What's My Muse?!

[surfsidecp]

My daughter became a makeup guru on youtube very quickly about 2 years ago. She has followers from all over the world. She's also a makeup artist for a large cosmetics company, while still in school. I'm the "business manager". I want to turn this into our muse, but to date have not been able to figure out what we could be selling. There is a website which will be revamped soon. We use Google Adsense and have a little income from that. She has lots of followers and the potential for huge numbers. We cannot sell makeup because of her agreement with the company she works for. Her videos are already on youtube so I don't think anyone would buy DVD's. Aside from Google Adsense we are at a loss as to how to make money off of this. Any ideas would be helpful. Thanks!

[tomswiftjr]

I haven't seen your daughter's videos, so this may not be the right direction, but can she do DVDs for really specialized audiences? For example, could she do a series on makeup for screen & stage actors? Or makeup for people with skin conditions?

Also, her agreement with her employer prevents her from selling makeup, but is she prevented from endorsing someone else who does: "I buy all my makeup from MakeupSource.com"

A final note: whatever you decide to do, make sure you test the market carefully before you pull the trigger on producing anything expensive like a website or DVD series.

Good luck!

[Marcie]

Couple things came to mind, a dvd or e-book (or both) for: "perfect 'wedding' makeup" or "perfect 'prom' makeup" ... insert whatever might work into the single quotes, and agreed with Tom, test all before going forward, esp. in this economic environment.

Her plethora of youtube vids and follwers are great testamonials. Can *you* sell makeup? Perhaps she can endorse your product? Or find someone else you are not related to to partner with, perhaps?

[officer_dibble]

Maybe consider getting the videos on other revenue sharing sites eg metacafe via Tubemogul?

[FreedomFinder]

Whose your daughter, I'm curious, can you post some vids?

You already have publicity, and I agree you should think niche in most cases. However, you already have a great target market. You may be more successful selling a whole assortment of products, such as e-books, audio, dvd, and just selling it as a digital download for $3-600 a piece. She can advertise it on Youtube, and will no doubt have people buying in no time. They don't need to be niched with your special situation. However, that's more your daughter's muse, you can take a cut for helping her out, but why don't you do your own thing and let her do hers?

[Jon Alan]

Is there a way that you could get some kind of a survey out to her viewers and find out from them? They will know better than anyone else that they already spend money on. All you need to do is find a way for them to spend it with you.

[dmaloy]

The fundamental issue here is that your daughter offers a service, not a product. The specialized application DVD's, etc. are products, and a big thank-you to whoever posted that bit, because it gives me direction, now.

It seems the only way to automate income is through products. Tim Ferris says "I was sick of services, and needed a product to ship", and "Forget about services, for now". That's great, but how about those of us who like performing the services we provide, but face undending marketing struggles to perpetuate business? This will lead to burn-out, probably.

I need advice for my own similar situation. I was a software consultant before I made the leap to move overseas and marry my girlfriend in a foreign land. Now, I face steep obstacles to continue in my chosen profession, and even to get a job, given severe language barriers.

Michael Gerber talks about products-based businesses and client-fulfillment (but I should read his book!). Peter Drucker talks solely about products and not much about servcies in his book on innovation. So, how do consultants move laterally and bring innovation to market? Drucker systematized Management, Gerber systematizes Business Rules. Is there hope for me?

How does a service-based business model become a scalable???

Comments?

Its also notable that the "Attorney turned Surf Guru" went from providing one service to another. Is either scalable?

[surfsidecp]

Whose your daughter, I'm curious, can you post some vids?
She can be found at:

http://www.youtube.com/amy04
http://www.amyopoly.com
She has not posted videos or updated the website in a while due to school and work commitments. We plan on revamping the website and getting on a more regular video posting schedule starting next week.

You may be more successful selling a whole assortment of products, such as e-books, audio, dvd, and just selling it as a digital download for $3-600 a piece.

This sounds good - we will work on these. She will be done with school next week. We are meeting Thurs. to discuss how we are going to proceed.

However, that's more your daughter's muse, you can take a cut for helping her out, but why don't you do your own thing and let her do hers?

As with many creative people that I know, she neglects or totally ignores the business aspect. This is what I am good at - definately NOT the creative one! I thought that since we already have this mostly up and running it would be easy to turn this into her muse. Then I can concentrate on something else for me.

[/QUOTE]

Thanks for your suggestions!

[surfsidecp]

Is there a way that you could get some kind of a survey out to her viewers and find out from them? They will know better than anyone else that they already spend money on. All you need to do is find a way for them to spend it with you.

This sounds like a great idea! Thanks.

[surfsidecp]

The fundamental issue here is that your daughter offers a service, not a product. The specialized application DVD's, etc. are products, and a big thank-you to whoever posted that bit, because it gives me direction, now.

Totally agree, which is why I am having so much trouble figuring out how to make $$$!

Sorry I don't have any great answers for you. Good luck!
[/QUOTE]

[FreedomFinder]

She can be found at:

http://www.youtube.com/amy04
http://www.amyopoly.com
She has not posted videos or updated the website in a while due to school and work commitments. We plan on revamping the website and getting on a more regular video posting schedule starting next week.


This sounds good - we will work on these. She will be done with school next week. We are meeting Thurs. to discuss how we are going to proceed.


As with many creative people that I know, she neglects or totally ignores the business aspect. This is what I am good at - definately NOT the creative one! I thought that since we already have this mostly up and running it would be easy to turn this into her muse. Then I can concentrate on something else for me.


Thanks for your suggestions!


No Problem. I would also recommend becoming a drag queen for a few weeks so that you can put yourself in your target audiences shoes (heels?), and really immerse yourself in their world, to get a better understanding of your product.

