Goals for this Week's Meetings

It is now go time.  It is time to make things happen in 2009, and it starts right now.  This week we are going to strive to achieve the following goals:

1. Narrow down our existing ideas to the best 3, and brainstorm another 1 or 2 new ideas
2. Run these ideas by Mike, getting some input and feedback on feasibility as well as any ideas he may have for a muse
3. Investigate product creation feasibility as well as market viability for the ideas we have narrowed down
4. Scour the net for similar products and list an eBay auction
5. Begin creation of a sales page, order page, and back order page
6. Open an Adwords account and begin creation of a campaign

This should be a good start.  Remember the first time through will be the hardest, so let’s get it under our belt.  By hardest, I mean it will require the most resources (time, research, money, effort, etc) to complete successfully.

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Resources for creating a Muse

Latest Update: New Muse Example

This is a running list of resources that we can reference as we develop a muse.  Feel free to add to this list.

Forums

• http://fourhourworkweek.com/vBulletin/

Trade Magazines

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_magazines

SEO Tools

• https://adwords.google.com/select/KeywordToolExternal?defaultView=2
• http://tools.seobook.com/keyword-tools/seobook/
• http://www.seomoz.org/blog/rewriting-the-beginners-guide-the-outline
• http://www.lotusjump.com/

Creating a Sales Website

• http://business.blinkweb.com/
• http://www.getmuseo.com/preview/ also see http://fourhourworkweek.com/vBulletin/showthread.php?t=2468
• http://fourhourworkweek.com/vBulletin/showthread.php?t=2093

Online Marketing Video Blog

• http://www.gurumastermindvideoblog.com/

Guides to Sales Copywriting

• http://www.michelfortin.com/

Outsourcing & Freelancing

• http://www.elance.com/
• http://www.guru.com/
• http://www.rentacoder.com/
• http://www.freelancefree.com/
• http://www.craigslist.com/

WordPress Muse Template Examples from IMWB

• http://internetmarketingwithblogs.com/
• http://blogdesignr.com/salespagethemes/?page_id=15
• http://blogdesignr.com/salespagethemes/?page_id=16
• http://blogdesignr.com/salespagethemes/?page_id=17

Real Muse Examples

• http://www.audiomixologist.net/
• http://www.gamebrain.us/
• http://www.replacemyself.com/
• http://www.blogmastermind.com/
• http://www.fastfoodcopywriting.com/
• http://mypodcastingtutor.com/
• http://www.fatlossrevealed.com/

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7 Recommended Virtual Collaboration Tools

I found this list of use.  With several project hopefully starting up real soon, we will need to begin to form a virtual work environment that is collaboration-friendly.  Here are 7 Tools that the guys at Duct-Tape Marketing use daily.

Dropbox – online file storage and sharing. This is simply a high powered FTP site, but the interface and workflow is so great. I use a desktop application from dropbox and simply drag files there and they are stored online automatically. I can share folders with anyone and when they upload files they show up on my desktop. I can even set-up public folders so anyone can send large files without clogging email.

Basecamp – this is an online project management tool that allows you to set-up projects with collaborators and customers and manage all manner of communication, file and document sharing, and chat. I use this with the Duct Tape Marketing Coach network as a form of Intranet.

iLinc – virtual collaboration is great, but sometimes you need to work in real time, face to face (sort of) iLinc is web and video conferencing tool that really shines when it comes to online collaboration. You can work on documents together via the web, video chat, access files and programs off each others desktops and visit web sites together with a live browser – so you can take someone to a page and walk them through a real demo or sign-up process. Disclosure: iLinc sponsors my podcast.

SimpleEvent – this is a free conference call service, but it has a ridiculous amount of features. I love to put together meetings on the fly and have multiple folks join. I also use it to host my large web meetings for the audio portion. I can have up to 96 full talk to talk and 1000 talk to listen on at once. There’s no scheduling, it’s always on and always live.

GMail – this is just big, fat, free, email service, but I love the way it works and takes advantage of being fully online. You can run your own domain through GMail (I use it to send as I don’t have to worry about my local ISP quirks when I travel) and create multiple profiles for all your various rolls in life. I use Google Talk for IM and it’s built right into GMail.

Jott – Jott allows you to record voice memos that get turned into email text. You can set-up boxes for anyone you collaborate with and send notes as you wiz down the freeway. You can create groups for distribution, post appointments to Google Calendar, and even update your twitter feed all with voice messages.

