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January 4, 2008
 I had a stomach virus after Christmas. A bad bug it was! I was stuck in the bathroom for a few days. While I was spending more and more time in the bathroom and contemplating asking someone to shoot me, I thought a lot about this blog and Internet Business blogs in general. There's a lot of crap out there! Some of it is easily detected, but some is so expertly disguised that even experienced people have trouble knowing they're being taken.
It's not always a situation where a blogger is intentionally trying to rip someone off, sometimes the crap is being spread by bloggers who think they're preaching the truth when in fact they're not, and they don't even know it. It's like trying to cook a family recipe that was handed down to you by your great, great aunt. Perhaps some ingredient was innocently left out or some critical measurement transposed. Was the information ever complete or accurate in the first place? Was it intentional?
Sometimes I get emails from people wanting to know what works, how they can do this or that, or why they're not getting the results of some of the "big guys" even after buying their products. In a lot of cases I've come to the conclusion they simply got screwed.
I do not believe that you can setup a blog, create some half baked info product videos and make any real money from it. If you can create a product that makes it easy for someone to make money, then you can sell it... if you can market it. And you can probably sell it for a lot more than a product that has nothing to do with making money. But, how many people can actually pull this off? Very few. A lot of the blogs I've ran across lately are just copies of one "guru" or another, nothing original. Yet people still line up and hand over their money to become another copy... another mindless clone...
I think a lot of these people would be getter off creating a product that has something to do with a passion in their life. In my course Making Money Online, I used the example of selling wooden bowls. I just pulled that out of thin air when I made the course. But recently I read an article in a major newspaper about a couple of blogs dealing with tools and woodworking that were making the bloggers, who were retired by the way, more money than they ever made before they retired. And do you know why? Because these guys were not trying to be a copy of a guru or another clone of a millionaire master, but rather, they were sharing their knowledge and experience of a subject they are passionate about. People who share their same interests regularly read their blogs. Over time they have built up enough readers to support making good money from ads placed on their blogs. I don't think any of them actually "sold" anything, but they certainly could, and if they did, their profit would be greater.
Guys like Eric Graham, Michel Fortin, Terry Dean, and the others in my blogroll, have products that provide more value that they charge for them. You feel good when you buy and use their products and services. They've built their reputation, business, and following by being consistent in their delivery of products and services that deliver quality, results, and value.
So how do you know the crap from the good stuff? Spend some time reading the blogs listed in my blogroll and pay close attention to my blog as well. My older posts may mention various things, blogs, and products, but if it's not in My Blogroll, My Products, or My Recommended Products sections, then I've changed my mind about it, them, or both!
In fact, I'm so disgusted with the products and courses that people are selling, and charging unethical amounts for, that I'm going to do something about it. I'm going to give it away! That's right, I'm going to make my courses free and simply say you are encouraged to send me a donation if the course helped you. All I ask in exchange is that you sign up to my blog subscription list.
A link back to my blog from your blog or web site is greatly appreciated too!
I will keep charging for my software products because of support, etc. Note that I do plan on creating some courses that will not be free, but I will continue to make courses that I'll give away. Good original products, not some eBook that's been around the internet more times than the space shuttle has orbited the earth. So there it is... I feel much better now!
Until Next Time,
Fred
P.S.
The courses that are now free are listed in the right-hand column in the "My Products and Courses" section. Simply click the link for a course and fill out the form at the bottom of the page to receive the course. If you're already on my subscriber list, go to the sales page for a course, fill out the form and you'll receive a message that you're already on the list and an email will be sent to you with the course information.
About the Author
Fred Black is an experienced programmer, web site developer, online business operator, systems integrator, father, husband, musician, and songwriter. Visit his Internet Business Blog at: http://www.pqInternet.com.
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Posted by Fred on January 4, 2008 | Printer-Friendly
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Comments:
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Well said Fred. I agree with you. I've had many of the same thoughts myself.
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That's great, thank you. Website course seems useful & interesting. I hope you feel better btw.
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Interesting idea Fred. I tried giving stuff away with a Self Help Sleeping Pills site, and it didn't work the way James Brausch said it would in his story. The content is good, but I think it needs to be more slick.
I'll be interested to hear updates on whether you get results from making things free, and whether you would recommend it to others.
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From Fred...
