November Goal: Create a Quick Info Product
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Did you know that the entire month of November is the “National Novel Writing Month?” The idea is to write a 50,000 word novel within 30 days. The focus is not on writing a master piece. But its on completing the novel.
Here is the amazing truth most NaNoWriMo participants stumble upon:
Time constraints Brew Insane Creativity!
The less time that you have, the better work you’ll do. How come? Because you’ll only focus on the most important things. You’ll develop the main plot and give more depth to the main characters.
NaNoWriMo Adaptation for Bloggers
Let me propose an idea: Lets ride along with NaNoWriMo. But instead of writing a novel from scratch, create an info product for your blog. An information product that can be sold for anything between $3 and $20.
Why Should You Create an Info Product?
Instead of relying on making money through ads alone, you’ll have your own product that you can sell. And you can pump in the profits from the sale to further promote your blog. And become more popular. You can then parlay your popularity to earn a full time income from your blog and quit your day job and live your dream life…
Info Product Formats
You don’t necessarily have to write a 50,000 words 175 pages info product. Here are some other quicker alternatives:
1. Write a report / hotsheet / manifesto: 5,000 words.
2. Create an audio book: 9,000-12,000 words. (You’ll have to record the words to make a 60-80 minute audio book.)
3 Quickfire Ways to Create an Info Product
1. Expand on one of your posts
Pick out any one of your old posts and add more details and depth to it. Cover all the angles to convert the topic into a report. Just answer the 6 W’s relating to your topic.
i. What is the idea about?
ii. Who should read it?
iii. Why should they read it?
iv. How, When & Where should they implement the idea?
v. Frequently Asked Questions and their answers.
vi. Case studies.
vii. More case studies.
2. Compile your back posts
Popular cartoonist and blogger Scott Adams recently did this. He deleted some of his older posts so that the public could no longer read them. And converted the posts into a book “Stick to Drawing Comics, Monkey Brain!”
If you’ve been a long time blogger, then this is something you can do without spending a lot of time.
3. Interview an expert
This may be the easiest way of creating an info product. Especially an audio product. Just interview an expert. Steps?
i. Find an expert and get her permission for the interview.
ii. Create a set of 20-25 questions. Send the list of questions to the expert prior to the interview so that she can prepare the answers.
iii. Call the expert on a pre-arranged time and start interviewing.
vi. Record the phone call. Thats one audio product for you.
v. Transcribe the recorded call. (Or outsource it for around $100.)
vi. Edit the transcript for a second polished info product.
Action Summary:
- Set a goal to create one info-product before November 30th.
- Make a post on your blog announcing the info product. (Optional.) What this will do is make you accountable to your readers. And make sure that you meet your goal and create the info product.
- Let me know in the comments if you plan to create an info-product this month.
Note: If you’re stuck and cant come up with an idea to write on, let me know and I’ll brainstorm with you so that you have a viable idea that would make a good info-product. Just post a comment or contact me privately.
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That’s a good idea Ankesh. The idea of sitting to write to write an ebook or such always seemed so daunting that I just wouldn’t do it.
I’m starting to change my mind on that though, and I’ve enrolled in Brian Clark’s Teaching Sells program. I guess I’ll be releasing something at some point! (Like in 2010.
)
Posted 02 Nov 2007 #
nice idea ankesh..
btw .. hi.. am maneesh here..(since its the first time ur hearing from me.. :p )
wanna compete?! most sales etc.?
nah bad idea… but tis something really nice… hav u decided wat r u gonna do?
Posted 03 Nov 2007 #
I’m not ready for this yet but hopefully one day!!
I guess if I really want to make my money online this would be a good way to go.
Posted 04 Nov 2007 #
Anke, this sounds really good. I have a question for you. How do you go about making something downloadable from your blog, linked to payment and all that? It’s the technical details that always get me!
Posted 05 Nov 2007 #
Michelle: Thanks for asking. Tools you’ll need: PDF995. FTP software. PayPal.
1. Convert your word document into a pdf file with PDF995 - for free.
2. Use any free FTP software to upload the pdf file to your web server. I use the FireFTP FireFox plugin.
3. Create a “thank you” page and link your pdf file from that page. Make sure you give a weird name to the thank you page so people can’t find it on their own. thankyou.php is a bad idea. pro-timemanagement-thankyou9933.php - is good.
4. Create a PayPal a/c if you don’t already have one. Sign in and create a PayPal encrypted payment button for the product.
5. Create a sales page where you describe the product. And add the PayPal button to that page. And then start generating traffic to this page.
Posted 06 Nov 2007 #
Forest Parks: Why aren’t you ready to write a report? What do you have to wait for? You don’t have to have a lot of traffic before you write a report. In fact, the first report I wrote for my very first info-product website was when I had all of 3 subscribers!