Google Calendar – Another Google tool, I know, but I like setting up calendars and sharing them with collaborators and also tapping the fact that these calendars produce RSS feeds so I can publish them in cool ways to websites and have anyone I give access produce content for those sites. Also sync with desktop and phone calendars over the air.

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Sources:
http://www.ducttapemarketing.com/blog/2008/12/19/7-virtual-collaboration-tools-i-use-daily/

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Happy Holidays!

Just wanted to take a minute to wish all of our faithful and dedicated readers and contributors at ideaFLiTE a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

2009 is going to be the year of Lifestyle Design, so get ready!

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Sex chip being developed by scientists

Ha! I found a product we can license and sell…the sex chip!

The chip works by sending tiny shocks from implanted electrodes in the brain.

The technology has been used in the United States to treat Parkinson’s disease.

But in recent months scientists have been focusing on the area of the brain just behind the eyes known as the orbitofrontal cortex – this is associated with feelings of pleasure derived from eating and sex.

…”When the technology is improved, we can use deep brain stimulation in many new areas. It will be more subtle, with more control over the power so you may be able to turn the chip on and off when needed…”

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Sources:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/scienceandtechnology/science/sciencenews/3886862/Sex-chip-being-developed-by-scientists.html

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Tim Ferriss Inspired Ideas

Recently Added: Licensed products, private labeling, product creation

VIdeo or Audio Information Ideas

1. Increasing finger strength (rock climing)
2. making wine (home wine makers)
3. cutco rep tips from Vets
4. DM training from successful DM shadowing (JD lifestyle)
5. Going Green: How to build a wind turbine for residential use and profit off of it
6. Going Green: 10 steps to eliminating your carbon footprint and living better
7. Video for un-tech savvy entrepreneurs that want to learn how to sell their products online
8. Photography for the beginner
9. Sleep Optimization – customized for different lifestyles
10. Mnemonic learning – med school, or other memorization based task or job
11. Job interview guide – psychological breakdown of process & guided steps to ace an interview
12. MMA – diet/weight guide, personal branding, fight style guide, muscle building technique
13. Guide to eating well – avoiding Genetically modified foods, what organics to eat, where to find, etc.

Selling a product through a license agreement

1. Food products via Mike Meinzen
2. Bringing local, unique products to the internet
3. Marketing other peoples books, ebooks, or learning material
4. Scottevest transformation into motorcycle riding gear
5. Private labeling sugar-free drink mixers

Dropshipping

1. Wicked cool motorcycle Shades

Product Creation

1. Motorcycle gear – custom helmets, saddlebag decals, etc

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A Quick Foray into licensing

As we build our “muse empire” step by step, we should also keep licensing an idea or product in mind.  This could prove to be an invaluable arrow in our quiver.

I just read a post on the 4 hour work week blog about licensing from Steven Key from Invent Right (who was discussed in the book).  This guy is king of licensing.  One of his products is a spinning label that allows for 75% more space on a lable.  The video of this is below.

He has sold over 300,000,000 of these in the last 5 years.  In the 80’s, he was part of design group that created Teddy Ruxpin (I used to love that cartoon) and Lasertag (awesome game that brings back memories)

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Sources:
http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/2007/11/26/a-beginners-guide-how-to-rent-your-ideas-to-fortune-500-companies-plus-video/
http://www.inventright.com/

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The MMA market

I have been following the MMA since it’s roots in the US in the early 1990’s when it was unheard of; so to me it has slowly become a lifelong big hobby.  I guess as a big MMA and boxing fan, I just kind of assume that people understand how fast the sport of MMA is growing (it is nearing or already in the exponential growth stage of an S-Curve in my opinion), but there are still many people that don’t know what the UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) is for example.  There is still a ways to go before MMA is mainstream.  There are a few reasons why I like the potential in the MMA market.  To give you my quick analysis why MMA is a great marketplace to be in:

