5 Easy Ways to Create Your Own E-Product
When I was a little girl, I loved to write.In fact, I vividly remember dreaming of being the youngest-ever published author. Alas, at the age of 36, this is a dream I’ve had to let go of.As far back as I can remember, I’ve loved compiling information, researching facts, and making difficult information accessible and understandable.It’s like I have this innate desire to take every single factoid I learn, package it in a nice little easy-to-understand bundle, and disseminate it to anyone and everyone who is even remotely interested in listening.So it’s no surprise that I’ve authored and marketed several e-products over the past four years. What’s better than a captive audience who actually buys what you write!I know for many business owners, the idea of creating an e-product from scratch feels overwhelming and completely time-consuming, but it really doesn’t have to be.Here are five easy ideas to get you started on creating your very own e-product!
1. A How-To Guide to Career Success
Whatever your profession, if you’ve achieved some level of success, ask yourself, “What steps did I take to get where I am today?”. You better believe there are other entrepreneurs out there who would LOVE to know how you achieved your success.Try writing out a step-by-step list of exactly what you did, from the inception of your business idea to where you are today.Compile this info into an ebook called, “A Social Media Maven’s Step-by-Step Guide to Career Success”. (Of course if you’re in another profession, you may want to consider changing the name).
2. Ride the Coat-Tails of Your Niche’s Gurus
There, I said it. And, I’ve done it.If you feel like you haven’t yet achieved a level of success whereby others will want to learn from you, all is not lost.Ask experts in your field for interviews. Doing a Q & A by email is quick and easy, and saves you from transcribing hours of phone calls (lesson learned the hard way).If you’re looking for inspiration as to how to structure the interview, simply write out 10-12 hot topics in your niche, and form hypothetical questions centered around those topics.
3. Video Tutorials
If you’re good on camera, consider putting together a series of video tutorials. This is something I’ve never been brave enough to do, but many others have done this successfully.I can’t really think of a niche that wouldn’t lend itself to a solid series of tutorials: Web design, SEO, writing, fashion design, law, mechanics, cooking, you name it. I guarantee you there’s something you’re good at that plenty of people would like to learn.
4. Resource Guide
If you’ve been in your profession for a while, chances are you have some ‘in’s’ newbies would love to have access to.Make lists of all the resources you’ve found valuable in building your business: Blogs, articles, mentors, books, products, training programs, vendors, media contacts.If you’ve learned some trade secrets you don’t mind sharing, throw a few of those in as well.
5. Forms and Templates
No matter what your business, you’ve likely had to put together forms, templates, or letters for your own business use.You’ve invested time and energy (not to mention your expertise) to produce these, so why let them sit idly by when others could be benefiting from them?Even email templates from successful campaigns are worth considering. They may not seem all that valuable to you, but to someone just starting out, having access to tried and true templates can be invaluable.These 5 ideas work regardless of whether your plan is to sell your e-product, or to use it as an opt-in incentive. The amount of time and energy you invest may differ of course, depending on the purpose of the product, and on the return you’re hoping for.I hope these ideas have shown you that anyone can create an e-product, and that you don’t have to be an expert in your field to do so.
Have you created an eproduct? Leave me a link to it in the comments below!
About the author:Holly Klaassen is a freelance web-writer, certified search engine marketer, and editor at The Fussy Baby Site, a resource site for parents of fussy, colicky and high need babies and toddlers.{Top photo credit}