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I'm getting really discouraged about my product!

by darktemplar
21 replies
Hey guys,

I think I need some kind of encouragement or something? I've finally busted through the block of procrastination and not getting things done in the past week or so, and have the first 30 or so pages done of my eBook/workbook product. I'm really starting to doubt it though, because the only other website I've seen, that really dominates my niche, really has their stuff together. They give away an eBook that's like 156 pages that's just completely packed with the information that they have, plus all of the lessons.

I feel like they don't, however, market very well - but I could be mistaken. I just feel like I can't compete in terms of the quality and amount of information that they have, and I'm just really discouraged. Any advice?

Thanks a ton,
SS
#discouraged #product
  • Profile picture of the author bobcath
    You have partly answered the question yourself. You say they dont market very well so there's your 'in'.

    The other important thing for you to check is the volume of demand for the type of information you are writing about. If there is lots of demand and a weak major competitor in terms of marketing, then I suspect you may do better than you think!

    Check first though

    Good luck
    Regards
    Bobby

    Originally Posted by darktemplar View Post


    I feel like they don't, however, market very well - but I could be mistaken. I just feel like I can't compete in terms of the quality and amount of information that they have, and I'm just really discouraged. Any advice?

    Thanks a ton,
    SS
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  • Profile picture of the author Pete Grantaire
    If you don't think you can produce a better product, then why would you even bother? That's just doing a disservice to your customers and yourself, in my opinion.

    Study your competition's product so that you know it inside and out. Ask yourself these questions: Did they present their knowledge in a way that was not only informative but enjoyable? What did I have trouble understanding, and how can I do a better job relating to my audience than they did? Are they communicating in a manner that the target audience will positively respond to?

    Remember, quality isn't just the amount of knowledge you provide, but how you provide it. I bet I did more for my vocabulary with classic novels than with a dictionary. Why? Because they are engaging and fun, whereas a dictionary isn't. The dictionary obviously has more words, and in terms of "pure" information wins hands down, but that doesn't mean anyone is going to read it.

    If, after thinking about your dilemma, you still don't see a way to provide a better product, I'd recommend you just move on to the next project. Otherwise you are wasting your time and your customers' money.

    Originally Posted by darktemplar View Post

    Hey guys,

    I think I need some kind of encouragement or something? I've finally busted through the block of procrastination and not getting things done in the past week or so, and have the first 30 or so pages done of my eBook/workbook product. I'm really starting to doubt it though, because the only other website I've seen, that really dominates my niche, really has their stuff together. They give away an eBook that's like 156 pages that's just completely packed with the information that they have, plus all of the lessons.

    I feel like they don't, however, market very well - but I could be mistaken. I just feel like I can't compete in terms of the quality and amount of information that they have, and I'm just really discouraged. Any advice?

    Thanks a ton,
    SS
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    • Profile picture of the author darktemplar
      Originally Posted by Pete Grantaire View Post

      If you don't think you can produce a better product, then why would you even bother? That's just doing a disservice to your customers and yourself, in my opinion.

      Study your competition's product so that you know it inside and out. Ask yourself these questions: Did they present their knowledge in a way that was not only informative but enjoyable? What did I have trouble understanding, and how can I do a better job relating to my audience than they did? Are they communicating in a manner that the target audience will positively respond to?

      Remember, quality isn't just the amount of knowledge you provide, but how you provide it. I bet I did more for my vocabulary with classic novels than with a dictionary. Why? Because they are engaging and fun, whereas a dictionary isn't. The dictionary obviously has more words, and in terms of "pure" information wins hands down, but that doesn't mean anyone is going to read it.

      If, after thinking about your dilemma, you still don't see a way to provide a better product, I'd recommend you just move on to the next project. Otherwise you are wasting your time and your customers' money.
      That gave me a little bit to think about. Their product reads like a dictionary. It's very dry and you take one look at in and think, "Oh ****, what have I gotten myself into! This looks so complicated!"

      But I do think I can relate more to my audience, because I am trying to offer practical advice and a how to at the same time. I am trying to make it informative as well as entertaining but I want people to actually IMPLEMENT what I offer in the book. Theirs is a textbook manual and workbook, mine is more of an advice manual and workbook - but to a lesser degree if that makes any sense.

