Is there a market for this idea?

51 replies
Greetings!

Firstly, I'm new to the forum.

What's up?

Now that that's out of the way, I have an idea I would like some input on. I'm a high school English teacher who dabbles with blogs and other forms of online marketing. I've always wanted to write an ebook, but I've never really found the inspiration to do it.

Now I have it. I don't know why....

Anyway, I want to write an extensive ebook outlining a full year worth of English lesson plans to English educators. As a teacher myself, I know how annoying it can be to waste an entire evening coming up with the perfect lesson plan. Also, finding English lessons catered to high school can be tough as most are more elementary oriented. So here are my concerns:

Do you think there is a market for this kind of book? (It will have more information than just lesson plans like sections teaching the teacher as well, but most of it is pedagogy lingo that I won't get into.) Will it sale?

And

How would one go about marketing something like this? Affiliate marketing? Personal blog (I've never had much success driving large chunks of traffic to blogs)? Google Adwords?

Ideas?

Thanks in advance
#ebook #idea #market
  • Profile picture of the author writeaway
    If you can position yourself as an English language instruction expert, you might be sitting on a goldmine. Why? Tons of Chinese and Koreans want to learn English online. You need to have a Chinese or Korean language site that plays up your product though.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8251073].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Ofthingsmanmade
      Thanks for the input!

      Yeah, that would be a problem for me. I would love to teach ESL (English as a second language), but I only know a wee bit of spanish and no money for a translator lol
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8251083].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author writeaway
        Originally Posted by Ofthingsmanmade View Post

        Thanks for the input!

        Yeah, that would be a problem for me. I would love to teach ESL (English as a second language), but I only know a wee bit of spanish and no money for a translator lol
        Can you create educational instructional materials? Not lesson plans, actual instructional materials. There might be a huge opportunity here. All the right pieces need to be in place. That's why I am asking...
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8251090].message }}
        • Profile picture of the author Ofthingsmanmade
          Originally Posted by writeaway View Post

          Can you create educational instructional materials? Not lesson plans, actual instructional materials. There might be a huge opportunity here. All the right pieces need to be in place. That's why I am asking...
          I could and that would certainly open up to a much broader market... how would I differentiate myself from other sites that offer the same materials for free. That's always been my concern when considering a site dedicated to teaching English.
          {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8251106].message }}
          • As for ESL -- you do not necessarily need to know another language to teach English - a lot of people in Latin America (specifically Costa Rica) want to learn English and pick it up pretty quickly. That is why when American Expats go to Costa Rica they have a hard time fine-tuning their Spanish, since the locals want to learn English.

            I think you have something! Seriously.
            {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8251118].message }}
            • Profile picture of the author Ofthingsmanmade
              Originally Posted by Unlock Real Results View Post

              As for ESL -- you do not necessarily need to know another language to teach English - a lot of people in Latin America (specifically Costa Rica) want to learn English and pick it up pretty quickly. That is why when American Expats go to Costa Rica they have a hard time fine-tuning their Spanish, since the locals want to learn English.

              I think you have something! Seriously.
              Haha I was thinking of it in this regard: how does one learn English when it's being taught in... English lol
              {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8251152].message }}
              • Profile picture of the author Istvan Horvath
                Originally Posted by Ofthingsmanmade View Post

                Haha I was thinking of it in this regard: how does one learn English when it's being taught in... English lol
                Obviously, you taught ONLY English as mother tongue to native English speakers... because you seem to be lost when it comes about teaching English as a foreign language. (I don't like the ESL name since for me is EFL; F = fourth)

                I am qualified and trained to teach Hungarian as mother tongue (i.e. what you do with English) and to teach Russian as a foreign language. The approach and the methodology that we had to study and practice a year for each... is completely different! So much so that after moving to Canada when some immigrant parents with Hungarian roots organized a Sunday Hungarian school for their Canadian-born children and asked me to teach those classes - I was lost!
                Seriously, I was not prepared for that: I didn't have the skills, didn't have tools... luckily I figured out, based on my Russian teaching experience, a way to get those kids going.

                Oh, and when you teach a foreign language, the best method is NOT to talk to students in their mother tongue

                So, stick to teaching English to English(-speakers), unless you finish a course (usually, one year) specially tailored for ESL-teachers.
                [When I studied applied lingusitics for an MA in Canada, some of our courses were together with some naive ESL-teacher candidates... and they were quite struggling with those lessons]
                Signature

                {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8251612].message }}
                • Profile picture of the author Ofthingsmanmade
                  Originally Posted by Istvan Horvath View Post

                  Obviously, you taught ONLY English as mother tongue to native English speakers... because you seem to be lost when it comes about teaching English as a foreign language. (I don't like the ESL name since for me is EFL; F = fourth)

                  I am qualified and trained to teach Hungarian as mother tongue (i.e. what you do with English) and to teach Russian as a foreign language. The approach and the methodology that we had to study and practice a year for each... is completely different! So much so that after moving to Canada when some immigrant parents with Hungarian roots organized a Sunday Hungarian school for their Canadian-born children and asked me to teach those classes - I was lost!
                  Seriously, I was not prepared for that: I didn't have the skills, didn't have tools... luckily I figured out, based on my Russian teaching experience, a way to get those kids going.

