What tool do you use to organise your ideas when creating an info product?

by Deepak Media

Posted: 12 years ago 22 replies

INTERNET MARKETING

Just wondering what is the best tool to organise ideas when creating an information product.

From time to time I get new ideas of what can be included in the product but the organisation of the whole thing is just so messy.

I am looking for a tool where I can expand and collapse various boxes of text in a tree format. I know mind map tool bubbl.us but it Does not allow collapsing of boxes under parent boxes.

Any suggestions are welcome.

#creating #ideas #info #organise #product #tool

crosshairs 12 years ago

Here is a free mind mapping tool that works great

FreeMind
- Thanks
Signature

.
Local BizPro - Weight Watches Secret Builder - Host Unlimited Sites on Amazon AWS
.
FREE WSO - Mobile Apps are Killing It - 20+ Ways to Monetize Inside
.
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6319271].message }}
eternalwarrior 12 years ago

Freemind is a great one. You can also use the online version of mind mapping tool, https://bubbl.us/
- Thanks
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6319317].message }}
WillR 12 years ago

This may not be what you want to hear but you did ask us what we use.

I use nothing more than a text document and paper and pen.

It's about time I had a better solution so I'll be keeping an eye on this thread for any good suggestions.
- Thanks
Signature

.
âž¨ Here's How to Make Your First $177 Online
This Week Using the Piggyback Method...

.
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6319320].message }}
JustinDupre 12 years ago

EverNote is a great tool that syncs with my iPhone when I am on the go!
- Thanks
Signature
I offer CPA coaching and investment opportunities for those SERIOUSLY interested in making money directly or indirectly with affiliate marketing. PM me for details.

Read More about CPA/Affiliate Marketing on my Blog
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6319321].message }}
Deepak Media 12 years ago

I got an offline answer for this. I am posting it here. Its workflowy.com - I am yet to try it.

Workflowy - Demo Video - YouTube

Nice video BTW!
- [ 1 ] Thanks
- 2 replies
Signature

Digital Marketing Author | Speaker | Consultant

Read my Blog: DigitalDeepak.com

@ Bangalore, India.
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6319381].message }}
- Mark Andrews Banned 12 years ago
  
  Excellent Deepak - thanks for posting this up, this looks to be exactly what I need too - to organize the huge amount of information in my brain.
  
  This will most certainly speed things up a great deal.
  
  I would have clicked on the Thanks button but I've run out of my quota for the day.
  
  Warmest regards,
  
  Mark Andrews
  
  [ 1 ] Thanks
  
  1 reply
  
  {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6319388].message }}
  
  Paul Myers 12 years ago
  
  I start with a brand new legal pad, and just dump ideas, one after another. No organization, no judgement. Just brainstorming.
  
  Then I crack open a pack of 3x5 index cards, and start organizing the ideas. I spread them out over the kitchen table. Ideas that are relevant to the topic of a given card get added, and the cards stacked if there are too many ideas in a sub-topic for one card. Then I shuffle them around until I have a visual outline for the product. I break those into stacks for the main product, any bonuses, and tools that might go along with them.
  
  Additional stacks for sales copy and promotional strategies.
  
  Then I go to mindmapping.
  
  Once that's done, I start work. The map is now just a checklist to which I can add things if needed. As each child node is finished, I add a green checkmark. When all the children of a node are completed, I add a checkmark to the parent node.
  
  Of course, that's for bigger projects. Sometimes I just open a text file and start writing, and go until I'm done. Depends on the topic and the length of the product.
  
  Paul
  
  [ 4 ] Thanks
  
  Signature
  
  .
  Stop by Paul's Pub - my little hangout on Facebook.
  
  {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6319405].message }}
- Jacqueline Smith 12 years ago
  
  Thank you so much for mentioning Workflowy!
  
  I had never heard of it before. I've checked it out and it's amazing. I highly recommend it as an organizational tool.
  
  I have tried several mind map and organizational tools and this is the one for me.
  
  Back to organizing.....I think I may be addicted to this one!
  
  Originally Posted by Deepak Media
  
  I got an offline answer for this. I am posting it here. Its workflowy.com - I am yet to try it.
  
  Workflowy - Demo Video - YouTube
  
  Nice video BTW!
  
  Thanks
  
  Signature
  Momdipity.com
  
  {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6545073].message }}
seankaye 12 years ago

Handwriting is so Old School, Paul! LOL!
- Thanks
- 1 reply
Signature

Take your article marketing to a whole new level with RapidAction Writing!

We create awesome content and help you generate the quality backlinks you need to rank organically!
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6319417].message }}
- Paul Myers 12 years ago
  
  Sean,
  
  Handwriting is so Old School, Paul! LOL!
  