      Any other advice would be much appreciated!

      SS
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      • Profile picture of the author Pete Grantaire
        Excellent. See, you do know what you need to do to produce a superior product! Sounds like you've got nothing to be discouraged about. Focus on providing a learning experience for your readers that enables them to really implement what you know, not just memorize it, and I think you'll create something great. Good luck!

        Originally Posted by darktemplar View Post

        That gave me a little bit to think about. Their product reads like a dictionary. It's very dry and you take one look at in and think, "Oh ****, what have I gotten myself into! This looks so complicated!"

        But I do think I can relate more to my audience, because I am trying to offer practical advice and a how to at the same time. I am trying to make it informative as well as entertaining but I want people to actually IMPLEMENT what I offer in the book. Theirs is a textbook manual and workbook, mine is more of an advice manual and workbook - but to a lesser degree if that makes any sense.

        Any other advice would be much appreciated!

        SS
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        • Profile picture of the author Kevin AKA Hubcap
          IMO you don't need to make a superior product. Don't get me wrong...I'm not saying to put out junk but don't spend your time trying to make the "perfect" product.

          I don't know your niche but you might do better by using an approach that's different from your competitor.

          They speak to one section of the niche you speak to another.

          Just a thought,

          Kevin


          Originally Posted by Pete Grantaire View Post

          Excellent. See, you do know what you need to do to produce a superior product! Sounds like you've got nothing to be discouraged about. Focus on providing a learning experience for your readers that enables them to really implement what you know, not just memorize it, and I think you'll create something great. Good luck!
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          • Profile picture of the author Pete Grantaire
            I'd never recommend someone create the "perfect" product. It can't be done. I do, however, believe that if you aren't adding value of some sort then it probably isn't worth doing.

            Now, I would suggest that targeting a different section of the niche is making a better product. If you're making it easier for a certain type of person, say less technically minded folks like myself, understand and use information, haven't you created a better product for that group? Haven't you added value? I'd say so. Will it be better for everyone? Nope. But I'm willing to bet a lot of people will appreciate it.

            But that's just my way of looking at the situation; your mileage may vary.

            Originally Posted by Kevin AKA Hubcap View Post

            IMO you don't need to make a superior product. Don't get me wrong...I'm not saying to put out junk but don't spend your time trying to make the "perfect" product.

            I don't know your niche but you might do better by using an approach that's different from your competitor.

            They speak to one section of the niche you speak to another.

            Just a thought,

            Kevin
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            • Profile picture of the author Lance K
              Are you sure that this is a viable market? If you only know of one competitor that dominates the market and you don't think they market very well, that makes me think one of two things...
              1. The market isn't viable
              2. There's more to their marketing funnel than you know
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            • Profile picture of the author jasonl70
              There is room for more then 1 person in any niche, as well as room for various products of various quality/quantity/etc.

              Heck, A lot of people may not even know this competitor even exists. And contrary to what a lot of people think, there is often room for 'me-too' products (you don't always NEED to offer a better product). As an affiliate marketer, I've successfully promoted plenty of 'normal'/mee-too in markets with tons of competing/similar products. Question: how many brands of peanut butter are on your gorcers shelf? Or brands of bread?

              Originally Posted by darktemplar View Post

              It's excellent in terms of information and a workbook. But it's just completely dry and reads like a dictionary. And it's so expensive or what you get ($300). I'm not sure what to offer my product at, but NOWHERE NEAR that for that information. I would have bought that product but it is just absolutely way too expensive. I want to offer something people can AFFORD, which I think will yield more sales, and that is not so dry either.

              SS
              I won't ask how you know how dry their product is when you haven't bought it. But I'd like to point a few things out:

              1) no one knows how 'dry' and overwhelming it is until they have already purchased it. In otherwords, it doesn't have much bearing on the sales - only the returns. And since it seems to give a lot of good info, it probably doesn't have a problem with it's return rates.

              2) you are making the mistake of assuming you are the market. ie, you did not want to spend $300 on this, so you assume others do not as well.

              3) you are assuming that lower prices would generate enough extra sales volume to offset the reduced profit per sale. This is a dangerous assumption to make. In all honesty, I usually believe this is trap that people fall into simply because they are afraid to ask for higher prices (been there myself).

