Internet Marketing can seem like a huge, very steep learning curve and in some ways it is, in the beginning you can expect to feel a bit overwhelmed by all the information coming at you, a suggestion, if you do feel overwhelmed, don’t sign up to too many mailing lists, because even now, I sometimes get the feeling that I “should” read all the emails I am sent, on the basis: “if I don’t I may miss something important”.
Don’t be fooled by feelings such as this, the term “there is nothing new under the Sun” is generally quite accurate. Most new and astounding breakthroughs are generally a re-write of an earlier principle and while the principles are generally sound, a) the information is usually available elsewhere and b) even if that particular information isn’t, give it a few months and the astounding offer that is: “soon to increase in price forever”, will probably come down in price once the initial buzz has finished. There are very few products out there that can maintain their buzz past the initial launch frenzy.
Let me give you an example. a couple of years ago, a very successful marketer called Mike Filsaime (Google him if you want to find out more), launched a program called Butterfly Marketing, it was a high ticket (expensive) physical product (sent to you by post, rather than downloaded). At the time of writing Butterfly Marketing still sells for $1497 – here is a link to the sales page) that coaches a very effective product launch technique using viral marketing techniques, the product consists of an ebook called the “Butterfly Marketing Manuscript”, several DVDs and printed reports, some software to automate website creation and many other things, such as DVD interviews of many top name marketers and access to a private forum which provides support from Mike’s team and others who have purchased the product.
There is no doubt that the information is sound.
It utilizes good marketing principles and gets the message across in a very effective way.
Interestingly, although the manuscript ebook mentioned above describes the entire blueprint for the technique and was valued at $297, very soon afterwards it was offered for sale on it’s own for $97 and despite threats of an imminent price increase, it is still available for $97 (here is a link to the sales page). I have also managed to obtain a single chapter of the manuscript that you can read to get a taste of the quality of the overall ebook, click here to download the .pdf file.
Very recently – by recently I mean May 2008 – it has been offered as a free bonus when you sign up for Mike’s new monthly printed newsletter.
Now I am kicking myself, because I took the plunge when the Butterfly Marketing Manuscript was advertized for $97 and have since signed up for Mike’s newsletter, so I will receive my second copy, but this sort of thing happens and there was so much useful content that I don’t regret my purchase one bit!
As a final tip, be aware of the “this product will never be reduced in price” type of offer, it can mean a few things, a) the product describes a technique that will be out of date very quickly, rendering the advice useless, so grab it now and take advantage while you still can, b) the product simply isn’t very good, so once a few people have purchased it and reviewed it, there won’t be much point continuing to offer it for sale, or c) the sales page is lying and once the buzz is over the product will be offered for a reduced price.
I’m not condemning all such products, or techniques, only trying to make you aware of the underlying message in some of the very hyped up sales pages that you will encounter.
More soon
Gary