                  Oh, and when you teach a foreign language, the best method is NOT to talk to students in their mother tongue

                  So, stick to teaching English to English(-speakers), unless you finish a course (usually, one year) specially tailored for ESL-teachers.
                  [When I studied applied lingusitics for an MA in Canada, some of our courses were together with some naive ESL-teacher candidates... and they were quite struggling with those lessons]
                  You are very right, sir. I'm certified secondary education in English. I don't have the first clue how to teach English to those who can't speak the language. I'm sure I could with some pedagogy instruction, but I'll stick with what I'm good at. I'm sure I'll end up with some students who speak poor English eventually. I hope I do. I would love to teach them the language and I know I could learn so much from them! Thanks for sharing your experience, Istvan!
                  {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8251618].message }}
          • Profile picture of the author writeaway
            Originally Posted by Ofthingsmanmade View Post

            how would I differentiate myself from other sites that offer the same materials for free. That's always been my concern when considering a site dedicated to teaching English.
            Easy. You are the face to an online brand. If you are credible, people will be buying YOU (your expertise/your legitimacy) instead of the, faceless generic albeit free, competition. Being in the United States gives you a clear advantage. You just need a Korean or Chinese partner. Since I am neither, I can't help. Still, I KNOW this can be huge because I have a former employee who is working (was working) for a small scale tutorial Skype-based service. I am betting the quality isn't anything to write home about. Now, if YOU had a branded tutorial service, it might make quite a nice chunk of change on a recurring basis.
            {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8251119].message }}
            • Profile picture of the author Ofthingsmanmade
              Originally Posted by writeaway View Post

              Easy. You are the face to an online brand. If you are credible, people will be buying YOU (your expertise/your legitimacy) instead of the, faceless generic albeit free, competition. Being in the United States gives you a clear advantage. You just need a Korean or Chinese partner. Since I am neither, I can't help. Still, I KNOW this can be huge because I have a former employee who is working (was working) for a small scale tutorial Skype-based service. I am betting the quality isn't anything to write home about. Now, if YOU had a branded tutorial service, it might make quite a nice chunk of change on a recurring basis.
              That sounds great. So you think that, instead of an ebook, I shoud offer services that teaches to English language learners? Perhaps a subscription based website, or one time fee for access to online videos and text based lessons? Just a thought.

              Thanks again everyone!
              {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8251159].message }}
              • Profile picture of the author writeaway
                Originally Posted by Ofthingsmanmade View Post

                That sounds great. So you think that, instead of an ebook, I shoud offer services that teaches to English language learners? Perhaps a subscription based website, or one time fee for access to online videos and text based lessons? Just a thought.

                Thanks again everyone!
                Subscription basis. Work once-make money many times over.
                {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8251172].message }}
                • Profile picture of the author Ofthingsmanmade
                  Originally Posted by writeaway View Post

                  Subscription basis. Work once-make money many times over.
                  You've certainly caught my interest. One hurdle-- I'm not the best with coding and such. Could one just make a free site through Google and use paypal to handle the subscriptions? Is that possible?
                  {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8251175].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Steve L
    Originally Posted by Ofthingsmanmade View Post

    Greetings!

    Firstly, I'm new to the forum.

    What's up?

    Now that that's out of the way, I have an idea I would like some input on. I'm a high school English teacher who dabbles with blogs and other forms of online marketing. I've always wanted to write an ebook, but I've never really found the inspiration to do it.

    Now I have it. I don't know why....

    Anyway, I want to write an extensive ebook outlining a full year worth of English lesson plans to English educators. As a teacher myself, I know how annoying it can be to waste an entire evening coming up with the perfect lesson plan. Also, finding English lessons catered to high school can be tough as most are more elementary oriented. So here are my concerns:

    Do you think there is a market for this kind of book? (It will have more information than just lesson plans like sections teaching the teacher as well, but most of it is pedagogy lingo that I won't get into.) Will it sale?

    And

    How would one go about marketing something like this? Affiliate marketing? Personal blog (I've never had much success driving large chunks of traffic to blogs)? Google Adwords?

    Ideas?

    Thanks in advance
    I'd make it down to focus on individual training modules, each focusing on a specific problem. Something you can complete in a few days so you're less likely to procrastinate. Sell each module on its own as you finish them, then package them together as you finish more modules!
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8251081].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Ofthingsmanmade
      Interesting idea.... How would I sell the modules? I'm concerned about who would really want to buy them. I was hoping teachers would be willing to invest in a product that helps limit such a time consuming portion of their job-- planning lessons.

      I was thinking maybe contact English teacher resource sites and offer them affiliate opportunities? Of course marketing it on its own site as well....

      Thanks a lot, this is a ton of help! I've been doing this for years WHY HAVE I NEVER SIGNED UP FOR THIS FORUM....

      smack me please...
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8251099].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author Steve L
        Originally Posted by Ofthingsmanmade View Post

        Interesting idea.... How would I sell the modules? I'm concerned about who would really want to buy them. I was hoping teachers would be willing to invest in a product that helps limit such a time consuming portion of their job-- planning lessons.

        I was thinking maybe contact English teacher resource sites and offer them affiliate opportunities? Of course marketing it on its own site as well....

        Thanks a lot, this is a ton of help! I've been doing this for years WHY HAVE I NEVER SIGNED UP FOR THIS FORUM....

        smack me please...
        You can sell it as an eBook or video. I'd try to find a forum where your target market congregates and advertise there!

        Consider yourself smacked! ;-) Welcome to the forum!
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8251462].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author cheddarben
    A couple of ideas it I had... put up your ebook on Amazon. You could sell it on createspace if you wanted as a hard copy.

    Another thought I had was to start a blog and either give it away, or a few pieces of it away, in exchange for email addresses where you could market the entire product, market other products and engage your readership.

