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Personal Branding & Other Questions

by aceriker
7 replies
Hey everyone, I'm hitting a bit of a mental block when it comes to moving forward with my online business. Currently I'm making about $800-$1200 a month from selling PLR articles but I want to try and push this up to $5,000 a month using products and affiliate commissions.

1. I have "myname.com" blog which I post to every now and then, but I really want to start branding myself. I want to add a forum where people can discuss my products and get support from each other, should I go for a new domain name or just use myname.com/forum ? Any pros or cons of doing it this way?

2. Support desk? Go with a forum or use a support desk? Put the support desk on "myname.com" or register a new domain?

3. I have a number of PLR focused sites, should I put a blog on each one or should I just direct everyone to myname.com blog?

4. This is a real stickler: I've written 4 short reports on areas I'm doing well in like SEO, making money as a writer, wordpress and making your first dollar online. I'm stuck between offering them as free reports to build my list or offering them for $7. The SEO report contains some real valuable information that I use in my day job as an SEO analyst including loads of places to get high pagerank links (not angela / paul type links ) which is why I'm hesitant to just give it away. This indecision is stopping me from moving forward!

5. I've created a product on outsourcing since I've been doing it for over 5 years and actually work for one of those outsourcing companies in India so have a unique insight in to this world. Should I wait to build up more of a reputation with the short reports above and build a list before launching a more expensive package like this?

Pretty simple questions I know, but this stuff keeps going over and over in my head to the point where I can't move forward - so silly!

Thanks in advance,

Peter
#branding #personal #questions
  • Profile picture of the author peter.max
    I'll have a quick go at no 4 on your list. How important is building a quality list to you. If you give high quality content away now you establish a good relationship when you want to sell higher priced items. You should be able to make much mote out of your list than the $7 you get per report.

    Just my view.
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  • Profile picture of the author phpnetpro
    I think giving away high quality content is also crucial to building a good list and branding yourself. First place yourself in people's minds as a respected and trusted source of information in your industry. Once you have that in place, people are much more likely to follow everything you say and do.

    I see a lot of products come and go on the internet. I feel like if you can't be one of the top products, you may be better off giving it away for free to build a list. Eventually, sales will decline on any product, but if you gave that product away then you can keep selling to the same people more than just once.

    I'm sure a lot of people will have an opposite view on this, but I prefer the less abrasive/hyped method of marketing instead of a churn and burn method.
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  • Profile picture of the author aceriker
    Thanks for the input, I guess we all (ok, many of us) like to look at the short term income rather than building for the long term! This is what's causing the conflict - I'm also notoriously bad at keeping in touch with my current list of buyers, mostly because I don't want to keep hitting them with affiliate offers but don't have the time to constantly create great free content.

    On another note regarding personal branding, what about twitter accounts? One twitter account for all your online activities or separate personal from business?

    Peter
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    • Profile picture of the author drmani
      Very interesting questions - and ones I've struggled with over the years

      1. I have "myname.com" - Any pros or cons of doing it this way?
      Centralizing things around your name domain can work both ways. I chose to
      do it - and then realized there was 'confusion' between 3 distinct areas of
      my work... and then did a workaround to fix it. DrMani.com is my 'brand'
      domain, DrMani.biz details business, .org is about non-profit, and .name is
      the social networking bit. Works well so far - and pulls it all together.

      If you're in the same niche (writing/SEO/IM related), then you might use your
      name.com domain for PERSONAL brand development - and have keyword rich domains
      for each unique element of your work.

      Again, having interactivity on your domain cuts both ways. On one hand, you'll
      have the conversations more or less centralized, where you can watch it. But
      rarely it can get out of hand - and the temptation to 'censor' will be there,
      which could lead to a backlash. Things to consider as your brand gets better
      known, and pros and cons with either choice!

