Asking for Your Evaluation of My Proposed Video Course

29 replies
As always, my profuse thanks to the contributors here, first to the ones who have answered my previously-posted queries and then to all who share their knowledge and experience to help others.

I have a health and wellness Website at https://middleage.org/ that I created basically to establish myself as a knowledgeable person i that field, and an example to the visitor so that I could build an email list and then sell them related products.

Recently I asked for some feedback on my site, and got some excellent advice, including that I should offer a product that is related to the health and fitness I personally have. Based on that advice, I have tentatively decided to take the 13 sections of my site and make them into a video course. There would be about 80 videos, each about 6 minutes long, and I would offer them in a course format where they would be presented in 13 units, each with lessons. (I'm using WP Courseware.)

They would be streaming only, no downloads. If I do create this video course, then I could strip away most of the content on the site, and just have overviews for the section. Another option would be just keeping all the content as is, but emphasizing in my ad copy (popup)that most people will not follow the sections and would get lost, so it's a good investment for them to buy the course. Any suggestions?

My projected price would be $49. There are several reasons for this low price.
1) This is not going to be a "studio quality" production, but rather me scrolling down the page (with images), reading the content and making some comments. Here is a short sample of the format,
https://middleage.org/video_sample_for_my_course/
2) Because this is a digital product, once it's done, there is basically zero cost to sign someone up, so it's perhaps better to sell a lot more courses at a low price. It has been suggested that I show this course as priced at $97, and then offer a discount to $49 for the first 50 buyers or whatever. Then I could raise the price later.
3) If the price is low, I will have less people asking for refunds, as many people who get all excited about getting healthy, often burn out, and then may ask for their money back. Based on feedback which I have received on this forum, I will be offering a money-back guarantee. How long of a guarantee do you suggest?

Although I am open to suggestions, my main question is this:
if a course, produced at the quality level of the sample I have linked to, is saleable. I realize that you guys are professionals, and maybe used to high-budget HD productions, but I can't afford that right now. In addition, at least with a format of the scrolling pages and images along with my narration and comments, there would be something for the viewer to see instead of 8 hours of a talking head. So, taking all of this into consideration, do I have a saleable product, and for that low price?

Also, may I ask if you think my pacing is OK? I tried a faster pace, and was advised that it sounded phony.

To summarize, here are my questions:
1) Is my concept of putting my site in an 80-video course a valid one or not?
2) If I do, should I strip all of the info off of my site that will be in the course, or keep it on the site, believing that most people will be overwhelmed by the 100,000 words on the site and order the course?
3) Is the quality of video in the sample good enough to sell for $49 for 8 hours of info?
4) May I have your opinion on my $49 pricepoint?
5) May I have your opinion on my pacing in the sample video?
6) Should I transfer the site over to middleage.net, which I also own? I have been advised on the forum that people may perceive a .org domain as a "public service" site, if you will.
I am also open to any suggestions or constructive criticism.
7) How long of a guarantee do you suggest?

Let me mention that I am aware that my site needs a new design, etc., and I will address those points in another thread.

I look forward to your kind and helpful advice, and thank you in advance. :-)
#evaluation #proposed #video
Avatar of Unregistered
  • Profile picture of the author Oziboomer
    It will come down to testing various offers and price points with your visitors.

    You may like to test components as splinter type offers where you give a low cost sample of the bigger offer and then upsell the benefit of joining a course.

    With most things it is always going to come down to marketing, conversion, consumption and then accession.

    Until you can get people paying you and consuming the content eagerly it is all just an exercise in what might work.

    They key is to test various offers with an adequate volume of qualified traffic and see what converts and what doesn't.

    You can use things like visualwebsiteoptimizer or Optimizely to test these things with your traffic because ultimately it will be your prospect and consumer that determines the value of your offer.

    There are other split test options available but VWO doesn't cost that much to implement and will give you far better data than asking on a forum.

    Send some traffic and test as it is the quickest and often the cheapest way to find out what works and what doesn't.

    BTW...your voice is good so you may want to consider podcasts as they may gain a stronger following than video...just a thought.

