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Article series. Test first, or just write it?

by Ricter
10 replies
I have in mind three, maybe four, 20-page articles that could be of value to weightlifters/bodybuilders. These would present uncommon, possibly even unique, methods for achieving certain ends, learned in over 20+ years practicing those hobbies. They would also have a very long "shelf-life", and can stand on their own merit. So I have no intention of giving them away. After those I don't see foresee writing anymore articles in that niche.

I sit towards the over-delivery end of the spectrum, so I'm not going to crank out 20 pages in an hour, not even the first draft! I estimate the first article will probably take me closer to 30 hours to complete.

Would you just "go for it" and spend 30 hours on the first article of this potential series and put it up for sale, based on your gut feeling? Or would you do some testing before you write a word?
#article #series #write
  • Profile picture of the author Bev Clement
    I have to ask why you would create a 20 page article, and who would your target market be?

    For writing that long an article, I would say you need to do some research and see if there is a market who would want to buy a long article. You are talking approx 8,000 words which isn't normal for an article. Would it be able to be broken down into smaller articles, would it be able to be used to create an ebook, all of these would need to be considered before starting. Also, the rights you want to give, and the important one how much would you charge?

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    • Profile picture of the author lakshaybehl
      Create an ebook instead... That is after you see there is demand for paid products in the niche.

      And use PPC to sell that ebook instead of creating an ebook
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    • Profile picture of the author Ricter
      Originally Posted by Bev Clement View Post

      I have to ask why you would create a 20 page article, and who would your target market be?

      For writing that long an article, I would say you need to do some research and see if there is a market who would want to buy a long article. You are talking approx 8,000 words which isn't normal for an article. Would it be able to be broken down into smaller articles, would it be able to be used to create an ebook, all of these would need to be considered before starting. Also, the rights you want to give, and the important one how much would you charge?

      Bev
      Thanks, Bev. An article would be 20 pages long because that's how many pages I think it would take to fully explain that method. The target market is, I thought I narrowed it down enough, perhaps not, weightlifters/bodybuilders.

      Breaking down one article is not really an option imho, the method presented works as a whole, or it doesn't work at all. Of course, I could break it down by paragraph, lol.

      Altogether I don't think the three/four articles would comprise a true book. It's akin to auto-mechanics let's say: an article on how to service the air conditioner, another on how to change the oil & filter, and the last article on how to fix a broken window handle. Not enough for a book on auto mechanics.

      I know nothing of rights, I'll look into that. I'm already listening to pricing tactics on this forum.

      Can I assume your short answer is, "for 30 hours of work you should test the market first"?
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      • Profile picture of the author Bev Clement
        Yes, that would be my short answer.

        But, I would doubt it is an article, I would say you could write a report/ebook on each one.

        The thing to remember is that people are looking for solutions, and having a report on one topic is the answer.

        People were asking all the time how do I create a PDF, so rather than keeping on replying I created a short report which laid it all out.

        To be truthful, I think you would be hard-pressed to find people to buy an article that long, especially if you market it as an article. I have no idea how much you would charge for an article that length, but if I was writing it as an ebook/report for 1 person you would be looking at $800 - $1000 so I would want to make that amount or more selling to a number of people.
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        • Profile picture of the author Ricter
          Originally Posted by Bev Clement View Post

          ... To be truthful, I think you would be hard-pressed to find people to buy an article that long, especially if you market it as an article. I have no idea how much you would charge for an article that length, but if I was writing it as an ebook/report for 1 person you would be looking at $800 - $1000 so I would want to make that amount or more selling to a number of people.
          I was thinking strictly along volume lines, hoping that it would sell a few hundred copies over the years. Assuming that it would sell that many I planned to ask just $10. If it's good, it will sell, that's my approach. If it's not good, why should I make more?

          But come to think of it, I'm not accounting for thievery... hmm. I'm confused, lmao.
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      • Profile picture of the author Daniel Scott
        Hey dude,

        I'm no expert, however...

        I think there's a lot of power in marketing things in a niche fashion, if your niche is big enough. Do these exercises focus on a specific part of weightlifting? Like a specific muscle group or something?

        Check out the WSO section of the forum. There's heaps of "products" that are only 20 pages that have immense value.

        I don't know where you are in your marketing journey, but sounds like you should get into creating products in that niche. You have experience, you have real-world results, and you clearly have a passion for it. Why not use all that?

        So, to answer your question - if I were in your shoes I'd be thinking about how I could turn those "articles" into products for customers. You could use one of them as a free report, for example, to build a list. Maybe make up a few more and put it into something like "The best exercises no one is teaching you" or something.

        Just ideas, and it's hard to say what you are truly wanting to get out of this endeavour. If you reply and give us a little more to work on maybe we can help more.

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      • Profile picture of the author jonparker83
        I'm writing as someone who knows more about weightlifting/bodybuilding than I do about internet marketing at this stage (although I'm still working hard to change that)

        Here are my thoughts...

        1) If you need 20 pages to explain something, then there must be a lot of science in there. If your audience don't already know this science, then maybe those 20 pages will fly right over their heads. If they do, then you don't need to tell them.

        2) I can't think of anything that has a long shelf-life in the weightlifting/bodybuilding niche.

        3) Have you been a pro-bodybuilder or is this just a hobby of yours? Where is your authority coming from?

        I'd love to see you do well especially as this combines two if my favourite things, but I think some more testing could be needed before you spend so much time on something.

        I presume you already know about websites like t-nation where even highly valuable articles referenced with many academic studies are given away free every few days?
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        • Profile picture of the author Ricter
          Thanks, Jon!

          Originally Posted by jonparker83 View Post

          I'm writing as someone who knows more about weightlifting/bodybuilding than I do about internet marketing at this stage (although I'm still working hard to change that)

          Here are my thoughts...

          1) If you need 20 pages to explain something, then there must be a lot of science in there. If your audience don't already know this science, then maybe those 20 pages will fly right over their heads. If they do, then you don't need to tell them.
          I'm willing to chance either outcome. The method works even if the first group doesn't understand the science. Say that's 10 pages they don't need. For the second group, it's just 10 pages they don't need. It's only $10, they'll keep the article, or not.

          2) I can't think of anything that has a long shelf-life in the weightlifting/bodybuilding niche.
          I can. ; )


          3) Have you been a pro-bodybuilder or is this just a hobby of yours? Where is your authority coming from?
          I have been a fitness coach, and have owned/operated/taught in two martial arts clubs. I know how to teach these methods and I've seen people use them to good results--I've seen them get "turned on". But, I have no certifications per se, no.


          I'd love to see you do well especially as this combines two if my favourite things, but I think some more testing could be needed before you spend so much time on something.

          I presume you already know about websites like t-nation where even highly valuable articles referenced with many academic studies are given away free every few days?
          I cannot let the fact that so much content is given away free online slow me down, can you? : )

          Thanks again.
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          • Profile picture of the author jonparker83
            I see your point about the two different audiences and agree that both groups would keep the article. Perhaps you might benefit from two different sales pages to target each audience though?

            What I meant with the shelf-life comment is that it's hard to keep a principle as your own. You hold copyright over a passage of text but there is no intellectual property rights associated with a principle.

            I totally agree with the fact that you can't let something like a good website and forum slow you down. It's all about how you target your market after all isn't it - I'm sure there are a lot of people who could do with the help!
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  • Profile picture of the author Charles Harper
    Curious...what did you decide to do and how did it go?

    Charles
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