| You know the benefits of converting your digital | | | | DVD burner. Most computers have them as standard |
| information products into digital media products. You | | | | equipment now but you may need to upgrade yours |
| have discovered the myriad of opportunities digital | | | | or purchase a new one to take advantage of new |
| media based products provide to increase sales and | | | | technology such as lightscribe capability. |
| profits. Now your only decision is how to get started, | | | | You will need blank CDs and DVDs. You will want to |
| how to produce your products. | | | | have CD cases or DVD cases. You have to have a |
| The big decision on how to get started concerns | | | | reasonably professional looking graphics package |
| how to physically produce your digital media products. | | | | including cover art, CD label art and insert art. You will |
| There are two methods available, outsourcing the | | | | need a good quality printer to ensure the printed |
| production or producing the digital media products | | | | material is done in a professional manner. You will also |
| yourself. Each has their advantages and | | | | need CD labels, blank inserts and blank covers. Finally |
| disadvantages. Here we will focus on self production | | | | you will need the packing and shipping materials and |
| in terms of what that actually involves. | | | | possibly an account with an international shipping |
| What exactly is self production? Self production is | | | | company. |
| where you produce your own physical product. That | | | | After all of those items that have been listed, the |
| entails everything that is necessary to produce and | | | | one we have not mentioned yet and the one that |
| deliver a professionally looking media product to your | | | | may be the most important item of all is time. You |
| customers. | | | | must have enough time to do the production and all |
| Many activities are involved in self production. After | | | | of the steps that go with it. You need to have an |
| creating and organizing your content and creating a | | | | idea how many products you will be selling each |
| master disk, you need to burn that master disk to | | | | week and you will need to have an idea of how long |
| CDs or DVDs or any other media you wish to use. In | | | | it takes to produce your product from start to finish. |
| order to provide a professional look you must create | | | | Once you can predict those variables then you can |
| and print your own inserts and covers for the case | | | | determine the amount of time each week you will |
| that the product is packaged in. You must also | | | | have to devote to producing your products. |
| create labels for your media. | | | | Self production involves a lot of work, a lot of |
| You must then pack the product and prepare it for | | | | materials and a lot of time. Ultimately the difference |
| shipping through the shipping service you designate. | | | | between self production and outsourcing comes |
| Finally you need to either take the packed product to | | | | down to total control versus convenience. Make a list |
| a shipping location or you need to arrange pickup by | | | | of the pros and cons of both and compare them side |
| your shipper. | | | | by side. Which is right for you? Only you can decide |
| For all of those steps you will need to have the | | | | how each would fit into your business plan and |
| proper equipment and supplies. You will need a CD / | | | | ultimately which is the best for you. |