My eProduct Boycott

I'm a product junkie. I don't know what it is: hair products, skin products, makeup, books, ebooks, ecourses, teleseminars, reports -- I just can't get enough. Last week I got burned.

I paid for the webinar to learn something new

I paid to attend a webinar by someone I "know" on Twitter two weeks ago. It was not very expensive, and was supposed to help actually help me learn a skill that I really need right now. I found some online tutorials I was attempting to learn from, but I was completely hopeless. This webinar came into my life at the right time. It was fate; or so I thought.

The day of the webinar arrived and I was excited beyond words (yes, I am a geek). When I dialed in, no webinar. I received an email stating that the instructor was having serious Internet issues so the webinar was being rescheduled; same time the following week.

More problems

Next week came. Once again I excitedly dial in – about 10 minutes late, but still enough time to get the info I need. This time there was a confused fellow with a British accent also on the line attempting to communicate with the instructor, who obviously wasn't there. He became exasperated and announced that if she could hear him on the line he was hanging up to email her to find out what was going on. When I checked my email this time there was no message. I go to Twitter (she'd been Tweeting about the seminar for days to get more participation) I see nothing except a couple of Tweets indicating an impromptu trip to the beach three hours earlier.

I'm more disappointed than anything (which means I've matured a lot because back in the day I'd be hopping mad). I contacted her about it via email and she stated that for some reason or other she was unable to utilize the webinar system. Okay. Stuff happens sometime. She has assured me that I will receive my refund.

My revelation is not about people who fail to operate in a professional manner and do as they say. It certainly could have been, but it's not. It's about the fact that I have all of these FREE tutorials online and books available. I only need to take the time to read and learn this on my own. For FREE.

I already know that

The last ebook review I did here confirmed that I already a lot of the useful information that's out there about building a freelance writing business. Why should I bother buying another "how to" ebook," teleseminar or report? Why don't I just save my hard earned money and use the information that I already know?

The draw of most eproducts is the fact that the authors are giving you the information you want all wrapped up in a PDF so you don't have to worry your pretty little head about finding it yourself. The truth is a lot of what you want to know about freelancing and business can be found somewhere on the net; you just have to patiently search for it.

No more eproducts for me…for a while…

So from this day forth I vow not buy another information product until I start using the information that I already have in my head and on my hard drive. The only products I will purchase will be strictly for the sake of providing an honest review, and those are few and far between. Maybe I can save up enough to buy a new laptop…

Selling Your Own Products

As you may know I have been punctuating a lot of my billable hours working on some projects of my own. One project I'm working on is developing a free report with web writing information to help prospects who visit one of my websites

I came across a recent post at freelancewritinggigs.com where Deb Ng gives readers a heads up about an eBook she's working on. She asks whether or not anyone has ever considered writing and selling an eBook before.

I do think about productizing my own services from time to time, but even though I am happy with the success I am having growing my freelance writing business, I am not sure that I would consider myself an authority when there are so many other writers I regularly look to for inspiration, advice and information.

What makes someone an authority? What makes them credible enough that others would buy their report, eBook, book, eCourse, teleseminar, webinar? I am a regular financial supporter of these types of products. It would be nice to make an income leveraging my skills and help someone else succeed at the same time.

But for now, I feel like I should first establish myself as an expert in my eyes and to those around me. My local library has an entrepreneurial start up series that is ongoing. I am seriously thinking of offering to teach a web writing class. Hey, it's a start. I can also refer attendees to my website and give out materials with my company name a business card.

Have you considered selling your own products, or had success creating and selling your own products? If so, how did you come to recognize yourself as an authority in your industry? I'd love to hear your story. :)