    GOOD LUCK!
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8251197].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Ofthingsmanmade
      Thanks! I'll definitely take note of that. The problem I always have is this: I start a blog to drive traffic to the product, but I'm never able to get traffic to the blog lol
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8251207].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author seasoned
    Originally Posted by Ofthingsmanmade View Post

    Greetings!

    Firstly, I'm new to the forum.

    What's up?

    Now that that's out of the way, I have an idea I would like some input on. I'm a high school English teacher who dabbles with blogs and other forms of online marketing. I've always wanted to write an ebook, but I've never really found the inspiration to do it.

    Now I have it. I don't know why....

    Anyway, I want to write an extensive ebook outlining a full year worth of English lesson plans to English educators. As a teacher myself, I know how annoying it can be to waste an entire evening coming up with the perfect lesson plan. Also, finding English lessons catered to high school can be tough as most are more elementary oriented. So here are my concerns:

    Do you think there is a market for this kind of book? (It will have more information than just lesson plans like sections teaching the teacher as well, but most of it is pedagogy lingo that I won't get into.) Will it sale?

    And

    How would one go about marketing something like this? Affiliate marketing? Personal blog (I've never had much success driving large chunks of traffic to blogs)? Google Adwords?

    Ideas?

    Thanks in advance
    If it covers things from a relatively basic point, and is covers standard english from a british or american standpoint, you could do well. There ARE a number of texts out there, but a number haven't really been advertised to the masses, and some are often just not used, and aren't really for the beginner anyway.

    Steve
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8251243].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Ofthingsmanmade
      Now I'm on the fence -_- I really want to market this ebook to English teachers. I'm just not sure there's a big enough market for it. I know I could develop a product coherent to today's standards; one that could make people happy they made the purchase. I could save people a lot of time and effort and make a small living doing it.

      BUT

      Are there enough teachers out there that would be willing to buy such a product? BUT I'm likely going to be teaching in the fall anyway.... soooo why not write the book? Makes sense, right?

      So assuming to I do finish this ebook and develop a website marketing it, what's the best way to direct traffic to this thing? Guest posting, article marketing, a blog? Anyone have any success marketing ebooks? How dd you handle your first one?
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8251260].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author hsbinmarket
        As you like to teach English as second laguage, you should learn chinese/korean to get a big market.
        Signature

        Do not put the links to a malware-infected site back in your signature

        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8251378].message }}
        • Profile picture of the author Ofthingsmanmade
          Originally Posted by hsbinmarket View Post

          As you like to teach English as second laguage, you should learn chinese/korean to get a big market.
          Don't get me wrong, I would love to learn another language. I'm just not sure I have the time or resources for it.
          {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8251431].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author CDarklock
        Originally Posted by Ofthingsmanmade View Post

        Now I'm on the fence -_- I really want to market this ebook to English teachers.
        Home-schoolers. The market for that is exploding right now, and those are English teachers, after a fashion.

        Here's a tip: are you familiar with Slembeck's economic principle?

        You can optimise for a given cost, or for a given utility, but never for both.

        In this case, you can develop a specific product, or you can develop for a specific market - but not both. One must needs drive the other.

        If you want to sell this product, then you must go to the markets that will buy it.

        If you want to target this market, then you must develop the products they will buy.

        So you need to decide which of those things you are willing to change. You have developed a product that you want to sell to a market. Which of those things are you going to lock down so you can find the path to the other?
        Signature
        "The Golden Town is the Golden Town no longer. They have sold their pillars for brass and their temples for money, they have made coins out of their golden doors. It is become a dark town full of trouble, there is no ease in its streets, beauty has left it and the old songs are gone." - Lord Dunsany, The Messengers
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8251394].message }}
        • Profile picture of the author Ofthingsmanmade
          Originally Posted by CDarklock View Post

          Home-schoolers. The market for that is exploding right now, and those are English teachers, after a fashion.

          Here's a tip: are you familiar with Slembeck's economic principle?

          You can optimise for a given cost, or for a given utility, but never for both.

          In this case, you can develop a specific product, or you can develop for a specific market - but not both. One must needs drive the other.

          If you want to sell this product, then you must go to the markets that will buy it.

          If you want to target this market, then you must develop the products they will buy.

          So you need to decide which of those things you are willing to change. You have developed a product that you want to sell to a market. Which of those things are you going to lock down so you can find the path to the other?
          Very informative. Took me a few minutes of reading it, but I think I finally got it.

          Let's say for example I wanted to write an ebook giving excellent, up-to-date lesson plans and theories to the weary educators of the world. In that case, I'm developing a product, and in turn, need to find the market for said product.

          I think I'm getting it. Which do you think is better? Considering the market first, or developing a product then finding the market?
          {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8251427].message }}
          • Profile picture of the author CDarklock
            Originally Posted by Ofthingsmanmade View Post

            Which do you think is better? Considering the market first, or developing a product then finding the market?
            In this particular forum, the consensus is that you should think of your market first. After all, it's a marketing forum, not a product development forum.

            Coming as I do from the software development industry, my twenty years in engineering saw every single product done exactly the opposite way: first you build something, then you go find people who want it.

            Frank Kern recently "retired" from internet marketing to focus on his offline consulting, and then came back like Prometheus bearing fire from Mount Olympus yelling "guys, guys, we've been doing this backwards all along."

            But from where I sit, neither one is "better." Both are important. If your product doesn't have a market, then it doesn't matter how well-engineered it is. If your market doesn't need a product, then it doesn't matter how well-targeted it is.