1. It’s growing into a fad market right now, we are not even close to the peak yet.  Remember how it used to be “cool” to be a skateboarder in Middle School – High School, well MMA is creating a cult following in this demographic as they are growing up with it.   Many kids are electing to become fighters when they turn 18 just because of the sense of pride they get saying “I’m a MMA fighter”.  It’s kind of like the whole “I’m in a band” thing…
2. There is something “genetic” in males that makes them feel cool to be part of fighting and being a fight fan.  Me personally, it gives me an adrenaline rush similar to the rush I get from a motorcycle.  The primary demographic for an MMA customer is between 16-30, and more specifically 18-25.  At this point in my life, it is easy to relate to this demographic, because I am (or recently was–I’m getting old!) part of it.
3. MMA will continue to gain market share against other mainstream sports, and although it isn’t considered mainstream yet, it is getting closer.  There is a great example I heard of why MMA has so much potential–imagine this scenario.  You are standing at a 4 way intersection with an open field in each corner of the intersection.  At each corner, imagine there is a different sporting event taking place.  We will use for example, an NFL football game, an NBA basketball game, and a MLB baseball game.  On the last corner, there is a fight breaking out.  Where will your attention be drawn to?  And everyone else’s attention around you for that matter?  Exactly.  There is something about fighting that appeals to human beings at a very fundamental and primitive level, especially men.

And if traffic on the web is an indication of growth of a sport in popularity, then MMA is growing very rapidly.  These charts from compete.com, they are from a few years ago, but still show an interesting trend.

The point of this post is not to sell you on getting involved in MMA, but you mentioned you didn’t know a whole lot about it, so I thought I would try to fill you in on my thoughts.  It is an intriguing market, especially if the opportunity would arise to parlay another product offering of a different nature to this demographic.  Typically speaking, the 18-25 year old male demographic is somewhat challenging to capture and market to effectively.  MMA seems to be a great way to accomplish this.

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Sources:
http://blog.compete.com/2007/04/20/ufc-ultimate-fighting-championship-popularity-growth/

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Sales Page Design

There is some disagreement on whether or not a 1 page sales letter is the way to go, instead of a full website.  Obviously there are pros and cons to each, but David (creator of Audio Mixologist) gives a good explanation of the difference and what is ideal to use.

Always think in terms of your sales funnel. With a one-page site, you have more control over the path someone takes towards (ideally) purchasing your product. You’ll notice a lot of one-page sales letters, at the very end, include some link saying “If you’ve decided not to purchase and are about to leave, click here!”. They’re assuming someone has either read to the end, or skimmed to it, and has not been convinced. You can make this types of assumptions on a one-page site. The more pages you have, the more variance in user behavior and less predictable your funnel becomes.

Don’t confuse the quality of the page content with the distribution of it (one page vs. multiple). If you can convey your entire offering in a clear, compelling way with one page – do it. Don’t give people the option of “exploring” their way to a less compelling section of your site.

Control your sales funnel and give someone a reason to work their way from top to bottom. Additional pages should be reserved for ancillary tasks such as contact forms, refund requests, etc.

Another way to look at this is product vs. company. Generally a single product (or multiple packages of one product type) work well on a single page site. Someone either buys or doesn’t. They aren’t their to “learn about your company” or casually browse. Your product page is a call to action, whereas a multi-page site is generally more focused on informing the user of the products or services available.

Keep things as simple as possible until you absolutely must add more.

David

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Sources:
http://fourhourworkweek.com/vBulletin/showthread.php?t=2561

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Wal-Mart and the $99 iPhone…Myth

Well, I have heard so much about a rumored iPhone being sold at Wal-Mart during the holiday season for under $100.  My mom sent me an email asking me about this, and that was the boiling point.  Everyone and there mom, literally, is talking about it.  Great publicity for Apple I guess.  So, finally after getting really tired of hearing about, I decided to look it up today, and according to Wired, it is a myth.

Myth: According to the entire internet, Apple will, just after Christmas, sell a 4GB, $100 iPhone through Walmart. The usual excuse is made: Apple needs to sell cheaper hardware in “these troubled times.”

Fact: Apple will in fact sell iPhones through Walmart, but they will be the same ones you can get elsewhere, and at the same price. What every one of these analysts fails to understand is the Apple business model. The company just doesn’t do cheap.

Look at it this way: Apple’s PC market share continues to grow. The iPhone seems unstoppable. The new “expensive” unibody MacBooks are doing just fine. Why on earth would Apple undercut its own successful iPhone line with a cheap version? If it can sell as many $200 or even $300 iPhones as it likes, why sell a $100 one?

The 4GB part of this rumor irks, also. Name one other product line from Apple which has seen a memory decrease. You can’t. The fact that Apple already discontinued the 4GB iPhone because the sales were slow compared to the 8GB model should tell us something. Yes, there might be a 4GB, $100 iPhone. It will be announced at the exact same time as a 5GB, HDD iPod. With a physical clickwheel.

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Sources:
http://blog.wired.com/gadgets/2008/12/why-apple-wont.html

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