When writing blogs or getting online, I am sure you have heard of the “ethical bribe”  to get people to sign up and help you build a list. Or creating something you can actually sell.  Here I am going to share with you six steps to creating something that will cause your readers to sign up and help you get your first “Online product.”

Step #1: The Solution

I am sure that as you are reading this, your thinking, “What solution?”  Well, consider this, what solution would you solve for others or what solution do you wish you had but at one time didn’t?  People are interested in solutions to problems.  By the way, think about it, thats all they ever buy,  “Solutions.”  So step one should be the easy part,  just think of a solution you discovered that you could share with others.

Step #2: Preparation

Deciding how to prepare the information or product to your audience.  Will you need others involved?  Do you want to take a recording from a live talk, make an ebook, a video, a CD, and MP3? Who is your target market? Who needs to be involved, what equipment do you need, what part of the process can be outsourced, what can’t, what has to happen in order for you to create this?  Solve this and you are on your way.

Step #3: Development

This is turning your idea into something real.  Do you have a website? Who is your audience?  What is the Most Frequently Asked Question you can answer that provides the MOST VALUE?  Create an outline, develop your content, package your content, and then fulfill.  Want this more simple?  Packaging can be in the form of written or recorded, (audio or video).  Fulfillment delivery physically or electronically.

Step #4: Copywriting

This is your sales letter, the part that actually gets them to either buy or sign up.  Consider the unique selling point, the solution that they are looking for and you are providing.  Give the hook or special offer, create a compelling story and what you will solve for them.

Step #5: Your Website

Does your website have a front page or a blog page? Do you ask people to sign up? Do you make an offer that causes them to want to sign up?  Do you make a special page with your product on it so they can read more about it? Do you SELL it or GIVE it away? Consider how your site is structured, do you have control over your site to even offer a product?

Step #6: Traffic Generation

Connect online with Social Media, host a teleseminar, do an affiliate promotion, ask for a joint venture, create backlinks, use free online classifieds, paid search, there is a lot you can do to drive traffic.  The best way I have found is to use word of mouth and social media.  I ask others to comment or suggest on their posts to check out my site, I write what I want them to post, I also recommend that you look for related sites and contribute to them.

Finally as a last comment, I always suggest that you write or create content that actually relates to what your audience wants.  I consulted with a client who’s content was totally technical but his client base was definitely not.  So I recommened that they change their content to relate more to their audience.

Relating builds relationship, solves problems, and creates credibility for you and enhances their experience.

Please comment and share this post with others.  Thank you.