selling information- when most information is freely available

Time is money. If you can provide someone with information in an organized way so that it saves time, you have a product. The price that you can charge for that product depends on demand and how long someone would have to look for the information through free channels.

Ideally, however, your product should contain some information that is not easily obtainable through a Google search.

Yes, information is free online but it is not usually presented in a systematic step by step approach. If you look for free information you will often find that a key piece is missing or not explained very well. The other problem is that much information online is outdated and no longer works the way that it should. For example I could go and search Google for Facebook marketing and find tons articles that are still ranking even though the methods no longer work. I would have to hunt around for the right information from among the trash.

Many info marketers that hang out here are selling snake oil like weightloss, make money online, law of attraction, dating, disease cures, etc.... Don't confuse those idiots with the legitimate world of info products.

If you wanted to build your own shed and you go to the hardware store and buy a how-to book or you pay for the info online, that is an info product. It's just that the production value that goes into that kind of thing requires a higher bar of entry than being an idiot typing out a .pdf file on how to meditate for money to enter your life.

Authority.
Structure.
Production value.
Completeness.

Information is meaningless. It's worth $10 an hour. KNOWLEDGE is priceless. It's what you do WITH the information, every person can add unique value. You are adding unique value to the world, but your life is free is it not.

A few things for you to think about.

If people can wash their car for free, why are car washes so popular?

If people can cook for themselves, why are restaurants and cafes so popular?

If people can clean their own house, why are cleaners so popular?

Simple.

People pay for convenience. If you can give them all the information they need in a nice, clear and concise manner, then many will happily pay for that convenience.

Yes, information is freely available on the internet. But too much information is there. People pay for good quality information or the information that they really are searching and save alot of precious time. They have to spend time to read all the relevant and irrelevant information before they get what they want.

Customers with wallets in their hands usually need more than just an article or two to solve their issues - although there's a lot of free information it's either a) low quality b) missing parts c) unspecialized d) requires hard research.

It's anything like buying an ebook specialized on a specific cure and problem filled with case studies, examples and so forth. Quality products take a lot of time to create, and they will be truly unique and uncomparable with anything free online.

Perhaps you're not used to buying quality products seeing there's lots of crap online lol.

I personally as a customer do try to learn for free online but sometimes you need something more of quality and depth then free articles or videos can provide.

People don't buy information. They buy solutions to problems or increased pleasure.

Good timing, I was just talking about this topic to another marketer.

First, you have the wrong mindset.

As one pointed out, we're selling solutions not information.

But to keep it simple, let's say we are selling information and let's use the theory you gave us.

Now, if what you say is true...

... No one will go to a restaurant to eat because they can just find the recipe on the internet

... No one will pay lawn mowers, plumbers, painters to do their job because again, they can just learn how to do it themselves.

... No one will to go school because AGAIN, the information is all over the internet.

So to answer your question.

We are selling:

1. Conviency
2. Solutions
3. Action plans
and so and so on which ultimately leads to solution anyway.

BIG TIP: When it comes to marketing or selling. Paid product has more perceive value than free stuff. It's just the way it is.

If I wanted to learn how to create an HTML website I can google different things to figure out how to do it.

I can find out whats needed for a basic website
I can then find out how to change the background color
I can find out how to create a menu
I can find out how create an image gallery
I can find out how to load a form onto my website
I can figure out how CSS affects the website
etc
etc

Or I can go to Udemy and purchase a step-by-step course with the systematic approach to building a full fledged website from scratch for $20.

One of those ways will probably save me a lot of time. Everything costs time and money. A lot of times you are just spending money to save time.

Yes, Google is big search engine and you can get every information needed. There is not need to sell information or buy information. Some people purchase unnecessary things which are already available on search engines.

If you know how to filter and combine the information in the right way is like to put the water in a well done bottle and deliver it straight to your home.

Most of people would buy it

fahadabrarkhan,

Let me ask you a question: Why are you asking this question in the forum and then waiting for the answer to be given to you?

Why don't you just Google your question? Your answer is online somewhere if you have the patience and determination to find it.

Here are the reasons you are willing to pay for free information:

1. Convenience. It takes time and effort to dig for information online. Most people would rather have it given to them on a silver platter, even if it costs something.

2. Uncertainty. Often people don't know what they want. They go online to discover, to find new things, to get information they are seeking but sometimes don't even know how to ask the right questions.

3. Credibility. People like to be fed by experts, especially as they seek technical or specialized information. They want a "tour guide" who speaks from the position of authority.