            But you have to start with one of them. And you have to lock down what it is and what you're doing with it.

            If you decide to focus on the market, then pin down your business on getting that market's attention and becoming a recognised expert in that market. You can try any number of products once you do that.

            If you decide to focus on the product, then make it the best damn product you can that does exactly what you want it to do. You can sell it to any number of markets once you do that.

            One of these things will be easier for you. Some people will say to start with that. I say do the opposite - start with what's hard. Because whichever one you choose, you'll do a lot of work on getting it locked down before you can get to the other one, and you'll be tired. So do the hard one first, and then when you're tired you'll be looking at an easy job.

            Others argue that if you do the easy job first you won't be tired and you'll have the momentum of what you just did to help you through the hard part. I get that. I see the logic. I just have a different philosophy. Not necessarily a better one.

            You can see the economics background showing. "On the other hand..."

            It sounds to me like you have a product planned out, and you aren't sure of the market. So instead of trying to lock down the market and tweak the product to match, I'd lock down the product and be done with it. Then you can try all the markets you want - your product is done. Go try to sell it over here. If they don't want it, go try and sell it over there. If you can't sell it anywhere, start looking at the reasons why and tweaking the product.

            The content you generate can be repurposed as well; you can bind it all up in one large hardbound book, sell it as one monolithic ebook, put it on Kindle as short chapters, condense it into an SAT study guide, deliver it via email over an autoresponder, drip-feed it into a blog via paid subscription... content is absolutely king. I really like the Kindle idea; you should totally do that. Take a week's lesson plan and stick it on Kindle for $2.99; what's the worst that could happen? You don't make any money? Why, that's no worse than you're doing now.

            Repurposing totally works. Robert Kiyosaki wrote exactly two books - Rich Dad, Poor Dad and The Cashflow Quadrant - which he has gone on to rehash and creatively edit into over twenty more books. Some people own over a dozen of them (guilty). And the autobiographical bits aren't even true. Hell, look at the Chicken Soup for the Soul books - they're pretty much the same damn book over and over, and they don't even pretend to be anything else.
            Signature
            "The Golden Town is the Golden Town no longer. They have sold their pillars for brass and their temples for money, they have made coins out of their golden doors. It is become a dark town full of trouble, there is no ease in its streets, beauty has left it and the old songs are gone." - Lord Dunsany, The Messengers
            {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8251475].message }}
            • Profile picture of the author Ofthingsmanmade
              Originally Posted by CDarklock View Post

              In this particular forum, the consensus is that you should think of your market first. After all, it's a marketing forum, not a product development forum.

              Coming as I do from the software development industry, my twenty years in engineering saw every single product done exactly the opposite way: first you build something, then you go find people who want it.

              Frank Kern recently "retired" from internet marketing to focus on his offline consulting, and then came back like Prometheus bearing fire from Mount Olympus yelling "guys, guys, we've been doing this backwards all along."

              But from where I sit, neither one is "better." Both are important. If your product doesn't have a market, then it doesn't matter how well-engineered it is. If your market doesn't need a product, then it doesn't matter how well-targeted it is.

              But you have to start with one of them. And you have to lock down what it is and what you're doing with it.

              If you decide to focus on the market, then pin down your business on getting that market's attention and becoming a recognised expert in that market. You can try any number of products once you do that.

              If you decide to focus on the product, then make it the best damn product you can that does exactly what you want it to do. You can sell it to any number of markets once you do that.

              One of these things will be easier for you. Some people will say to start with that. I say do the opposite - start with what's hard. Because whichever one you choose, you'll do a lot of work on getting it locked down before you can get to the other one, and you'll be tired. So do the hard one first, and then when you're tired you'll be looking at an easy job.

              Others argue that if you do the easy job first you won't be tired and you'll have the momentum of what you just did to help you through the hard part. I get that. I see the logic. I just have a different philosophy. Not necessarily a better one.

              You can see the economics background showing. "On the other hand..."

              It sounds to me like you have a product planned out, and you aren't sure of the market. So instead of trying to lock down the market and tweak the product to match, I'd lock down the product and be done with it. Then you can try all the markets you want - your product is done. Go try to sell it over here. If they don't want it, go try and sell it over there. If you can't sell it anywhere, start looking at the reasons why and tweaking the product.

              The content you generate can be repurposed as well; you can bind it all up in one large hardbound book, sell it as one monolithic ebook, put it on Kindle as short chapters, condense it into an SAT study guide, deliver it via email over an autoresponder, drip-feed it into a blog via paid subscription... content is absolutely king. I really like the Kindle idea; you should totally do that. Take a week's lesson plan and stick it on Kindle for $2.99; what's the worst that could happen? You don't make any money? Why, that's no worse than you're doing now.

              Repurposing totally works. Robert Kiyosaki wrote exactly two books - Rich Dad, Poor Dad and The Cashflow Quadrant - which he has gone on to rehash and creatively edit into over twenty more books. Some people own over a dozen of them (guilty). And the autobiographical bits aren't even true. Hell, look at the Chicken Soup for the Soul books - they're pretty much the same damn book over and over, and they don't even pretend to be anything else.
              Damn, dude. That was one awesome reply. I almost feel like I just paid for that information. Excellently done. I REALLY appreciate great writing and you have my respect!

              This is all excellent information that I will definitely, definitely take into consideration. I think I'm going to develop my product to the best of my ability and start pitching it to as many markets as possible. I don't suppose you know anything about pricing do you? An extensive 200+ page ebook should start at... (I know I'll have to tweak it.)