    Best regards,

    Ozi

    PS : middleage.tv or middleage.com might both be better than .net and were available now when I checked
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11336538].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author KnowOneKnows
      OziBoomer...lord of the GAFA! LOL! Thanks a lot, mate. I really appreciate your feedback, and your ideas are spot on. I am assuming that you feel my instructional video is of sufficient quality to sell. P.S. Thanks a bunch for the props on my voice. I actually had considered hiring a voiceover guy, as I thought my voice wasn't good enough.
      I'd love to buy the .com, but money is really-tight now. I'll plan on getting it a bit later.
      Thanks again!
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11336668].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author OptedIn
      Originally Posted by Oziboomer View Post

      PS : middleage.tv or middleage.com might both be better than .net and were available now when I checked
      I found that extremely impossibly to believe as there is virtually nothing still available in the .com TLD. I checked 3 registrars. All say unavailable. Do you have a secret source that I'd benefit knowing about for future reference? :-)
      Signature

      "He not busy being born, is busy dying." - Bob Dylan • "I vibe with the light-dark point. Heavy." - Words that Bob Dylan wishes he had written.

      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11336684].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author KnowOneKnows
        Alright...now I'm really confused. / You originally wrote "PS : middleage.tv or middleage.com might both be better than .net and were available now when I checked ." But now you write "I checked 3 registrars. All say unavailable." Sorry, no secret source. ;o( I've gotta run now, but I'll reply to any comment you have when I return. Thanks again. )
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11336714].message }}
        • Profile picture of the author OptedIn
          Originally Posted by KnowOneKnows View Post

          Alright...now I'm really confused. / You originally wrote "PS : middleage.tv or middleage.com might both be better than .net and were available now when I checked ." But now you write "I checked 3 registrars. All say unavailable." Sorry, no secret source. ;o( I've gotta run now, but I'll reply to any comment you have when I return. Thanks again. )
          You're reading two different posts. One said the names are available, I checked and did not find them so. The .com is up for renewal on April 4th, so I'd track that one, closely.

          MiddleAged.com is for sale.
          Signature

          "He not busy being born, is busy dying." - Bob Dylan • "I vibe with the light-dark point. Heavy." - Words that Bob Dylan wishes he had written.

          {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11336747].message }}
          • Profile picture of the author KnowOneKnows
            Sorry. I realized that before I posted it, and clicked on "Delete this post", but it still got posted. I have middleage.net (not "middleaged.net. That having been said, I'll check out "middleaged". Thanks! )
            {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11336823].message }}
          • Profile picture of the author KnowOneKnows
            BTW, I checked on middleaged.com, and they want $25k for it. LOL!
            {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11337398].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author Oziboomer
        Originally Posted by OptedIn View Post

        I found that extremely impossibly to believe as there is virtually nothing still available in the .com TLD. I checked 3 registrars. All say unavailable. Do you have a secret source that I'd benefit knowing about for future reference? :-)
        At time I posted both available listed on crazydomains.com.au. Now they have a "backorder" applied to them but showed availability at time of my post.

        Best regards,

        Ozi
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11337609].message }}
        • Profile picture of the author OptedIn
          Originally Posted by Oziboomer View Post

          At time I posted both available listed on crazydomains.com.au. Now they have a "backorder" applied to them but showed availability at time of my post.

          Best regards,

          Ozi
          CrazyDomains be crazy.

          .com registered since 1998 and .net, which the OP considered, since 1999.





          Yes - MiddleAge.TV is available.

          Whois.net is your best resource for this type of data.
          Signature

          "He not busy being born, is busy dying." - Bob Dylan • "I vibe with the light-dark point. Heavy." - Words that Bob Dylan wishes he had written.

          {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11337624].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author JohnMcCabe
    Your pacing and voice are good.

    I'm not a huge fan of simply reading the text as it scrolls by. People tend to read faster than they listen, and they'll skip ahead and get frustrated when they have to wait for the scroll.

    Another minus, if you decide to leave the content up, is people will quickly realize that they can save $49 by just reading the site for themselves instead of listening to you read it to them.

    Perhaps you could do some simple slides with an outline and maybe some relevant images, and use the text as a script to read over that?

