6 Steps To Creating Info Products for Money, Image and Success

Special To Partner For Profits by Michael Port & Mitch Meyerson

There has never been a more exciting and profitable time to create your own information product. Recent breakthroughs in the costs of software, broadband, online hosting, and teleconferencing combined with the explosion of internet sales, makes it easier than ever before for you to create your own products.

Even better, with the advent of automation, it’s never been easier to automate the entire sales and distribution of your product, providing you with a passive stream of income while you sleep.

Over the duration of this 6 part e-course, we’ll explain exactly what an online product is, why it’s important to have one and then we’ll guide you through the most important 6 steps to creating your own. As coaches, our goal is for you to not just understand the process, but to take action. So, we’re going to ask you specific questions and give you specific direction that will help you take action.

To us an information product is a product or program that conveys knowledge and creates an environment that elicits results or action from the users. This is so exciting because you have knowledge and experiences to share that will benefit and enhance the lives of others, which others would be willing to pay for, making it possible for you to create passive revenue for yourself. And even if you think you don’t have great information to share… we’ll show you that you do and how to find information that you can leverage!

An information product can be delivered in many different formats; as an e-book, e-course, special report, manual, tutorial, home study course, tele-class, intensive program, etc. Audio and video can even be added to any of these formats, simply and easily from home, something that wasn’t possible even just a few years ago.

Why is it important to have your own product on the internet?

Imagine this, you open your email first thing in the morning and you see fifteen new orders; one from Switzerland, one from Australia, one from India, and a dozen from all over the United States. All for the product you just recently made available on the Web. It’s 7 a.m., you’re still sipping your first cup of coffee and only half awake, and already it’s been a very profitable day. While this scenario may seem more like a dream than reality to you right now, it’s entirely possible to achieve and it’s much easier to do than you might imagine. Besides starting each day with a big, juicy grin on your face, and dollar signs floating through your mind’s eye, there are numerous other benefits to having a product available on the web.

Positions you as an expert – Perception is everything on the internet and the creation of your own product results in positioning you as an expert and is a critical step in generating new business.

Builds your brand identity – Your product represents you and your business in the marketplace, and making it available on the Web is the first step toward getting your product into more hands, heads, and homes.

Reaches a global marketplace – Having a product available on the Web means that you’ve expanded your geographic marketplace to the entire world via your website and your affiliate’s websites.

Creates a 24/7, passive revenue, profit machine – The Web never sleeps which means that you can literally turn your computer and website into a cash register around the clock, and many, if not all, of the processes can be automated.

Instantly increases the effectiveness of your sales cycle – This is especially critical for service professionals. Often a consumer will opt to purchase a product as a trial before deciding to purchase your service. Having a quality product available on the Web allows them to get to know more about you and what you have to offer.

Remarkably cost-effective – Since traditional production and distribution is unnecessary, your costs are significantly reduced and your margin for profit is significantly increased.

Increase your speed to market – While it might take months or years to get a hardbound book written, edited, published, produced, and distributed to book stores, you can deliver the same content in the format of an e-book and bring it into the world in a matter of days or weeks instead.

Content can be leveraged in several formats – The same content can be presented in several different formats; as an e-book, an e-course, a tele-class, a home study course, and the list goes on and on.

Opportunity for bold self-expression and learning – The Web allows you to get your message to millions simultaneously, while at the same time offering you the opportunity to learn in action as you challenge yourself to create something totally unique.

Now it’s your turn to create your info-product! As your coaches, we’re going to take you by the hand and walk you through a simple 6-step process for creating your own info product.

6 Easy Steps to Creating Your Own Product

Step 1: Plan Your Project

The project plan underlies the entire product development process. It outlines key components that you need to be very clear about from the project outset in order to strengthen the quality of your desired outcome.

Define your product – This is the first step toward making your dream a reality. The project definition captures not only what the project is, but also your passion around doing it. Passion is a requisite for producing remarkable projects. Have some fun and write your answers to the following questions…

What are you passionate about?
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What type of product would you get really excited about creating? (i.e. an e-book, audio program, home study course, etc.)

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Now define in detail what the product will be. Include a complete description; the type of product, an overview of the content, the look and feel you wish to convey through the design and/or packaging, and how you will deliver the product to the consumer.

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Identify your resources – It’s critical to evaluate the resources you have and the ones you need before beginning. Once you’ve assessed the resources you have, then you can determine what resources you’ll need and begin to plan for how to acquire them.

Begin by considering the resources you were born with – your talents and natural gifts. The use of your talents and natural gifts is a key element of creating remarkable products. 

What talents and natural gifts can you bring to the creation of your product?

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One of the things that keep people from getting on with their projects is that they think they need to know something before they start, instead of learning in action. Couple learning with action to take advantage of the opportunity to enhance your knowledge and your skills.

List 5 skills that you’d like to develop while creating your product (i.e. web page design, audio for the web, copywriting, email marketing, etc.).

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The next great resource to consider is potential partners. Collaborating with others is the best way to produce remarkable results. If you are committed to the creation of something truly great, you’ve got to bring people in as early as possible as you’re developing the product. We rarely produce anything on our own.

What talents and/or resources might you want to look for in a potential partner that would enhance the creation of your product? List 5 of each.

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Who can you contact this week that would be a great partner for you? List 5 people who would be potential partners and schedule times to contact two of them this week.

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List 5 or more of the resources that you currently have that will help you produce your product. (i.e. writing skills, audio production skills, design skills, etc.)

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List 5 or more of the resources you need for the creation of your product, that you do not currently have.

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Begin to contemplate how, and from whom, you might acquire the resources you need and include any ideas that come to mind for each.

Assess the consumer’s need – Thinking about your project’s purpose, it’s deliverables and what makes it different from everything else available on the market will help you to craft a signature product – one that is uniquely yours. Consider these important questions…

Why does the consumer need your particular product now?

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How can you over-deliver on your promises by adding value to make your product ‘remark-able’?

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Avoid Project Breakdown – This is something we hope to avoid, but realistically is bound to happen from time to time with any project. However, with a bit of thought and foresight we can identify the most likely causes of project breakdown in advance and take steps to prevent it.

List the most likely causes of project breakdown, and the steps you will need to take to prevent them.

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One of the best ways to prevent project breakdown is by developing habits of commitment making and fulfilling. Progress depends on the successful completion of promises. Making and keeping promises will keep everyone on the project on task (especially you!), and will go a long way toward preventing project breakdown.

List the promises that you need to make, and those that you need to have from others, to keep the project moving ahead. Keep in mind, that this is an on-going process. As tasks are completed and promises met, new ones will need to be made. (i.e. I will finish the web page design by Thursday at 3pm.)

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Phew! That’s a lot of information! But it’s essential information for you to consider. Take these specific instructions and action steps to heart whether you’re creating your first or fiftieth info-product.

Remember, it’s not the smartest, luckiest, most connected people who do big things in the world. It’s those who GET IT DONE. Use this 6-part e-course to develop your habits of gettin’ it done!

Oh, and by the way, step number 1 takes the most work so if you’ve done the first step you’re well on your way!

ABOUT THE EXPERTS: Michael Port is the Leader of The Think Big Revolution, a membership club of over 750 big thinkers and an internationally known marketing and business development expert for entrepreneurs and creator of Book Yourself Solid, The 7 Keys To Getting More Clients Than You Can Handle.Mitch Meyerson is a visionary and the creator of many critically acclaimed books and programs that have sold well over 100,000 copies in 21 languages, including the Guerrilla Marketing Coach Certification Program.