Creating Content & Leveraging Content

In these difficult economic times, wouldn't it be nice if people had better options to generate income and meet their basic needs?

The truth is that, on the internet, creating content is king; and there are many ways you can leverage the content you create.

Fortunately, as folks learn more about Internet Marketing, making money online doesn't seem as daunting a task as is often portrayed. This is great news, especially for disabled veterans right here in America, who more than anyone else deserve a "hand-up" - not a handout - after serving their country with honor and dignity.

Now, thanks to the efforts of Disabled Veterans Teleseminar Training Series creator Rick Bardo, U.S. veterans and others have access to cutting edge Internet Marketing strategies and tactics. Last night (August 6th) was no exception, as Bardo welcomed Brian T. Edmondson to share his insights with listeners.

From Bankruptcy to Financial Independence...

Edmondson is Director of Training and Education for Tellman Knudson's List Building Club, Director of Early to Rise's Internet Money Club, and an accomplished Internet marketer in his own right. He has grown his online presence over several years, but not without a fair share of trials and tribulations.

In the wake of 9/11, Brian lost his Wall Street investment banking job barely a year out of college. Determined to become his own boss, a series of failed and aborted business opportunities led to massive debt and personal bankruptcy. Nevertheless, Edmondson persevered with his online dreams, and by 2005-2006, owned a subscriber list that helped him earn super affiliate status with some of the biggest internet product launches.

Content, Content, Content!

If the past four years has taught Brian anything, it is that good - make that GREAT - content will generate sales for you in the long-term. How? Simple - relevant content builds your subscriber list, which is the foundation of your online business.

"What, isn't it all about sales?"

Absolutely not! According to Edmondson, both online and offline businesses are about content and relationships. Use "freebies", i.e. free, high quality giveaways (e.g. reports, e-books) to attract like-minded people to you. Then, demonstrate your expertise through representative content and relevant offers. Sales rarely happen immediately; instead they result from consistent exposure and follow-up (seven approaches on average).

Brian's Bottom Line: Avoid the ravenous "Drive traffic to website, make sale" mentality!

Why You Should Go Online.

We live in the Information Age; information drives today's economy. In fact, Internet Marketing is mostly info-marketing, and tapping into the high perceived value of information is the key to becoming wealthy. Brian cites Amazon.com, for example, as a company that often lists audio books (Kindle, CD, MP3) at up to double the price of their physical equivalents.

He suggests creating digital information products should be particularly appealing to newcomers, for at least three reasons:

1. Low fixed costs enable info products to be marked-up by as much as 1,000%! Compare that to typical retail profit margins, including those at powerhouse Wal-Mart, where thirty-percent is considered fantastic.

2. Automated sales systems are in place. The "Make money while you sleep" phenomenon is real, since the World Wide Web works 24/7 on your behalf.

3. Instant delivery to end users (e.g. Apple iTunes) for increased convenience.

The Best Things in Life Come in Threes...

Edmondson introduces the three common info-product content formats:

1. Text: E-mails, articles, reports, e-books, blogs, etc.

2. Audio: Some people just love to talk! Recordings, interviews, narrations, expert teleseminars.

3. Video: As easy as using your flip camera or camcorder to record/create content and perform a one-button upload to YouTube! Alternatively, you can combine written content with PowerPoint screen captures to tell a story or present a training course.

For disabled veterans and others alike, Brian strongly advocates video as the perfect entry point into Internet Marketing; host Bardo also suggests using speech recognition and computer-aided tools to smooth out the process. These modern day inventions can be used to create expert teleseminar marketing series just like the Disabled Veterans Teleseminar Training Series.

The Beauty of Leverage and Repurposing Content.

Brian spoke about the powerful concept of Internet Marketing leverage; i.e. doing work once, but being rewarded for it over and over again.

For example, consider making an MP3 recording of an interview that you can sell or give away for free.

However, it does not end there...

Starting with the video, you can strip away the audio and offer it to list subscribers or prospective customers. Then, why not transcribe the audio and offer it as a PDF on your opt-in page?

The process also works in reverse; after writing an article you can create an audio voiceover and/or a video production that further illustrates your message. Literally anything can be repurposed, so Edmondson recommends recording EVERYTHING you do.

By starting with easy-to-create, purposeful content, new online marketers can confidently move up to higher-end products (i.e. home study courses, coaching programs, live events) in a reasonable amount of time. In the meantime, build up your sales funnels with PDF files (front-end product), mid-level upsells (PDF+audio) and high-level upsells (PDF+audio+video).

Profiting from Other People's Efforts.

Lest you believe that you must become an Internet content machine overnight, Brian Edmondson suggests several other options:

-  Private Label Rights (PLR): Brian likens PLR to "pieces of clay" since most packages sold need to be properly "molded" before being used. PLR material is widely distributed on the Internet, and often of dubious quality. Therefore, repurpose with quality, value and uniqueness in mind; even if the end result is radically different from the original.

- Public Domain Content: Take advantage of expired copyrights, government publications etc. to put your spin on existing concepts and tailor them to your specific niche. Sun-Tzu's The Art of War and Napoleon Hill's Think and Grow Rich are popular examples of books adapted by marketers in recent years. Please note: Seek proper legal advice before pursuing this option.

- Licensing Arrangements: Seek out authors who have material that you like and work out a deal to create valuable back links to your website.

- Hiring Ghostwriters, Freelancers: Outsourcing basic or advanced online work (e.g. graphics) is becoming easier, thanks to the Internet. However, it is buyer beware: when in doubt, Edmondson advises you to choose quality over price. Established sites like Elance.com and Guru.com are popular meeting places for project initiators and service providers.

Good and Done is Beats Perfect and Incomplete.

The quality of your first information product is your Internet marketing first impression. Flashy displays may attract attention; however people go back to marketers who offer great content. These people are your future customers! You don't have to be perfect, as evidenced by the popularity of YouTube amateur videos, but you do need to be a presence and have something to say. Just make sure you address a need and offer real solutions to your niche market.

Given his personal experience, Brian Edmondson agrees that Internet Marketing is the best way for disabled veterans and others who lack mobility to become self-sufficient. Working from home with a computer, internet connection, and easily accessible software puts you on an even playing field with the "Big Boys".