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Today's Expert Interview"Create and Sell Products Online - Personalized CD's, Expert Interview with Van Day."
Did you know...
Van, before we jump into your incredibly unique and different product idea, I wanted to have you tell our readers about yourself. What is your background, have you always been musical? Van [Answer] Jeff, I grew up in a musical family. My father was a professional organist and singer, while my mother was a singer, a graduate of Juliard who sang on Broadway. So naturally music was always around as I was growing up. I started piano lessons when I was five, and haven't looked back! For a more in-depth bio, your readers can go to http://www.pianomusic4you.com/bio.html Jeff [Question] Let's discuss more about your idea of http://www.pianomusic4you.com . How on earth did you ever come up with such a great idea? Van [Answer] I have always made it a practice of "giving away" my music to my close friends when it came to things like weddings and anniversaries. I'd play for their weddings, special parties, etc., or make them a custom cassete tape or CD, and not charge them, that being my "present" to them. Well, several years ago an ex-girlfriend of mine asked me to made a CD for her to give to her son for his upcoming wedding. Songs that she knew he and his fiancee would enjoy. She wanted to give him something very personal and creative, since he is that way. Being a little creative myself, I took the wedding invitation (I had been invited...) scanned it in, made it the cover for the CD, and had her write a very personal inscription for the CD cover. They went wild over it when they got it. So that's how I came up with the idea of selling custom piano CDs....custom songs, custom labels and inscriptions. Of course that was back in 2002. I didn't get to it until earlier this year! Jeff [Question] I have to ask - are you able to play ANY song people want? I have my order in with you and I just can't wait to see the expression on my wife's face when it's NOT flowers for a change! Van [Answer] Well, there are certain songs I can't/don't play. I'm not real keen on playing classical music. I enjoy it immensely listening to it, but playing it is another thing! Too much work and practice to get it right! And there are certain popular songs, that sound fantastic when sung, but played as a piano solo don't sound so great. Especially some of the slower rhythym songs that don't have much of a melody, but it's the lyrics and the singer that make the song so fantastic. But other than that, I can play pretty much anything. My repertoire is pretty big, I have a good memory for songs I've heard, and I play be ear pretty well. And when I don't know a song, I take it as a matter of pride that I'll learn it. As an example, sometimes when people ask for songs that I've never been asked for, I'll go surfing on the 'net, find a midi file of it, play it a couple of times, then play the song myself and do my own arrangment on it. That will take anywhere from 10 to 60 minutes. But then I've got that song down for life! In fact, I did that for one of the songs on the CD you ordered Jeff! Although I won't tell you which one... Jeff [Question] What do you think pulls people into your concept? Is it the personalization, novelty, romance, - I would be interested to hear your opinion? Van [Answer] I've done surveys of my customers, and what I've found is interesting. Most of them want something unique and different as a gift, something personal for an important event (holiday, special occasion, etc.). And that's why they get the CD from my site. They aren't particularly looking for a musical gift, but a gift that's very different. But once they see the uniqueness of my site/product, it catches on with them. The idea of giving a musical present really appeals to them. It isn't necessarily the romance, as I have had customers give them to their siblings or friends. But most of the time there is some romance involved. Jeff [Question] Back to your business itself. How else do you market your business - is it mainly online, offline or a mix of both? Van [Answer] Primarily it's online at Pianomusic4you.com. But I do market it locally offline, with a few radio spots a few weeks before important holidays (Mothers Day, Valentines). I barter with the radio stations...And of course, word of mouth advertising really pays off as well. There's nothing stronger than a recommendation from a friend, online or offline. Jeff [Question] How big a motivator do you think the "personalization" factor plays in the success of your business? I suppose we all should take a lesson from this and try and discover ways we can integrate personalization into our own businesses? Van [Answer] I think the personalization aspect is very important. There are plenty of great pianists who have recorded fantastic sounding romantic CDs that people can buy on line, or in the nearest store. But being able to choose and personalize the sounds of the CD, and the appearance and what it says to the recipient--well that's what makes it so different. And the recipient immediately understands that the gift is so different and unique, and it truly makes them feel special to get a gift like that. So the recipient as well as the giver of the gift come away feeling great about it! And that's what giving a present and gift is all about, isn't it? Jeff, I hope you enjoy your CD. It will certainly last a lot longer than flowers! Van Day Bio: It’s no surprise to those that know him. Van Day has a wonderful mastery of the piano and keyboards. Born and raised by two professional entertainers, one a Julliard graduate and Broadway singer, the other a nightclub entertainer, Van has been playing the piano since he was barely old enough to get seated on the piano bench! Many have delighted in his piano renditions and personal arrangements of a wide variety of musical genre—from Broadway to pop, to standards, light jazz and original improvisation. Van plays Gershwin to Porter, Andrew Lloyd Weber to Rodgers and Hammerstein, the Beatles to Billy Joel, Fats Waller to Duke Ellington. The list goes on and on. His style, a unique flow of soaring melodies and blended chords, allows Van to play in a wide variety of musical settings and provide just the right sound to the right occasion. Whether it’s at a wedding, a simple reception, cocktail party, a lounge or club, corporate business function, accompaniment for a soloist, or one of those “different” get-togethers, Van has that unique touch and feeling that helps to make the occasion special. All you need to do is ask Van to play a song…you know you’ll get something special back in return! You can visit Van's website at: http://www.pianomusic4you.com Hope you were as interested in this lesson on "personalized" services as I was. How can you apply this information to your business? If you can, you will be looking at getting 3 to 4 times more profit from your products. If you have comments, questions or suggestions on what you would like to see in future editions of this newsletter - be sure to contact me here: mailto:jeff@infoproductcreator.com Jeff Smith http://www.highertrustmarketing.com ATTENTION: There is only one way that you could be receiving this ezine, that is you, or someone using your email address, subscribed. There is no other way of being added to this list. We do not make this list, or your address, available to ANY other companies or individuals. We value your privacy. Although we work hard to make sure that all of the information in the Profit Secrets newsletter is accurately and genuine as possible, neither the publisher, nor the editor assume any responsibility for the accuracy or otherwise of the information presented. By reading this information, the Information Product Profit Secrets reader assumes all responsibility for an inaccuracies or other risks associated with the information within this newsletter. Jeff Smith Editor Online Marketing Secrets Revealed webmaster@inf oproductcreator.com http://www.highertrustmarketing.com Home | Marketing Articles | Newsletter | Products | Hire Jeff | Free E Course | Resources | Make Money | Writing Courses | Writing tips | Copywriting Course | Internet Marketing | About Us | Contact Us 
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