How to analyze a blog product marketing offer

Morning!

It must be the summer – I’m seeing a huuuuge influx of paid plugins/products for blogs and Wordpress!

My gosh, the sheer quantity is staggering – consider:

• Optin Comments – a way to let commentors opt into your newsletter or mailing list
• Ninja Affiliate – super easy way to cloak past, present and future affiliate links in your posts
• OIO Publisher – Oversee your 125×125 square advertisements

to name a few.

But the question now arises – are these products really worth your time and money?

Answer – if you USE them EFFECTIVELY….yes.

But!  If you don’t….

Save your cash!!

For example, I personally use the Ninja Affiliate.  Affiliate marketing is a superb way to monetize one’s blog…and this software is beyond simplistic to use.

But what I was considering a new paid product?  How would I go about determining whether it’s good for me?

And more importantly…how do you determine whether something will be useful for you?

Glad you asked!  Follow these simple steps to help you make the RIGHT decision.

Step 1.)  Ask yourself – "Do I possess the technical ability to use the product?"

Unless something is plug-and-play in Wordpress (ie, install a plugin, activate it and configure it), chances are, you’ll need to do some template-tweaking to get it to work.  And while that’s not exceedingly difficult (read Middleschooler Hacks Personal Wordpress Theme, Makes Money Online for a humorous take on it, or check out 21 Days to a More Profitable Blog for complete instructions), if you’re leery of technical tweakies, you’ll probably not benefit as you’d like from such a product.

Step 2.)  Ask yourself – "What do the reviews say?"

Go to Google and search for the product in question…not just at blogs, but also at forums.  You see, quite often people will discuss products at forums WITHOUT including their affiliate link, so you have more of a chance of getting a rock-bottom honest truth.  That’s not to say that affiliate linked reviews are always suspect, mind you – it’s only smart marketing to use your affiliate link whenever possible. 

But I am saying, be an educated customer and do your due diligence.

Step 3.)  Ask yourself – "Am I being sold on a dream?"

It is a marketer’s job to make something sold more appealing than 14 scoops of chocolate chip cookie dough icecream – you know, that special kind that shows, the more you eat, the more weight you lose. 

That’s what marketers do.  You can learn more at Why some online marketers hide the truth from you and what you can do about it.

Dreams are fine so long as you possess the will-power to make them happen!  But really take a good look at what’s required regarding using a product successfully. 

Let’s say that to make 5 figures a month, you have to build 12 unique membership sites.  Oh heck, even 1!  Here’s some questions to ask yourself:

• Do I have the list ALREADY in hand to promote such a thing?
• Am I ALREADY tapped into the big dog’s network, who will promote my resource for a cut of the profits?
• Am I willing to be available 24×7 for customer service?
• Can I tweak the templates myself to capture the ultimate look and feel?

Answers to the above can certainly illuminate whether something is right for you…or more wrong than a bikini on Hulk Hogan.

I firmly believe that when you want to make a living online….paying for quality tools is simply a smart investment.  Just make certain you do your research BEFORE your money leaves your bank account….your future sanity will thank you for it.

Enjoy,

Barbara Ling

#BEGIN highlights of this blog writing post:

Beginners blogging tips:  Don’t buy something just BECAUSE someone recommends it.  Research it as well.

Intermediate and/or Advanced blogging tips: Always look for affiliate links in case the product turns out to be something you’d like to review and/or recommend as well.

#END highlights of this blog writing post

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Related posts:

1. Twitter Affiliate Marketing
2. 17 BEGINNERS Affiliate marketing primers and ideas
3. Today’s Make Money Online Tip – Cloak Your Affiliate Links By….
4. 1 easy TIP to let affiliates sell your products on their blogs
5. Why some online marketers hide the truth from you and what you can do about it