Should I Market Someone Else’s Product – Or Develop and Market My Own?

Many products are available online today that can be sold by those who had nothing to do with the product’s development.

The creators of these products have found that it pays to give up a portion of the profits in exchange for much greater exposure over the Internet and the resulting sales.

This arrangement appeals to many business owners because they don’t feel they have the expertise or creativity to develop their own products.

They prefer to simply advertise and market other people’s products without the laborious task of first building the product.

The question naturally arises: Is there anything wrong with selling others’ products, especially if you don’t feel you can create your own?

My feeling is this: there is nothing inherently wrong with being a marketing expert and promoting other people’s goods, but . . .

Your business will be better off, in the long run, if you promote your own products and services online.

Here’s why.

By creating your own product, you will be branding your name in your customer’s minds.

Your business will be known for unique, problem solving products that you develop.

In the future, the customer will remember you from other purchases they made.

If you create your own products, you will be viewed as an expert in the field and prospects will be more likely to come to you when they have problems in the future.

Your business will thrive if your prospects associate your name and brand with satisfying their wants.

In today’s global marketplace, your product can be offered anywhere in the world.

You will have the advantage over those that simply push others’ goods.

You will enjoy sales in various time zones throughout the world, all throughout the day and even while you’re sleeping.

You will be able to keep the majority of the sales profits.

Those who market for others will not be as competitive because they will have to share the profit with the product’s owner.

One of the great benefits of developing your own product is the flexibility you will have in offering customers varying formats of that same product.

You may desire to turn your information product into a book, a home study course, an audio file, a conference call, etc.

With your own product, you have complete control over every aspect of the sales process.

That is not the case if you sell for others.

They determine what the product sells for, when you will have access to it, how much commission you will receive per sale, when and if follow-up products are available, etc.

Finally, you have speed on your side if you have your own products.

Rather than waiting for others to produce what you will sell, you can control the timing and availability of your offerings.

This is a great advantage in online sales which are nearly always very time sensitive.

If your business is built around a subject that you know well and have a passion for, developing your own information products is very easy and cost effective, especially since there are many copywriters who will reasonably do the bulk of the work for you.

One last thought on the matter:  my suspicion is that most affiliate sellers are not familiar with and have never even been through the products they promote.  I know some affiliates will not promote offers they have not personally tried or experienced . . . but I think these affiliates are in the minority.

I mention this only because affiliates can and will say things about your product in their marketing that are just not true.  And there is little you can do about it.

To me, it is much better to have full control of your own marketing campaigns and publicity.

To your online business success,

Steve Browne

www.stevebrownedirect.com