that appeal to one sense alone. 7) Workshops and public speaking have proven to be the best ways to invite consistent and ongoing purchases. 8) Don’t underestimate the appeal of a sassy event name. Publici-Tea™ Anyone? 9) Learn how to sell your products from the back of the room to make every speaking engagement – paid or not – pay back. 10) Buy a digital recorder, and learn how to use it. 11) The long sales letter you pay the expensive copywriter to craft is not necessarily better than the one you write yourself. 12) Just because you post the letter to your website or blog doesn’t mean people will buy. 13) Branding matters. 14) Don’t skimp on the packaging. 15) Promote products in a wide variety of ways consistently. 16) Nothing you do one time is enough to deliver ongoing results. 17) Be prepared to learn a new vocabulary of terms and tools to grow information product sales. 18) It’s overwhelming at times how much there is to learn and do. Get over it. 19) The idea of “earning money while I sleep” is a myth so far. Since creating my first product, my mission has remained consistent and true. It is to empower business owners everywhere with useful, time-tested, and proven tools and tips to help them get seen, heard, and celebrated in their own backyards … and beyond through the power and impact of free publicity. The “thank you” notes I receive from happy customers all over the USA demonstrate to me that I am delivering the goods. Do I still provide fee-for-service public relations consulting? Absolutely! The fee-for-service work I do for quality organizations like Seattle Chocolate Company keeps me credible as a publicist who knows what it take to earn “ink and air” in the traditional, online, and broadcast media. The revenues that flow from information products, training, and speaking now contribute meaningfully to my company’s success, too. This work provides a great deal of career and customer satisfaction, while making me less reliant on any single client to achieve my profitability goals. Am I glad to ventured out on this journey? Absolutely. Was it easy? Absolutely not. Would I take this road again if I was starting today? You bet! Now that you know these lessons, you can get to success faster along your own journey to information product prosperity. The only thing left to do is strap on your rocket belt, hang on tight, and get to work. 2009-01-30T20:10:02Z

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most-humbling-and-useful-lessons-ive-learned-to-become-a-profitable-infopreneur

2009-02-02T17:58:24Z

Want to make money while you sleep? Have you considered writing a book, creating information products, and finding new ways to leverage your expertise in the marketplace? Check out these lessons before you go full steam ahead.

Most Humbling and Useful Lessons I've Learned to Become a Profitable Infopreneur

2009-02-24T09:48:59Z