We launched a course and made $82,700 in 4 weeks...
Our model was do a thing (create a $1M newsletter biz), then create a course on how you did the thing ($1M newsletter course).
Here's what we did right and wrong so you can copy us:
Our model was do a thing (create a $1M newsletter biz), then create a course on how you did the thing ($1M newsletter course).
Here's what we did right and wrong so you can copy us:
I was clueless when I started Contrarian Thinking.
How clueless?
Like grope-in-the-dark-and-bang-your-shin-against-the-couch clueless.
A one woman show who had a full time job and no idea about internety-things.
How clueless?
Like grope-in-the-dark-and-bang-your-shin-against-the-couch clueless.
A one woman show who had a full time job and no idea about internety-things.
So I got started and tried a bunch of things.
Many things worked well, but lots of other attempts failed.
So when contrarians began to number in tens of thousands and we began to hit 5, 6-figure months in revenue, all within a year, I figured was doing something right.
Many things worked well, but lots of other attempts failed.
So when contrarians began to number in tens of thousands and we began to hit 5, 6-figure months in revenue, all within a year, I figured was doing something right.
Zero dollars in ad spend ever.
Zero paid for shoutouts.
Just hustling and a plethora of embarrassing fails in the world of social media.
And I got a ton of questions on how we have built our ideas into zeros.
Zero paid for shoutouts.
Just hustling and a plethora of embarrassing fails in the world of social media.
And I got a ton of questions on how we have built our ideas into zeros.
So when @AppSumo came around asking us to list a course on their new course creators site I was into the idea of not answering the same questions 47934 times and instead directing them to a course.
Thus the creation of: How To Build A 7-Figure Newsletter.
Thus the creation of: How To Build A 7-Figure Newsletter.
Our goal was to make $60k over our launch period.
Fast forward a few weeks, and we had generated $82,700.
At 595 sales, How to Build A 7-Figure Newsletter became the highest-grossing course on AppSumo. Woo hoooooo.
Fast forward a few weeks, and we had generated $82,700.
At 595 sales, How to Build A 7-Figure Newsletter became the highest-grossing course on AppSumo. Woo hoooooo.
1st YOU CAN. DOTHIS:
Everyone has a book inside
Everyone has a course to teach
-My friend Stacey on how to hire great help that stays forever
-My boxing coach knows how to do workouts to better my game
-My grandma on how to literally grow anything and keep it alive
Everyone has a book inside
Everyone has a course to teach
-My friend Stacey on how to hire great help that stays forever
-My boxing coach knows how to do workouts to better my game
-My grandma on how to literally grow anything and keep it alive
Here are the most unexpected tip we learned for building a good course:
#1 No One Else Sets Your Prices: YOU DO
Don't go for the lowest or average price
The typical course on AppSumo is $49 to $69
We started at $139 to test, and increased to $699 after 2 weeks
Don't go for the lowest or average price
The typical course on AppSumo is $49 to $69
We started at $139 to test, and increased to $699 after 2 weeks
#2 Don’t Offer Refunds Blatantly
Before you burn me, hear me out.
There was a chance people could buy our course, run through it, then ask for a refund.
So we said email if you hate it but no blanket policy. Thus far maybe 2-3 refunds?
Before you burn me, hear me out.
There was a chance people could buy our course, run through it, then ask for a refund.
So we said email if you hate it but no blanket policy. Thus far maybe 2-3 refunds?
#3 Choosing The Right Featured Image
One well-known psychological hack in marketing is that people are drawn to people.
Why else do you think there are so many products with smiling women on them?
One well-known psychological hack in marketing is that people are drawn to people.
Why else do you think there are so many products with smiling women on them?
#4 Posting A Course Curriculum
In any business, one common fear many of your customers will share is that they won’t be getting their money’s worth.
But rather than using words to convince, why not offer a glimpse? It’s like Hemingway always says. Show, don’t tell.
In any business, one common fear many of your customers will share is that they won’t be getting their money’s worth.
But rather than using words to convince, why not offer a glimpse? It’s like Hemingway always says. Show, don’t tell.
What we did wrong:
#1 Managing User Expectations
I’ll be honest. Sumo-lings (AppSumo's name for their users) are an intense audience. Largely in an awesome way but definitely in a no-nonsense way
For one thing, we didn’t anticipate the barrage of questions that flooded our page once we launched
I’ll be honest. Sumo-lings (AppSumo's name for their users) are an intense audience. Largely in an awesome way but definitely in a no-nonsense way
For one thing, we didn’t anticipate the barrage of questions that flooded our page once we launched
#2 Sourcing Reviews
Unlike most e-commerce marketplaces, AppSumo is heavily dependent on reviews. Sumo-lings need to see those reviews. To them, it’s all about social proof.
Knowing this, we tried to game the system
Unlike most e-commerce marketplaces, AppSumo is heavily dependent on reviews. Sumo-lings need to see those reviews. To them, it’s all about social proof.
Knowing this, we tried to game the system
After a handful of you contrarians bought our course, we asked you to leave reviews.
We soon realized that every reviewer on AppSumo had a little badge under their name that showed the number of deals they had bought.
We soon realized that every reviewer on AppSumo had a little badge under their name that showed the number of deals they had bought.
Because many of our opening reviews came from loyal contrarians but first-time Sumo-lings who had 1’s and 2’s under their ‘Deals Bought’, it raised a lot of queries from the OG Sumo-lings
A few more tips:
Ditch the long-form videos
Reading requires more focus than watching. Plus, it’s a lot faster.
So rather than lengthy videos where I ramble for hours on end, we opted for punchy video snippets. And last I checked, Sumo-lings are loving them.
Ditch the long-form videos
Reading requires more focus than watching. Plus, it’s a lot faster.
So rather than lengthy videos where I ramble for hours on end, we opted for punchy video snippets. And last I checked, Sumo-lings are loving them.
Expect one week of hard crunch
Dedicate the first week of your launch to monitoring your product closely. Earmark the first three days for a hard push across your social platforms. Use this critical period to source reviews, answer questions, and add updates.
Dedicate the first week of your launch to monitoring your product closely. Earmark the first three days for a hard push across your social platforms. Use this critical period to source reviews, answer questions, and add updates.
Fine-tune your loyalty program
Creating discount codes is by far the most technical aspect of launching this digital product.
Creating discount codes is by far the most technical aspect of launching this digital product.
In Summary
Create the thing, share the thing, profit from the thing.
You won’t be sorry you did.
If you do it right, neither will your bank account
Drop your questions below 👇
Create the thing, share the thing, profit from the thing.
You won’t be sorry you did.
If you do it right, neither will your bank account
Drop your questions below 👇
I included several other tips and lessons from launching the course in today's newsletter: contrarianthinking.co/how-to-launch-…
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