You won’t be using your first report to earn money. You’ll be using it to generate more traffic to your blog. Because the strategy is to parlay all your profits from the sale of your first report to buy advertising.
Posted 06 Nov 2007 #
Maneesh: Thanks for suggesting a competition. I’ve already written 2 front end reports for BlogClout which haven’t been put on sale yet. So - this November - I’ll be writing a report for another project of mine. If your website is related to it and seems good, a competition may be a good idea… contact me with more details and we can discuss. Thanks.
Posted 06 Nov 2007 #
Great idea. One of my blogs is about tattoos, and I’ve been thinking of putting together some of the posts plus some additional information to make a short booklet for people getting their first tattoos. This is an inspiration to finally get that done.
Posted 07 Nov 2007 #
I love this challenge - it’s a great idea. I’ve been meaning to do this but have been putting it off!
Posted 09 Nov 2007 #
[…] A Challenge a_” Create an Info Product this Month […]
Posted 10 Nov 2007 #
I love this! I am currently doing NaNoWriMo and agree it’s the crazy deadline that forces you to kill the inner editor and just go! I would love to do something like this for my business blog but I will admit I am plum out of ideas for doing something on a real estate blog. - Ashley
Posted 10 Nov 2007 #
Enjoyed your post - I have a friend that’s been encouraging me to do this regarding blogging to get results in real estate. I also signed up for Teaching Sells…hmmm, coincidence? - Cyndee
Posted 10 Nov 2007 #
Ankesh, quite a few sites I read have talked about creating a report for sale, but it always seemed like a difficult thing for me to do. Your post makes me realise it is achievable, maybe even easy! Thanks.
Posted 11 Nov 2007 #
Ashley: Thanks
Some ideas for you:
1. How to use the internet to sell a real estate property.
2. How to have a successful FSBO listing.
3. Whats Hot in Alburquerque Real Estate (I’d read some time back about a realtor creating booklets that makes it easy for tourists to buy 2nd homes in her town - and sold these booklets through various shops and restaurants in her town that cater to tourists. To create the booklet, she used the information she already had about her town and how its real estate prices were always increasing and made for a good investment.)
Posted 12 Nov 2007 #
Cyndee: Thanks for commenting
- I’ve heard good things about Teaching Sells. I didn’t sign up for it however due to lack of time. But I like Brian’s stuff. Hope it goes well for you and you have your own info product at the end of it.
Posted 12 Nov 2007 #
Stephen: Thanks for your kind words. Its definitely achievable. And it doesn’t have to be lengthy either. I for one would love to read a report by you.
Posted 12 Nov 2007 #
Christine: Thanks for taking on the challenge
I’ll definitely be the first in line to buy a report written by you!
Posted 12 Nov 2007 #
I created mine just in time for this Holiday weekend! It’s called the 2007 Holiday Shopping Guide, and I’ve completed Part 1: Black Friday and Cyber Monday shopping. The ebook is free for all my newsletter subscribers… and so far, the response has been very good
Posted 23 Nov 2007 #
[…] generate extra income from this blog, such as Affiliate Marketing, creating and selling an ebook or information product, sponsored posts or displaying ads from WidgetBucks, TLA, Kontera, […]
Posted 06 Dec 2007 #
Great writing, as usual. I used the month of november to write daily for some of my niche blogs, so this post caught my eye. Featuring you (once again) in my Sunday Seven!
Posted 23 Dec 2007 #
[…] always posting helpful ideas.A While I’m a bit behind the times on this one, his post about Creating an Info Product during the month of November caught my eye because it’s a variation on “National Novel […]
Posted 23 Dec 2007 #
I’ve been delving into your archives and I must commend you on your great content. I love this blog and can’t stop reading all your informative articles. You truly do think innovating and have come up with many great ideas.
Posted 14 Apr 2008 #
Well, 50,000 words in 30 days seems like a lot of time and work compact into a small limit. I do realize that this post is several months old, but I am interested in finding out your results. What was your outcome? Was it a quite positive one?
Posted 16 Apr 2008 #
I’ve been wanting to create info. products also. The thing is I can’t figure out what would be informative enough to write about, and what audience and/or niche to target.
This was a very motivational article. Thank you for writing a great post.
Posted 11 May 2008 #
I hear you on the info project. I know I’m a little late on this post, but I definitely have the motivation and will power to start on a project like this. In fact, I am starting as I write this comment
Posted 13 May 2008 #
Sounds like a lot of hard work but good ideas none the less.
Posted 22 May 2008 #
I really like when I see or people that have goals. People that are goal oriented are the ones that at the end of the day succeed.
Posted 07 Jul 2008 #