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Here are some quick ideas for creating a profitable information product from your very own blog…

1.  Expand one fruitful post into a much larger piece.
Look for posts that you could easily expand into chapters or subtopics.  Perhaps it’s a post you’d love to write more about but felt limited by the blogging medium.  Here, you’re putting passion ahead of testing and viability, but that’s not always a bad thing.  Remember, you’re just looking for something fruitful to get the wheels turning.

2.  Use a post-series and add supplementary materials for added value.
I can think of a number of great series out there in the blogosphere that have really contributed to my life and, frankly, I probably would have paid for the information.  Unfortunately, once material is available for your readers, it’s a bit hard to justify simply collecting all the posts into one easy-to-download ebook for a price.  But… you might be able to take that series and “repackage” it along with some other additional “exclusive” material. 

3.  Rank your posts by popularity and create a related product.
Figure out what your readers really like.  Then, use that post as a starting point for your brainstorming process.  Connect this idea with #1 above for extra punch.

4.  Work on a joint venture product or co-author an ebook with regular commentators.
This idea makes the most of the “social” or “networking” benefit of being a blogger.  You might find another avid info marketer out there who wants to team up under your lead.  Or, you may find a handful of folks who’d willingly contribute to the work for a kickback – link to their site, royalty, etc.  Two minds are always better than one.  Three or nine are awesome!

5.  Review natural search hits to uncover profitable keywords.
Are you using HitTail?  Well, you really should be by now.  Whatever your method, figure out how people are getting to your site and create a pool of keywords for generating ideas.  Sometimes the audience has a way with words, if you know what I mean. 

These are not fail-proof plans for creating an information product – just helpful starting points or hubs for creating something truly great. 

If you’re a blogger and you enjoy writing and communicating with a hungry market, then information products may be a shoe-in for you. 

On the other hand, you may just uncover lots of new ideas for future blog posts.  Either way, it’s all right there at your feet.  Have fun!

Related Articles:

• Your Niche Website is a Gold Mine for Info Marketing Data
• How to Upsell Your Customers and Clients
• 10 Steps to Writing an Ebook - Part 1
• How to Write a Focused Blog
• Google Trends

These are real treats for you this Wednesday! I’ve had the joy of stumbling upon a few great web resources over the past week that have truly impressed me. Click your heart out…

Dan Kennedy’s Unbelievable Free Gift
I refer to this first link as an opportunity to “partner with an expert” because Dan Kennedy is THE expert. Visit his website today and sign-up for what Dan himself is calling a “the most incredible free gift ever!”

InfoMarketer’s Zone
Now that you have Mr. Millionaire-Maker on your side, it’s time to start working on that information product you’ve been putting off. I’ll be honest: I just came across this subscriber-site today and I am not a member (yet!), but this definitely looks promising. Take a look and start building your information product empire!

Sales Funnel Article
Yaro is at it again. I can get enough of this guy… Entrepreneur’s Journey is such a key resource for Internet Entrepreneurs, you should already know about this latest series from Mr. Starak’s site. If not, check out part one and part two AND part three now!

Enjoy!

If you have any recommendations for next Wednesday, send me a line.

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When I teach writing, I always emphasize the importance of layout. Great content is necessary, but it matters little if readers are unsatisfied with the presentation.

Ebooks are no exception. Here are 6 quick tips for laying out the text in your next ebook.

1. Choose a Title and Make it Stick
The one thing most successful ebook authors seem to have in common is a catchy title. Your title should be memorable and unique – it should quickly communicate your “Unique Selling Proposition.”

Include title and author information in header and footer sections on every page to remind readers and create a professional look.

Your title should also be “domain-name friendly.” In other words, it should be easy to work it into a short but easy-to-remember domain name. Check out one of my favorite examples of an ebook with a great title and matching domain.

2. Include a Copyright Page
Make it clear from the very start that YOU own the content. This is especially important with ebooks, where content can easily be “lifted” and copied. Use ebooks you have purchased for examples.

Even if you don’t have an “official copyright,” you’re still entitled to the automatic ownership-copyright granted to anyone who simply claims it.

I strongly recommend getting an official copyright and even an ISBN number as soon as possible, but the unofficial version will hold you over.

3. Provide a Table of Contents
Readers will want to know where to find what they want, so give them a navigational tool right up front!

Ebooks really require excellent organization and easy navigating because of their digital nature. Most readers will want to know exactly which page contains the information they’re hunting.

4. Write Short Paragraphs
Remember: most people will not print your ebook and will read it directly from their computer monitor.

Long paragraphs can tire your readers and make your book difficult to follow.

This tip is not meant to imply that you cut your content – only that you design it with the “online eye” in mind.

5. Write Short Sentences
The same principle applies for sentences: Keep ‘em short and to the point.

According to one study on business writing, readers average closest to 100% comprehension when reading sentences with 8 or fewer words.

The rate of comprehension drops steadily with each additional word. Don’t lose your readers. Write short sentences. Really short!

6. Create Clickable Links
Think of your ebook as an extended website filled with great content that only your readers can access. With that approach in mind, the same affiliate and advertising principles that apply to your actual website are still relevant for an ebook.

Include affiliate and advertiser links that readers can click through to the web. Refer to your website. Refer to your blog. Refer to your other products.

Don’t turn your ebook into an advertising spectacle, but do include appealing graphics that feature other great materials your readers will want to know about.

Related Articles:

• Info Product Survey - Win $25 Amazon Gift Certificate
• A Great Resource for Information Publishing!
• 10 Steps to Writing an Ebook – Part 2
• 10 Steps to Writing an Ebook - Part 1

The results from my info product survey are trickling in, so I need your help…

I am extending the $25 Amazon Gift Certificate Prize to the first 100 people who complete the easy survey.  There’s still a really great chance YOU will be selected.

Click here to complete the 10 question survey. 

I am hard at work on researching and developing my next information product. Today, I need your help…

I have created a basic survey about consumer habits in the information product market, and I would like to get your responses. The questions are easy to answer, I promise.
As an incentive for completing the survey, I am going to award a $25 Amazon.com Gift Certificate to one of the first 25 people who complete the survey.

Answer these easy questions, provide your current email address, and I’ll enter you into the random drawing. The winner will be notified within two weeks. (As a side bonus for internet entrepreneurs out there, I’ll also throw up a link to your site if you’re the selected winner!)

Click here to complete the survey.

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