  So is plain-text email. Guess which dinosaur still uses it?
  
  Paul
  
  Thanks
  
  Signature
  
  .
  Stop by Paul's Pub - my little hangout on Facebook.
  
  {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6319438].message }}
Trevor M 12 years ago

I've always used a blank sheet of paper and a pen.

Focus in on a topic and jot down anything that comes to mind. I try to keep it neat... but pretty quickly it become scribbles of notes all over the place

Then on a separate new piece of paper, I start the extremely difficult task of organizing the mindless scribbles into a plan.

It's worked out pretty well for me up till now... But I do want to attempt to use some kind of mind mapping tool some time in the near future.

Who knows... It might even help me keep more organized.

- Trevor
- Thanks
- 1 reply
Signature

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

WSO - The Secret To Boatloads Of Free Targeted Traffic! Step-By-Step Guide!
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6319434].message }}
- Paul Myers 12 years ago
  
  Trevor,
  
  Try organizing it with index cards. You might find that makes the task MUCH easier. I did.
  
  Focus in on a topic and jot down anything that comes to mind. I try to keep it neat... but pretty quickly it become scribbles of notes all over the place.
  
  If that doesn't happen, you're not doing it right.
  
  Paul
  
  Thanks
  
  Signature
  
  .
  Stop by Paul's Pub - my little hangout on Facebook.
  
  {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6319444].message }}
Gerald Arno Banned 12 years ago

I love to use mind42 which is totally free ad helps me to stay organized.

First of all, I do some brainstorming on the topics I intend to write a thread, offer, product, etc. The best place to do that is where it's quiet and where your ideas flow without interruptions.

The second thing I do is to write down some broad ideas on how I'll do it and what topics to cover. I never leave my house without a pen and a piece of paper Ideas that are not hold are useless and won't generate you money.

The third step is cut those broad ideas into small pieces. Mind42.com is a great, free tool that you can use to layout a foundation for your product.

Planning, laying out the exact steps is mandatory to success.
- [ 2 ] Thanks
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6319455].message }}
Krisz Rokk 12 years ago

I use a journal - good old pen and paper
And when it comes to giving ideas a structure I use FreeMind Mapping.
- Thanks
- 1 reply
Signature

SYSTEMS Beat Random Guessing

The Ultimate Marketing Systems Toolkit
Twitter | Facebook | iTunes
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6319707].message }}
- JohnMcCabe 12 years ago
  
  I learned Paul's method what seems like a long time ago from one of his courses. The index cards always gave me trouble (think "52 Pickup"), so I made a little tweak. Instead of the cards, I use packs of 3x5 sticky notes and a wall in my office instead of the kitchen table. Same theory, but less danger of a klutz move wiping out a few hours of work.
  
  I'm currently using Xmind for mind mapping. Similar to Freemind, also free, but opens more formats.
  
  For smaller projects, the legal pad is as far as it gets.
  
  Thanks
  
  {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6319949].message }}
blillard 12 years ago

There is something about paper and pen for me, I can type all my ideas out but for somereason they just get lost on my Hdd.
- Thanks
- 1 reply
Signature
[WSO] This Has To Be The EASIEST List Building Out Right Now?
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6545225].message }}
- philrry 12 years ago
  
  I use Freemind its easy to use and best of all free. I make several different maps for different projects then link them all in a master mind map.
  
  Thanks
  
  {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6545253].message }}
Rostonix 12 years ago

Mindmeister for iPad is the best tool I used
- Thanks
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6545269].message }}
sfx1971 12 years ago

I like to brainstorm on a piece of paper and convert it to a mindmap to add structure and order. ithoughtshd on the ipad is awesome mind mapping software and only costs a few dollars

Posted from Warrior Forum Reader for Android
- Thanks
Signature
>> Great value solos that convert!
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6545357].message }}
Mark Gray 12 years ago

My favourite mind mapping software is Edraw (Flow Chart and Diagram Software, FREE Examples Download) using their mind-mapping software.

You can embed anything anywhere, you can link to other mind-maps etc i find it invaluable.

Mark
- Thanks
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6545862].message }}
williamk Banned 12 years ago

I am using freemind. And it works the best for me. But I know guys who just use excel or notepad to keep track.
You can also try gnatt project.
- Thanks
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6551261].message }}
Rob Whisonant 12 years ago

I use Evernote. Love it. I also use dial2do to send in voice notes that are transcribed and placed in Evernote when I am on the go.
- Thanks
Signature
FREE Email Marketing Quick Start Course! Start Building a Profitable Email List Today!
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6551437].message }}