September 16, 2009

The Moneymaking Secret at Your Local Gym... Why the Far
East Could Help You Get More Money... Neighborhood Tours
Offer Profit Potential... How to Make Deals as an Info
Marketer... and More.

Every morning, my mailbox is filled with flyers advertising different gyms in my neighborhood.

While each flyer is different, the pitches are typically quite similar. They offer a low monthly rate to use their facilities and sometimes even promise that there's no obligation to sign a contract.

Now, running a gym is quite expensive. You've got machinery to buy and keep in tip-top shape. You've got employees to pay, utilities to provide and then a cleaning staff to keep the place smelling as good as possible.

How, then, can the owners afford to run a gym when people are paying such low monthly rates? Well, gym owners know that their monthly rates aren't their only source of income.

Once you join, most gyms will assess your fitness level. From there, they will begin recommending personalized and supervised programs. These programs all cost money and are determined by how often you'll need consultations. Need one- on-one training? It will cost you. Need dietary guidance? It will cost you.

The business model here is to get new customers in with a great-sounding deal. And once they begin using your services, you start offering upgrades that improve the customer's experience.

Now, it's not just gyms that use this business model. In fact, almost all businesses can and should benefit from having what are called "back-end" products or services.

A computer shop offers courses to teach repair or programs. A music shop offers guitar lessons. And gyms offer personal training.

If your business still lacks some solid back-end products, now is the time to start introducing them to your customers.

Recently, I moved to a new part of town. Now, over the years, I'd been to this large part of town to visit with friends, but I hadn't spent more than a few hours in the area.

I knew where the theater was and I knew where to get groceries, but that was about it. So, the day I moved in, I went searching for the "hidden gems" that make a neighborhood unique.

I found a tucked-away video store and a restaurant just off the main strip that was really a treat. Each day when I head out for a walk, I seem to discover something new.

The other day, I was looking for a specific type of restaurant, one I knew had to be in my area. I went online, went to a few different search engines and found nothing. However, when I called a friend of mine who had lived in the area for a few years, they were able to give me the address of a tucked-away restaurant, exactly what I was looking for.

And here's where an excellent information marketing opportunity lies. An informational guide to a neighborhood is often based on advertising and not on actual experience. The small restaurant my friend told me about probably couldn't afford to advertise and therefore would probably get overlooked more often than not.

The information marketing opportunity here would be to offer an "insider's" guide to this neighborhood. All you need to do is write down your own insights into what's good and offer the end product for sale to new residents. Sure, this plan would involve a bit more, but the building blocks for an information marketing product are already in place.

Starting an information marketing business can be easy once you begin to identify the needs of people in your area. From there, you can expand; but start local. You have Internet access to start your search and then you can let your feet and eyes do the rest, as you explore the people and places you live near.

I encourage you to take just a few minutes today and see if you can't create your own local information marketing product.

It's not often that we hear good news about the economy, but I heard some very exciting news recently that has the potential to have a very positive impact on our economic situation.

The thing is, the impact comes from the Far East, but it is a good sign for things to come over here.

You see, a report on CNN indicated that China's economy has really picked up in the last month. Manufacturing is up, as is investment. In fact, industrial production increased 12% from this time over last year, while consumers are also spending at increased levels. What does this mean for us?

Well, when China manufacturing increases, it means that American businesses are selling more. After all, many American companies use China's cheaper labor to produce many of the goods they sell. Therefore, the increase in production means an increase in demand from American businesses and consumers.

Another important aspect of a surging Chinese economy is that it's huge. In fact, it is the third largest economy in the world, while having the potential to grow into the largest. Therefore, if an economy such as theirs can begin an upward swing, it's only a matter of time before others begin to follow suit.

One of the most surprising elements of China's economic upswing is that car sales are on the rise.

This positive news is hopefully the beginning to the recovery of our economy. Now, we know that the economy likely won't turn around as fast as it came crashing down, but it's nice to know that we could be nearing the end of this recession.

If you're a small business owner looking to get better rates on your manufacturing, it might be a good time to look to China. With a growing economy, it may mean that many Chinese are getting back to work and businesses are looking for manufacturing contracts. To get in touch with Chinese suppliers, log on to www.made-in-china.com and get an idea of what is available.

This could be the perfect time to start your business. With the
economy pulling out of recession, you could be at the forefront
of the next economic boom!

** How to Make Deals as an Info Marketer
By James Burt, Online Marketing Expert

As an info marketer, you are your own boss. You have to provide a product to your clients on a regular basis. And you have to create new products. And you have to get new clients. And you have to make a living...and on and on it goes.

It sounds like a boring existence, especially the way I wrote it above. But it isn't. Remember: you have information on a subject you love and you are sharing that info with the rest of the world. And you get paid for it to boot. I mean, how cool is that? Most people don't have a job like that, so never let your interest wane, even in tough times.

I got a question recently from an info marketer whose interest was waning. He was losing money fast on his info products and was failing to secure new clients. He told me that he was "on the verge of calling it a day."

I asked him if he had had any new ideas for the business.

"Nope," he said. "I'm drawing a blank."

Then it hit me: this guy had some success in the past with a very well done special edition print info product. I suggested that he re-release it with his next e-newsletter and offer it as part of a deal.

"Hey, that sounds pretty cool." Then he paused. "Wait...how do I do that?"

Offering a deal in info marketing is actually pretty straightforward and not unlike the way your local grocery store or sports equipment outlet operates. But, like those places, you need a bit of tact to get going. The tips I gave my friend I'll give to you and you can adapt them to suit your business.

First, think of something special to the client. Brainstorm out something they would enjoy -- a discount on a newsletter subscription, a two-for-one product combo, or even a complementary product. Think of what you already have to offer or what you can prepare for the deal at hand.

Secondly, check the books. Deals, like mall discounts or blowouts, can only be done if you can allow it financially. That is, your deal has to be only low enough that it will still generate a profit for you. If you offer a discount, keep it low and within a good range for your business. If you are giving away something for free, make sure you can afford to do so, as some products simply are too valuable just to give away. Remember: the deal is supposed to increase business, so it's up to you to do your arithmetic to see what you can offer in order to make things more successful.

Thirdly, get the customer to work for you. This sounds odd, but it can be done. Remember my friend I mentioned above? He had the smarts to include a link back to his web site in his deal e-newsletter. He told people that if they referred others to his business, he would cut them another deal on their e-newsletter subscription. Guess what? He got over 30 new referrals that month and a whole new client base thanks to this little caption at the bottom of one e-mail, which generated a whole new round of profit for him. That and his existing clients got another deal. So everyone was happy!

I would also recommend doing the "limited-time offer" as well. Not so much for you and your deadlines, but more so for the clients. If they know you are only offering for a certain amount of time, they will seize the opportunity quickly. As a business person, you are showing respect for them in providing them with the deal and adhering to your own principles of wanting to increase your success. A limited time offer does get people off their butts and to the ordering platform a lot faster.

As I said earlier, offering a deal is like anything else in info marketing and likely any other business at that. If you apply a little elbow grease and good planning, you can maintain the success with your existing clientele, while gaining new customers as well. In the end, it's an option well worth considering.