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My idea evaluation before reading UNSCRIPTED

Idea threads

Pete3

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Before reading unscripted , my plan was to write an eBook on python (I’m a software dev currently living the slow lane life). I thought this because “hey I see other people writing books on this topic and I’m pretty good with this language.” My plan was to publish some ebooks on Amazon, then create a website around the books and start promoting. If those steps went well, create online courses. I was at the point where I was mapping out topics to be covered in my book and researching platforms to give book reads a consistent dev environment to work in (aka do I trust that the reader can install requisite libraries on whatever OS they are running and can do so without hiccup and/or getting discouraged? Or is there an online platform to enhance learning?)

Then I came across UNSCRIPTED and gave it a read. The sections where MJ talks about bloggers and fitness gurus, and how people think when they lose 10 pounds their passion can drive a fitness blog business really spoke to me. Does the crowded market need another blogger fitness guru who’s message is largely the same as everyone else’s? Probably not. It’ll be another blog that gets to 3 posts then falls by the wayside.

From what I can tell, the internet is flooded with people trying to teach software skills. This is a good sign, meaning there is a market for it. However, can I differentiate? Maybe, maybe not. Is it worth my time and effort to put into (aka can this ever be a legacy product)? Probably not since I would have to keep updating maintaining the ebooks/courses whenever the tech changes which could be quite frequent. Factor in updates for different OS’s, library updates, language updates, etc this is looking like a full time job.

I just finished the book and am researching new ideas now, but would love to hear additional thoughts if my reasoning is good/bad or could be refined.
 
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OMDA

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Although it's not necessarily software, and I'm not yet successful, here's what I'm in the process of doing:

  • Write something that I think has value in one article
  • Get the word out and link to the article. (I'm using adwords at the moment, but will also search out people and email them, which is free)
  • Ensure that people have a subscribe link, that you have analytics set up, that you even possibly have relevant affiliate links in your article.
  • Build up the list over time. Don't give out everything for free. Then, sell an ebook that goes in more depth and help than the content.
The key is my articles take less than a week to launch, set up with links, and all of that part time. And I plan on leveraging all of the feedback along the way. That way, I'm not sunk months of effort on a book that nobody will read, with absolutely zero feedback.

If I have a subscriber list, and I give value out, I can find a way to make money off of that value.
Then I plan on adding in SaaS to make software out of my techniques...so it's more than just a book or a single product. Although I don't expect to make any money off of the affiliate links on my articles as-is, it may recoup the cost of advertising over the long run. Who knows? It's a shorter timeline experiment than writing an entire book.
 

Pete3

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Jul 3, 2014
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Although it's not necessarily software, and I'm not yet successful, here's what I'm in the process of doing:

  • Write something that I think has value in one article
  • Get the word out and link to the article. (I'm using adwords at the moment, but will also search out people and email them, which is free)
  • Ensure that people have a subscribe link, that you have analytics set up, that you even possibly have relevant affiliate links in your article.
  • Build up the list over time. Don't give out everything for free. Then, sell an ebook that goes in more depth and help than the content.
The key is my articles take less than a week to launch, set up with links, and all of that part time. And I plan on leveraging all of the feedback along the way. That way, I'm not sunk months of effort on a book that nobody will read, with absolutely zero feedback.

If I have a subscriber list, and I give value out, I can find a way to make money off of that value.
Then I plan on adding in SaaS to make software out of my techniques...so it's more than just a book or a single product. Although I don't expect to make any money off of the affiliate links on my articles as-is, it may recoup the cost of advertising over the long run. Who knows? It's a shorter timeline experiment than writing an entire book.

Seems interesting. So you’re basically prewriting he book on the site and gaining an audience in the process? How did you decide on your product/niche?
 

OMDA

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Seems interesting. So you’re basically prewriting he book on the site and gaining an audience in the process? How did you decide on your product/niche?

My niche is based on my specialist knowledge in an area I'm an expert in.

