The first eBook we ever sold, my wife wrote. It is called “Raising Leaders, Not Followers.” Basically it was an eBook designed specifically for homeschoolers, teaching them how to raise their kids for leadership positions. My wife approached me with the idea, and I said, “Honey, it is not really a barn-burning topic. I just do not know that you are going to make any money with it.” Well, she proved me wrong. She sold $11,197 the first 19 days. How is that for internet marketing 101?

Not too shabby, right? On the heels of her first success, my wife started thinking about another eBook for the Christmas season. She said to me, “Sweetie, I am going to write another eBook about preparing your heart for Christmas. It seems like a lot of people get close to Christmas day and end up discouraged because they were not really prepared for the season. The presents are great, but what do they do next?”

I told her, “That is a great idea, but there is so much free stuff on the internet about Christmas. How do you think you will get people to buy it?” I was not too optimistic, but she proved me wrong again. She sold over $2000 with her Christmas eBook. It turned out to be an unexpected bonus. And now every year, we roll it out a month or so before Christmas, and every year we get the same bonus.

You see the principle here? Well, I am not the sharpest tool in the shed, I will be the first to admit. But when I saw my wife do these two things, I thought, I can do it myself. And I got my chance to start an internet business pretty quickly.

I had a red pickup truck. It was a Ford F150. My daughter had taken it to high school. She was playing softball with the high school. And all of a sudden, her teammates were screaming, “Gentry, your truck is on fire!” She looks up. There were flames going 20 feet high out from under the hood.

Turns out Ford had recalled the cruise control switch in this particular model. And I could see why. Once we got the fire put out, we could see that the truck was totaled. I called Ford, but all they could do was apologize. It seems they had notified me of the recall by sending me a notice to my previous address in Texas. But we lived in Idaho.

I decided to start an online business, so I put up a little website that said, “My truck caught on fire.” I had pictures of the truck, and I opened up the hood and showed how all the engine compartment was burned up and all the wires were burned up. I said, “Why don’t you help me while I help you? I’m going to give you all this free internet marketing stuff. Graphics package. Some software. eBooks. Marketing tips.” All this stuff I had compiled and got free off the internet. I compiled it into a product and sold it for like $47. And I made $5,470 in the first 9 days.

I hope what you are seeing from these real-life examples is that you can succeed on the internet. Seriously! All you need is a little online business how to and you can begin making a profit.

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Copyright Stephen Beck, 2010

You have permission to reprint this article as long as you don’t make any changes and include the bio below.

Are you starting an online business?  Stephen Beck can help by showing you how to make your first $1000 on the internet. Grab a FREE link to his webinar replay, where Stephen shows you exactly what you should do: http://www.YourOnlineBasics.com.

I meet a lot of people who have an idea for a business. Like you, they currently have a job but wish they knew enough to take a risk. All they are looking for is a little business start-up advice. And the first thing I tell them to do is to create their information products.

That begs the question, “What is an information product?” An information product is any knowledge in your head that others would find valuable. Let me repeat that, any knowledge or experience in your head that others would find valuable can be packaged and sold.

Business Start up Advice #1 – Use Different Mediums

Your knowledge can be packaged in lots of different ways. You can start with a video recording of your material then make a DVD and a CD. You could take the transcript and turn it into an ebook or even a multi-media product. There are a number of possibilities.

Business Start-up Advice #2 – Develop Your Own Name

You must have at least one product that is your very own. Why do I say that? Because you want to build your own brand and not someone else’s. I am okay with network marketing. That is fine. If you want to do Avon or Shacklee or Amway or whatever you want to do, go for it. But I still contend that you must have at least one product that is your very own so you are building your own brand and not necessarily someone else’s.

You should be the one to control your business and your time. It is crazy to work for a small percentage of money or to let someone else tell you how to do things in your business. You should be in control and of your time and your products. When it is your own, you could keep anywhere from 90 to 95% of the profits.

All of the big players have their own product. We are talking names like Armon Moore and Ray Edwards, Alex Mendoza, Dan Kennedy. All the guys in the information marketing business have their own product. Why? Because they know that it works and it builds their own brand instead of someone else’s.

Business Start-up Advice #3 – Get Out of the Time for Money Trap

And you get out of the trading time for money trap. A lot of you are in that trap right now, whether you are working a 9 to 5 job, or even if you are doing consulting. You are still trading time for money. When you can create something one time and sell it over and over and over, you get out of that trading time for money trap.

Business Start-up Advice #4 – Become the Expert in Your Niche

Imagine being able to give people information, an e-book that you have written, or CDs that you have made. Anything that sets you head and shoulders above the next guy. That is massive credibility for your offline business.