              Thanks a ton!
              {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8251505].message }}
              • Profile picture of the author CDarklock
                Originally Posted by Ofthingsmanmade View Post

                Damn, dude. That was one awesome reply. I almost feel like I just paid for that information. Excellently done. I REALLY appreciate great writing and you have my respect!
                Same here, but I'm currently frowning at how you left out contractions and articles in your parts of speech listing. I suppose it's a matter of some debate whether they're "really" parts of speech. My coverage of the subject lists ten parts of speech.

                You have good instincts in your SF story, though. I like the way you explicitly call out the subtext in the previews. I'm doing a similar sort of "writing my book as a blog" thing at the moment, although mine isn't a work of fiction. (I edit too extensively with fiction. Plus my novel has been stuck in the same spot for about four years now, since I can't work out a good path from point A to point B and it's sort of important. It's low priority, anyway.) Serialised novels are an underrated art form.

                I don't suppose you know anything about pricing do you? An extensive 200+ page ebook should start at... (I know I'll have to tweak it.)
                Prices are fundamentally just pulled out of your arse. It's worth what you say it's worth because it's your product and you said so.

                In my opinion (and many people disagree), your price should be something your target market can easily afford, but will still stop and think about before spending.

                This, to me, strikes the best balance between maximum sales and maximum engagement. If they don't have to think about buying, they are not going to think about using, and you will have a hard time getting repeat sales or testimonials because they don't place enough value on the product.

                Most people don't actually seem to know the difference between value and cost. They judge people by income, products by price, and service by hourly wage. It's kind of sad, really.
                Signature
                "The Golden Town is the Golden Town no longer. They have sold their pillars for brass and their temples for money, they have made coins out of their golden doors. It is become a dark town full of trouble, there is no ease in its streets, beauty has left it and the old songs are gone." - Lord Dunsany, The Messengers
                {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8251576].message }}
                • Profile picture of the author Ofthingsmanmade
                  Originally Posted by CDarklock View Post

                  Same here, but I'm currently frowning at how you left out contractions and articles in your parts of speech listing. I suppose it's a matter of some debate whether they're "really" parts of speech. My coverage of the subject lists ten parts of speech.

                  You have good instincts in your SF story, though. I like the way you explicitly call out the subtext in the previews. I'm doing a similar sort of "writing my book as a blog" thing at the moment, although mine isn't a work of fiction. (I edit too extensively with fiction. Plus my novel has been stuck in the same spot for about four years now, since I can't work out a good path from point A to point B and it's sort of important. It's low priority, anyway.) Serialised novels are an underrated art form.



                  Prices are fundamentally just pulled out of your arse. It's worth what you say it's worth because it's your product and you said so.

                  In my opinion (and many people disagree), your price should be something your target market can easily afford, but will still stop and think about before spending.

                  This, to me, strikes the best balance between maximum sales and maximum engagement. If they don't have to think about buying, they are not going to think about using, and you will have a hard time getting repeat sales or testimonials because they don't place enough value on the product.

                  Most people don't actually seem to know the difference between value and cost. They judge people by income, products by price, and service by hourly wage. It's kind of sad, really.
                  Thanks for visiting my site!

                  Yeah, that is up for debate. I always teach eight parts of speech to my students. I forgot I even wrote that article! I thought about writing a full comprehensive course in English on my blog when I started it, but decided the keywords "eight parts of speech" would be difficult to rank for as they're too basic, so I changed my approach.

                  Thanks for the story compliment! Fiction is so hard to promote, though. Getting visitors there to stay is very difficult. I mean, it's fiction. lol
                  {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8251587].message }}
                  • Profile picture of the author CDarklock
                    Originally Posted by Ofthingsmanmade View Post

                    Yeah, that is up for debate. I always teach eight parts of speech to my students.
                    I teach something I call "The .357 Article Method" and one of the early bits of the revised version covers the parts of speech, including the sentence:

                    "Hey! The method really works, and writing's easy with it."

                    Interjection - Article - Noun - Adverb - Verb - Conjunction - Contraction - Adjective - Preposition - Pronoun.

                    Aside: I have always found it odd that wouldn't've and shouldn't've are acceptable contractions, but he'sn't and that'sn't somehow are not. It'sn't consistent and that bothers me.

                    Thanks for the story compliment! Fiction is so hard to promote, though. Getting visitors there to stay is very difficult. I mean, it's fiction. lol
                    Facebook fan page + email list + 99 cent Kindle shorts. Publish a physical book when you get to that point. On the way, people will merrily pay three and five bucks a chapter for the electronic bits, and at the end they'll spend another $15 or whatever to get the physical book. Email whenever you put out a new Kindle bit.

                    Another thing I'd do... put half of each Kindle bit on the blog. Then at the end have a link to Amazon for the rest. It's a dirty trick, but hey, they can always just wait for the book to be finished.

                    Make the world the star. You seem to have a very detailed world with a very detailed history. Tolkien that shit. Write your Silmarillion behind the scenes as you go. Take copious notes on things that you haven't used or aren't planning to use. Develop a little cult following. Write side stories taking place elsewhere with different characters. Your book will start to feel like a window into a larger world because it is.

                    And trust me: I know plenty of people making plenty of money with stories that honestly suck compared to yours. You don't have to be Tolkien. Hell, you don't even have to be Stephenie Meyer.
                    Signature
                    "The Golden Town is the Golden Town no longer. They have sold their pillars for brass and their temples for money, they have made coins out of their golden doors. It is become a dark town full of trouble, there is no ease in its streets, beauty has left it and the old songs are gone." - Lord Dunsany, The Messengers
                    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8251614].message }}
                    • Profile picture of the author Ofthingsmanmade
                      Originally Posted by CDarklock View Post

                      I teach something I call "The .357 Article Method" and one of the early bits of the revised version covers the parts of speech, including the sentence:

                      "Hey! The method really works, and writing's easy with it."

