What You Know Is Worth More Than You Know (TM) - The Blog For Original Content Infopreneurs

Could Infopreneuring Be The Answer To Baby Boomers Retirement Woes

Yesterday I read a truly heartbreaking piece in USA Today about how baby boomers looking to work jobs in retirement--whether for necessity or just to stay busy--are finding it hard to find jobs. 

 

According to the story, the percentage of Baby Boomers who are unemployed who want to work has doubled to 7% since 2008, and like many unemployment numbers, that figure doesn't include those who've given up or are underemployed.

 

Why is this heartbreaking?  It's simply unnecessary.

 

The baby boomers in this story, as well as those who are following in their footsteps simply assumed that if they wanted to, or needed to work during their retirement, there would be jobs for them...and you know what happens when you assume.

 

But baby boomer or not, even with us being well into the Great Recession, The Second Great Depression or whatever else you want to call it, most people still haven't gotten the memo that they may need a Plan B and make their next job instead of look for one.

 

These baby boomers simply didn't have a Plan B.

 

So what's a baby boomer to do?

 

Well, as a fellow inspirational baby boomer (I'll admit I'm at the very tail end, nearly a Gen X), I'd love to see other baby boomers follow my lead.  It doesn't matter if you're at the very beginning of the baby boomer generation (generally considered to be 1946, which makes you 64), or not, there are options for you!

 

BlogWorld And New Media Expo 2010 Should You Attend

Wondering if you should attend BlogWorld And New Media Expo 2010 in October?  Well, here's my experience from when I attended.

In 2008, I attended The New Media Expo when it was a separate event from BlogWorld.  I was fresh from taking Podcast Secrets with two of my trusted mentors Paul Colligan and Alex Mandossian, and just itching to learn all that I could about podcasting and New Media overall, and to move forward with my first podcast.  It also didn't hurt that I was living in Las Vegas at the time (where the event was being held).

Besides getting my first taste of the field's personalities like Gary Vaynerchuk (the keynote speaker), I was able to immerse myself in so much great content.  I was able to get at least a new idea from each session, and, in fact, many new ideas at most sessions.

In addition, just being exposed to people who were already doing the cutting edge new media content creation I aspired to, was the final push I needed to believe that I could take the knowledge I learned about podcasting and finally plug in my microphone!

All this should have been enough to make attending the event worthwhile, but it got better.

I got to attend a session delivered by Paul Colligan himself about monetizing a podcast, and then meet him first-hand, so he could put a face to the person that had been asking all the questions during his course.  This first meeting led to a coveted endorsement from Paul Colligan for my book What You Know Is Worth More Than You Know! (it's actually on the book's back cover), when I finished it a few months later.

Even more incredible was what happened on the final day of the New Media Expo.  Not as many people attended the main session on Saturday morning, but I was there with my very first Starbucks Vivanno in-hand sitting attentively when another woman asked if the seat next to me was taken (it was not).

One Of My Favorite Public Relations Methods Tie Your Pitch To Breaking News

Update 7/22:  This course is of course closed, butyou can still get the valuable recording of the How to Tie Your Pitch to Breaking News and Make the Media Interview YOU, or if you need help with your PR, I can hold your hand and coach you through it, or do it for you with my own affordable PR Services!

 

In my VP of Marketing days the playing field was not level when it came to Public Relations.  It was tough for the "little guy and gal" to get the attention of the media.  Fortunately, getting PR today it's no longer an issue...if you know what you're doing.

One of my favorite techniques for getting media coverage is to tie in the pitch to breaking news or seasonality.  My pitch for What You Know Is Worth More Than You Know!  as "The Gift Of Empowerment" got me lots of coverage during the holidays.  And one of my marketing clients just jumped on an opportunity to leverage some news about his NFL clients and is going to be on TV next week!

So how do you tie in your work with breaking news to get some media love?

Well, one of the people who has taught me a few tricks about PR and social media--Joan Stewart, an expert in these fields--is having a training webinar called How to Tie Your Pitch to Breaking News and Make the Media Interview YOU next Wednesday, July 21st, that will teach you exactly how to do it yourself!  You can check it out CLICK HERE.

I've taken several of Joan's quick, information-packed webinar courses and they have always taught me something I didn't know, which is why I'm recommending this one to you (and yes, I'm an affiliate but you know I only recommend things I have used myself or if I have experienced other work from that resource).

What Independence Day Could Mean To You

If you do a quick search online for the term Independence Day, you’ll get results about either the 1996 movie with Will Smith, or the upcoming holiday that celebrates the adoption of the Declaration of Independence and independence from British rule.

  

For most people Independence Day is about fireworks, parades, hot dogs, baseball, concerts, fairs, patriotism and barbeques, with red, white and blue everywhere.

  

That’s all well and good, but I’ve got a different take on Independence Day.  Sure I’m proud to be an American, but I’m prouder of the fact that much like The American Colonies who sought freedom from British rule and got it, I’ve fought for my freedom from the Corporate World, and I won my independence on a full-time basis nearly 3 years ago now.

