Avoiding Over Doing It - Discretion and Common Sense for the Information Marketer

Dear Info Marketers,

A few years ago, I got a kick out of Morgan Spurlock's documentary Super Size Me, a very comedic look at the effects of fast food on our lives and many other popular consumer goods in today's marketplace. It started by a mother suing McDonald's for her children getting fat on fast food and led to the Spurlock himself going on a month long "McDiet" which wound up having dire consequences. Complete with many "wide" shots of heavy people and a soundtrack complete with "Fat Bottomed Girls" and "Rock and Roll McDonald's", the cinema earned my six bucks that night for high marks in entertainment.

Now I know: this is a documentary, and most documentaries aren't necessarily giving you the whole story in two hours. There was a lot of heavy response to this film, with people either cheering it as a call-to-action against the commercial food world, to others deriding it as false, fear-mongering, and exaggerated, Regardless of your political affiliation or opinions of the commercial food industry, the message is still the same: don't overdo it. Fast food of all kinds is a treat, not a staple food. You have to keep yourself healthy and maintain your own healthy lifestyle.

Same goes for information marketing. I've spoken briefly in the past of having restraint when working on your information marketing business, but now it's time to get into the nitty-gritty of it.

Here are some tips:

--Don't spend a lot to get started: I once took a job at a hardware store and auto centre where I was sent out to the auto shop after the boss fired the installer. All the mechanics were pretty surly guys in a comical kind of way. One thing that got their under their craw was how much gear they had to buy. Steel toed boots, upright tool chest, coveralls, and infinite numbers of hand tools. Info marketing doesn't require that much stuff and nor should it. A desk or table, a chair, a fully functional up-to-date computer, some stationery, and some reference books to what you are providing information on - that's about all. Keep it simple and don't waste money on getting all the fashionable toys that only burns a hole in your wallet and doesn't really improve your business.

--Keep production costs down: Once you get going and start producing larger information products like books or guides, monitor your output. Only produce enough copies that you know are going to sell. Do not create an excess amount of inventory as it is costly and will just clutter up your work space. A good note on this is that you can work out a deal with your printer and you can have a certain number of productions at a reduced price.

--Do not fall for scams: This is easier said than done, but as the old saying goes: "If it's too good to be true, it's likely garbage." Actually, that saying was modified by my friend's dad and I had to censor a word or two. But he's right. You can get roped into something like a new fangled computer program or outsourcing service with the intention of saving money, but it might wind up costing you more and will not benefit your business. Do your homework whenever you are getting something to assist your business and check everything right down to the fine print. At IMI, we tested three different Internet providers, complete with teleconferences and trial packages, before settling on the one we wanted. Later, one potential provider wound up being fraudulent and we wound up saving a lot of hassle due to our extensive investigation.

--Plan and plan and plan - Some things in life need to be spontaneous. A surprise for your partner, a night out with some friends,...all that great stuff. Not in business, sadly. Plan out everything with a budget and be prepared for potential disasters that lie ahead. Again, it can be hard work, but it will save infinite numbers of potential hassles in the long run.

Being an information marketer is great as you are your own boss. The only trick is that you have to act like your own boss and treat what you are doing seriously, with a discerning eye on every activity. You have to work hard, but this can be an accomplishment and will always lead to benefits down the road.

Good luck!

J.

Come visit us at The E-Wealth Daily and The Information Marketing Institute to see how we can help with your information marketing business.