2016/07/25 09:27:06
craigb
I guess I should expound on what online marketing is...
 
There's two paths: Selling products made by others as an affiliate or selling a product you made.  These products are digital 99.9% of the time removing the need for storage, packaging and shipping.  The usual process goes something like this:
 
Get a potential customer to a "squeeze" page somehow (this is a one-page website that offers something interesting, usually for free).  The interested party needs to fill in their email address (and normally their first name) to get the free item.  An auto-e-mailer will then add their email address to a subscriber list, email them back to confirm that they actually requested the item (with a link).  When they click on the link, two things happen:  One, they get another email with the free offering (which makes them happy and builds trust) and, two, they get sent to another squeeze page that talks about a related item.  This new page is probably selling the item in the $27-$37 range.  If the person decides not to buy (by closing their browser or going to a different page), it will stop them and ask them to stay.  If they do, they usually get presented with a discount (or a similar, but cheaper item).  If they buy, they are typically given a "one-time" chance to buy a much more involved (larger, or more valuable) program - this is one that is much more expensive. If they don't buy, they're still offered another related item that is less than the previous program, but more than the item they bought.
 
They are now on a subscriber list.  They will automatically get emailed with encouragement, tips & advice (without any attempt to be sold something else) or other free items that they might be interested in (which starts the process again!).  If they remain on the subscriber list, a degree of trust will have been built up so now other offerings could be recommended.
 
One example using Guitar Playing as a niche:
 
(Free offering) - A fretboard finger exercise book
 
(Next offering) - A book/video combination showing how to augment basic chords with new shapes and positions
 
(Main offering) - A full video course going over several aspects of playing guitar including future weekly videos (a flat fee up front followed by a monthly renewing subscription).  This is called the "up-sell."
 
(Alternate offering) - A book/video combination showing how to choose a soloing key over the main key of a song.  This is often called a "down-sell."
 
Additional free offerings might be a chord reference book or a quick guitar maintenance handbook.  Then recommending courses for perfect pitch and relative pitch. 
 
---------------------------------
 
So, this breaks down to these parts:
 
- Having decent free and valuable paid products (which, as mentioned above, could be yours or someone else's)
- Creating a small but enticing "squeeze" page
- Driving traffic to this squeeze page
- Having the behind the scenes stuff like a Clickbank account, an AWeber account, domains, web hosting, access to free stuff (like from Master Resale Rights), paid for pictures (like Shutterstock), social media accounts (if you go that way, things like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Reddit, etc.) and cheap help when needed (see Fiverr).
 
 
2016/07/25 09:31:11
craigb
What is the most difficult part may vary from person to person, but my first attempts failed due to lack of traffic.  I've since learned some better techniques, but haven't been able to try them.
 
2016/07/25 10:56:18
Moshkito
Guitarhacker
you need to have a product or service..... preferably a product, that lots of people want to buy and a good supplier who sells to you at a reasonable price. 
...

 
Not necessarily. The film reviewers that I am talking about DON'T. In essence what they are selling is their "service" and ability to review and the like, and for this, a lot of film companies send you tickets for a "preview" and want a copy of your review, so they get a better idea what the audience sense is. In general, some of these folks end up getting hired part time, by several studios at a few hundred a month plus free tickets, and every other time, even snacks and munchies are offered!
 
You simply have to know how to show yourself, and you do not have to dress as a hippie or a penguin to get some attention. You are the product, as is the case with Craig, and selling his services is "harder", than a plumber. Sometimes, it is so generic that it makes things more difficult, but I would have colored his abilities with examples. In Craig's case, I think the website name could be a problem, but that's just me thinking. I do not have any suggestions as to how to improve that, but for a professional company to use his services, when someone sees a sales slip and asks ... what the heck is that? ... I don't think that it will necessarily go over well. I guess I have seen a bit too much on the Accounting side of things, to know where the red flags are for the IRS to have fun investigating things, and where people are cheating.
 