              4) You say $300 is too much for this info. Only the market can tell you what it's worth.

              I'm not saying there isn't a market for a $99 or lower product - there probably is. And if you don't think you can deliver quite as much info as these guys, then you can probably build a good case for marketing a lower ticket product. But make that decision with a clear mind, not one that may be hindered by premature assumptions on the market, etc.
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              -Jason

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  • Profile picture of the author Andy Fletcher
    If your competitors' products are excellent but the marketing sucks why not affiliate market their stuff?
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    • Profile picture of the author darktemplar
      Originally Posted by Andy Fletcher View Post

      If your competitors' products are excellent but the marketing sucks why not affiliate market their stuff?
      It's excellent in terms of information and a workbook. But it's just completely dry and reads like a dictionary. And it's so expensive or what you get ($300). I'm not sure what to offer my product at, but NOWHERE NEAR that for that information. I would have bought that product but it is just absolutely way too expensive. I want to offer something people can AFFORD, which I think will yield more sales, and that is not so dry either.

      SS
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  • Profile picture of the author PlaneWryter
    Hey Darktemplar,

    (Or, should you be addressed as 'Simon'?)

    This note is based on a similar experience.

    You may already be aware that many online info products are ghost written. Regretfully, many ghost writers substitute bulk for insight; verbosity for research; and writing skill for subject knowledge.

    If any/all of these are applicable to your competitior, then you have the basis for an advantage. If you write better...more lucidly & clearly...then you can complete on accessibility. If you're an expert...compete on expertise. If you have unmatched skills, knowledge and experience, then you can compete on that basis.

    Another thing which might work for you (clearly, I don't know your niche) is to change the breadth/depth of your product & offer as compared to your competitor's. For example: if they target a broad niche, you can narrow your niche (and vice-versa). "Oil Change Made Easy" is very different from "Oil Change Made Easy for Women." Or, "Oil Change Made Easy for Seniors." Or, "Oil Change Made Easy for College Students."

    Hope this helps.

    Good hunting out there,
    PlaneWryter
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  • Profile picture of the author AdvancedSamurai
    I think I need some kind of encouragement or something?
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  • Profile picture of the author Kazooli
    Hey...never be discouraged. Start promoting your ebook as a help book that you give to your readers while you keep refining it. Make sure you share something valuable even if it is a 30 page of a personal experience.

    Actually I would be scared reading the 150 page one. I would run away!
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  • Profile picture of the author lakshaybehl
    Who reads a 155 page ebook anyway? Let alone a free one. If i pay $500 for a book and its like 250 pages, I go through 10 pages at a time, and many times I do not end up reading it at all.

    The point of they might have so much info- but your USP could be simply tightly focusing that info and presenting it in a digestible, entertaining format. Your $27 ebook... 50 pages one, can beat the **** out of them.

    Especially if this caters to a particular section of your market.

    -Lakshay
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  • Profile picture of the author Don Schenk
    Some 30+ years ago I bought a business course that was waaaay too dry and boring. The information was accurate and valuable, but the course was such a chore to go through.

    I wanted to know why I found it dry so I wouldn't make that mistake same with my writing and audio courses.

    In comparing the dry course with ones more interesting I soon realized the "trick" is to tell stories to illustrate the techniques you would want to teach. Interesting stories, told in an interesting way hold your readers/listeners while you demonstrate some technique or strategy you are teaching.

    Can you teach the same techniques as they teach but do so with stories? This will instantly give you a better, more interesting ebook. Then market it better than they do.

    :-Don
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    • Profile picture of the author lakshaybehl
      Originally Posted by Don Schenk View Post

      Some 30+ years ago I bought a business course that was waaaay too dry and boring. The information was accurate and valuable, but the course was such a chore to go through.

      I wanted to know why I found it dry so I wouldn't make that mistake same with my writing and audio courses.

      In comparing the dry course with ones more interesting I soon realized the "trick" is to tell stories to illustrate the techniques you would want to teach. Interesting stories, told in an interesting way hold your readers/listeners while you demonstrate some technique or strategy you are teaching.

