Like eveyone else, need advice ASAP Fear of the "Slow Lane"

[JEdwards]

A little off topic.. anyone know what pulls better, a landing page where the video starts automatically or one you have to push the video to start?

Thanks..

 

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[bernieshawn]

A little off topic.. anyone know what pulls better, a landing page where the video starts automatically or one you have to push the video to start?

Thanks..

Not a huge authority, but I think most people agree that ones where you have to push the button to start work better. The reasons being that (1) People aren't always in private, so having a video start with noise might make them hit the back button ASAP to turn it off. I know that's been true for me before. And (2) Videos that start automatically are annoying as hell. Me personally, I HATE them and will leave the page ASAP. The average consumer could be different, though.

 

[hackersmovie]

Not a huge authority, but I think most people agree that ones where you have to push the button to start work better. The reasons being that (1) People aren't always in private, so having a video start with noise might make them hit the back button ASAP to turn it off. I know that's been true for me before. And (2) Videos that start automatically are annoying as hell. Me personally, I HATE them and will leave the page ASAP. The average consumer could be different, though.

Agreed.

 

[pro]

The last two posts are not accurate. Run a test and you'll see.

 

[Bsgarrison]

I looked at your website. I have followed a number of couponing websites and there are many that provide this information for free. Couponmom.com is a favorite of a lot of couponers. In fact, some of the grocery stores in our area offer couponing seminars for FREE.

Your landing page should have a lot of tips, information on couponing, and links to coupon websites.

What I would do is find out the companies that are providing coupons and become an affiliate. Beef up your website with a lot of free information on couponing and links to the coupon pages and to the local grocery stores and their coupon policies, in-store coupons, etc.

Offer your seminars to grocery stores, and let them pay you to provide the service to their customers. Approach the community college and offer to hold a class on couponing in the continuing education department.

Look, if your idea has not taken off it is because there is not a market for what you are offering. Change your viewpoint, come at the idea from a different angle and see what happens. I suggest you offer a seminar for free, put up a table with a bunch of coupons, informative tips. Offer a lot of value for free, then direct customers to your website where you recommend coupons that provide you with a commission as an affiliate.

I thought I had a good idea for a business. I thought there was a need, and my potential customers TOLD me there was a need. So, I tested the water by offering some services for free and what I found out was just because I thought my service was the solution, and my customers told me that they needed this service, the truth was that we were both wrong. What they needed was entirely different than what I thought, but I did not learn this until I tested the waters.

Couponers are already cheap people. They won't pay for what they can get for free. Look at who will pay for your service, and it is those who need to reach your customers. The product manufacturers who want more customers and the grocery stores who need those customers to shop in their stores.

Hope this is helpful.

 

[hackersmovie]

I looked at your website. I have followed a number of couponing websites and there are many that provide this information for free. Couponmom.com is a favorite of a lot of couponers. In fact, some of the grocery stores in our area offer couponing seminars for FREE.

Agreed. My site is different.

Your landing page should have a lot of tips, information on couponing, and links to coupon websites.

What I would do is find out the companies that are providing coupons and become an affiliate. Beef up your website with a lot of free information on couponing and links to the coupon pages and to the local grocery stores and their coupon policies, in-store coupons, etc.

Offer your seminars to grocery stores, and let them pay you to provide the service to their customers. Approach the community college and offer to hold a class on couponing in the continuing education department.

Look, if your idea has not taken off it is because there is not a market for what you are offering. Change your viewpoint, come at the idea from a different angle and see what happens. I suggest you offer a seminar for free, put up a table with a bunch of coupons, informative tips. Offer a lot of value for free, then direct customers to your website where you recommend coupons that provide you with a commission as an affiliate.

I have already held seminars and webinars where people happily PAID to attend. I'm not the only one doing seminars and charging. I have contacted a few local colleges and about 40 churches. I've gotten a few responses, all positive, so far.

I thought I had a good idea for a business. I thought there was a need, and my potential customers TOLD me there was a need. So, I tested the water by offering some services for free and what I found out was just because I thought my service was the solution, and my customers told me that they needed this service, the truth was that we were both wrong. What they needed was entirely different than what I thought, but I did not learn this until I tested the waters.