In a ways, yes, I'm pre writing. However, I'm aiming for pre-selling

I've got several outline elements and planned articles.

This is opposite to what I did before. I spent the good part of a year programming an app with ZERO customer feedback or market knowledge.

Now I'm doing what I can to get feedback and customers BEFORE I sink in the time.

I'll probably have something worth an ebook by the time I'm making money. Or, I'll find that my customers need and want something else entirely. Maybe they'll need video tutorials?

The point is getting to the feedback from customers stage ASAP.

I spent one week feeling bad for wasting my last year. This past week was redoing my website, twice, and now finishing my first article to get that feedback.

Until I get customers and subscribers, I can't tell what they need. Same for you. You can get something in motion and start getting feedback. I strongly recommend the threads by eliquid, Fox, and others on building up software products. There's also some self publishing threads here. Not sure if they're in the INSIDERS area or not, but I'd search for them.

Lots of good knowledge here, regardless. I've learned substantially since coming here. The key is turning it into actions.
 
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Pete3

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Jul 3, 2014
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My niche is based on my specialist knowledge in an area I'm an expert in.

In a ways, yes, I'm pre writing. However, I'm aiming for pre-selling

I've got several outline elements and planned articles.

This is opposite to what I did before. I spent the good part of a year programming an app with ZERO customer feedback or market knowledge.

Now I'm doing what I can to get feedback and customers BEFORE I sink in the time.

I'll probably have something worth an ebook by the time I'm making money. Or, I'll find that my customers need and want something else entirely. Maybe they'll need video tutorials?

The point is getting to the feedback from customers stage ASAP.

I spent one week feeling bad for wasting my last year. This past week was redoing my website, twice, and now finishing my first article to get that feedback.

Until I get customers and subscribers, I can't tell what they need. Same for you. You can get something in motion and start getting feedback. I strongly recommend the threads by eliquid, Fox, and others on building up software products. There's also some self publishing threads here. Not sure if they're in the INSIDERS area or not, but I'd search for them.

Lots of good knowledge here, regardless. I've learned substantially since coming here. The key is turning it into actions.

Thanks for sharing, I’ll search for those threads. I like the perspective of getting feedback ASAP - something I’ve historically been poor at doing.
 

JM35

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Rather than writing an ebook and then starting a website, why not do it the other way around?

I am currently planning on writing an ebook in the next 3-6 months, but my plan first is to start a website and blog. Use your blog posts to help you write your ebook. You'd be surprised how many people will pay for free information if it's all put together in one simple spot. Once I get to around 25 blog posts, the majority of my ebook is just about written.

It's also a great way to validate an idea...if your blog starts getting traffic and engagement, then it will be a lot easier to sell an ebook to someone rather than writing it before anyone knows who you are.
 

Pete3

New Contributor
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
73%
Jul 3, 2014
11
8
34
Rather than writing an ebook and then starting a website, why not do it the other way around?

I am currently planning on writing an ebook in the next 3-6 months, but my plan first is to start a website and blog. Use your blog posts to help you write your ebook. You'd be surprised how many people will pay for free information if it's all put together in one simple spot. Once I get to around 25 blog posts, the majority of my ebook is just about written.

It's also a great way to validate an idea...if your blog starts getting traffic and engagement, then it will be a lot easier to sell an ebook to someone rather than writing it before anyone knows who you are.

Good points. I’ll have to find a way to get traffic to the blog to get feedback. I made a blog a while back and didn’t get much traffic even with trying to promote it. I now know that the value wasn’t there, so I’ll have to focus on making sure the content is great.
 
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JM35

Bronze Contributor
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Jul 13, 2013
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Good points. I’ll have to find a way to get traffic to the blog to get feedback. I made a blog a while back and didn’t get much traffic even with trying to promote it. I now know that the value wasn’t there, so I’ll have to focus on making sure the content is great.
That's definitely the key part: value. I run a blog right now and I don't promote it whatsoever, no social media or anything. I do quality key word research and then write great content, and google picks it up and ranks it at the top.
 

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