4. Context. Sometimes, information taken out of context can be anything from useless to dangerous. People are willing to pay for their information to be put into a framework that makes sense and is timely for the moment.

5. Purpose. Information in a vacuum is not usually very helpful but often that is what is found online - tidbits, facts, snippets, and data. Without purpose and intent attached, the info is quite meaningless.

6. Editorial. Many people spend money to hear what an expert in the niche says about something. People want the human touch, the analysis, the review, the critique of the lifeless information.

7. Presentation. Most information is pretty boring and hard to assimilate just on it's own. But present that same information in a new, exciting, visually stimulating or fun way and it is much easier to digest.

8. Condensed. The sheer volume of information in any field conceivable online is mind boggling. People will pay handsomely for someone to cut through all the clutter and just hand them the condensed, authoritative, "meat only" version for their consumption.

9. Where to look. Anyone can find information online but people pay others to put them on the right path. The expert knows where to look. Often the novice has no clue and doesn't want to spend the time to learn.

10. Instant access. When you gotta have information right now and you can't wait, so you pay for the privilege to have someone hand it to you. Sure, you could find it yourself later - but later is not always an option.



Not at all!

The key is finding the right audience that absolutely needs water or air right now. That audience exists in every market. It is your calling as a marketer to understand where the demand in the market lies and how to get in front of those people with your offer.

Steve

Why would I hire a Plumber for my toilet when I know how to do it myself ?

Because it is more convenient and easier for me to do that and I'm lazy

True enough I reckon I could Google, "how to make gasoline," and get the information I asked. But that doesn't fill my gas tank.

And, even Google monetizes all that free information they have available at their algorithms.

I go to a doctor, and pay them for their knowledge - that's the psychology behind selling information.

Peace

People pay for information not because information is free around the web but people pay to get resultd,try to copy a system that works.

There's a ton of great knowledge and responses here in this thread and I thought I'd just add my 2 cents..

There are 2 main reasons people will buy information that is already out there from free..

Reason #1: People want packages of information that is all in one place. Usually, in order to find out everything you need to know on one topic, you have to hit like 20-30 blogs, youtube videos, articles, etc..

If you can provide someone with a package of everything they're looking for in one spot, they are more likely to pay you to save all that time..

Reason #2: People buy from other people who they believe in. If you can sell yourself, then you can sell anything as the follow up. This means that if you provide sincere communication, excellent training, and huge amount of support to your audience, they will soon become your customers!

People want someone to believe in, not something.. sell yourself, and everything else falls into place

Awesome stuff so far in this thread. I'd only add this:

People will ultimately pay (and pay a lot) for access to an expert who cares about them. That's more important than the raw info. Think about the IM folks you consider to be your "guys" (or "gals"). They have an interesting personality, they focus on your needs and they are there for you when you need them.

*That's* what people pay for. Be that, and Google is no competitor at all.

Yes most of the information is free but how long will it take you to compile all the information together to get the answers you are looking for and are you going to test this information yourself to see if will bring results. When we buy information its because someone already did the ground work for us. We paying for all the researching and testing took place to put this information together for you so it be less of a grunt work. Time is money!

You can search all you want freely as you want for information online. But if you want specialized knowledge from a particular expert in your field eventually you are going to have to pay. You can learn a lot of stuff online, but that don't make it true and useful information. Whereas you can learn from a particular coach or somebody in your niche that knows what they are doing, and they can save you a lot of time and headaches and money getting no where. The decision is your. When I first started online I all I had was free information and that led me to analysis mode, and a lot of confusion. When I started getting specialized knowledge from particular sources thing got a lot clearer. So the choice is your, learn things the hard way, or short cut your path to success?

One of the big differences between free information (at least the vast majority of it) and information products is that effective paid info products are selling a solution that promises to help your customers achieve a desired transformation from where they are today to where they want to be easier, faster and/or more effectively.

What this means is that you (as an information publisher) are packaging information into a usable, testable and effective system, progression or set of tips that will help your prospect achieve their desired outcome to a greater level than any once piece (which they may find free) online.

So, you are actually targeting clear end transformational outcomes (lose weight, feel better, look better, get a date, become more confident, have more money, etc...) with step-by-step help offering more hope to your customer backed by tests and proof (ideally) so they can be confident you will help them achieve their highly desired outcome

Free information (for the most part unless it is packaged in the same way as above) does not accomplish this psychologically in the minds of prospets

Jeff

absolutely true