How Do You Value Information?

24 replies
So what's the real difference between a $8000 coaching program and a $7 WSO....

Both products are information. But how do you decide what is worth 8 grand and what is worth under $100?

For me, I look at multiple factors including the creator, value of the sales material itself, testimonials, and if they use what they teach.

How do you decide on the perceived value of the information you buy?
#information #marketing
  • Profile picture of the author nicholasb
    The value is not determined by the amount of videos PDFs or whatever is included inside the course, the value is determined by the results it will help you get.

    I have a one-hour video that I sell for 200 bucks the method taught has generated me tens of thousands of dollars. To sell it for $1,000 would be a steal.
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  • Profile picture of the author bss2t
    Nobody is going to give their A game up for $7. Too many people would get the info and it would become an unsustainable model. The best coaches will save the best info for their students, and that's what you're paying for.
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  • Profile picture of the author Greedy
    - Reviews

    - Sales Copy

    - Presentation

    - User's history

    Those are the big 4 for me.
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  • Profile picture of the author Greg guitar
    There isn't much information imo that is worth 4 figures just for the information; anyone in the IM space for a little while is probably going to know most of the key info in the $2k products anyway. Information isn't the key missing piece for most people; we probably have more than we'll ever need or use; what we often lack is the support needed to move past whatever sticking point comes up when trying to take action on the info.

    Therefore, I think what takes information into the realm where it might be worth investing 4 figures, is combining it with true personal coaching.

    Having said that, most so called "coaching" in the IM space is fraudulent imo. Sounds harsh, right? But I say it because I see so many "coaching" offers that don't actually involve one on one, unscripted interaction between the coach and client.

    Such coaches might have a fair claim to the title of a "teacher" with students, but they are not true coaches with clients. A coach learns about the client and their own unique personal strengths and challenges, then helps them overcome their obstacles in a way that is elegantly tailored by the coach for that client alone. Anything less and the words "coach" and "client" are lies.

    In other words, people have learned to embrace the concept of charging more by slapping a members area together with a few videos, scheduling a few group calls, and putting the "coaching" label on the new packaging of the same old same old. Sometimes they'll commit to sticking around the calls long enough to "answer every question", but with perhaps 100 people on a call, that is a rather empty gesture, since most questions would have led to a more in depth conversation with multiple insights gained, had it been one on one, but in a group, the answers will be brief and probably incomplete compared to the help that is really needed.

    In other words, my advice is to save your money when someone wants to sell you high priced information about IM. It is almost never worth it, and most often you'll already know 90% of what you pay the high price for.

    And if you want coaching, it can be great, but be careful not to accept someone's word that their "coaching" is for real, and be aware that most "coaching programs" in IM are fake. Make sure you are getting plenty of one on one support, and feel the coach out to make sure they are really committed to getting you to your goal. If they don't ask you about your goals, among other questions that show an interest in getting to know you personally, walk away; they are probably just selling an expensive class that, at the end of the day, won't provide you with any more value than a $17 WSO.
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  • Profile picture of the author datingworld
    I think No information or coaching is valuable until it give you results.
    Coaching program or information might depend more on you rather than the provider, if one is not able to take action after coaching / information, then its solely the taker's fault, not the giver.
    just my thought
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  • Profile picture of the author retsced
    The way I see it, information is readily available for free all over the web - and since there's no new information in this business anyway, the content needs to be delivered by someone who's unique perspective can transform a persons business/mindset and/or life.

    I have read one paragraph statements that have had a much greater impact on my business than the majority of 100 page eBooks i've consumed over the years. That's neither here nor there though
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    for the freedoms weak people give away for safety
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  • Profile picture of the author Randall Magwood
    I just go with whatever issue is going on in my life, and finding a product that can fix it.

    The majority of the time, my decision to buy is based on the bullet points. If the bullet points highlights the issues that are plaguing me, i roll with that, look at the money back guarantee, and then make a firm decision to order.
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  • Profile picture of the author bizoppmaster
    What is the end result your are going to get buying a $7 WSO or getting personal 1-on-1 coaching?
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  • Profile picture of the author JasonBennet
    It will be dependent on whether the seller is going to use his personal time to guide his customers on making money online. People are more willing to pay thousands of dollars for an offline workshop because the participant will be learning from the teacher directly. I think it depends on how the packaging is done.

    Most of the times, these knowledge that is being share during live seminars can be found on a $47 ebook too. It is just the way that marketers package it.
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    • Profile picture of the author Plugin Profits
      I don't think any any IM info or coaching is worth $8k!

      IM info is not that complicated or secret or technical and pretty easy to figure out (the same stuff being repeated forever).

      I'd sooner invest that $8k in computers and software and advertising.

      Information I value is what gets results, and that's only known after the fact not before.
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      • Profile picture of the author Greg guitar
        Originally Posted by Plugin Profits View Post

        I don't think any any IM info or coaching is worth $8k!

        IM info is not that complicated or secret or technical and pretty easy to figure out (the same stuff being repeated forever).

        I'd sooner invest that $8k in computers and software and advertising.