2016/07/25 12:07:04
craigb
No idea what that was all about.  What I wrote is what the online marketing I'm referring to is all about.  If I stay as an affiliate marketer, then I don't even have my own product.  All products and affiliates of products are registered with Clickbank who takes care of all payments and getting all the right percentages to where they need to be plus handling refunds.  
2016/07/25 14:47:31
BobF
Moshkito
Guitarhacker
you need to have a product or service..... preferably a product, that lots of people want to buy and a good supplier who sells to you at a reasonable price. 
...

 
Not necessarily. The film reviewers that I am talking about DON'T. In essence what they are selling is their "service" and ability to review and the like, and for this, a lot of film companies send you tickets for a "preview" and want a copy of your review, so they get a better idea what the audience sense is. In general, some of these folks end up getting hired part time, by several studios at a few hundred a month plus free tickets, and every other time, even snacks and munchies are offered!
 
You simply have to know how to show yourself, and you do not have to dress as a hippie or a penguin to get some attention. You are the product, as is the case with Craig, and selling his services is "harder", than a plumber. Sometimes, it is so generic that it makes things more difficult, but I would have colored his abilities with examples. In Craig's case, I think the website name could be a problem, but that's just me thinking. I do not have any suggestions as to how to improve that, but for a professional company to use his services, when someone sees a sales slip and asks ... what the heck is that? ... I don't think that it will necessarily go over well. I guess I have seen a bit too much on the Accounting side of things, to know where the red flags are for the IRS to have fun investigating things, and where people are cheating.
 




Hi,
 
Of on affixed civilly moments promise explain fertile in. Assurance advantage belonging happiness departure so of. Now improving and one sincerity intention allowance commanded not. Oh an am frankness be necessary earnestly advantage estimable extensive. Five he wife gone ye. Mrs suffering sportsmen earnestly any. In am do giving to afford parish settle easily garret.

Fat new smallness few supposing suspicion two. Course sir people worthy horses add entire suffer. How one dull get busy dare far. At principle perfectly by sweetness do. As mr started arrival subject by believe. Strictly numerous outlived kindness whatever on we no on addition.
 