Couponers are already cheap people. They won't pay for what they can get for free. Look at who will pay for your service, and it is those who need to reach your customers. The product manufacturers who want more customers and the grocery stores who need those customers to shop in their stores.

Hope this is helpful.

I get what you're saying but, I think you've misunderstood the plan. It sounds like you already use coupons, and have attended a seminar, for free. If I'm correct, why did you attend the seminar?

My guess would be you wanted to know how to maximize the use of coupons. Not that you didn't understand how they worked or where to get them. My service caters to the people whom neither have the time or motivation to go sit at a seminar. I'm bringing the content right into their home, for a small fee. People happily pay for convienence.

I've just launched, still in a "beta" mode but, the online videos are selling already and the seminars/webinars I've had; had good attendance.

I think it's still to early to call. I don't feel the "people have spoken" just yet. I'll have to give it a year or two and change as the people dictate.

Thanks for the input, it is greatly appreciated!

 

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[Bsgarrison]

I think I understand what you are doing, I guess I am saying that perhaps, if the idea is not getting the kind of income you need, that maybe you are targeting the wrong market. Perhaps it would help to change your perspective. If you have been doing this since 2007 and it is not working out for you, then there may not be a large enough market. Can you expand the market by examining who else could use your service?

I did not mean to criticize the idea, because it is a good one, but just wanted to suggest you look in a different direction for customers. Maybe your customer is not just the shopper, but also the grocery store, who would pay you to link to your website, or the affiliates with coupons to distribute. What about an e-book with your "best of" tips?

I did not attend a couponing seminar, but I do know of a lot of grocery stores that are offering these in house, at no cost, to their customers. Maybe they would offer your video on their websites for those customers who could not attend in-store seminars and pay you for this service.

I owned a retail store for five years and sold for 5X what I paid, so I have some experience in business and particularly in marketing. Good luck with your idea.

 

[hackersmovie]

I think I understand what you are doing, I guess I am saying that perhaps, if the idea is not getting the kind of income you need, that maybe you are targeting the wrong market. Perhaps it would help to change your perspective. If you have been doing this since 2007 and it is not working out for you, then there may not be a large enough market. Can you expand the market by examining who else could use your service?

I did not mean to criticize the idea, because it is a good one, but just wanted to suggest you look in a different direction for customers. Maybe your customer is not just the shopper, but also the grocery store, who would pay you to link to your website, or the affiliates with coupons to distribute. What about an e-book with your "best of" tips?

I did not attend a couponing seminar, but I do know of a lot of grocery stores that are offering these in house, at no cost, to their customers. Maybe they would offer your video on their websites for those customers who could not attend in-store seminars and pay you for this service.

I owned a retail store for five years and sold for 5X what I paid, so I have some experience in business and particularly in marketing. Good luck with your idea.

Oh, no, criticizm is fine. No worries. I think the confusion is, I started a different company in 2007, then restarted it in early 2011.

I just started this one about 2 months ago, and it's going very well, so far. That's why I said I'd give it a year or two and see where it leads. I have no problem expanding the market, as a matter of fact, I've been diligently looking for new avenues. Like, today I contacted about 20 different automotive forum administrators, letting them know about my affiliate program. All they'd have to do is create a post with my "car buying" video and for every person that watches it, they get paid a %. Nothing for them to invest but, a few minutes to create a post. win/win.

That's the other difference with my company, I don't just do couponing. I've worked in nearly every facet of marketing and sales. I know how to negotiate a deal for just about anything. People have been very responsive so far, so we shall see. Most every company I've ever worked for, I was the one that ended up negotiating just about every contract they entered into. My ability to save the company hundreds of thousands of dollars a year, was highly sought after.

Again, thanks for the input, it is greatly appreciated!