      Can you teach the same techniques as they teach but do so with stories? This will instantly give you a better, more interesting ebook. Then market it better than they do.

      :-Don
      Don, great words of wisdom.

      Really great, and this is something I have never thought about myself. Inclusing stories in products... hmm, I might have done that here or there but never done consciously.

      So now is the time to make it happen.

      Thanks
      -Lakshay
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      • Profile picture of the author darktemplar
        WOW! I can't believe all of these fantastic responses guys. Thanks so much, I read them all and thought about them as much as I could.

        PlaneWryter
        I actually did know that some eBooks are ghost written. I'm really not sure about the percentage out there that are, you'd probably have a better idea about that than I would. But you're right, I think that the best way to reach an audience opposed to straight up technicality would be to explain in the best fashion that I can that people will UNDERSTAND and will motivate them to take action and implement what they are learning. P.S. I didn't get the 'Simon' reference?

        AndyFletcher
        Actually I'm keeping that in mind - but it's really an area that I've read a lot about and implemented a lot in my life also, it's really important to me and it helped change my life for the better, and I think I could help a lot more people out if I wrote a book with techniques, information and advice based on my own experience. Their course is $300, I think they've sold it for $197 as a promo a few times, but I know that it is a good market, and though their information is technically good, I couldn't really see near as many people buying that course over something that contains nearly the same techniques but is written in a more simple fashion for anywherefrom $27 to $47, although of course I could be wrong.

        Kevin AKA Hubcap
        Thanks for that! I was so stuck on competing with technicality that didn't seem to realize that I could compete in other ways.

        AdvancedSamurai
        Thanks for the video, man!

        Jasonl70
        I actually don't KNOW that the course is so dry from buying it. I know this from a friend of a friend, that says the course is pretty much a mirror of the free 152 or whatever page eBook manual that they give away, except it goes more into specifics, but it is just as dry, long, technical, confusing although informative, and boring.

        1. That makes sense with it having a low return rate for providing a lot of information - I didn't think of that.

        2. You're right on me assuming that since I won't spend $300 on this, others wouldn't either. But I really want to make a product that is accessable to more people that don'thave that kind of money laying around also. I wouldn't spend $300 on this, and it's something I'm really into.

        3. And you're right again about assuming a lower cost would generate extra sales. It really is something that I think is ridiculous for a $300 asking price, but I also assume it is better to start at a higher price, and lower it if it doesn't sell well.

        4. Agreed on the market deciding.

        Thanks again to EVERYONE!

        SS
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    • Profile picture of the author darktemplar
      Originally Posted by Don Schenk View Post

      Some 30+ years ago I bought a business course that was waaaay too dry and boring. The information was accurate and valuable, but the course was such a chore to go through.

      I wanted to know why I found it dry so I wouldn't make that mistake same with my writing and audio courses.

      In comparing the dry course with ones more interesting I soon realized the "trick" is to tell stories to illustrate the techniques you would want to teach. Interesting stories, told in an interesting way hold your readers/listeners while you demonstrate some technique or strategy you are teaching.

      Can you teach the same techniques as they teach but do so with stories? This will instantly give you a better, more interesting ebook. Then market it better than they do.

      :-Don
      That's great advice Don! Do you have any tips or tricks that you use when implementing this?

      SS
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      • Profile picture of the author Lance K
        Originally Posted by darktemplar View Post

        That's great advice Don! Do you have any tips or tricks that you use when implementing this?

        SS

        There's a PDF in the War Room by Vin Montello titled "Seven Story Secrets That Skyrocket Sales".
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        • Profile picture of the author TravisVOX
          Originally Posted by Lance K View Post

          There's a PDF in the War Room by Vin Montello titled "Seven Story Secrets That Skyrocket Sales".
          One of the best PDF reports out there.
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  • Profile picture of the author Zeus66
    I'm weighing in late here, but consider really digging into just one or two aspects and expanding them. In other words, don't try to compete with your competitor's monster tome. Pick what you consider the one or two most essential aspects of the topic and really give your readers an in-depth view. As others mentioned, it actually may be to your advantage to be up against such a lengthy ebook. Keep yours short and to the point on purpose. Use its brevity and lack of 'fluff' as a selling point.

    John
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