    You've spent so much time and effort creating your content that simply deleting it would be a crying shame. Perhaps you could move it to a second level of membership, as an upsell?
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11336754].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author KnowOneKnows
      Hey John...Thanks for your help in the past, and for helping me again. ) I'm making progress, albeit slowly.

      I'd love your feedback on my feedback. Please understand that I'm not arguing, but clarifying things.

      Regarding my reading the text, it is a way of "spoon-feeding" people through the content. Maybe I'm wrong, but I believe a lot of people are lazy, and would rather sit and listen than do the work of reading, hence the popularity of TV over books. When I first asked questions on this site here, I was told to do videos, because people won't read all of the content. They could skip ahead on the page I was showing, but then they'd just be stuck until I scrolled more. In the end, if they buy the course, it doesn't matter to me how they read it. )

      Yeah, I agree, I need to delete the content from the site when I make the video version of it. Thanks for confirming that.

      Regarding doing slides and images, I could do that, and I might. To be straight up, I've put so much into this with no results, I am a bit burned out, and to do that for 100,000 words seems daunting. I am curious as to the attention power of slides and images vs the scrolling page.

      Thanks for the recognition of the time and effort that went into the content. If I delete it off the site, I'd still keep it elsewhere, plus it would be available in the video courses.

      Once again, I appreciate and value your feedback! )
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11336878].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author ryanbiddulph
    Hi KnowOneKnows,

    I love your generous spirit. Good for you.

    But I'm envisioning myself and most human beings sitting down and watching 80 videos from an icon....say, Tony Robbins. I wouldn't do it. Only because if you get clear, 3-5 videos suffices.

    I sense - because I went through the same feelings - you are creating this video course from a "not enough" energy. As in to justify your "not enough" you create 80 videos, over deliver out da wazoo, and then you and the video course will be good enough, and folks will buy it.

    3-5 in-depth, awesome videos should work and sell fine. I'd charge $100 for rough and ready, basic, non-glam videos. Reasonable, for the content you offer.

    Once you feel more whole and complete you will charge 50 or 100 smackers for a few videos, with clarity. This is the right energy for building a profitable campaign.

    Happy Selling.

    Ryan
    Signature
    Ryan Biddulph helps you to be a successful blogger with his courses, manuals and blog at Blogging From Paradise
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11336897].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author KnowOneKnows
      Hey Ryan,

      What a pleasant surprise to hear from you again. You're always so positive!

      Thanks for the props...helpful, especially at this time. I'm not (too) discouraged, just kind of lost.

      I hear you on the 80 vids. I'm lucky to make it through a TED talk. LOL! And yet I want to be clear that the course I propose would be just that. The main reason I decided to go with a course format is that it would allow people to keep track of where they left off in learning the materials. In addition, with the lessons being only 6-8 minutes long, someone could pop in, spend 15 minutes and come back later or tomorrow for some more.

      Thanks for the encouragement on my videos. Actually, I created my Website with the concept of passing on everything I could to help people feel great in their middle age. As John Rampton once said "Get people to trust you, and they'll buy everything you have for sale".

      But...once I put it all down, there were 100,000 words and too much reading for a lot of people, although I have seen some interesting figures on how well ebooks are selling.

      So, when you guys (forum members) saw my "wall of words", the short videos were suggested.

      Back to your kind suggestion of 3-5 videos. How long would they be? Would they be a summary of the material on my site? Would I be a talking head, or would I use "slides and images" as my friend John McCabe suggested?

      Anyway, if you're inspired to do so, I'd love to have your feedback.

      In any case, thanks!
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11337012].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author JohnMcCabe
    Originally Posted by KnowOneKnows View Post

    Hey John...Thanks for your help in the past, and for helping me again. ) I'm making progress, albeit slowly.

    I'd love your feedback on my feedback. Please understand that I'm not arguing, but clarifying things.
    Understood and accepted.