                      Interjection - Article - Noun - Adverb - Verb - Conjunction - Contraction - Adjective - Preposition - Pronoun.

                      Aside: I have always found it odd that wouldn't've and shouldn't've are acceptable contractions, but he'sn't and that'sn't somehow are not. It'sn't consistent and that bothers me.



                      Facebook fan page + email list + 99 cent Kindle shorts. Publish a physical book when you get to that point. On the way, people will merrily pay three and five bucks a chapter for the electronic bits, and at the end they'll spend another $15 or whatever to get the physical book. Email whenever you put out a new Kindle bit.

                      Another thing I'd do... put half of each Kindle bit on the blog. Then at the end have a link to Amazon for the rest. It's a dirty trick, but hey, they can always just wait for the book to be finished.

                      Make the world the star. You seem to have a very detailed world with a very detailed history. Tolkien that shit. Write your Silmarillion behind the scenes as you go. Take copious notes on things that you haven't used or aren't planning to use. Develop a little cult following. Write side stories taking place elsewhere with different characters. Your book will start to feel like a window into a larger world because it is.

                      And trust me: I know plenty of people making plenty of money with stories that honestly suck compared to yours. You don't have to be Tolkien. Hell, you don't even have to be Stephenie Meyer.
                      Thanks a lot! I noticed Naruto in the background of your profile pic! That's my favorite all-time show, period. No questions asked.

                      I do small bonus episodes that takes place elsewhere in the universe from a third-person perspective, and I plan to write a prequel and sell it as an ebook eventually.

                      I really enjoy writing it, though. I really need to go through and edit. I'm guilty for poor proofreading sometimes when I finish episodes. :rolleyes:
                      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8251627].message }}
                      • Profile picture of the author CDarklock
                        Originally Posted by Ofthingsmanmade View Post

                        Thanks a lot! I noticed Naruto in the background of your profile pic! That's my favorite all-time show, period. No questions asked.
                        Seriously? You... you like it better than Elfen Lied? Or Soul Eater? Or... dare I suggest... Star Trek: The Next Generation?!

                        I mean, I like Naruto, but come on. They totally nerfed Rock Lee and that completely sucked. And what is the point of Ino? It's like she only exists as part of Sakura's backstory and has no other purpose whatsoever.

                        But, you know, Temari is hot. So there's that. I mean, not Lucy/Nyuu hot or Maka Albarn hot, but still hot.

                        I do small bonus episodes that takes place elsewhere in the universe from a third-person perspective, and I plan to write a prequel and sell it as an ebook eventually.
                        Always go physical with fiction. And don't sell your prequel short - Ender's Game was just the backstory and notes for Speaker for the Dead, grudgingly edited into a novel by Orson Scott Card under fan pressure, and it won a Hugo and a Nebula while he was still finishing Speaker.

                        I really enjoy writing it, though. I really need to go through and edit. I'm guilty for poor proofreading sometimes when I finish episodes.
                        I always assume internet fiction is first-draft quality. I don't quibble about spelling or punctuation or the occasional grammar slip.
                        Signature
                        "The Golden Town is the Golden Town no longer. They have sold their pillars for brass and their temples for money, they have made coins out of their golden doors. It is become a dark town full of trouble, there is no ease in its streets, beauty has left it and the old songs are gone." - Lord Dunsany, The Messengers
                        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8251667].message }}
                        • Profile picture of the author Ofthingsmanmade
                          Originally Posted by CDarklock View Post

                          Seriously? You... you like it better than Elfen Lied? Or Soul Eater? Or... dare I suggest... Star Trek: The Next Generation?!

                          I mean, I like Naruto, but come on. They totally nerfed Rock Lee and that completely sucked. And what is the point of Ino? It's like she only exists as part of Sakura's backstory and has no other purpose whatsoever.

                          But, you know, Temari is hot. So there's that. I mean, not Lucy/Nyuu hot or Maka Albarn hot, but still hot.



                          Always go physical with fiction. And don't sell your prequel short - Ender's Game was just the backstory and notes for Speaker for the Dead, grudgingly edited into a novel by Orson Scott Card under fan pressure, and it won a Hugo and a Nebula while he was still finishing Speaker.



                          I always assume internet fiction is first-draft quality. I don't quibble about spelling or punctuation or the occasional grammar slip.
                          I've not watched any of the shows you listed... yes... I have not watched Star Trek.... I'm currently watching Bleach on and off, but I do agree with what you say about ino, her character could be a little more fleshed out. I actually quit watching it because I didn't feel like switching to the subbed version. I really need to finish it.

                          I suppose I just want it to have the professional feel it deserves. I'll edit it all when I get time. The prequel would be a full plot line by itself. I plan to strategically place moments throughout the free series that will make more sense to those who read the prequel. I want me readers to have that "ah ha" moment while reading it. "So that's why he was acting that way, or reacted particular to an action or comment."

                          Tons of fun!

                          At any rate, it was awesome discussing this with you. I've walked away with a ton of ideas. I'll keep you updated in the future.

                          Thanks a lot to everyone who helped me out! This is an awesome community, and as soon as I gain enough knowledge to help others, I hope to do the same.

