Requesting feedback and “constructive” criticism puts you in a tricky place.

First, since you asked, you have to listen. Second, since you asked, you have to take it in. And third, since you asked (and assuming you didn’t ask gratuitously) you have to be willing to do something with the information you hear.

That’s where the hard part comes in.

This spring I led the 1.0 version of Think Create Sell. This program was designed to provide business owners with specific action steps to get their knowledge out to a larger audience, in the form of an information product, and get paid for it.

After a fascinating personal journey this program was born from my desire to be of service to a specific group of my ideal clients.  31 of them joined me for this class for which I spent many hours brainstorming, creating and packaging my content to share with them.

At the end of the course, I asked for feedback. I really wanted to know what I could do to improve the experience for everyone since I had visions of bringing this course and its information to a larger audience.

One of the participants, a friend and client, invited me to lunch because she had so much to share with me.

Her initial words were that she received much more than she’d expected. She loved the depth of my content and the quality of the templates I provided. She appreciated the interactive forum and my enthusiastic teaching style.

While I soaked this in, and basked in her words, I could feel a  “BUT” looming in the air.

And then it came.

“BUT Kim you actually gave too much in too short a time. I wanted to sign up for your next program but I still haven’t digested all that you gave me. It was a lot of material to compact into three classes. Kim, learning from you is like drinking from a fire hose. I want it all, I just can’t take it in that fast.”

As big a girl as I am, I could feel the tears welling up. It was as if I didn’t hear anything she’d said before the BUT.

And, then the next day, I spoke with another woman who’d taken the class and her words were similar.

In the words of Charlie Brown – UGHHH! (more…)

Private Label Rights (PLR) is a secret “get it done” weapon I’ve just recently discovered and want to share with you. Thankfully, I was able to ask an expert for help! Paul Evans provided a bonus class for my Think It, Create It, Sell It program. He not only de-mystified PLR, he shared how an entrepreneur can use PLR to create authentic, compelling content.

First, what is PLR? These are rights assigned to articles that you purchase and have the legal right to modify the content. The rules can vary a bit but usually you’re free to resell the articles, use them "as is" on your website, or edit them to match your needs and/or style. PLR articles are usually inexpensive because they are sold to dozens or even hundreds of people.

To me PLR is the ultimate shortcut because as entrepreneurs, we have so many ideas, thoughts and concepts that we want to get out there! Yet when it comes to actually sitting down, outlining the product, producing it, all of a sudden we get bogged down with the details…

How long? What do I share? Where should I start? What are all the steps?

The beauty of purchasing a Private Label Right’s piece of content is that it’s a base – it’s a jumping off place from which your creative ideas can come. It’s a very cost-effective shortcut – and what busy entrepreneur doesn’t want a cheap, easy-to-use shortcut?

Personally, I like taking PLR pieces and creating something that’s fairly new.  I find that people “listen” to you – your blog, your articles, podcasts, etc. – because of your style, your content, your spin, your personality.  So take PLR content and tweak it, change it, or shape it using your own personality and your style so it really does become something new.

This bonus call with Paul was just packed with suggestions! In fact, here’s what Heather Stephens had to say about it, “I just listened to the Bonus call and totally agree that it was brilliant. I’ve known about PLR but always felt funny about using it because it wasn’t "mine." After listening to Kim and Paul, I totally get it…that it’s something I can make my own and can be a springboard for ideas.”

Grab a copy of 10 free tips on “How to Use PLR to Turn Content into Cash”.

I just completed hosting the first class of Think It, Create It, Sell It with a great group of entrepreneurs who want to reach a broader audience with their knowledge (and get paid for it.

One of the biggest A-Ha’s participants got from this first class is that it’s MUCH easier than they thought it would be!

The belief is often that creating  an info-product is so hard…

But it doesn’t have to be.

After our first class, Theresa shared:

“My key nugget is that my product doesn’t have to be hard. My product is going to be something that I already know…. I’m making a list of the things that I have already written (either for a client, for a class, or from a college course) that I may be able to re-purpose.”

So if you’d love to have an info-product with YOUR name on it (so you could make money even while you’re on vacation) but don’t know where to start here’s a tip to get your started…

Do what Theresa’s doing and create an up-to-date list of all the content you already have. List everything you can think of – blogs, newsletter articles, class outlines, letters responding to client questions (stuff sitting dormant on your hard-drive)…

It comes down to repurposing what you already have.

And if you need more ideas then join us and we’ll brainstorm together – this is a very fun, interactive and implementation-focused group.

(By the way, it’s not too late to join us, you can listen to the recording and be up-to-speed for our interactive Hot Seat call Thursday.)