I'll never forget the night of my first information marketing meeting.
I was offered a chance to attend a high-powered meeting of marketing professionals for "free" to see if I wanted to join the group.
Coming from the corporate world, where meetings are frequent annoyances, I couldn't see how a free meeting could be a selling point.
They're all free, aren't they? In fact, I get paid attend meetings all day long.
I walked into the meeting and immediately knew that I "wasn't in Kansas anymore.
" This world was different.
It was $35 per month to attend the meetings, and another $49 per month to get the newsletter.
They offered a great book that I wanted to buy, and that was $95 for an online copy.
I remember thinking, "Almost a hundred dollars for a PDF file? This is crazy!" Then it got worse.
There were $3000 seminars, $10,000 coaching programs hints at even higher level offerings for even more money.
It seemed crazy.
And I left with my head spinning.
It took a shift in thinking before any of this made sense.
What I came to realize is that information is an extremely valuable commodity.
Unlike most purchases that we make, there is no relationship between the cost of the product and the actual cost of the delivered goods.
This is not a matter of thinking a CD should be $9.
99 because that's what the new Bon Jovi CD costs at Walmart.
Instead, think this: What is the true value of this information on the CD? What am I getting for the money? Well, I know that the local mechanic gets about $100 an hour to turn a wrench and change my oil.
I know that my doctor charges $175 for a 20 minute consultation.
And I know that I've paid thousands for my college education where most of the classes gave me zero benefit to my current career.
None of these are fun, enlightening expenses that change the way I think and live.
Yet, somehow, the world has deemed these "normal" expenses, and $95 eBooks that explain how to generate thousands of dollars in sales as "crazy.
" It's time to change that around in your own life.
All it takes is one good idea, or one good business contact, and you can recoup many times the cost of doing business at this level.
A $35 meeting that leads to new business is a bargain.
A $3000 seminar that turns your business on its ear is worth every penny.
So how do you know what to invest in? How do you decide which offer to take advantage of? Here are a few quick hints.
1.
Start small until you know and trust the seller.
Don't start with the $10,000 coaching program until you know something about the guy doing it.
Is he walking the walk or just talking the talk.
Word gets around quick, so it should be hard to find out.
2.
Check out free and low cost information to start.
If someone is willing to give away useful information, that's a great sign that their other materials are also worthwhile.
3.
Don't be stingy with your name and email.
Many people offer great information in exchange for nothing more than your name and email address.
While the masses seem to fear giving out this data, successful people are more than willing to give this information in exchange for checking out new material and sources of info.
4.
Narrow down your list to those that make a difference.
After you've gotten low cost information from a dozen or so sources, simply choose the one or two people that really struck a chord with you, and begin to explore their more expensive products In the end, it is important to realize that information is what you make of it.
Buying that $95 eBook can either be a waste of money, or the best investment you ever made, depending on you, and your willingness to apply and implement the ideas.
Buying a $3000 course and then never listening to it...
well, you deserve what you get.