[surfsidecp]

No Problem. I would also recommend becoming a drag queen for a few weeks so that you can put yourself in your target audiences shoes (heels?), and really immerse yourself in their world, to get a better understanding of your product.

Not sure what you mean by this, but it comes across as not very nice. I thought this was a serious discussion.

[janet444]

I think there's a lot of potential here! First, she could sell dvds. She could take down any dvds on YouTube that would be worth money. But keep as many up as you can, as they're good free advertising. And be sure she puts her url in the text part to the right of the video for every video.

Someone here mentioned a wedding makeup dvd, great idea! I'm sure there must be other good ideas like that. She could shoot it in segments. That way, the bride to be could view the part on foundation first. Then she stops. Later on, or another day, she watches the part on eye makeup. Or if she wants, she watches the whole thing at once. So it's a bunch of segments that add up to a whole.

Her website is cute, and the splashy colors on the top are very attractive. But having the menu items on top of the colors makes the menu items tough to read and also takes away from the look.

The AdSense is also too close to the top and covering up the nameplate at the top.

If I were you, I'd help her invest in a good web designer who could make this website look more professional. I like the look, so I'm not suggesting someone who would change the nameplate. But someone who would move the menu, change the menu buttons, find another spot for the AdSense ads. Maybe someone who specializes in WordPress blogs, as it looks like this is one of those WordPress-blog-turned-into-websites.

You also need a headline and copy. Of course, I would say that. I'm a copywriter. But it's true. You need to let people know why you're there and why they should stick around. You don't need a lot of copy, but you do need enough to orient people to the site.

On the right side, it still has the elements of a blog. imho, you should get rid of that. But a web designer could help with that.

And be sure to find some good keywords. You can do that for free here:

https://adwords.google.com/select/KeywordToolExternal

I have a page on one of my websites that explains how to use this tool, but I'm not sure it would be okay to post that page here. If you want to see that page, please PM me.

Working on the quality of the website and the keywords will help her improve her site's popularity and number of visitors and hopefully, that will lead to more AdSense income.

Best of luck!

Janet

[FreedomFinder]

Not sure what you mean by this, but it comes across as not very nice. I thought this was a serious discussion.

I'm just joking with you man. :) Now, that we got the serious stuff out of the way. No hard feelings.

[webgal]

What about affiliate ads? Would that break the agreement? I make quite a bit from those on my sports med site.

And I died laughing over FF's post. Sorry, it was just a joke and I took it that way. It's good to lighten things up from time to time. And if you want to know the truth, it's a target market that would really value the lessons and pay for the tutelage.

[surfsidecp]

I think there's a lot of potential here! First, she could sell dvds. She could take down any dvds on YouTube that would be worth money. But keep as many up as you can, as they're good free advertising. And be sure she puts her url in the text part to the right of the video for every video.

Someone here mentioned a wedding makeup dvd, great idea! I'm sure there must be other good ideas like that. She could shoot it in segments. That way, the bride to be could view the part on foundation first. Then she stops. Later on, or another day, she watches the part on eye makeup. Or if she wants, she watches the whole thing at once. So it's a bunch of segments that add up to a whole.

Her website is cute, and the splashy colors on the top are very attractive. But having the menu items on top of the colors makes the menu items tough to read and also takes away from the look.

The AdSense is also too close to the top and covering up the nameplate at the top.

If I were you, I'd help her invest in a good web designer who could make this website look more professional. I like the look, so I'm not suggesting someone who would change the nameplate. But someone who would move the menu, change the menu buttons, find another spot for the AdSense ads. Maybe someone who specializes in WordPress blogs, as it looks like this is one of those WordPress-blog-turned-into-websites.

You also need a headline and copy. Of course, I would say that. I'm a copywriter. But it's true. You need to let people know why you're there and why they should stick around. You don't need a lot of copy, but you do need enough to orient people to the site.

On the right side, it still has the elements of a blog. imho, you should get rid of that. But a web designer could help with that.

And be sure to find some good keywords. You can do that for free here:

https://adwords.google.com/select/KeywordToolExternal

I have a page on one of my websites that explains how to use this tool, but I'm not sure it would be okay to post that page here. If you want to see that page, please PM me.

Working on the quality of the website and the keywords will help her improve her site's popularity and number of visitors and hopefully, that will lead to more AdSense income.

Best of luck!

Janet

Lots of great ideas. Thanks! Schools ends this week so we will be able to begin work. Definitely going to go with a web designer.

[surfsidecp]

I'm just joking with you man. :) Now, that we got the serious stuff out of the way. No hard feelings.

Sorry - I gotta learn not to take myself so seriously! No hard feelings.

[surfsidecp]

What about affiliate ads? Would that break the agreement? I make quite a bit from those on my sports med site.

And I died laughing over FF's post. Sorry, it was just a joke and I took it that way. It's good to lighten things up from time to time. And if you want to know the truth, it's a target market that would really value the lessons and pay for the tutelage.

I will look into the affiliate ads. We have to be very careful.

You are right about lightening things up. I just took it the wrong way, but it's all good now.

[Caesar_X]

Total agree with Jon Alan about finding out what people want.

She has a community, so start interacting with them. Ask them things like "what is the ONE THING you need to know about doing makeup?" Ask some probing questions and you may be surprised at the answers.

You can create content in one of three directions:
1. What you WANT to create (bad idea)
2. What you THINK others want (better but still not very good)
3. What others TELL you they want

Try to segment farther down. Some of the suggestions I've seen here like "wedding makeup dvd" (needs a much catchier title obviously) and such are awesome ideas for DVDs that you could easily sell for $27-47 online.

Find a pressing need, dig deep and solve their problem. And people will pay you for it.