If you’re going to create information products, you should know ahead of time that your biggest obstacle might just be yourself. A limited mindset combined with fear can keep you from creating some powerful products that can serve your audience and make money for you.
The little voice in your head may be raising doubts, starting with not knowing what your product should be about. Well, tell that little voice to sit down and shut up, because we are going to solve that problem right now.
There are many ways to come up with an angle for a new product, but we’re going to look at four specifically.
#1 – Look for obvious gaps in the market based on keyword research.
Use a free or paid keyword tool – it doesn’t matter which – and see what kinds of things people are looking for. You can start broad, like the phrase “anti aging” and then look for phrases that are longer than that, such as anti aging for men, hands, dogs (who knew?), women, black skin, and people in their 20s.
Instead of churning out a random anti aging guide like everyone else, you can create products for a specific audience that converts better because it’s so targeted.
(Note: A simple tool to use for keyword research is the free Wordtracker tool.)
#2 – Listen to what your people are saying.
In your email inbox and your blog comments, your readers are going to ask for advice. This shows they trust you. There may be a product out there that you could ethically recommend and receive an affiliate commission in return, but this is an opportunity to show your expertise by creating a product of your own.
If customers are asking for your input, then surely they would like to learn from you and they are hoping you have a product of your own on that topic.
#3 – Pair ideas for a more thorough product.
Think of the main issues your target audience has. For example, in regards to skincare, someone might want to reduce the signs of aging but they may also have sensitive skin. You could pair the two topics for a guide on Anti-Aging Regimens for Sensitive Skin.
The person who wants to minimize the signs of aging, but who can’t use all of those harsh chemical over the counter skincare products will love your home remedies or tips on keeping wrinkles and dark circles at bay with natural, soothing recipes.
#4 – Put a twist on an existing topic.
Let’s say you go to an information product store. It might be the aisles of Barnes and Noble’s non fiction section – or it could be an online marketplace like ClickBank. Look at what others are doing in your niche, and put your own spin on a popular topic.
Don’t be afraid to do something daring – something against the grain. Take the weight loss niche for example. Everyone has a specific routine they advise people to follow – eat this many calories and exercise this many minutes.
It’s like a math formula! What if you had a twist like, “Lose Weight By NOT Dieting”? You could teach people how to naturally move more and how to listen to hunger cues instead of weighing food and obsessing.
Finding a slant doesn’t have to be harrowing. Even if you DID choose a broad, basic and generic slant, the way you tell it will have its own style and voice, so let your anxiety about that part of the process fade away.
Your audience wants to learn from you, so start sharing your knowledge. Chances are that whatever you create will be useful to them. And once this product is done, you can use the feedback and questions you get as fodder for your next product.
