Creative Crisis on Product Creation

Funny is always good, though that may just be my personal preference of course.

Personal development - sure! But, integrate that with how it benefits you in your running practice.

Write a how to on creating a running blog and what people want to read about when it comes to running.

I'm assuming there's more to running that putting on a good pair of shoes (I only run if someone is chasing me with a weapon). Talk about all the aspects of what it takes to get up and running (pun intended) and practices and exercises that make it easier.

Hope that helps.

Thanks Robin, actually, once you're an experienced runner, there isn't much more than putting on shoes, you already have your routine down. Teaching exercises and stretches would be for beginners, which cancels out my list.

As far as the blogging suggestion, I could make a short report on that, but there wouldn't be enough material specific to running to fill out an ebook on it. That's why I was thinking it'd be a more general guide. But maybe I should think in terms of reports, might be easier to come up with content that way.

Irritating niche I'm in, or rather, irritating that my readers know so much already.

How about a running shoe buyers guide with affiliate links. Be impartial with your reviews by offering your own experience purchasing running shoes.

You could branch this out to reviewing the best MP3 players for runners etc.

There is also a company Called infinite nutrition that will allow you to create your own sports drink :-) Infinit Nutrition ::::CREATE:OMINATE::::

Shoes won't work for my readers, experienced runners already have the models we live and die with that are specific to our pronation patterns (god help us when the manufacturer updates a model). Plus, I'm really not into the reviewer model of selling - I have a few affiliate sites already for products which do ok but for this, I have my heart set on writing an ebook (or reports), especially since it's my point of view that keeps them reading.

Well why not ask them what their current frustrations or problems are when it comes to running...then show them a way to solve it?

I would really like some how to guide in a funny manner, because usually it's quite serious and boring. Besides motivational videos are the best channel for you because you're a story teller, and video has more chances to inspire than usual e-book. But it's my preference. There may be others.

Thanks guys, some good ideas here. I think motivational will be the way to go, since their frustration is always speed, wanting to be faster and while I don't have the tools to make them faster physically, I could help with the mental part.

Got an offshoot question, the idea of reports is new to me, but now that my mind is ticking, are they a common medium? I'm liking the idea of a library of shorter items but wondering about perceived value and if my readers would be thinking "hey this is short, why didn't she just give us the info?" Any thoughts on that? (maybe should ask this in it's own thread)

I used to be a runner, you may be surprised at what regular readers may buy. Years ago I had an ezine of motivation quotes about running and people regularly read it to read snippets of George Sheehan books and quotes from Joe Henderson, some of the runner philosophers. Shoe companies or retailers may pay for ads. You can sell downloads of great songs to run to. Even if you dont review stuff, people will follow the links and buy stuff. What about just plain old adsense.

Since you're a War Room member, go the "My ideas" subforum and look for the "Quick article on product creation" thread. This guide alone will make you back the value of your membership. I really recommend that you read that, then comment on that thread to get further advice about how to apply that strategy. I think you'll find that it's exactly what you need.

Chris

Hi,

Let me throw some mud on the wall and see if it sticks.

How about your own line of recipes? Research and create a branded recipe guide for "Foods and drinks to take on your Run"

Recipes for; Make them yourself energy bars. Delicious drinks you make yourself to run with. Long run portable energy lunches.

Here is a title for your recipe book. Eat And Run EatAndRun.mobi is available.

Speaking of .mobi I assume that a lot of runners carry their cell devices with them. How about a .mobi site that caters to any number of runners' needs. Hey how about a live chat room on mobile phones where runners could chat and inspire each other as they run.

I'm no where an enthusiast but I do walk a lot and I know while out on long walks these ideas come to me for "walkers." I.E. Healthy Food and Drink and mobile diversions while walking.

George Wright

Thanks again for the continued ideas and to Mr. Enthusiastic on the report. The interesting thing in the report is that it says go to forums and that's how most of my readers know me, the forums. The reader survey I posted on Saturday also asked how many forums people are reading and which ones, to find out how savvy my readership is and where they're getting their info since I thought the newsletter could be peppered with things I find in interesting threads.

This is also why I was thinking stretching and exercise type info wouldn't be that useful, since it's already found in abundance on the forums. But that's where I need to rethink things and realize that just because I know something doesn't mean everyone else is absorbing the same info. So thanks Nathan and USGT for reminding me that.

