What happens when you have an idea for an ebook, report, course or other info product but what holds you back is your lack of experience or credentials?
For instance, one of our Information Marketer’s Zone members had an idea for a personal development program that would help others improve their emotional state, but had no solid proof that it works…what can she do?
Your InfoProduct – A Course?
We have run into this as well in some of our own information publishing markets, where we have an interest or even passion for a market, have done our research but we haven’t got personal or customer proof yet that it will lead to the outcome for which people will pay.
What we have found to be a terrific way to overcome this challenge AND to develop a truly killer information product is to product that product as a teachable course first.
What I have found works best when I do into “how to” markets with a product that is light on results is to FIRST teach it to a group of “students” where you can then validate that your system works, partially works (in which case you can tune it) or doesn’t work (in which case you have learned something and need to go back to the starting point)
Here’s why this works so well:
1. Step-By-Step
Forces you to construct the product as step-by-step toward a measurable result. For example, if you created a course to improve happiness, to measure it, you need to put some thought into how people rate their happiness before and after your course and then take them on the journey
2. Clarity and Focus on Structure Of Your Product
Outlining your info product as a lesson-plan or course gives you total focus on your product – instead of jumping all over the place, including theory only, etc… you now have a very defined roadmap for your product that will help you stay focused and get it finished sooner
3. Built-in Proof
You build “proof” into your model. By teaching you get to walk people through your product and are bound to get results at the end that you can then feed back into your marketing via testimonials, case studies, proof
4. Fast and Easy Product Development While You Get Paid
You get FAST and first-hand feedback. Not every course or product is A1 out of the box, by teaching first, you get instant feedback as to what is missing, what you need to focus on more, what is boring people and what OTHER pieces need to be taught
As to whether you charge for this initial teaching is up to you…I have done it both ways where I charged for coaching and then refine as I go or I have also done complimentary teaching (via weekly coaching calls) with the understanding that it is to “test” the system and with some expectation of feedback at the end
