Since marketing and selling 30 Days or Less to Freelance Writing Success is one of my primary goals, I thought it’d be beneficial to keep tracking my progress in the form of a monthly update post.
If you’re new around here, this is my first (and only) product. I started freelancing almost a year ago and have experienced a fair amount of success. At first, I hustled on the side of my full-time job, but recently I left work behind to do this full-time.
One of the reasons that I publish income reports is to be transparent with my audience. I’ve learned so much from others that have traveled this path of webpreneurship before me. I’d like to be able to pay it forward and do the same for people that aren’t as far along as I am at the moment.
In addition to my income reports, I thought a great way to do this would be to show you the behind the scenes of my product sales – here is last month’s recap. If you’re thinking of launching your own product now or in the future, this post might help you too.
Looking Back
Remember, I started and finished writing my course this past fall and launched it for sale on December 4, 2014. I revised the entire course in January to beef up the content and added two brand new lessons as well.
I increased the price from $30 to $47 (plus I still have the $75 course + coaching option) around February 1st. I also recently launched my very first affiliate program. At this point, it’s been on the market about three full months.
Here are my results thus far:
December: 23 course sales = $735 in (gross and net) revenue
January: 27 course sales = $810 in (gross and net) revenue
So 50 total courses in the first two months and $1,545 in revenue. $1-2 of each course sale goes to PayPal fees depending on the price point.
February’s Results
February: 11 course sales = $527 in gross revenue ($493 after affiliate payout)
61 course sales total for a gross rolling profit of $2,072.
Due to the price increase, even though I had less than half of the course sales of the previous two months, my revenue results weren’t too far off. I expected my sales to slow after the price increase.
One of the reasons I did this was so that I could offer a reasonable commission for affiliates. I chose to offer a 40% payout, so if someone purchases my course through an affiliate link, the affiliate makes ~$19, the PayPal fees come from my cut and I net the rest.
My Marketing Efforts
I didn’t do much in the way of marketing last month, besides the normal social media promotion. I concentrated on getting the affiliate program up and running (which took a bit of time and effort). I’m glad that I continue to do these things, which are out of my comfort zone – I learn so much!
My Plan for March
I have a crazy goal for March. It’s to sell 50 courses, yep FIFTY – in ONE MONTH! Every once in awhile, you have to stretch yourself. I thought why not me, why not now? 😉 So, I’m going for it!
I also have a few other things in place, however to help me get there. They include:
- I launched two targeted Facebook ads (total cost/risk = $60).
- My affiliate program is up and running, and I’m hosting a contest for those enrolled ($100 is up for grabs for the most course sales, minimum of five to qualify).
- I’ll hopefully have the course listed on DealFuel, which is a daily deals website for web-based products/courses.
I’m hoping between these three initiatives and my normal marketing/social media promotion that I can do it. If not 50, hopefully somewhere close!
One of the reasons that I set BIG goals is so that even if I come anywhere close, I’m much further along than if I didn’t set any to begin with. Make sense?
My Motivation
Money. Just kidding. Making money is part of it, but it’s not the whole reason. I love helping people, and I feel that I’ve created an affordable product to help others break into the freelance writing game. I learned a lot (sometimes the hard way), and the course is a compilation of that in some respects.
My husband and I made a deal when I first launched the course, that when we got to a cumulative total of 100 sales, then we’d go out for a nice dinner – just the two of us (he’s a SAHD to two toddlers, remember?).
Date nights are few and far between. We’re working on paying off our second mortgage this year (plus I’m a freelancer with variable income), so we’re also running a very tight budget. Meals out are a fun rarity.
Getting to our first 100 sales has been a fun goal to have and keeps Wade and I talking about the progress. I hope we can accomplish it and schedule our date night this month!
In Conclusion
Launching a product and affiliate program has been a lot of fun – and a lot of work! I’m so glad that I took the time to write the course, find a way to bring my vision to fruition (Thanks, G!) and stay flexible.
If I add up how much I’ve put into launching the course, I’m sure I’m at least breakeven by now. I hope that I continue to get further and further into the black and accomplish March’s sales goal (or at least get close) by month end.
Have you thought about launching your own product or course? If so, what’s held you back?
