SiteSell Blog

Could You Create Your Own E-Book? Why Not?

Digital & Hard Goods

Creating your own infoproduct or e-book to sell on the Net is do-able once you get past this simple 5-word question... "What do I write about?"

Some brainstorming sessions will help you find the best answer to that question. For example...

1) What are your 3 top talents? Create a how-to guide that will help others perform each of these activities just as effectively.

Why Are Testimonials Like Potato Chips?

Digital & Hard Goods

What’s the biggest single factor your visitor will look for if she decides your product is just what she wants?

Your credibility.

Overcome any fears and doubts convincingly by telling her what your present customers have experienced.

Testimonials are incredibly persuasive. If you can get your visitor to read a testimonial, you have jumped quite a bit ahead in your sales effort. And testimonials are like potato chips... once you eat one, you want another and another and another.

The keys to an effective testimonial are...

A 16-Point Checklist for Product Development

Digital & Hard Goods

Part 2 - Checklist Points #9-16

(Missed the first set of points? Click here for Part 1.)

Let's continue with the remaining factors to consider when you are developing a product to sell on the Web...

9) Sizzle Factor

Does the product lend itself well to some marketing “sizzle.” Can you build some romance into the picture?

10) Support Required?

Is the product basically “plug and play”? If your consumer can use it immediately with no special help, this is a big plus. Otherwise, either make your product more user-friendly or prepare for tech support expenses and/or returns. Factor this in.

A 16-Point Checklist for Product Development

Digital & Hard Goods

Part 1 - Checklist Points #1-8

When considering a product (digital or hard goods) for Web sales, weigh these 16 factors, listed in approximate order of importance...

1) Product Quality

Does your product solve someone’s problem, or deliver a benefit, in a high-quality way? If not, STOP. Kill this product. If yes, read on...

Two extremely effective sales techniques are the free trial download (software) and the money-back guarantee. But if your product is of poor quality, these techniques will actually kill sales.

Great on-site consumer testimonials are another super way to sell your product. But guess what? Bad product = zero testimonials.

Everything becomes a lot easier if you are selling a great product.

The Cornerstone of an Online Store

Digital and Hard Goods

Online stores have a unique position. Just like in a real world store, people come in to look around and maybe buy something. However, unlike a bricks-and-mortar store, there's no physical contact. No one can squeeze the bread, smell the leather, or drive the car. You can't see your visitors and they can't see you.

So how do you overcome this interesting challenge? Two simple goals...

1) Become your customer. Make the needs of your customer your primary focus and your own desire to generate income secondary.

The Net is all about quick access and convenience. As a result, you don't have the luxury of face-to-face contact. But your PREselling site has built confidence at a slow comfortable pace. Your words must be your friendly, virtual, PRE-salesperson, smiling behind the counter or stationed helpfully in the aisle.

Your store completes the process...

Digitize It... Sell It!

Digital & Hard Goods

If you can digitize it, you can sell it. Selling e-books, videos, digital photo collections, MP3s, DVDs, clip art, e-sounds, cartoons/art/ illustrations, or software takes the Internet beyond a communications medium.

When you sell digital or electronic goods, the Net becomes a frictionless, automated distribution channel. No products to handle. No boxes to pack. No courier to ship.

It's e-commerce at its most efficient!

But like anything in life, it all begins with the right approach. Most small businesses fail because of poor process.

The "standard approach" used by the 97-98% of e-tailers who fail (even though they may have great products and beautiful sites) is...