                          But it's bed time for this guy. Have an awesome weekend, everyone!
                          {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8251695].message }}
                          • Profile picture of the author CDarklock
                            Originally Posted by Ofthingsmanmade View Post

                            I've not watched any of the shows you listed... yes... I have not watched Star Trek....
                            Oh, dear God, at least tell me you have watched Buffy the Vampire Slayer or I'm not sure we can be friends.

                            I'm currently watching Bleach on and off
                            Am I crazy, or does that show seem like it should be named "Breach" instead?

                            Yes, I know that's racist, and I don't care. It totally should.
                            Signature
                            "The Golden Town is the Golden Town no longer. They have sold their pillars for brass and their temples for money, they have made coins out of their golden doors. It is become a dark town full of trouble, there is no ease in its streets, beauty has left it and the old songs are gone." - Lord Dunsany, The Messengers
                            {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8251703].message }}
                            • Profile picture of the author Ofthingsmanmade
                              Originally Posted by CDarklock View Post

                              Oh, dear God, at least tell me you have watched Buffy the Vampire Slayer or I'm not sure we can be friends.



                              Am I crazy, or does that show seem like it should be named "Breach" instead?

                              Yes, I know that's racist, and I don't care. It totally should.
                              Haha unfortunately, no. I haven't watched Buffy. Perhaps I should consider it.

                              CDarklock gave the example of the Chicken Soup for Every Kind of Soul series.
                              (I believe Jay Abraham was one of the marketing minds behind the scenes of that series. It would be worth your while to look up Jay in Google and on YouTube.)
                              Also, there is the " .... for Dummies" series.

                              Very important not to overlook the effectiveness of market segmentation.
                              "English Lesson Plans for English Teachers"
                              "English Lesson Plans for Home Schoolers"
                              "Math Lesson Plans for Home Schoolers" (team up, or let people write within your
                              series as Chicken Soup did)
                              "English Lessons for Koreans" etc. etc.

                              Another market you could explore is "Instructional Design for Internet Marketers"
                              A lot of folks have great information, but whether it's email/PDF or membership websites, etc., they have poor design and delivery.
                              I love dummies books! That's an awesome idea. If the first edition is successful, I would definitely begin considering others.

                              There's a huge market of learners who would buy this, but as someone who has experience in adult education you could get the bigger sales for schemes of work, lesson plans and interesting activites/learning materials. I know I would have bought that in a heartbeat.

                              good luck!
                              I know, right! Teachers hate making lesson plans as it's tough to find the time after instructing, grading, documenting, etc. I want to develop a product that is worthy of the price tag, and I really think this is it.
                              {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8252629].message }}
                              • Profile picture of the author James Clark
                                To the OP. The question you should be asking is this: If I publish the e-book will it be profitable? If that is the question, I would go into amazon.com and get into their system and find out if people are buying books like that.

                                Based on my experience, people don't generally buy books to sit on the shelf in their homes. (they buy books for the information) That would be if revenue is your consideration.

                                However, if it's just a hobby then go ahead write the e-book and give it away. Once in their hands you can sell your one-on-coaching program for cash.(LOL)
                                {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8252949].message }}
                                • Profile picture of the author Ofthingsmanmade
                                  Originally Posted by James Clark View Post

                                  To the OP. The question you should be asking is this: If I publish the e-book will it be profitable? If that is the question, I would go into amazon.com and get into their system and find out if people are buying books like that.

                                  Based on my experience, people don't generally buy books to sit on the shelf in their homes. (they buy books for the information) That would be if revenue is your consideration.

                                  However, if it's just a hobby then go ahead write the e-book and give it away. Once in their hands you can sell your one-on-coaching program for cash.(LOL)
                                  Oh, I intend to sell it. The amazon thing was a great tip. It would also allow me to differentiate away from the competition. Thanks!

                                  And thanks for the input, Paul. That's an idea I'm currently considering!
                                  {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8253048].message }}
        • Profile picture of the author writeaway
          Originally Posted by CDarklock View Post

          Home-schoolers. The market for that is exploding right now, and those are English teachers, after a fashion.

          Here's a tip: are you familiar with Slembeck's economic principle?

          You can optimise for a given cost, or for a given utility, but never for both.

          In this case, you can develop a specific product, or you can develop for a specific market - but not both. One must needs drive the other.

          If you want to sell this product, then you must go to the markets that will buy it.

          If you want to target this market, then you must develop the products they will buy.

          So you need to decide which of those things you are willing to change. You have developed a product that you want to sell to a market. Which of those things are you going to lock down so you can find the path to the other?
          EXCELLENT POINT about homeschooling. It is BLOWING UP due to the sad state of many schools. This might be a great opportunity.
          {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8251446].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Audrey Harvey
    Signature

    Expert content written by an experienced veterinarian and published magazine and newspaper writer.
    Feel free to contact me for details.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8251485].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Ofthingsmanmade
      Originally Posted by Audrey Harvey View Post

      Very awesome! I've never seen this site before. I'll look it over. Nice catch

      Edit: Ok, so I've been looking through this site and I noticed no one is offering anything close to what I have planned. I'm also amazed at the prices people are charging on there! $10 for a single lesson?!? I was thinking $20 for the entire book! Perhaps I should reconsider my pricing! Thanks a ton, Audrey!
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8251506].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author RayJAnde
    It depends on the way you write the content.. How interesting it and whether people are really looking for something like that. If you are planning to write an ebook, you might be able to sell it through ebay, amazon ad other major online stores. If you really good at writing, fiverr.com will be an ideal palce to sell up your talent in the form of writing content.. You can start from $5 per article etc.. (Hope your country support paypal, because paypal is the only way you can withdraw the hard earn money from fiverr.com )
    Signature