      2. Support desk? Go with a forum or use a support desk? Put the support desk on "myname.com" or register a new domain?
      Get a script for help desks, would be my suggestion. I use Three Pillars by
      Willie Crawford's company, but there are others too. I have mine on a separate
      domain, though.

      3. I have a number of PLR focused sites, should I put a blog on each one or should I just direct everyone to myname.com blog?
      For branding YOU, centralization helps. If each site is distinct, having blogs
      and other branding elements on each one can be of help. Depends upon how you
      want to take it forward. Selling a stand-alone site with its own brand is
      easier than when it all ties back in to YOU.

      4. I'm stuck between offering them as free reports to build my list or offering them for $7.
      FREE is frictionless. You'll get a lot of opt-ins. Many (most?) will be tire-
      kickers. $7 is a road block, or speed-bump. Only those curious enough or
      determined enough will be allowed on your list. The quality (and buying
      behavior down the line) WILL be better with the paid group - though it will
      be smaller. Decide which you want - and test each approach.

      btw, I do NOT agree with the thinking that you have to give away your best
      stuff for free - unless that's the only way you know to build a rep. I keep
      my BEST stuff for my most valued customers.

      5. I've created a product on outsourcing since I've been doing it for over 5 years and actually work for one of those outsourcing companies in India so have a unique insight in to this world. Should I wait to build up more of a reputation with the short reports above and build a list before launching a more expensive package like this?
      The paradox I've found is sometimes, people will ONLY buy your expensive
      products - and not the lesser priced ones. You plan a 'funnel', starting with
      a $7 product, leading to a $27 upsell, and a $39.95 per month membership, and
      think only those who enjoyed your excellent value will buy your $497 homestudy
      course - and BAM... two days after you put up your sales letter, you'll find
      a purchase from someone who has NEVER heard of you before!

      If you've got experience, and can add value through it - I would suggest
      going for it!

      Hope this confused narrative of my experience with your questions helps in
      some little way!

      All success
      Dr.Mani
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  • Profile picture of the author Gary King
    Originally Posted by drmani View Post


    FREE is frictionless. You'll get a lot of opt-ins. Many (most?) will be tire-
    kickers. $7 is a road block, or speed-bump. Only those curious enough or
    determined enough will be allowed on your list. The quality (and buying
    behavior down the line) WILL be better with the paid group - though it will
    be smaller. Decide which you want - and test each approach.

    btw, I do NOT agree with the thinking that you have to give away your best
    stuff for free - unless that's the only way you know to build a rep. I keep
    my BEST stuff for my most valued customers.


    All success
    Dr.Mani

    Absolute Gold from Dr. Mani as usual.


    Since you have 4 reports, you could test the waters like this.

    * Take the one you think would sell the fewest number of copies, all other things being equal (it may be a guess, but that's OK).
    * Offer it free as a list builder.
    * Take the next one in line, that you think would sell second-worst.
    * Try selling it with a WSO that's really affordable.
    * You could even then promote the paid product to the freebie list.
    * Balance the two results and use them to plan what to do with your other two reports.



    Another option - offer a "lite" version of the reports for opt-in (make it worthwhile though), then sell the full version.

    Another idea - Sell the reports, send the buyer to the download page and offer an additional bonus report ONLY if they sign-up for your list. Make the first message on the autoresponder the download link for the bonus report - that way they MUST confirm their email.

    I'm finding you have to emphasize that people must confirm - lots of folks seem to be entering an email just to see if it will give them the link without confirming.

    All success,

    Gary
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  • Profile picture of the author aceriker
    Thanks for your opinions. I like the idea of making spliting up the reports, trying two for free and two paid - I guess I could even create a case study out of that!

    The other option I thought was fairly similar, free 'lite' version on the squeeze page, paid upsell @ $7 and then a OTO @ $27 to get PLR rights to the product.

    Another way I thought was this concept:

    - here's the theory for free
    - here's how I do it for $
    - I'll give you a turnkey solution for $$
    - I'll do it for you for $$$
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