Think of how many leads you can generate for your business by giving them something concrete. An information product makes your business memorable and can also build your list.

Take the plunge and begin committing to paper the ideas you have in your head. Create information products from those ideas, and build your business. Then in a short while, you may be giving someone else business start up advice.

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Copyright Stephen Beck, 2010

You have permission to reprint this article as long as you don’t make any changes and include the bio below.

Stephen Beck has a dynamic online business course,  and he can teach you how to earn your first $1000 on the internet. Go get a FREE link to his webinar replay, where Stephen shows you everything you should do: http://www.YourOnlineBasics.com/go.html.

There are many reasons why you may want to learn how to create an ebook to earn online profits. It is one of the simplest ways to start your own business at home. It is also a way you can make money right away without having to make a large upfront investment.

1.) What is an information product?

It is any product that delivers information to a customer. It can be in the form of a pdf ebook, an audio or mp3 file, or even a video. Since it is easier to write an ebook, that is what we will focus on.

2.) How do I write an ebook?

The first step for success when you write an ebook is to take the time out to pick out a strong market. Don’t just pick a market that you have an interest in. Make sure that others have an interest in this market as well.

In addition, don’t make the mistake of being too broad and general in your market. You want to look to solve a specific problem and cover a specific topic. People who search online usually have a specific challenge that they are looking to address, and when you write ebooks that address that challenge, you will make more online profits.

3.) How do you select an appropriate market for you to write pdf ebooks?

Look for a market where there’s plenty of interest, like for example, the scrapbooking market.

There are millions of searches a month for scrapbook-related keywords and phrases. There is even a network marketing company dedicated to scrapbooking. You can create a number of pdf ebooks for this market.

In addition to their passion, the scrapbook market is a proven market that people spend money on. Scrapbooking is literally a billion dollar industry when you take a look at the amount of money people spend on scrapbooking materials as well as books and information and classes on the topic.

By creating an information product to help scrapbook creators design and create the perfect scrapbook, you meet a huge need to a hungry market. You can write ebooks and they are willing to spend the money to solve the problem of creating the perfect scrapbook for them.

Don’t worry if you have no interest in this market. There are plenty of other markets that this concept works for just as well, if not better. Some examples include sports, certain types of games, certain types of businesses and other hobbies. Just pick one that has similar characteristics to scrapbooking, and you are on your way.

Once you have selected your market, the next step is to select your topic and write an ebook for it. With your topic, you want to focus on a specific area. So with scrapbooking, instead of writing an ebook on how to create the perfect scrapbook, you might choose instead to focus on selecting the right paper or creating the perfect album.

Finally, you want to write an ebook on the topic. The most common and effective format for an ebook is to use the format of pdf ebooks. These types of ebooks can be read on any type of computer and can be created using any Word Processor combined with a pdf creator. You can also make an audio recording of your ebook and give it to a transcriber to convert it into a pdf ebook for you.

It doesn’t have to be difficult to know how to create an ebook and earn online profits from it. Simply follow these guidelines and you will be well on your way to building a successful business.

___________________________

Copyright Stephen Beck, 2010

You have permission to reprint this article as long as you don’t make any changes and include the bio below.

Are you interested in learning more about internet marketing basics?  Stephen Beck is an expert, and he can help you make your first $1000 on the internet.  Pick up his FREE webinar replay: http://www.YourOnlineBasics.com/go.html.

I also have CDs and video tutorials that cover a wide range of topics from parenting, making biblical decisions, the biblical view of debt, and how the Old Testament saints were saved…to the value of practical skills for your children, small businesses that kids can start, how to turn a recording into a product and is ebay right for you.

As if that’s not enough, I’m using my experience as a contractor to create home remodeling audios. After all this time, that specialized knowledge still comes in handy!

Would you like to know how much equipment it takes to churn out 100 CDs in two days?

- A personal computer, just like the one you’re reading this with.

- A printer, also like yours.

- A CD-burner (You can use your personal computer, but I don’t want to burn mine up with so many copies.  So I bought one at Office Depot for a hundered bucks)

- DVD cases at 37 cents a piece

- Blank CDs, $.17 each.

- Finally, CD labels, at $.20 each.

Add it up – that’s not a huge capital outlay to create all of these CDs. Creating an ebook is even cheaper. Why don’t you give it a try?  Think about your own situation. What are your skills? What specialized knowledge do you have, and how can that start your own online business?

It doesn’t require a large capital outlay to record an interview, a “how to” audio or video, or an e-book. Simply find your area of expertise, seek your niche, and go for it!