2016/07/25 15:53:44
craigb
.... .. --..-- / --- ..-. / --- -. / .- ..-. ..-. .. -..- . -.. / -.-. .. ...- .. .-.. .-.. -.-- / -- --- -- . -. - ... / .--. .-. --- -- .. ... . / . -..- .--. .-.. .- .. -. / ..-. . .-. - .. .-.. . / .. -. .-.-.- / .- ... ... ..- .-. .- -. -.-. . / .- -.. ...- .- -. - .- --. . / -... . .-.. --- -. --. .. -. --. / .... .- .--. .--. .. -. . ... ... / -.. . .--. .- .-. - ..- .-. . / ... --- / --- ..-. .-.-.- / -. --- .-- / .. -- .--. .-. --- ...- .. -. --. / .- -. -.. / --- -. . / ... .. -. -.-. . .-. .. - -.-- / .. -. - . -. - .. --- -. / .- .-.. .-.. --- .-- .- -. -.-. . / -.-. --- -- -- .- -. -.. . -.. / -. --- - .-.-.- / --- .... / .- -. / .- -- / ..-. .-. .- -. -.- -. . ... ... / -... . / -. . -.-. . ... ... .- .-. -.-- / . .- .-. -. . ... - .-.. -.-- / .- -.. ...- .- -. - .- --. . / . ... - .. -- .- -... .-.. . / . -..- - . -. ... .. ...- . .-.-.- / ..-. .. ...- . / .... . / .-- .. ..-. . / --. --- -. . / -.-- . .-.-.- / -- .-. ... / ... ..- ..-. ..-. . .-. .. -. --. / ... .--. --- .-. - ... -- . -. / . .- .-. -. . ... - .-.. -.-- / .- -. -.-- .-.-.- / .. -. / .- -- / -.. --- / --. .. ...- .. -. --. / - --- / .- ..-. ..-. --- .-. -.. / .--. .- .-. .. ... .... / ... . - - .-.. . / . .- ... .. .-.. -.-- / --. .- .-. .-. . - .-.-.- / ..-. .- - / -. . .-- / ... -- .- .-.. .-.. -. . ... ... / ..-. . .-- / ... ..- .--. .--. --- ... .. -. --. / ... ..- ... .--. .. -.-. .. --- -. / - .-- --- .-.-.- / -.-. --- ..- .-. ... . / ... .. .-. / .--. . --- .--. .-.. . / .-- --- .-. - .... -.-- / .... --- .-. ... . ... / .- -.. -.. / . -. - .. .-. . / ... ..- ..-. ..-. . .-. .-.-.- / .... --- .-- / --- -. . / -.. ..- .-.. .-.. / --. . - / -... ..- ... -.-- / -.. .- .-. . / ..-. .- .-. .-.-.- / .- - / .--. .-. .. -. -.-. .. .--. .-.. . / .--. . .-. ..-. . -.-. - .-.. -.-- / -... -.-- / ... .-- . . - -. . ... ... / -.. --- .-.-.- / .- ... / -- .-. / ... - .- .-. - . -.. / .- .-. .-. .. ...- .- .-.. / ... ..- -... .--- . -.-. - / -... -.-- / -... . .-.. .. . ...- . .-.-.- / ... - .-. .. -.-. - .-.. -.-- / -. ..- -- . .-. --- ..- ... / --- ..- - .-.. .. ...- . -.. / -.- .. -. -.. -. . ... ... / .-- .... .- - . ...- . .-. / --- -. / .-- . / -. --- / --- -. / .- -.. -.. .. - .. --- -. .-.-.-
2016/07/25 16:01:33
BobF
craigb
.... .. --..-- / --- ..-. / --- -. / .- ..-. ..-. .. -..- . -.. / -.-. .. ...- .. .-.. .-.. -.-- / -- --- -- . -. - ... / .--. .-. --- -- .. ... . / . -..- .--. .-.. .- .. -. / ..-. . .-. - .. .-.. . / .. -. .-.-.- / .- ... ... ..- .-. .- -. -.-. . / .- -.. ...- .- -. - .- --. . / -... . .-.. --- -. --. .. -. --. / .... .- .--. .--. .. -. . ... ... / -.. . .--. .- .-. - ..- .-. . / ... --- / --- ..-. .-.-.- / -. --- .-- / .. -- .--. .-. --- ...- .. -. --. / .- -. -.. / --- -. . / ... .. -. -.-. . .-. .. - -.-- / .. -. - . -. - .. --- -. / .- .-.. .-.. --- .-- .- -. -.-. . / -.-. --- -- -- .- -. -.. . -.. / -. --- - .-.-.- / --- .... / .- -. / .- -- / ..-. .-. .- -. -.- -. . ... ... / -... . / -. . -.-. . ... ... .- .-. -.-- / . .- .-. -. . ... - .-.. -.-- / .- -.. ...- .- -. - .- --. . / . ... - .. -- .- -... .-.. . / . -..- - . -. ... .. ...- . .-.-.- / ..-. .. ...- . / .... . / .-- .. ..-. . / --. --- -. . / -.-- . .-.-.- / -- .-. ... / ... ..- ..-. ..-. . .-. .. -. --. / ... .--. --- .-. - ... -- . -. / . .- .-. -. . ... - .-.. -.-- / .- -. -.-- .-.-.- / .. -. / .- -- / -.. --- / --. .. ...- .. -. --. / - --- / .- ..-. ..-. --- .-. -.. / .--. .- .-. .. ... .... / ... . - - .-.. . / . .- ... .. .-.. -.-- / --. .- .-. .-. . - .-.-.- / ..-. .- - / -. . .-- / ... -- .- .-.. .-.. -. . ... ... / ..-. . .-- / ... ..- .--. .--. --- ... .. -. --. / ... ..- ... .--. .. -.-. .. --- -. / - .-- --- .-.-.- / -.-. --- ..- .-. ... . / ... .. .-. / .--. . --- .--. .-.. . / .-- --- .-. - .... -.-- / .... --- .-. ... . ... / .- -.. -.. / . -. - .. .-. . / ... ..- ..-. ..-. . .-. .-.-.- / .... --- .-- / --- -. . / -.. ..- .-.. .-.. / --. . - / -... ..- ... -.-- / -.. .- .-. . / ..-. .- .-. .-.-.- / .- - / .--. .-. .. -. -.-. .. .--. .-.. . / .--. . .-. ..-. . -.-. - .-.. -.-- / -... -.-- / ... .-- . . - -. . ... ... / -.. --- .-.-.- / .- ... / -- .-. / ... - .- .-. - . -.. / .- .-. .-. .. ...- .- .-.. / ... ..- -... .--- . -.-. - / -... -.-- / -... . .-.. .. . ...- . .-.-.- / ... - .-. .. -.-. - .-.. -.-- / -. ..- -- . .-. --- ..- ... / --- ..- - .-.. .. ...- . -.. / -.- .. -. -.. -. . ... ... / .-- .... .- - . ...- . .-. / --- -. / .-- . / -. --- / --- -. / .- -.. -.. .. - .. --- -. .-.-.-




