One of the surprising truths about marketing a product - a book, workbook, booklet, recording, etc. - is that the most effective marketing begins before you even decide which product to create. It's easy to be successful if you remember the ART of marketing: A - Ask what your customers want R - Review your strengths and interests T - Tailor your product to capitalize on both In this article, we'll take a look at your strengths and interests - to ensure that the product you create for your customers will bring YOU big benefits, as well. 1 - What topics or subject areas are you really knowledgeable about? Here's your chance to flaunt your experience, your knowledge, your areas of expertise. When you think about it, be as specific as you can (organizing a Table of Contents vs. writing books). Grab a sheet of paper and right now (yes, now!), list at least 10 things you know a lot about. 2 - What are you really terrific at? Go outside your 'routine' answers to this question - and go outside your coaching business. Maybe you're terrific at teaching ... calming people down ... bringing humor to tense situations. Or organizing. Or writing. Or.... Once again, time for a list. Write down at least 10 things you're terrific at, before you read on. 3 - What do you really love to do? Again, stretch yourself. Look for the things that get you excited, make you smile, and so on. (Yep, you're on to me! Write at least 10 things, right now.) 4 - Head back to your lists Look over the lists that you've just written, and circle your top three in each section. Any surprises? Similarities? Chances are, if you went all out writing your lists, your strengths and interests are really beginning to emerge. 5 - What product formats interest you most? Unless you have a very unique niche, with very particular requirements, your clients will generally care much more about how well your product answers their questions, or fills their needs, than about the physical format of your product. So why not develop your new product in the format that excites you most? Which of the following get your creative juices flowing: " book " e-book " workbook " booklet " e-course " audio CD " audio cassette " RealAudio or MP3 " client-only web page " teleclass " live workshop " seminar " something else? 6 - May I share a secret? Most people who develop a new product do one of two things: " They either create the product around the needs of their clients - OR - " They create a product simply because they'd like to work on it If you're going to choose just one, go with what your clients want. But why stop there? Chances are you can find a project you'd love to work on that your clients are asking for, too. Get the right combination and you'll not only have fun, you'll have a product that your clients will love - and purchase! (More on this in my article, "How to Get from Market Niche to Passive Income in Three Easy Steps: Step 1, Your Customers," also available on this website.) |