The Internet is a huge place, and there are many niches. Whatever your expertise, there is a demand. Spend some time doing research and making a plan. You can learn how to make money on the Internet by following a few simple steps.

You must believe in yourself. Others just like you have created e-books, audios, tutorials, home study courses, even seminars. Try selling other people’s products, or earn commissions by recommending other products. There are many small businesses that kids can start, and many low budget Internet marketing strategies for small businesses. Find the one that works for you, and you too can become an Internet success.

All you need now is confidence, the knowledge you can do whatever you want. The first step is always the hardest. Maybe try starting with a free blog, a great way to test the waters! Whatever you choose, I have faith in you. You CAN do this, and we can show you how. Let’s get started!

_____________________________

Copyright Stephen Beck, 2010

You have permission to reprint this article as long as you don’t make any changes and include the bio below.

Stephen Beck can teach you online business set up steps and how to make your first $1000 on the internet.  Pick up a FREE link to his webinar replay, where Stephen shows you everything you should do: http://www.youronlinebasics.com/go.html.

You can do this, too. Just follow these six simple steps:

1.) Pick a familiar subject.

It should be something you can talk about for at least one hour, and I am convinced that everyone has a topic like that, whether it is pie making, photography, or automobile repair. No matter the topic, keep it simple because your goal is to quickly put out some good, helpful content that will generate cash flow.

2.) Create an outline.

Let me give you a simple way to do this. Get out a sheet of paper, and write your topic in the middle of it. Then brainstorm some subtopics for your main topic. Write these down and see if you can come up with two good details about each one of these subtopics. You need maybe eight to ten subtopics with two details for each one. Once you have those, you have an outline for sixty-minute presentation. How easy is that?

3.) Connect with a free teleseminar service.

You can find on to use for free and will allow you to host up to 250 people at one time. When I first started my online business, I could only host 100, so this is a great improvement. Remember to record your seminar and download it at the end.

4.) Invite people to your seminar.

But maybe you are wondering who you should invite? Start with the people you know. Send out a notice to your website, blogs, and email lists. Leave no stone unturned. Get the word out about the amazing, informative seminar you will be hosting.

5.)  Sell seats to your seminar.

My friend Jim Bob Howard showed me this great site called Eventbrite. It is also free to use. How it works is your customers pay Eventbrite, and then the site pays you. The clincher is you do not pay for their service until people pay you by buying seats. This frees you from a lot of administrative headache.

6.) Record your teleseminar.

Do it one time, and then use it over and over and over. You can sell the recording as an audio CD. You can have the recording transcribed and sell it as an Ebook. You can sell it together, the audio and transcription, for more money. You can combine one off products into a home-study course. There are really an endless steam of options you can come up with to make more money off of your one recording.

So what are you waiting for? Why not set up an online business today?

_______________________

Copyright Stephen Beck, 2010

You have permission to reprint this article as long as you don’t make any changes and include the bio below.

Stephen Beck can teach you how to start an internet business and how to make your first $1000 online. Go get a FREE link to his webinar replay, where Stephen shows you everything you should do: http://www.YourOnlineBasics.com/go.html.

While some people believe free eliminates demand for paid, I have found the opposite to be true, especially in situations where the free product fails to cover as much depth as the paid product. You should be excited when you see a free product because that shows there is interest in your target market.

Keep in mind that there are several topics that you can locate information on at no cost. The challenge is that it would take a significant amount of time to locate the information. Convenience is worth spending money on. It is more convenient to find information in one location. The average person does not want to search on a bunch of websites and put the information together. They want it right now and in your home internet business you can provide it to them.

Think about all the situations where people spend money to save time. Think about all the situations where people pay more for higher quality, especially if the quality of the free products is low. This is exactly what you are doing when you create a product to sell on the internet.

Ideally you want to offer a free mini-course to build a list of prospective customers prior to launching your ebook for sale. Prospective customers that like your mini course trust you and are more willing to spend money with you. People place a greater deal of value on something that costs them money. Money creates value. If you are able to provide the best information in one place, you will have demand even if there are alternative free sources out there.

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Copyright Stephen Beck, 2009
You have permission to reprint this article, as long as you don’t make any changes and include the bio below.

Stephen Beck shows families how to make money on the internet. Check out Stephen’s 3 free videos at http://www.8weekstoprofiits.com so your family can start right now.

One payment company that you can use for digital info products is Clickbank. While it only handles digital products, it is great for newcomers to the industry. Another reason why Clickbank works well is because they handle the transaction on your behalf. It is not even necessary for you to see the credit card information for your customer. The only negative is that you cannot use them for physical products even if they support a digital product.