About an hour ago, a friend (a cyclist) sent me an interesting newsletter for cyling, it had a whole section on earticles for $4.00 which I realized, were simply reports! That was an eye opener, since bottom line is, I want to write my own products. This report idea could be great because it would allow for more subjects - even recipes, by George! ;-)

Shoes are THE most important item to a runner, I wouldn't presume to tell someone what shoe to wear, there are too many factors involved with fit, whether you're a neutral runner, need motion control or supinate, how high your arches are, etc. so anyone who does this immediately gains my mistrust. A runner needs to go to a store for a proper fitting, then he can buy that shoe again online.

Btw, I design and sell running shirts (in their own online store) and tout them on the blog, but for what I'm asking here, it's purely about product creation.

Hi flobaby,

Weird question maybe... why does your newsletter HAVE to be free?

Depending on how much of a market is out there, you could actually publish your own pay-to-access email or whatever newsletter... Charge a small fee for monthly subscription say $1 - $3.99 or even $5... if your content is really fun and informative and if you can jazz it up even more with more content thrown in that they would love to read , your fans will stay on and buy and may even tell other runners about your unique newsletter for just 5 bucks a month (that's $60 a year hands free per long term subscriber)... I bet you would find it hard getting 60 bucks off each one of them otherwise and this way you don't have to sit and write an ebook that will likely just go stale and need to be rewritten later anyway...

Just my 2 cents, don't lock yourself into one idea of product creation...

Start your own paid newsletter or full blown online magazine for runners or whatever fits

Reader's digest does this and clears over $35M in sales per month (possibly more)

Cheers

Kunle Olomofe

Kunle up there is the deal, OP. (Hiya buddy!)

Anyways, to OP, I second the idea of simply asking your lists what they require. Everyone can suggest affiliate products, services, etc that is specific or relevant to your niche but ultimately the market is not in what you think your lists wants.

It's what your list think they want.So go ahead, ask them subtly what help they may require. You can offer them some sort of direction, like giving them a few choices to choose: Report on energy drinks perhaps? Or how to improve upon a certain running technique?

Or maybe your readers just love your writing style and a community of like-minded people to mingle with. You can try starting a forum, with a subscription to platinum membership or whatever for premium content, etc.

The possibilities are endless. But they ARE set by your subscribers.

Further more, by asking them, you can easily follow up with more 'development' videos to create anticipation etc to your product, hence having a 'product launch sequence' inbuilt!

Kunle, that's a totally cool idea and one I'd love to implement! I've never done a newsletter before so my confidence is a little shakey, not sure what the response will be, but if it turns out to be as addictive as I hope, that'd be a perfect way to combine the two. Thank you!

How about you run another survey and ask them IF they have problems choosing their shoes.

It's true that you are an example of your target market but you are not the whole target market. Maybe there ARE readers who'd like help with shoes, how to choose from specific brands or models etc.

That may be something to think of

Regards,
Sagar

Sagar, the shoe question is not personal perception. Read any running book, running forum, running magazine, it's basic common knowledge and is about avoiding injury. I freely tell people what I wear but would not want them ordering them without trying them on.

I wonder why everyone's so set on me selling physical products? Does information not sell?

Assuming 2 things: 1. That your readers' top interest does in fact lie in "getting faster," and 2. That you're not in a SUPER big hurry to monetize.

Here's what I'd do.

Get yourself onto a little google, library, or bookstore kick about "how to get faster times."

Then, time yourelf in a mile (or 5k, or whatever distance).

Actually bust your ass for the next however long you feel like...a month makes sense to me...doing everything the speed gurus suggest.

Re-time yourself at the end of the month. I assume you'll better your old time. If you don't...um...

Re-write the best tips and info you found into a ten step "special report" about "How I slashed X seconds/minutes off my time in the mile/5k/whatever in just one month." If you happen to be like a soccer mom or something, then "How a full-time soccer mom slashed..." or whatever. You get the idea. The more sedentary your lifestyle SOUNDS, the better for the product.

Roll it up together with a little story about yourself and a little inspirational hoohaa and you've got a fully salable 30-50 page ebook that would make your crowd salivate.



If you find you don't have that kind of time or inspiration, then I imagine there are a ton of stories out there online about people who have already done it. Find one, ask them if you can resell their story, offer to pay them a little bit for it, and do everything else as above.

Once you've got them interested, you can newsletter them with ongoing training logs and tips, and backend them with 10k/marathon training guides or whatever...because by that time, you WILL be perceived by your buyers as a training authority, in addition to a humor writer.