  

So before you get too wrapped up in the fireworks this Fourth of July, why not take a moment to think about the progress you’ve taken towards securing your own independence?

  

Are you someone who’s also successfully able to celebrate Independence Day with your own job independence fully in-hand? 

  

If you’re already job independent—congratulations are in order.  But are you really as successful as you could be?

 

Infopreneuring - Creating The Life Of Your Dreams As An Infopreneur

As I started to write this, I was 26,000 feet up in the air having fun with my first time using wifi on a flight from Chicago back to my temporary digs in Tampa.  I love flying because it's a great opportunity to let go of the baggage in your mind (your real bags are stowed anyway), and be open to new ideas.

 

The idea for pitching my boss to be my company's first-ever telecommuter occurred inflight years ago.   The title for my latest book What You Know Is Worth More Than You Know™ - Achieving The Life You Were Meant To Have By Making Money From What YOU Know! popped into my head in flight.  And the idea for this blog post just came to me.

 

You see, this past week is an example of how I truly live the life of my dreams through infopreneuring.

 

No, I don't have a fancy house (in fact I'm voluntarily homeless at the moment, staying with family while my husband and I decide where to go next after selling our house in Vegas).

 

No, I don't have a fancy car (but I do miss my Ranger and Mustang convertible that are still in storage in Vegas).

 

No, I'm not flying back from some exotic trip (but I could on a moment's notice).

 

I could afford those things, but for me, going out on my own as an entrepreneur and infopreneur was never about any of that.  What I have is worth a heck of a lot more.

 

 

A Mother's Day Gift That Empowers Mom For Life

It's very interesting to me to see what passes for great Mother's Day gifts in the Sunday paper ad circulars, TV ads, and even in media round-up pieces on Mother's Day gift ideas.  Mom's supposed to be pampered, given new wardrobe choices, taken out to dinner or sent flowers.

But what long-term benefits does Mom get from these kinds of Mother's Day gifts?  Do they teach her how to value herunique knowledge?  Do they teach her to change her life? 

When you were a kid, didn't you think that Mom knew everything?

She may not really know everything, but I'll bet, like I always say, she knows something that's worth something to others!

What do most Moms really want to do? 

1.  Spend more time with their families

2.  Help their children have things better than they did

Well, whether Mom is a Mom-to-be, has little ones at home, has their hands full with teens, or is celebrating the achievements of college-age or full adult children, isn't it time Mom led an empowered life?

How?  Give Mom a copy of What You Know Is Worth More Than You Know(TM) - Achieving The Life You Were Meant To Have By Making Money From What YOU Know!

It's the book that's changing lives by teaching Moms (and you don't even have to be a Mom), to monetize their unique knowledge--be it from a hobby, life experience or a field of expertise--by learning to create and market a complete line of original content information products and services (original content infopreneuring).  Best of all, it's a gift that won't get returned or regifted, because it's something valuable and to be treasured.

It can bring in some nice sideline income, and can certainly be the basis for a legitimate, super low start-up cost, home business with flexible hours that could one day surpass what Mom makes working for someone else or help her become a true Mompreneur and original content infopreneur

Start Mom (and all the Moms in your life) on the path to an empowered life based on what she uniquely knows and can share with the world (for a profit) today!  CLICK HERE

And you know that Amazon gift card, you were thinking of giving (or that's left over from the last gift-giving occasion)?  Mom can buy What You Know Is Worth More Than You Know!(TM) - Achieving The Life You Were Meant To Have By Making Money From What YOU Know! 24/7 from Amazon

Or you can buy it directly from my publisher CLICK HERE

Or you can save and get the e-book version directly from me CLICK HERE

So this year, give Mom the gift of empowerment--the one that will have a long-term positive impact on Mom's life well beyond this Mother's Day.

 

Get a FREE 3-chapter excerpt from my 5-star Amazon rated book What You Know Is Worth More Than You Know™ - Achieving The Life You Were Meant To Have By Making Money From What YOU Know! and access to my 60-minute author interview teleseminar CLICK HERE

Happy Infopreneuring!

--Melanie R. Jordan, The Expert At Making Money From What You Uniquely Know,  Author of What You Know Is Worth More Than You Know™ - Achieving The Life You Were Meant To Have By Making Money From What YOU Know! and Host of infopreneur podcast What You Know Is Worth More Than You Know(TM), The Podcast Available 24/7 at: http://www.WhatYouKnowIsWorthMorePodcast.com

Don't miss a post--subscribe to this infopreneur blog What You Know Is Worth More Than You Know - The Blog For Infopreneurs feed.  It's easy!  CLICK HERE

Follow me on Twitter

Join my new LinkedIn Group Make Your Own Job! What You Know Is Worth More Than You Know(TM)!