 

[TheAstonMartian]

I think you have a lot of potential if your only hangup is advertising. Promote your site on kijiji, craigslist, and other forums without necessarily being that guy who is trying to sell something. Since a lot of people are in debt, that is your market. It's easy to see where this is going. Print flyers on how to reduce debt, and send it everywhere. Give free "financial advice" by offering consultations. Initially, this will take time, but eventually people might come to your website and use your coupon services. Be creative.

Since your business is supposed to expand, its better to have coupons in your inventory already. Some schools and universities have journalism students write newspapers. Reach out to them as they will get all the students who have debt issues.

The best reference I can give you is of teenage millionaire Cameron Johnson who did something similar with his gift card business. I got the book for free from my library, so you might be lucky. However, if you have to invest for the book, do so. It takes a little bit of savings. By the way, don't starve yourself. Get a part time job as a cashier or anything. Do six hours weekly, and spend the other ten hours on your business. With some time management, you will be set. You are lucky cause you have a wife that understands.

Toddlers can be high maintenance, so try to balance it out as best as you can.

 

[hackersmovie]

I think you have a lot of potential if your only hangup is advertising. Promote your site on kijiji, craigslist, and other forums without necessarily being that guy who is trying to sell something. Since a lot of people are in debt, that is your market. It's easy to see where this is going. Print flyers on how to reduce debt, and send it everywhere. Give free "financial advice" by offering consultations. Initially, this will take time, but eventually people might come to your website and use your coupon services. Be creative.

Since your business is supposed to expand, its better to have coupons in your inventory already. Some schools and universities have journalism students write newspapers. Reach out to them as they will get all the students who have debt issues.

The best reference I can give you is of teenage millionaire Cameron Johnson who did something similar with his gift card business. I got the book for free from my library, so you might be lucky. However, if you have to invest for the book, do so. It takes a little bit of savings. By the way, don't starve yourself. Get a part time job as a cashier or anything. Do six hours weekly, and spend the other ten hours on your business. With some time management, you will be set. You are lucky cause you have a wife that understands.

Toddlers can be high maintenance, so try to balance it out as best as you can.

Excellent insight! Thank you! I'll look into those avenues!

 

[CPisHere]

Start an affiliate program, and offer it to personal finance bloggers.

But if you don't have $25 to buy the book, you need a decent paying job to get yourself into better financial position, IMO.

 

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[hackersmovie]

Start an affiliate program, and offer it to personal finance bloggers.

But if you don't have $25 to buy the book, you need a decent paying job to get yourself into better financial position, IMO.

Got the book some time ago, read it seveal times, much better financial situation now, I've also launched about 10 affiliate sites which are starting to trickle money in so I can put more time into my fastlane project. Thanks!

 

[XavierYZ]

I would offer webinars and a subscription service for a low monthly fee, holding paid local seminars to frugal people might not scale very well. some people might not be comfortable coming to seminars where they learn to save money by clipping coupons , because they are poor? or might be labeled as poor?

let people access this information in the comfort of there home on there time


selling webinars over live seminars allows you to leverage your time spent on the project, and also allows people to save money by not driving to a location.

you can record your webinar and have live questions, and then resell the webinar at a discount for non interactive learning.



Package a digital product that could be timeless and make you money while you sleep. once your products are developed then you can spend more time marketing and advertising it, and not labouring

"Work on your business not in it."

 

[Rick_MD]

One step ahead, my friend. Yes! There is a feedback option and they can "Ask a question" as well. All info is captured. I will be mailing "snail mail" a "We Are $avvy $avers" refriderator magnet to everyone that purchases the VOD. Yes, it will cut into profits but, I have 500 of the magnets already that I purchased for the packets for the people that attended in person. They only cost me .90 each plus an envelope and postage, I'll be in it for about $1.60 total but, I think receiving a "surprise" FREE GIFT in the mail will certainly gather some chatter....

Here's the magnet:

Click for large view - Uploaded with Skitch

Thoughts?

Charles,

It looks like skitch doesn't like you any more...

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Rick_MD

 

[ChickenHawk]

It might just be a personal quirk of mine, but I absolutely loathe Web sites with videos that automatically start. I can't click away soon enough.