    Originally Posted by KnowOneKnows View Post

    Regarding my reading the text, it is a way of "spoon-feeding" people through the content. Maybe I'm wrong, but I believe a lot of people are lazy, and would rather sit and listen than do the work of reading, hence the popularity of TV over books. When I first asked questions on this site here, I was told to do videos, because people won't read all of the content. They could skip ahead on the page I was showing, but then they'd just be stuck until I scrolled more. In the end, if they buy the course, it doesn't matter to me how they read it. )
    My thoughts aren't so much about your reading the text, per se. Based on the sample you gave us, and what I've read on the site (yes, I've been back a few times), your content makes for a good script.

    "They could skip ahead on the page I was showing, but then they'd just be stuck until I scrolled more." This was my sticking point. Read the text too fast, and the presentation suffers. Maybe you just need to scroll a bit faster, so that what you are reading stays in the middle of the frame, and people don't have to skip ahead.

    Originally Posted by KnowOneKnows View Post

    Yeah, I agree, I need to delete the content from the site when I make the video version of it. Thanks for confirming that.
    You're most welcome.

    Originally Posted by KnowOneKnows View Post

    Regarding doing slides and images, I could do that, and I might. To be straight up, I've put so much into this with no results, I am a bit burned out, and to do that for 100,000 words seems daunting. I am curious as to the attention power of slides and images vs the scrolling page.
    While it's a bit of a different animal, take a look at the prelaunch videos by folks like Jeff Walker or Eben Pagan. Or look at some of the free instructional webinars by mainstream companies.

    Perhaps the idea of simply timing the scrolling to smoothly keep bit being read in the middle of the page would be enough, since the videos are much shorter than the average training video or webinar.

    Originally Posted by KnowOneKnows View Post

    Thanks for the recognition of the time and effort that went into the content. If I delete it off the site, I'd still keep it elsewhere, plus it would be available in the video courses.

    Once again, I appreciate and value your feedback! )
    Once again, you're most welcome...
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11336950].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author KnowOneKnows
      Hi John,

      Thanks again.

      I just went to my site and looked at my video at
      https://middleage.org/video_overview/

      I actually found myself reading ahead, as you had mentioned. That was scary! =/ You sure have a sharp mind. So now what do I do?

      Someone here suggested that I do podcasts, and I wonder if that would be a good format for my course? In reality, although the images make the site more appealing and break up the "wall of words", they are not necessary for understanding the content. I could also take the site content and make it into an eBook.

      Any suggestions, o font of wisdom?

      Thanks again, John.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11337018].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author JohnMcCabe
    Originally Posted by KnowOneKnows View Post

    Someone here suggested that I do podcasts, and I wonder if that would be a good format for my course? In reality, although the images make the site more appealing and break up the "wall of words", they are not necessary for understanding the content. I could also take the site content and make it into an eBook.

    Any suggestions, o font of wisdom?

    Thanks again, John.
    Making the text heavy content into a set of audios could be a good choice. As you noted, the lessons are short, so creating a playlist of audios sounds like something that might work.

    The term 'podcast' implies something like a regular radio show, published on a platform like iTunes. Some folks think that any audio-only content on the web is a 'podcast'.

    That said, adopting a podcast type format on the course pages has positives. Most podcasts embed the audio, then add "show notes." These notes can be as simple as a couple of sentences describing the content to a rundown of bulleted highlights with time stamps. For 6-8 minute audios, the time-stamp thing might be overkill.

    As for making the content into an ebook, at least one single ebook, might put you in the same 'wall of words' concern as before. 100k words is in the neighborhood of 330-350 pages. Most successful ebooks these days run in the 50-60 page range.

    If you want to do ebooks, a series of 10 books @$4.99 gets you to about the same price point as your $49 course if someone buys all 10. Pricing the individual books at $9.99 with a chance to buy the whole bundle for $49 is a sound strategy. You could still add an upsell in each book for the audio course (if you do audios). Gives you a chance to make multiple sales for the same content.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11337424].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author KnowOneKnows
      Thanks so much John. I truly appreciate your sage advice. It's been a big help.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11337448].message }}
  • Originally Posted by KnowOneKnows View Post

    To summarize, here are my questions:
    1) Is my concept of putting my site in an 80-video course a valid one or not?
    Yes it is definitely a valid one. People consume information in many formats. Text, audio and video. You can have the same information in different formats and charge more, for your efforts used to package your information.

