| Have you seen the television commercial with a | | | | economically. Blank CDs/DVDs can be ordered in bulk |
| couple of guys who are just starting out in their | | | | and you can burn your audio files to disc and print |
| information products business? As orders begin to | | | | the label information directly on the disc (avoiding |
| come in the owners are naturally ecstatic. "We've got | | | | those problematic stick on labels) for a professional |
| orders!" they shout, as they do the happy dance | | | | look using one of the excellent and inexpensive CD |
| around the room. | | | | burners and disc printers that are now available. |
| Switch to the next scene a few days later: their | | | | Be sure to keep track of your information product |
| office is a mess, crumpled paper work and packaging | | | | production costs, including the cost of all your |
| for their information products are everywhere and | | | | materials, such as CD sleeves, CD blank discs, printer |
| the exhausted owners are sprawled on the sofa. As | | | | ink an so forth, as you need to know what the |
| orders continue to spew from the fax machine, they | | | | actual cost of producing your information product will |
| look at each other with real fear in their eyes and | | | | be. Knowing these numbers will help you to set your |
| say glumly, "Oh no, we've got more orders." | | | | product price and insure a profit for your business. |
| If you have an online business and are thinking of | | | | You will also want to keep track of exactly how |
| selling physical information products, such as printed | | | | much time you are using to produce and mail out |
| newsletters or CD sets, doing your own info product | | | | your information product. While you will be saving a |
| fulfillment in house can be a very sound strategy, as | | | | lot of money on production costs, be aware that |
| you can keep your costs low and preserve your | | | | these production activities are very time intensive. As |
| start up capital. But be sure you plan ahead for | | | | soon as your cash flow permits, outsource the |
| success so that you can easily outsource your | | | | production of your information product to a reputable |
| information product production when your sales | | | | fulfillment house so that you can spend your time |
| volume becomes high enough. | | | | bringing in new leads and putting new money |
| Most physical info products are either printed | | | | generating ideas into action. |
| products like multi-page newsletters, bound transcript | | | | Get quotes from several reputable product fulfillment |
| manuals or workbooks and may also include CDs and | | | | houses well before you need them and understand |
| DVDs as well. While you can certainly print your own | | | | exactly what you must do to have a fulfillment |
| information product newsletters on your office | | | | center produce your information product. As your |
| printer, it's usually more economical to get a quote | | | | marketing efforts pay off, there will come a day |
| from a local print shop and just send them the | | | | when you can no longer afford to do this work |
| electronic file. (Be sure to get three quotes to ensure | | | | yourself, as your time will be better spent elsewhere. |
| you are getting the best price and look at an | | | | You will want to be able to seamlessly transition |
| electronic or printed proof to make sure there are no | | | | product production and fulfillment to a reliable third |
| last minute corrections to be made prior to printing.) | | | | party without your customers ever noticing the |
| Then simply pick up the job when it's completed and | | | | difference. Then you, as well as your customers, will |
| do your own envelope stuffing, labeling and mailing of | | | | be doing the happy dance around your information |
| your information product. | | | | products! |
| CDs and DVDs can be produced in-house very | | | | |