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MAKING A BESTSELLER
You probably already know that the only way to make real money in any business is to stop working (and producing money) for someone else, and start producing money for yourself - and keeping it.

Now, whether you know it or not, you already possess skills and specialized knowledge that others want to learn. In this article . I'll show you how to use the information and knowledge you now take for granted to create a fun and lucrative business. You'll then learn 10 steps to help you implement this system starting today.

Now, I don't know about you, but I'm in business not only to make money, but to have fun doing it. Success is measured by how much you enjoy doing something. If you make lots of money, get elected to public office, are popular at clubs, and own more houses and cars than you know what to do with, what good is it unless you're really enjoying yourself?

You are successful when you really enjoy your life. That's why I chose to pursue a career in video. Video has the power to move people. And I really enjoy producing videos that move people, that make them think, make them laugh, make them cry, make them feel. But, when we first started our business in 1989, my partner and I didn't have the money necessary to buy a lot of expensive equipment or attract the type of clients who would produce the kind of profits that larger production companies generate.

So, we started shooting weddings, commercials, low-budget corporate videos, and anything else we could get hired to shoot. After a few months we were totally burned out and underpaid.

That's when we hit upon the idea that was to take our small, local video business to a national level within six months. We began noticing that even when we told people that we no longer produced weddings, engaged couples still came to us with questions pertaining to their weddings.

For example, how would they know which videographer is best for them? How much should they expect to pay for a wedding video? And what could they do to make sure the video captured all the important moments of the day without appearing staged or phony? These were all questions we were more than happy to answer because they pertained to a subject with

which we were very familiar. But the funny thing is that once the video questions were out of the way, they began asking about photographers, caterers, florists, and just about every other vendor they'd be dealing with during the planning stages of their wedding.

Since we had been a part of the wedding industry for so long, these couples considered us experts in this area. And they knew we would have the information they needed. Information we were taking for granted and giving away for free.

What did we do? We produced a "How-To" video to answer all these questions. We called it "The Inside Story on Wedding Survival." But it was more than just a video about planning a wedding. It told of everything that could go wrong during the planning stages of a wedding, and on the actual wedding day itself. It then showed ways to prevent those things from happening, and how to bounce back from them if they did happen.

My partner and I interviewed a few newlywed couples, a caterer, a wedding coordinator, and a photographer - all of whom were more than flattered to have been asked to appear on our video as "experts." With their expertise and our video experience, we were able to put together a video, which we marketed and distributed ourselves at bridal trade shows, through small magazine ads, and on consignment at wedding-related establishments.

That first video (which was shot in our 2-bedroom condo with prosumer video equipment,) generated over $150,000 in six months.

Needless to say, that "Wedding" video changed our lives. It opened us up to a whole new world of untapped opportunities in business, using video as a training and educational tool instead of merely as an entertainment medium. And we were certainly not about to stop there.

Since then, we've produced several other videos and, although not all have been big money makers like that first tape, they've all contributed to our cash flow, financial bottom line, and enjoyment of our business.

Why are videos so popular? Why are Special Interest and "How-To" videos replacing books, and quickly becoming the single most popular information source for people today? Because in today's busy society, people have trouble finding time to read books. But they're always willing to make time to watch TV and videos (in fact, watching TV is the major past-time of most people around the world).

So, if you have a skill or hobby, or any other kind of specialized information that others may want to learn, you have at your disposal the most important tool necessary to create a profitable "How-To" or Special Interest Video.

Perhaps you love to build furniture for your kids during your spare time. Maybe you have a series of special recipes that people are always asking for. Do you love gardening so much that your yard is the envy of every one of your neighbors? Or perhaps you possess specialized business skills that you can share with other entrepreneurs. This is the stuff that Special Interest Videos are made of.

I guarantee that something you know... something you now take for granted... can become the subject of a Special Interest or "How-To"video and turn you into an information entrepreneur... also known as an infopreneur.

Now you might be thinking... "This all sounds great, but I don't have the resources to produce a high-end, broadcast quality video." That's O.K.... you don't have to. The first thing we learned after the success of our first video is that when producing Special Interest Videos, INFORMATION is the key.

