Out of the Box Thinkers - Help Please

2 replies
Let's say that you have a "base" product. Pretend it's located at 17PrinciplestoFastWeightLoss.com. You decide to target some more specific groups by providing the 17 principles plus some helps for that group. For example you may have 17PrinciplestoFastWeightLossForAthletes/PregnantWomen/Seniors.com.

Each site and product is based on the original site and the new sites/products only add/change perhaps 20% of the original content because the 17 principles are set in stone - the only change is how certain groups apply the 17 principles. For example you may not need to emphasize exercise so much for the athletes but really push it with the seniors.

Let's also say that part of your marketing strategy is to write blog posts to get free traffic and prove your worth.

So now you have 4/6/8 sites. Most of the content is exactly the same. The core principles don't change at all.

How would you deal with:

1. The blog posts? You write a post "3 Easy Ways to Avoid Screwing up Principle 7" that can and perhaps should be used on all sites. But if you do you have the exact same article - duplicate content - etc. You don't want to spin because you're trying to build your brand and have a lasting site that is full of real value. This is your life's work. You don't want to rewrite because everyone needs the article.

If you do it all from one central location - perhaps the original site - that may work but the reason for having the targeted sites is to show you understand and are focusing on that target groups specific needs. They don't want a general run of the mill weight loss product - they want something from someone who understands them and their situation so that may point to having the blogs elsewhere.

2. Little additions or changes in the other products. Julie buys the original and sees that you also have one for pregnant women. She buys that and is disappointed because the new/changed content is only 20%.

3. Managing multiple sites. You could perhaps have 50 sites all with 80% exact same content. If you have the blog posts on each site that's 50 articles a day if you add one a day. If you are more conservative and do 3 a week per sites (start with 4 sites) that's still 12 articles every week and remember that 80% of all that is exactly the same.

Hope that makes sense.

Thanks,
Mark
#box #thinkers
  • Profile picture of the author drmani
    Most of the content is exactly the same. The core principles don't change at all.
    You could be talking about ANY of the major niches, Mark - and your
    words would ring absolutely true.

    You don't want to rewrite because everyone needs the article.
    That's EXACTLY why you SHOULD rewrite - because everyone needs the message,
    but everyone doesn't respond to the exact same 'hook' or 'angle'.

    You could perhaps have 50 sites all with 80% exact same content.
    You can say almost exactly the same thing, but yet do it in an interesting
    and unique way each time - that's possible, interesting, and appealing to
    the same audience.

    It's easier for an expert on any topic to do it, because they already KNOW
    multiple ways to approach the same point or problem. To a casual dabbler
    in a niche, this may be infinitely harder, giving you an edge over others
    in your niche, too.

    Hope this helps.

    A good (great!) example to look at is the "7 Habits of... " series from Franklin
    Covey.

    All success
    Dr.Mani
    Signature
    The Heart Bookstore | Buy a Book, Help a Child Live!
    Email Marketing Tips | How To Focus Better | Time Management
    GET YOUR FREE GUIDE: The 33:33 System
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4541118].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Mark Singletary
      Originally Posted by drmani View Post

      A good (great!) example to look at is the "7 Habits of... " series from Franklin Covey.

      I'm glad you mentioned them. They chose this route with the 7 Habits:

      1. Base system and marketed the heck out of it.
      2. Added new products and services such as the 7 Habits for Teens, 7 Habits for Managers, etc. Added coaching, workshops, etc.
      3. Sell it all basically on one site.

      Many IM people would say, and do say, that a product such as the original system is no good because it's not targeted with specific promises/benefits, etc. for a specific market. It's literally for everyone.

      Many IM people would say selling it all on one site is wrong, not targeted, etc.

      Following the Franklin Covey approach would solve all the problems mentioned in my original post if you can really sell a bunch of stuff on one site like them and if you can not be reliant on SEO traffic (too many products and too many different posts about seemingly unrelated problems/solutions), and if you can sell an untargeted base system that literally applies to every living soul, and if you can do it with a less money on hand than a company that sold $40 million last quarter.

      Mark
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4541220].message }}

Trending Topics