Friend Me On Facebook, What You Know Is Worth More Than You Know(TM) Facebook Fan Page

Check out more of Melanie's empowering publications on work-at-home lifestyles and healthy eating, and learn about her Marketing and Infopreneur Coaching Services at http://www.SunLoverPublishing.com

Check out Melanie's Other Blogs:

The Healthy Food Review where healthy eating with favorite comfort foods is deliciously possible! at http://www.TheHealthyFoodReview.com

Vegas Inside Scoop--for Las Vegas locals and visitors at http://www.VegasInsideScoop.com

Copyright SunLover Publishing LLC 2010

Being An Infopreneur Is Being Green Earth Day And Every Day

It’s no secret that “being green” in your business, or showing that you’re doing what you can to save the planet a.k.a green business practices, is very much in vogue, and something to be leveraged in marketing.  And as I was working on this blog post for Earth Day—in fact, the 40^th anniversary of Earth Day—it occurred to me that there really is no greener a business model than that of an original content infopreneur.

 

While I do advocate as a fundamental philosophy of my approach to infopreneuring that you want to make your unique knowledge available in all the different ways that someone wants to learn from you—written, audio, video, interactive, or some combination of all of these, when you examine many of the information products and services an original content infopreneur can create, the vast majority of them are truly green offerings.

 

For example, on the information products side you have e-books (green, well green as long as you don’t print them out after purchase to read them), downloadable or streaming audios and videos like the premium level ones available as part of the What You Know Is Worth More Than You Know Coaching Club (green).  In fact the whole concept of a membership site like my Coaching Club is completely green.

Infopreneuring In Action: Moving To Premium Content

In September 2008, my hit show What You Know Is Worth More Than You Know(TM), The Podcast was born.  Many of my listeners have been with me since the very first episode, and some of them may be checking out my podcast this week for the first time, and I've really appreciated the time they spent with me. 

 

Every podcaster has to consider whether or not their show should be free content, free content with advertisers or sponsors or premium content (meaning the show requires paid access).  Let’s take a look at each one:

 

1.  Free Podcast Business Model

 

You’re deciding to sell indirectly, assuming that the back-end marketing you’ve set up will provide you with the revenue you seek.  So the call to action, is to take an action that puts the podcaster in a position to stay in touch with the listener ongoing, such as subscribing to the podcast feed, joining them on social media sites or subscribing to their e-mail list.

 

2.  Free Podcast With Advertisers Or Sponsors Business Model

 

Here you have backers who pay upfront (directly, or perhaps in a promotional consideration or barter scenario), to support the show which produces you with a guaranteed income stream, regardless of whether or not any back-end sales occur.  And of course, having both is the sweet spot.  Traditional radio and television, as well as newspapers and magazines all work off of this business model.

Some podcasters allow what is known as dynamic insertion for ads to be inserted in pre-designated spots, which they often don’t have much control over, to be included in their podcast.  I never have been interested in doing this myself, as I prefer the control of when, where and if ads are going to be included in an episode of my show.

 

3.  Premium Podcast Business Model

 

Here you have people who pay for the privilege of getting your content.  This is the pay-per-view, on-demand or premium channel (like HBO or Showtime) television model.  So for every episode you have of your podcast,

 

How To Get More Credibility Online In One Simple Step

Back in my real estate days, one of the things that always cracked me up was the real estate agents who would think that they were getting internet friendly by having a website or blog, and on their business card it would be listed as “JaneRealtor.usingfreeblogsite.toocheaptogetarealdomainname.com” and that was accompanied by an e-mail address at Yahoo or Gmail or AOL.

 

In Orange County, CA before the real estate bubble burst, ordinary people were buying million dollar homes, which meant that an agent’s typical commission on such a deal could be anywhere from $30,000 to $60,000 (3 to 6% of the deal depending on whether they were just the selling agent, or both selling and listing agent.  Is it any wonder that everyone and their brother had a real estate license?  And by the way, I was in real estate operations and training so I didn’t make those megabucks from that endeavor.

 

Back to the point though, here’s someone making tens of thousands of dollars on a deal and they were marketing themselves, in a field where personal branding is so important, in a way that was less than professional with the generic blog site address and the un-businesslike e-mail address. 

 

Now you might say that well if they were making that kind of money on a real estate deal, it probably didn’t matter.  Yes, but look at where real estate is today.  In the toilet in the U.S., and in many countries throughout the world.  Real estate agents are killing each other to make a fraction of what they used to, and I’ll bet those that were savvy enough to have their branding working for them back in the good times are the survivors today.

My CNNMoney.com Interview Experience - Public Relations In Action

About a month ago, while doing my daily public relations activities, I responded to one of the media leads that wasn’t really a direct match for marketing my book What You Know Is Worth More Than You Know! but it was for something I had experienced personally, and when I saw it was a reporter for CNNMoney.com that was making the inquiry, I figured why not?

 

Public Relations experts are split between whether or not it makes sense to be a source for a story that is not a direct tie in with your main work, but I think that the more opportunities you have to get your name out there in traditional and new media, the better off you are.  Many times, if you’re an author, they’ll mention that and the name of your current book anyway, which is always great.  Later on to be able to say you were featured in major media, even if it was not for your main topic, is still advantageous.

 

Responding to media leads is a numbers game, while you’ll be a match for many stories, it doesn’t mean you get selected.  But the more you pitch on things you’re a match for, the more you’ll have success. So I sent this particular response off and since more than  a week had gone by with no word, I figured nothing was going to happen with it.