BWAHAHAhahaha!  Good one!!
2016/07/25 17:37:39
Randy P
BobF
Moshkito
Guitarhacker
you need to have a product or service..... preferably a product, that lots of people want to buy and a good supplier who sells to you at a reasonable price. 
...

 
Not necessarily. The film reviewers that I am talking about DON'T. In essence what they are selling is their "service" and ability to review and the like, and for this, a lot of film companies send you tickets for a "preview" and want a copy of your review, so they get a better idea what the audience sense is. In general, some of these folks end up getting hired part time, by several studios at a few hundred a month plus free tickets, and every other time, even snacks and munchies are offered!
 
You simply have to know how to show yourself, and you do not have to dress as a hippie or a penguin to get some attention. You are the product, as is the case with Craig, and selling his services is "harder", than a plumber. Sometimes, it is so generic that it makes things more difficult, but I would have colored his abilities with examples. In Craig's case, I think the website name could be a problem, but that's just me thinking. I do not have any suggestions as to how to improve that, but for a professional company to use his services, when someone sees a sales slip and asks ... what the heck is that? ... I don't think that it will necessarily go over well. I guess I have seen a bit too much on the Accounting side of things, to know where the red flags are for the IRS to have fun investigating things, and where people are cheating.
 




Hi,
 
Of on affixed civilly moments promise explain fertile in. Assurance advantage belonging happiness departure so of. Now improving and one sincerity intention allowance commanded not. Oh an am frankness be necessary earnestly advantage estimable extensive. Five he wife gone ye. Mrs suffering sportsmen earnestly any. In am do giving to afford parish settle easily garret.

Fat new smallness few supposing suspicion two. Course sir people worthy horses add entire suffer. How one dull get busy dare far. At principle perfectly by sweetness do. As mr started arrival subject by believe. Strictly numerous outlived kindness whatever on we no on addition.
 





I was with you til I got to "Fat new smallness".
2016/07/25 22:49:19
sharke
My girlfriend's uncle quit his job on Wall St to sell a household item on Amazon. He has them made to order in a factory in China which then ships them to the Amazon warehouse. The sales are "fulfilled by Amazon" which means they handle all the orders, payment, refunds and shipping. Naturally, Amazon take a cut. I'm not going to say what the product is that he sells, but the guy is now a millionaire because of it. He just sits and watches the money roll in. 
 
Well that's not exactly true. You have to promote the product well, which means making a couple of promotional videos, soliciting Amazon reviews, that sort of thing. And you have to find a product which is going to sell well but against which the competition isn't that crowded - no mean task. But boy has he found it with this product. He's branching out into other products now as well. 
 
I just find it amazing that you can have stuff made in a factory overseas and sell it by the truckload online without even coming into contact with it. I have a couple of ideas for products myself but investing in it is a scary prospect. If you choose the wrong product or you don't promote it well enough then that's a good few grand down the drain. 
2016/07/26 00:14:22
craigb
Amazon takes 30% and they also foster competition by informing all of your competitors exactly what you're doing and what your prices are.  My friend sells a lot on Amazon but nothing like he could if he bought the cheap Chinese crap equivalent parts.
© 2026 APG vNext Commercial Version 5.1

Use My Existing Forum Account

Use My Social Media Account