    Example:
    * eBook $1 to $10
    * paperback book $10 to $50
    * audio book $50 to $97
    * Video course $97 to $297

    Originally Posted by KnowOneKnows View Post

    2) If I do, should I strip all of the info off of my site that will be in the course, or keep it on the site, believing that most people will be overwhelmed by the 100,000 words on the site and order the course?
    Leave the beginner's information on your website and package your advanced information in your video product.


    Originally Posted by KnowOneKnows View Post

    3) Is the quality of video in the sample good enough to sell for $49 for 8 hours of info
    Most definitely. For eight hours of labour, I would most certainly charge $97 per course for my efforts, and offer the first 50 to a 100 units to be sold at $49 to get testimonials from paying customers/clients.

    Originally Posted by KnowOneKnows View Post

    4) May I have your opinion on my $49 pricepoint?
    It's a good place to start testing your market, but you can increase your prices as time progresses and interest in your course increases.

    Originally Posted by KnowOneKnows View Post

    5) May I have your opinion on my pacing in the sample video?
    The slower and more clearly you speak on the video, the better you will be understood by your video viewers. Your pacing is fine.

    Originally Posted by KnowOneKnows View Post

    6) Should I transfer the site over to middleage.net, which I also own? I have been advised on the forum that people may perceive a .org domain as a "public service" site, if you will.
    I am also open to any suggestions or constructive criticism.
    You will host the product on the .net to avoid seeming like a non profit organization.

    Originally Posted by KnowOneKnows View Post

    7) How long of a guarantee do you suggest?

    Let me mention that I am aware that my site needs a new design, etc., and I will address those points in another thread.

    I look forward to your kind and helpful advice, and thank you in advance. :-)
    The longer the guarantee you offer, the more reputable you will come across to your prospects. 60 days should be fine.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11337993].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author KnowOneKnows
      Thanks so much for your wise and focused responses. They are really helpful.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11338082].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Steve B
    So just get a little creative about the domain name. IMO, dot com is always worth getting. How about:

    (All dot coms are currently available)
    mymiddleage
    gomiddleage
    allmiddleage
    smartmiddleage
    middleagenews
    middleagehome
    middleagehelp (my personal fav)
    middleageme
    middleagesite
    middleagenow
    middleagecenter
    middleagepro
    middleageclub
    middleagehub
    middleageinfo
    middleageguide

    ... to name just a few that could work.

    Steve
    Signature

    Steve Browne, online business strategies, tips, guidance, and resources
    SteveBrowneDirect

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11338033].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author KnowOneKnows
      Steve B! Thanks a lot! To be honest, I hadn't thought about grabbing a new domain name. I bought my present one because it was getting a lot of traffic since it was/is #6 or some if you search for "middle age definition", but the traffic's useless. Thanks again.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11339335].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author KnowOneKnows
      Hey Steve B, thanks again for this great idea. I did some research and grabbed healthymiddleage.com. Whatcha think?
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11343281].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author JohnMcCabe
        Originally Posted by KnowOneKnows View Post

        Hey Steve B, thanks again for this great idea. I did some research and grabbed healthymiddleage.com. Whatcha think?
        Sounds like a winner to me...
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11343591].message }}
        • Profile picture of the author KnowOneKnows
          Hey John, I'm working on that project, and have a lot done. Do you want me to send what I have so you have time to look it over? I'll possibly have additions, which I can send later. I also have another domain in mind I'd like your opinion on. Thanks!
          {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11343634].message }}
          • Profile picture of the author JohnMcCabe
            Originally Posted by KnowOneKnows View Post

            Hey John, I'm working on that project, and have a lot done. Do you want me to send what I have so you have time to look it over? I'll possibly have additions, which I can send later. I also have another domain in mind I'd like your opinion on. Thanks!
            Sounds like a plan...
            {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11343648].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author GamingWith Nathan
    Banned
    [DELETED]
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11339084].message }}
  • {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11343300].message }}
  • {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11343750].message }}
Avatar of Unregistered

Trending Topics