question is as diverse as the individuals who call home their
workplace.
For those of us who have chosen to market online, this question
has many answers. But ultimately, everyone who works at home -
online or off - has the same goal.
To make money.
For some reason, however, those of us who choose to do it online
are often perceived as being greedy.
Let me elaborate.
Over the last few weeks, I've corresponded with several online
colleagues who have indicated that they've actually been
questioned or even criticized by individuals who feel it's
somehow "unfair" for them to ask for money in exchange for their
information product.
As if that was some sort of crime.
Now, I suppose that the proliferation of scamsters online can
indeed make people somewhat skeptical. That's the reason that
having a mailing list or newsletter is so important. There's no
question that marketing online does have an impersonal nature to
it. And, if a consumer isn't careful, he or she can be taken.
Another reason for this attitude, however, is that the internet
is still perceived by some as a great gift that they are
entitled to. That any information they want should be handed
over to them without question - and without any compensation on
their part.
Well, certainly a lot of information is online - if you are
willing to spend months and even years (not to mention cold hard
cash) to accumulate the knowledge and experience that those who
have put these products together have done.
So why shouldn't they be compensated for it?
If someone were to walk into a bookstore, stroll up to the
checkout counter with a stack of books, and tell the clerk, "I
want to get all these books, but I don't want to pay for any of
them," you'd think they were nuts.
So I ask you - what's the difference online?
Here's one big difference - and one not at all favorable for the
much-maligned online information marketer. Keep in mind that
these same honest, reputable marketers who have put tremendous
effort into producing their own products have offered their
products with an unconditional money-back guarantee as well.
And when people ask for their money back (unlike in the offline
world) they can get it WITHOUT RETURNING THE PRODUCT.
So who's being scammed now???
I see changes - lots of changes - on the horizon for those who
provide information products online. More and more of these
individuals have their products on a secure site that denies
continued access should the purchaser request a refund. I even
purchased an ebook recently that uses a system which "locks" the
book when a refund is given.
This is just as it should be.
Why should someone who has invested the time to create an
information product and invested money to market it NOT be
expected to be compensated for it?
No reason at all.