        Information I value is what gets results, and that's only known after the fact not before.
        I totally agree, in almost all cases. However, coaching from Jay Abraham (on marketing in general; not specifically IM, but it would apply), would be worth a whole lot more than the $8k.
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      • Profile picture of the author nicholasb
        I've spent 8k on an IM coaching before, it was the greatest investment I've ever made, my income shot up like a rocket and more than doubled in less than 3 weeks.

        I'm actually planning on buying another $3,500 product with no coaching involved, cause I know it will increase my income further.

        There's a reason I make up to 35k a month and will soon be earning 50k a month then 100k a month.

        And I can tell you this, it's not from buying $7 WSO's

        Originally Posted by Plugin Profits View Post

        I don't think any any IM info or coaching is worth $8k!

        IM info is not that complicated or secret or technical and pretty easy to figure out (the same stuff being repeated forever).

        I'd sooner invest that $8k in computers and software and advertising.

        Information I value is what gets results, and that's only known after the fact not before.
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        • Profile picture of the author Greg guitar
          Originally Posted by nicholasb View Post

          I've spent 8k on an IM coaching before, it was the greatest investment I've ever made, my income shot up like a rocket and more than doubled in less than 3 weeks.

          I'm actually planning on buying another $3,500 product with no coaching involved, cause I know it will increase my income further.

          There's a reason I make up to 35k a month and will soon be earning 50k a month then 100k a month.

          And I can tell you this, it's not from buying $7 WSO's
          I stand corrected; I guess there are some IM coaching programs worth multiple thousands. That is truly inspiring; congratulations on finding a great coach, and more importantly, running with the program in order to get such great results!
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        • Profile picture of the author Plugin Profits
          Originally Posted by nicholasb View Post

          I've spent 8k on an IM coaching before, it was the greatest investment I've ever made, my income shot up like a rocket and more than doubled in less than 3 weeks.

          I'm actually planning on buying another $3,500 product with no coaching involved, cause I know it will increase my income further.

          There's a reason I make up to 35k a month and will soon be earning 50k a month then 100k a month.

          And I can tell you this, it's not from buying $7 WSO's

          Do you mind if I ask if the information you got from the coaching was truly unique and 'secrets' that couldn't be found anywhere else? Did they give you very specific steps to copy (copying them)?

          In the past I had a guy that contacted me on a forum and told me he'd share with me what he did to make money in the Finance CPA niche. It was nothing like any of the normal IM products or 'coaching' that I had seen. Instead, he actually showed me Exactly how to replicate what was working so great for him. Exactly the method, who to sign up as an affiliate for, what to say to them, how to set up my own lead forms and landing page and exactly what to say on it for the best conversions, what type of keywords to bid on, how much to bid, how to structure my ads etc. He didn't charge me anything for the info, it was 100% free.

          He didn't leave anything out for fear of competition or anything. It was Basically a very close replica of his campaigns.

          From following everything he told me to do and to change after looking over what I created, I started making money from it and made $8k profit from it the first month with about a 300 to 400% ROI.

          It had really taught me how much it just comes down to having the right recipe.

          Most people, teachers and coaches would never go that far cause they don't want actual competition or to give away their most valued secrets, especially in the $10 guides! That's why they're so vague and general!

          The reason he did was cause he had the incentive that he was starting his own CPA company soon and wanted to train high performing affiliates to be a part of it so he could get a percentage of all their efforts. Good reason!

          So then I wonder what these $8k coaching gurus do for their clients? Not that there's anything wrong with thinking for yourself, testing yourself and being unique or creative. Though for $8k they better be revealing their best secrets and shortcuts to replicate that can't even be found anywhere else! Not just giving encouragement or structure.
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  • The method I use is simple. Get the information. Use the information. Check the results the information provided.

    The evaluation is forthright. Good result = good information; Poor result = poor information.
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  • Profile picture of the author AndrewCavanagh
    Originally Posted by thedanbrown View Post

    So what's the real difference between a $8000 coaching program and a $7 WSO....

    The biggest difference is not the information it's your committment
    to using it.

    Someone who pays $8,000 for information is far more likely to use
    that information.

    When you pay just $7 you're far more likely to have a take it or leave
    it approach.


    There are exceptions though and good information is genuinely
    valuable regardless of the price you pay for it as long as you're own
    committment is there.

    Here's an example...

    Years ago I bought a DVD called $1 million dollars worth of free publicity
    by Paul Hartunian.

    I think the DVD cost around $10...it might have been $20.

    After watching it I realized it did have some good info but it was a
    lead generator for his full $1,000 course.

    Did I say "I don't have $1,000 for the full course. I can't do this."

    NO.

    I just worked with the information that was in the DVD, started
    sending press releases and trying different things.

    3 weeks in I knew I'd hit a winner when the phone started ringing
    at around 6am and kept ringing all day with radio stations wanting
    to interview me.

    From there I ended up appearing regularly on a show that fed to
    over 40 commercial radio stations across the country...for over
    two years!


    The difference is not in the information...it's in the commitment
    of the person who gets the information.