What happens if you want to sell information products that are in physical format? You have two options, either option #1 where you provide the physical product as a bonus to the digital item or option #2 where you use a different payment processing company to handle the physical product.

If you want a payment processing company that handles both types, look at 1ShoppingCart. It comes with the ability to receive payment for both physical and digital products. The only disadvantage is you will have to pay for this service in the form of a monthly service fee. Therefore, you will need to look at your revenue generated per month and see if it makes sense financially.

As an alternative, you can also use PayPal or MouseECommerce. PayPal is free to use. They allow you to sell digital and physical products but if you are selling both, you should use Clickbank to handle the digital and PayPal for the physical version. Here is how the process to sell information products would work. Let us say that you have a product that consists of an electronic book and an audio CD that matches up well with the content in the book. What you would do is let your customer buy your ebook through Clickbank and then offer the audio CD on the download page of the ebook using PayPal.

These are some examples of the way to handle transactions for your products. 1ShoppingCart is your best option if you have a steady stream of sales and make enough to cover the monthly fee. If you are just starting out, the best option for you would be to use Clickbank to handle the digital product sales and PayPal for physical product sales when you sell information products.

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Copyright Stephen Beck, 2009
You have permission to reprint this article, as long as you don’t make any changes and include the bio below.

Stephen Beck teaches people how to start their own coaching business. Read more free articles by Stephen at www.squidoo.com so you can start today.

As a result of this, you need to make sure that everything you do to market and promote your business has this thought process in mind. You want to have a number of lower priced products at the beginning of your funnel. You might sell a few eBooks here or there on different topics related to your niche. These will lead to middle priced training programs in the hundreds of dollar ranges. Eventually you will have a few higher priced products in the thousands of dollars as a price point.

When creating these products, you can actually create one product and make it three separate products because they are in different formats. You can have a physical book as a product, an eBook as a product and an audio CD as a completely separate product. I do this and all three sell very well for me.

An important part of your eBook business funnel is your email newsletter. This is the key to unlocking success in a real online business. The reason why is because your newsletter is your primary method of building rapport and increasing the trust level between you and your customers. Without it, it is difficult, if not impossible to move people through your funnel.

The other thing my marketing funnel does is it eventually allows me a platform of communication for my ultimate mission. My ultimate mission is to proclaim the name of Jesus Christ to everyone that I meet. By teaching families how to create an income from real home business opportunities, this allows them a vehicle for God to be a blessing in their lives. If it also allows me to make money in the process, that is just great as well!

As an eBook creator you know the amount of work that goes into putting the final product together. That being said, your efforts are worthless if you do not do a good job at learning how to sell information.

Sales are everything in your selling information products business. Who cares if you have a fancy web site if youre fail to earn money at home? The key to maximizing profit is to make sure your eBooks include the following components:

1. Title Page and Copyright Information
This is where you introduce your eBook to those who have purchased it. A good title page should be properly formatted in an easy to read fashion. You do not have to be fancy but it does need to have the name of your eBook as well as any copyright information to protect your efforts.

2. The Body 
This is the “meat” of your eBook so to speak. This is what people pay for so it is imperative that you spend the time necessary to provide your readers with the value they expect in the body. Otherwise your eBook business will fail.

3. Clickable Links
Clickable links are one of the best ways to make even more money than you may have made from the initial sale. You can include links to other related products that you might offer for sale. You can also include affiliate links to products you will earn a commission on. Whatever software you use to create the eBook should provide directions on how to make your links clickable.

4. Resource Box
The resource box allows you to brand yourself along with making additional money as well. In your resource box, you should include information about yourself and your company. Make sure you include resources that the niche you are serving with your eBook would be interested in. Otherwise, you will not get the results you are looking for.

5. Free Bonuses
Everyone loves getting something for free and this is where free bonuses come in play. In fact, if you do a good job with bonuses, there are some buyers who will purchase your eBook just for the bonus alone. Make sure you let your prospective buyers know how much the bonus is worth so that they can know what a great deal they are getting.

By focusing in and including these five areas you will master how to sell information. These five features of your eBook drive the overall sales process and ensure that you maximize your ability to make money on the internet. Neglecting them limits the amount of success you can have.

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Copyright Stephen Beck, 2009
You have permission to reprint this article, as long as you don’t make any changes and include the bio below.

Stephen Beck teaches entrepreneurs how to increase their home-based business opportunities. Go grab his 3 free videos at http://www.8weekstoprofits.com so you can start now.