You don't need broadcast quality videoequipment to produce Special Interest Videos for the home market. Remember, you're not competing with production companies with unlimited budgets. Your customers want well-researched, accurate information thatisn't easily obtained elsewhere, not a fancy Hollywood production. People are always willing to pay good money for immediate information that's not easily obtainable elsewhere. As long as your video containsthe benefits and information they're looking for, your customers won't mind that it's not a "Hollywood-Style" production.

Here's some more good news... The material cost in a one hour videotape is less than $2.00. If you produce and sell just 300 tapes on a single topic, at a price of $40.00 each, you'll take in $12,000.00. That's right. To make $12,000, all you have to do is produce a video on a topic that will interest just 300 people out of the total 250 million population. (That's assuming you're limiting your marketing to the U.S. If you market around the world via the internet, the world will be your oyster.)

And the good news doesn't stop there... Since information is what you're providing, you're not limited to producing only videos. Video, after all, is only the medium by which you distribute your information. You can also deliver it through books, audio tapes, pamphlets, or any other means you can think of. The points we've covered so far regarding special interest videos apply to whatever medium you choose to deliver your information.

The bottom line is, you can produce your oown Special Interest Video or Information Product in as little as a few weeks and profit from it for the rest of your life. The possibilities for wealth and success in the information business are virtually endless - and most of all FUN!

But remember, wealth and success are not measured only in financial terms. "Do what you love and the money will follow" is a popular motto for our times. But even if money is not a motivating factor, doing what you love is the key to finding your purpose in life, and making your dreams come true.

You'll be wealthy and successful when you enjoy what you do and feel a certain sense of fulfillment doing it. Sharing what you know with others is one of the most rewarding and fulfilling things you'llever do.

But please don't misunderstand... Producing Special Interest Videos is NOT a "Get-Rich-Quick Scheme." It's a legitimate income-producing opportunity that can generate resultsin only a few months - if worked right.

That's the reason for this article. In it I've shared the concept of my business with you. With this information, you can immediately begin producing an information product of your own.

Here are 10 Success Secrets that will help you get started producing Special Interest Videos for fun and profit. Keep in mind that everything that applies to video also applies to audio tapes, books,reports, pamphlets, or any other other medium you choose to distribute your information.

1- Produce a video or information product for an audience that's already waiting to buy it. This will guarantee your greatest chance forsuccess. Don't produce a video first, and then go out and look forbuyers. It's the other way around if you want to make money.

2- Clearly identify your target market and direct all your promotional materials towards them. When promoting and marketing your video, you must first identify the video's purpose. Then find a target market that will benefit from it. Once you've done that, find ways to bring them your message. Speak to them in ways they can relate both to your video and to you. The rapport this builds between you and your prospective buyers will ultimately lead to sales.

3- Always test the market before producing anything. This will save you time and money if, by chance, you're not on the right track. If test marketing indicates your target market has no interest in the information your video provides, simply redirect your focus, find another topic, and start again with enthusiasm. Or stick with the same topic but find another market which may be interested in what you have to say.

4- Keep your videos simple, yet highly informational. Remember the concept is not to compete with Hollywood, but to offer valuable information to specific groups of people who share the same interest. A simple production will go a long way towards making sure your video delivers what your marketing promises.

5- Never stop searching for effective ways to promote your videos and reach your target market. Marketing is everything. The major studios may spend ten million dollars to produce a movie, and then spend thirty million to promote it.

6- Produce additional videos and create a series surrounding the same topic.

7- Create ancillary products such as special reports, audio tapes, and books to complement your videos.

8- Seek out others in your industry who might be willing to joint venture with you on a video project.

9- Find an independent video producer in your area and offer to joint venture with him or her. You contribute the topic if they contribute the video skills necessary to complete the production. You may also want to ask if that producer would be willing to subsidize the video in exchange for a percentage of sales.

10- Establish an effective order taking system. Keeping track of your sales, your customers, advertising responses, and your shipping is critical if you plan on being a successful Special Interest Video Producer. If you're excited about the concept of producing a Special Interest Video or information product and want to get started right away as an Independent Producer, following the guidelines in this article will serve as your road map to success.