Why I DON'T Like IM-Offline Consulting

LOL...

Well, in a way they are. The ones making the real money (relatively speaking) are the OWNERS of the team and the OWNERS of the production companies. They make money while they sleep, no matter if the team loses, or the acting sucks just so long as people keep buying tickets (a product=passive transference of value). The moviestars and athletes are just well paid employees. Well paid, but still employees.

On the other hand, most people would suck at being the owner, so they are doing the right thing. But still not making as much as the owner.

I tend to agree - but you can still think outside the box here...

For example, in another thread you noticed someone saying something along the lines of "Andrew C. showed me exactly how to instantly set up a profitable business..."

That's powerful.

See, most people would deliver all the services themselves but that doesn't mean you have to.

In other words, creative entrepreneurs create, buy and sell businesses.

Now, what is the value of creating a business that can generate six figures +...

And one that can you start in today's day and age for less than 1k?

That's unheard of.

There are tons of options once you get to that point.

There's rights, licensing, franchising...etc.

As far as doing everything else - that's a personal choice and it's understandable...

It all depends on someone's goals - but you're not gonna go real big doing everything yourself.

Finding qualified people yes, but also accepting the fact that everything is not going to be perfect is simply part of that growth process.

There are many, many different ways to run the business model but ultimately if you don't want to work on that key client/consultant relationship or joint venture with someone who does then no the business probably isn't for you.

I think it is important to point out though that for many people with a little internet marketing experience it is the fastest way to make multiple thousands of dollars and that could be the initial capital you need to get out of a financial crisis or launch your own product selling business online.

It is something you can do as PART of your internet marketing model...something you intend to phase out or completely farm out to a joint venture partner in the future.

Kindest regards,
Andrew Cavanagh

I favour a hybrid model because I think that establishing yourself as an authority offline will feed into your online business. So why not do both with more emphasis placed on the part that you enjoy more or feel more comfortable with?

Keith, why don't you give the ladies a preview in your avatar and see how many click the Thanks button? It's always good to have a backup job in an economy like this.

Martin

I don't know...maybe I'm weird but I'll do just about anything when it comes
to IM. Online, offline, doesn't matter. It's all about building relationships
whether you're selling a product, service, or your sister on the street corner.

Maybe that's why my business model is so "all over the place" as I'm not
afraid to tackle anything and everything.

If only I had a good looking sister.

In the past I thought exactly the way you did. I tried consulting way back and didn't like face to face selling, trying to convince people they needed me, and just dealing with people in general.

So I've sold info and software products both online and offline successfully full time for almost 10 years. I will continue to do so because of all the advantages that you point out.

However, for next year I will be getting into offering online services to offline companies.

Why? Because I realize now I was using the wrong business model when I tried consulting before and I know a good opportunity when I see one.

-incredible opportunity and much less competition than selling products/services online to online companies. Sure selling products is great but depending on your niche competition is stiff.

-there is huge money in offering services to businesses so they don't have to do it themselves. I'm the same way, I have enough information products to fill a library but I would page a lot more for someone to do things for me.

-will specialize in only 2-3 types of businesses, so won't need reinvent the wheel and can license my marketing materials.

-using the right business model, no face-to-face selling, only dealing with pre-qualified prospects who call me

-offering services with recurring monthly billing (for large amounts) which will add up quickly

-outsourcing all tech aspects even though I can do it. Don't be afraid of this. The beauty of this is that the tech level of the people you outsource it to can be minimal so if someone doesn't work out it's simple to find a replacement. Believe me this is huge. Contrast this with selling complex software and needing super guru programmers to keep it going. They are tempermental and hard to find good ones.

There is more but these are a few reasons why I'm going into this.

RMX

Yes that is why I would never charge for my time.

That's why if you are going to get into this, don't charge for your time, charge for the services that you can charge recurring amounts for. Don't do it yourself, outsource as much of the maintenance and tech work as possible.

That way you are thinking more like a business owner and not like someone who has just created a job for themselves.

BTW. Are you charging a fee and a percentage of results like other sucessful professional copywriters do to get around just charging for your time?

RMX

I'm a believer of the hybrid model. I'm an IT consultant myself (only do IM for fun you know).

Products can make you autopilot income. Services, however, can make you the same amount of money as selling an insance amount of ebooks.

I think it depends on the kind of business you want to build. When you're in the rinse & repeat business, consultancy is an extra. If you want to establish yourself as a leader, consultancy (paid very well) is part of the equation which helps both your services and your products.

I'm way too shy to do offline marketing. Talking to new people generally freaks me out (online, it's different, since we're not face to face!). I'd never have the nerve to cold call or otherwise approach someone to buy a service from me. If I put out an ad and they respond with interest, that's another matter, but making the initial cold contact? No way!

Plus, offering services means trading your time for money, as has already been pointed out here. I've been doing that for years with my copywriting services, and it's so easy to get burned out by taking on too much, and losing out on your quality of life by spending all of your time writing for other people. While I'm still doing copywriting, I've started to limit my projects and be more selective with them, so I can devote more time to building websites and blogs that sell products, which will, in turn, give me more time (and save my wrists from all the typing!).

Interestingly, in the course of branching out into products, I've discovered that I LOVE setting up Wordpress blogs and making Squidoo lenses, and am really good at it, too! I also really love the great domain hunt....looking for that perfect, keyword optimized domain. Those things are fun and creative and exciting, and I enjoy spending my time doing them. Of course, that led me to think of more services I could offer.....building blogs and lenses for other people, or searching out great domains for them. Of course, that would only be to make money to support my product-selling efforts!