    Before you buy any information product you should have a plan
    for how you're going to use it.

    And you should commit to getting some real results.

    Kindest regards,
    Andrew Cavanagh
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    • Profile picture of the author Jason Kanigan
      Originally Posted by AndrewCavanagh View Post

      The biggest difference is not the information it's your committment
      to using it.

      Someone who pays $8,000 for information is far more likely to use
      that information.

      When you pay just $7 you're far more likely to have a take it or leave
      it approach.


      There are exceptions though and good information is genuinely
      valuable regardless of the price you pay for it as long as you're own
      committment is there.

      Here's an example...

      Years ago I bought a DVD called $1 million dollars worth of free publicity
      by Paul Hartunian.

      I think the DVD cost around $10...it might have been $20.

      After watching it I realized it did have some good info but it was a
      lead generator for his full $1,000 course.

      Did I say "I don't have $1,000 for the full course. I can't do this."

      NO.

      I just worked with the information that was in the DVD, started
      sending press releases and trying different things.

      3 weeks in I knew I'd hit a winner when the phone started ringing
      at around 6am and kept ringing all day with radio stations wanting
      to interview me.

      From there I ended up appearing regularly on a show that fed to
      over 40 commercial radio stations across the country...for over
      two years!


      The difference is not in the information...it's in the commitment
      of the person who gets the information.

      Before you buy any information product you should have a plan
      for how you're going to use it.

      And you should commit to getting some real results.


      Kindest regards,
      Andrew Cavanagh
      Agreed. Also with nicholasb above.

      I've been thinking about this lately, and one conclusion I've come to is that the value is relative to where you are in your own development. Let me explain: if you are making $2000 or less a month, then an $8000 investment is scary. It's a big deal. And it's right on the edge of your possibility zone. But a $200 product now that is well inside the comfort and possibility zones, and if you implement it you'll probably make some sort of proportional additional income. Say another $500 to $1000 per month from it.

      Later, when this business has grown to $10,000 per month, the $8000 investment has changed. Actually it's your perception of it that has changed: your cashflow and mentality now views it the way you saw a $200 investment awhile back. In fact, you probably wouldn't "waste your time" with the $200 product now. And the $8000 product gives you back the same scale of increase as the $200 one did. People at this level are comfortable with the larger investment.

      Another difference is the $8000 product creator is comfortable asking for it.

      What do you think?
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      • Profile picture of the author James Clark
        I don't teach the perceived value thing. And I will give you my reason. Keep in mind I'm not going to name anyone in-particularly. But if the perceived value of a piece of information or a product is worth $997.00. Why don't you sell it for that amount? It doesn't make sense to me.

        We know a lot about human nature today. In the last five years we have learn more about human nature than in the last 35 years.

        People are addicted to learning. They just want to learn and keep learning, their is no stopping this madness. If a $8000 seminar or coaching program gets you to take action by reminding you every week to do something with (in the homework) the information, its worth the money. Just my two cents.
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        • Profile picture of the author Steve B
          I have always subscribed to the idea that value should be determined by the information user and not the information provider.

          If the user decides the information is of value he will determine how much he is willing to pay for it. The price is always market driven.

          If no one buys your $2,000 course, then it's not really worth $2,000 . . . is it? It could be worth that much next year, or ten years from now; but today the value in the eyes of the purchaser is not there.

          Therein lies the rub . . . sellers trying to convince buyers that their information is worth _____________ .

          I'm convinced the reason internet marketing information is usually valued so high is this: internet marketers attempting to use the age old sales tactic of planting a high value in the mind of the prospect so that when the actual sales price is given it seems like a real bargain.

          Just my thoughts -

          Steve
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          Steve Browne, online business strategies, tips, guidance, and resources
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  • Profile picture of the author DanteRomero
    I have 5 people I focus on learning from. I ignore the rest. These 5 have proven themselves time and time again, and are all outrageously successful using what they teach.

    All else is ignored entirely.
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    "Perfection isn't important. Improvement is."

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  • Profile picture of the author carnal
    I tend to do my research before I decide to test any product out.

    I also try to observe the seller’s attitude, if the seller seems dodgy I don’t buy the product.

    I also look for money back guarantee.
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  • Profile picture of the author Willie Crawford
    I look at the benefit that they will gain from using my information...
    as prescribed.

    It's really a matter of your ability to demonstrate value.

    The SAME information may be worth $8000 to one person,
    but is worth absolutely nothing to the person who doesn't
    use it. So, I price as if the buyer were going to use the
    information as prescribed and reap the full benefit. The
    person who won't use it really isn't my target customer.

    Willie
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    Click To Go BIG!

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  • Profile picture of the author serryjw
    As always, Aaron is correct...No matter what you do there are baby steps. ( To use Aaron's example,) You can't stuff $2000 worth of information into the brain of a student that is ready for $200 of information..They simply won't 'get it'.
    Going back to the OP: Think of Shark Tank. There are many investors out there. What makes Shark Tank special is they are giving their lifetime of knowledge and success with their money. ... IF they can prevent you from making costly mistakes, what is that worth?
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