Just about 12 months ago, I did my “7 Products In 7 Days” exercise – I only managed 3, but I still class it as a success.
I think it’s time to do something similar again on the product creation front.
But instead of pushing myself to do a product a day for 7 days, I think I might set myself a target of a product every 2 weeks or if I can keep up (and why not?) every week. The products will include *everything* – that’s the product itself, the sales copy, the autoresponder set up and the sales and delivery software needed to do it all set up.
This is easily attainable and I can see myself getting in front after a month with 3 or 4 products ready.
The way I see it, I can break it down into timed chunks and set myself a timetable for when everything has to be done. Product creation time will vary depending on the product, but things like sales copy and software set up should be fairly constant.
Some products will be freebie list builders, and others will be items I charge for. Some will be created from scratch, and others will be based on PLR. I don’t think you’ll be able to tell the difference when I’ve finished with them.
I have plenty of almost completed products on my hard drive. I don’t know about you, but I suffer from getting 80% done and then grinding to a halt.
How about one of the first products being a breakdown of how to create a product, and all the little tasks that need to be done?
I usually do these things off the top of my head as I go, but I think it’s about time I had a system in place so that I don’t have to think too hard about it all. You know, step 1 do this, step 2 do that.
And I fancy creating a mind map of it all too – I’ve never done that before, so that should be interesting in itself.
If you don’t know what a mind map is, it’s a method of dumping all the knowledge in your head on a particular subject into a useful usable format. You can then use the map to complete a task such as writing a book, or creating sales copy or even creating a process.
I’ve even seen mind maps that are products in their own right.
There’s a free mind mapping tool called Free Mind (plenty of explanation and screen shots) that I think I’ll use to do that job, and I’ll let you know how I get on.
So let’s say starting 1st November, I’ll document each day here on my blog how I’m getting on with my product creation and set up. A sort of a day in the life…
I know you’ll find it interesting. 😉
The important thing in this is YOU realising that I’m not the only one who can do this kind of thing – you can do it too. Maybe watch me first and it will give you an idea of how to go about it yourself.
-Frank Haywood
Hi there Frank, this is a very interesting project that you are about to embark on.
I certainly will be following you on a daily basis… so watch ya tail!! lol.
I’ve been wanting to do a large project like this for ages, but health issues are stopping me unfortunately…. on day though I’ll get around to doing it.
I wish you luck in your new project and I know if anyone can do it, you can!
Take care
Val
I am really interested in how this will work for you so I will be following along. I get side tracked easily and would appreciate an easy to follow system where I could remember what I was doing.
Like you say,Frank, this will be interesting, like a fly-on-the-wall view of how you go about creating a product, warts and all.
You should be able to use the mind map as a freebie list builder or within a product that shows how to make a product.
It will also help you to document and systemize your own workflow.
I will be watching…
Frank,
I like this idea, especially creating the mind map so we can see all the steps involved.
I’ve created a few products myself now and it does get easier with each consecutive product I create.
However, should we focus on creating new products quickly, or promoting one product for a set amount of time, say 3 months or more.
I would also suggest that after product creation, you go into the same depth on product promotion, traffic, etc.
Thanks again,
Charles Burleigh
Hello Frank,
“I don’t know about you, but I suffer from getting 80% done and then grinding to a halt.”
Actually I think more people grind to a halt before they’ve even started, but you make a very good point. If you stop before you’ve finished, chances are you’ll never finish. In many cases it’s actually a fear of success, which is surprisingly common. In some cases it’s sheer laze, but that’s actually rarer than self-sabotage.
Underneath, so many people like their status quo because the idea of creating a new ‘you’ is so scary. And that’s what you’re doing, creating a new you. Let’s face it, if you suddenly find a way to create products – therefore income – out of thin air, you can be whoever you want to be. That’s scary.
Ultimately, I think, what most people are really scared of is the fact that they are responsible for everything that goes on in their lives, good and bad. Most folk instinctively accept the bad, but have a hard time believing they can really influence the good (surprisingly).
If you manage to change your reality by sticking to a course of action, the sky’s the limit. And that is really, really, scary for so many people.
Success in my own life has always come when I’ve ignored the doubts cluttering up my mind. That endless catalogue of questions that fear can produce sometimes go like this:
“What if it doesn’t work?”
“what if nobody buys it?”
“What if it’s hard work?”
Try changing the questions into these ones:
“So what if it doesn’t work?”
“So what if nobody buys it?”
“So what if it’s hard work?”
So what? Powerful question!
I have some software that might help your subscribers as they follow along and try to copy what you do. Let me know if you want to try it yourself and offer it as a freebie to your list.
There’s a great line in the newish film, “Wanted”. A trainee assassin is asked to shoot a bullet and make it bend round an obstacle. Of course he says it’s impossible.
The reply is instructive, something like. “What if nobody had ever told you bullets go in straight lines? How would you curve the bullet the?”
I don’t personally think you can (or want to!) shoot bullets round a bend. But I think that question is a good one to adapt.
What would you do if nobody had ever taught you that something was impossible? What would you do if you didn’t know your writing was terrible? What would you do if you didn’t know that you can’t come up with good ideas?
What would you do if…..
Don’t be afraid to let your mind wander and come up with ridiculous answers. Sometimes, just sometimes, a ridiculous answer is the stepping stone to something wonderful.
May I also make a suggestion, Frank? Why don’t you consider opening up a little forum for this exercise. Let your subscribers – the ones who are trying to follow along – discuss their stumbling blocks along the way.
How to pick a good niche might seem impossible for reader A, but a piece of cake for reader B. Reader B might not know where to find out about building a membership site, reader C might be a past master. Reader C might not know how to….
You get the idea.
A little mutual support could take the completion status for those people from 80% to 100%
What do you think, Frank?
Well Frank, you certainly know how to set yourself up for a challenge. Go on you. I know you will do it too.
Geoff
I’ll be watching you Frank, and quite possibly quizing you at the same time too! (Hope you won’t mind that! – Although I’m 99.999% sure you won’t! HEHE)
…Now this is were I start talking about myself, I can let-alone launch a product, although we are close to finally launching our secret little script that you know about, or at least semi-know about!
So I’m all eyes from now, or at least November 1st as I watch you create 4.28 products in the month!
(Maybe you could ‘update’ us on Twitter too, I’m sure it would help more people if they saw what you were doing!)
Thanks
Mark
Happy Birthday Frank,
Many Happy Returns
Best Wishes
Gareth
This is a great project. I would hope to follow closely. Just stumbled onto your blog. Will go read the latest posts now.