    Nothing is Infeasible, Web Solution VIP

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8251539].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Ofthingsmanmade
      Originally Posted by RayJAnde View Post

      It depends on the way you write the content.. How interesting it and whether people are really looking for something like that. If you are planning to write an ebook, you might be able to sell it through ebay, amazon ad other major online stores. If you really good at writing, fiverr.com will be an ideal palce to sell up your talent in the form of writing content.. You can start from $5 per article etc.. (Hope your country support paypal, because paypal is the only way you can withdraw the hard earn money from fiverr.com )
      Yep, I'm from the United States. I look for as many revenue streams as possible. I think I'm going to offer copyediting services as a proofreader on fiverr. I'm glad you mentioned that. How exactly does that work? Would they pay after you sent them the article/did the proofreading? Before? That always confused me.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8251551].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Mohammad Afaq
    I don't have any experience with the teaching niche market or teaching in general but I have seen a couple of teachers in the news that are making good money selling lesson plans.

    Notably:

    Teacher earns a cool million by selling lesson plans – Schools of Thought - CNN.com Blogs

    Teachers Made Millions Selling Lesson Plans - Business Insider

    Again, don't know if this is the same as what you are selling but it sounds to me like it is.

    If you can get in front of your target market (high school teachers in this instance) and position it as a product that can help save them time and give them a well thought out lesson plan, I can see it selling good.

    But, do your research on this. I am merely speculating and I have not studied or researched this niche one bit.
    Signature

    “The first draft of anything is shit.” ~Ernest Hemingway

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8251595].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Ofthingsmanmade
      Originally Posted by Mohammad Afaq View Post

      I don't have any experience with the teaching niche market or teaching in general but I have seen a couple of teachers in the news that are making good money selling lesson plans.

      Notably:

      Teacher earns a cool million by selling lesson plans – Schools of Thought - CNN.com Blogs

      Teachers Made Millions Selling Lesson Plans - Business Insider

      Again, don't know if this is the same as what you are selling but it sounds to me like it is.

      If you can get in front of your target market (high school teachers in this instance) and position it as a product that can help save them time and give them a well thought out lesson plan, I can see it selling good.

      But, do your research on this. I am merely speculating and I have not studied or researched this niche one bit.
      Hey man, you're giving me motivation and that's as important as anything in this line of work. Thanks for the input! That's awesome that guy made such bank selling lesson plans. Teaching isn't exactly the best paying gig. I'm glad to see he's making much, much more for the work he puts in

      Edit: Erm, that WOMAN made bank. Lol See what happens when you assume?
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8251603].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author bizgrower
    CDarklock gave the example of the Chicken Soup for Every Kind of Soul series.
    (I believe Jay Abraham was one of the marketing minds behind the scenes of that series. It would be worth your while to look up Jay in Google and on YouTube.)
    Also, there is the " .... for Dummies" series.

    Very important not to overlook the effectiveness of market segmentation.
    "English Lesson Plans for English Teachers"
    "English Lesson Plans for Home Schoolers"
    "Math Lesson Plans for Home Schoolers" (team up, or let people write within your
    series as Chicken Soup did)
    "English Lessons for Koreans" etc. etc.

    Another market you could explore is "Instructional Design for Internet Marketers"
    A lot of folks have great information, but whether it's email/PDF or membership websites, etc., they have poor design and delivery.
    Signature

    "If you think you're the smartest person in the room, then you're probably in the wrong room."

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8252356].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author vicwic
    There's a huge market of learners who would buy this, but as someone who has experience in adult education you could get the bigger sales for schemes of work, lesson plans and interesting activites/learning materials. I know I would have bought that in a heartbeat.

    good luck!
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8252365].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Paul Gram
    Heck yes there is a huge market for that type of book. In addition to a book, you could also have a membership site as a back-end. Lots of possibilities!
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8253022].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author JonBird
    My teacher friends are always complaining about coming up with lesson plans.. so there is definitely a market for this... if it saves them time, is relatively inexpensive and helps them become a better teacher. If you hit all three... great. Now... just figure out how to reach them.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8253060].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Ofthingsmanmade
      Originally Posted by JonBird View Post

      My teacher friends are always complaining about coming up with lesson plans.. so there is definitely a market for this... if it saves them time, is relatively inexpensive and helps them become a better teacher. If you hit all three... great. Now... just figure out how to reach them.
      That sounds about right! Teachers complaint about lesson plans all the time... As well as students, pay, administration, and everything else. haha I do agree with you, reaching them is the hard part.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8253065].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author NicheService
    Go to forums/online groups/social networks related to English educators. You can quickly find out if any of them want to buy your product. In fact, you could ask them what they would want to see in a product like yours.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8317607].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author KevinChapman
    Yeah it sounds like a good idea, especially as you are an expert. You could always expand it to videos and personal one on one skype sessions too.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8317841].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author RoseHunt
    Banned
    You don't really need to know the local language if you want to teach others English, not even if you are planning to write a book for that! In a lot of foreign countries people learn English from English books, written entirely in English and by English authors.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8318351].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author pingsters
    Banned
    There's always a market for everything, you just need to identify the Market and find ways to reach out for them(maybe its best to use SEO).

    And to add, teaching English to Korean doesn't require you to speak fluent Korean. All you need are pictures, videos and a little bit of online translator.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8318786].message }}

Trending Topics