Offline Idea

After reading some of the threads here about taking the IM business offline, I had an idea that I thought I'd share...

Why not do "How to make money online" seminars? You've got all the material right here on BHW to cover any subject in great depth. You could teach a book like Blogging TTB in live form. Rewrite some of this garbage and you can sell the info course at the end of the seminar or offer consulting services.

Let's face it guys, we know more about this shit than 99.999% of people out there. And how many of those people want the benefits of that knowledge (money, for those of you that are retarded) - a large large percentage.

I just tested the waters for this and found that you can even charge people to attend. I ran a local google ad on make money online keywords for people interested in attending a seminar on how to make a living online. I ran the ad for a week. The result? 339 opt-ins.

Another idea is to compile the info here into little ebooks and sell them at a good price.

Yes. I was surprised at the comments - how many people wanted to learn in a classroom type of setting.

Great idea. I was talking to a coworker about IM in general and she said that she went to a seminar where it was packed, 100s in attendance to learn about selling products through their own web portal, lol.

Now that pdaguy9 breaks down to classroom style...even better.

Heard of Sto*resOnl*ine? They've been ripping off people from all over the world. running these "earn money from the internet seminars" and charging $2,000 for 1 years hosting of 5 web sites.

Do a search and you'll see a lot of bad rep for the company.

sounds like another good idea as well. are you going to put this into motion?

Good idea Im going to test the waters also and
run an AD on craiglist for my city here to see how many
people really like the idea. If it does work then im going to partner up
with some friends and make money. By the way anyone here in louisville KY.

mwari23 said:

sounds like another good idea as well. are you going to put this into motion?

Click to expand...

If I have time. With IM, you never have enough time...

But running some rough numbers:

If demand is high enough, you can rent a room at a local library or another place that offers a computer type classroom setting and charge $25 per head just to attend. I would never do a free seminar. Charge them so they feel its scarce and therefore valuable. Cap attendance at 50 people per seminar(again, scarcity).

Now you've made $1250 (minus the room rental and ad spend) just for walking in the door.

Teach a 3 hour course on any of these newbie-type ebooks and then sell either a big huge binder of info or coaching or consulting services at the end.

If you're a good salesperson (ie. get them hyped-up throughout the seminar on screenshots), you can convert at least 30 of the 50 to buy. And let's say you charge $99 for the home-study course.

Now you've made an additional $3000 (not to mention backends). Do this once a week, and you're making at least $12,000 per month.

It's not a bad business model. But it definitely takes time and effort to put together.

From Wikipedia:

"Normally, participants must not be beginners in the field under discussion (at US universities, seminar classes are generally reserved for upper-year students, although at UK and Australian universities seminars are often used for all years). The idea behind the seminar system is to familiarize students more extensively with the methodology of their chosen subject and also to allow them to interact with examples of the practical problems that always crop up during research work. It is essentially a place where assigned readings are discussed, questions can be raised and debates conducted. It is relatively informal, at least compared to the lecture system of academic instruction."

If we are smarter than 99.99 percent of people when it comes to this stuff, which I agree we are.

How does one write a presentation that is for beginners, keep them interested, and interactive? - Wouldn't it be those who already do this... via websites?

But How? That is the question.

What topics? Where do you start?

Is the seminar just a really long sales letter? Is the home study course your ebook?

If this is true, we have stumbled upon incredible people. We are using the benefit of face to face learning, to entice them into paying us to read them our websites.

Keep it Scarce, I agree. Although, when a lot of people see a lot of people in a room it really does add to the competitive nature of men and the urgency of it all.

I suggest to people that will be doing this, don't sell them a book to read. Give them one when they arrive, for free, that is essentially your sales letter. Binded, Bound, Laminated. Nice logo, Clear large print. Pictures.

Sell them with a CD, with swap files, website links, articles, everything you promised them, and a bonus, MAKE IT GOOD because in your bonus you add a link to your private website, (this must look very "inner circle'ish" ). This is where you can give them more valuable information, opt them into a hot lead mailing list and bring them along with you. Who knows you might find a diamond in the ruff, ( or a helpful monkey ).

You will supply them with your OWN blog, and support via support tickets, phone and in person by appointment only, ( you are very busy ). Charge whatever you think you can sell.

I want to make a list of potential topics we can teach.

Ideas?

I'm already doing something similar. Stumbled into it when asked by Optimist club to give a mini-seminar. Next thing I knew....WOW!

I charge $99 for a three hour seminar. I split the fee with a local non profit who sponsors the seminar. They target businesses who either already have website or want one. I spend the first hour telling them why their website doesn't work. I spend the second hour telling them why it won't work. And, the third hour telling them how to make it work.

Limit seating to 50 business owners.

Backend product is selling 1) Website 2) eCoaching 3) Teleseminars

I've been thinking about putting this together in a course for those who want to make money at this. Will be selling this at the $1500 range mostly because it's tested, proven and I provide all the marketing that I'm doing. This brings me in about $2500 to $3000 per weekend that I use it.

One catch...

You really do have to live in an area that will sustain this type of business. A minimum of 50,000 population. And, you should have an "in" with a local non profit who has business owners or sponsors that are either members or want to provide support to the non profit.

Anyway, it's a good "gig".

BTW: Did I mention that I sell the websites for $1500 each? I take $500 down and $250/mo for three months and charge $50/mo for maintenance.

i really wanted to do this in the uk, but the market is saturated, and all the other people do them for free. need to move to another country for this to work for me i think

I am a seasoned public speaker/salesman type and have been waiting for a way to merge the cybernetic world with the real world. It seems like this is it! Thank you all so much for the idea.

I will respond now with another an idea to answer somebody's question above pertaining to finding a non profit etc. to round up businesses.

Answer: YOUR CITY'S OWN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

I'M READY........ I've been playing around too long with simple BH methods I found on here that only last a few days in terms of bringing in bacon. This is different.........

Also if you don't want to personally teach these people you could go into a partnership with somebody. You could come up with the material while the other person actually teaches. You could also hire somebody who knows enough to teach them. BUT it could be a little costly to hire, and the partnership could cut into profits. Just a thought.

This is a good idea, and follows the "Make $10,000 In A Weekend" idea that has been on here for quite a while. Here is a link to the thread:

http://www.blackhatworld.com/blackhat-seo/member-downloads/15374-get-make-10-000-weekend.html

It's definitely a money maker, especially in this economy. The only thing is that you have to be a good public speaker / presentation giver... but if you're confident and a good salesman (you're a BHer after all... you had better be), you could make loads.