To move on or not - that is the question

[Leen]

Sooo… I’ve read the 4HWW (loooved it!) and have been going through the steps to create an automated business so that I can make my dreamline come true. I know starting any business isn’t necessarily easy but the 4HWW is so straightforward! You find your muse, create or find a product for a niche market, create a website, use google adwords to advertise your product, and be on your way to automating your income and experiencing life. Sounds easy right? Well… I have a product, I have a website, I used adwords for 1 week to advertise my product and my site. My result so far – a big fat nothing in terms interest/sales! It’s only been a week so I’m not quite discouraged yet but rather I’m just wondering if I’m missing something. I did everything so quickly and efficiently (80/20 :)), so I could very well be missing something big . Can anyone comment on how long you should keep up with adword advertising? Should this be the only means of advertising in the testing phase? If I’ve had over 150 hits to my website but no hits to purchase my product does that mean it’s not a good product and it’s time to move onto something else? This is my first time posting on a forum (Yay!). I apologize if this question has been asked and answered a million times.

In case it’s my Muse or my website that’s the issue… You can even check out my site my product is called Cold Weather Running (www.coldweatherrunning.com) and it’s an all natural protective wax based cream that you put on your face before you go for a run in the cold. I’m a runner, my face get’s chapped, dry and itchy from the cold and wind. This product protects my face from the elements and since it’s wax based it doesn’t freeze onto my face (because that would be more uncomfortable than the run itself). The best part is that the product has a natural scent (I don’t need to smell like a flower or a fruit basket when I’m going for a run). And for all the smart alecs out there – a lot of runners hate balaclavas, me included! If anyone could comment on/answer my questions I would greatly appreciate it or feel free to visit my site and comment on whether that is the issue (my website developer would love the feedback ;-)

[AntonTheKhan]

I hope you have done some market research before jumping into this! It seems like an useful product, but are people really buying and using it?
I'd try to also use a different URL, because the one right now leads me to think that I will learn more about how to keep up my running regimen in the cold rather than getting a face cream. Also, keep in mind, this is highly seasonal, so you will be able to sell it for 2-3 months tops out of the year. Not very good.
Try advertising with adwords content thingy on sites that have to do with running or physical exercise, etc. You can place ads on specific websites, yes, please research it.

Sooo… I’ve read the 4HWW (loooved it!) and have been going through the steps to create an automated business so that I can make my dreamline come true. I know starting any business isn’t necessarily easy but the 4HWW is so straightforward! You find your muse, create or find a product for a niche market, create a website, use google adwords to advertise your product, and be on your way to automating your income and experiencing life. Sounds easy right? Well… I have a product, I have a website, I used adwords for 1 week to advertise my product and my site. My result so far – a big fat nothing in terms interest/sales! It’s only been a week so I’m not quite discouraged yet but rather I’m just wondering if I’m missing something. I did everything so quickly and efficiently (80/20 :)), so I could very well be missing something big . Can anyone comment on how long you should keep up with adword advertising? Should this be the only means of advertising in the testing phase? If I’ve had over 150 hits to my website but no hits to purchase my product does that mean it’s not a good product and it’s time to move onto something else? This is my first time posting on a forum (Yay!). I apologize if this question has been asked and answered a million times.

In case it’s my Muse or my website that’s the issue… You can even check out my site my product is called Cold Weather Running (www.coldweatherrunning.com) and it’s an all natural protective wax based cream that you put on your face before you go for a run in the cold. I’m a runner, my face get’s chapped, dry and itchy from the cold and wind. This product protects my face from the elements and since it’s wax based it doesn’t freeze onto my face (because that would be more uncomfortable than the run itself). The best part is that the product has a natural scent (I don’t need to smell like a flower or a fruit basket when I’m going for a run). And for all the smart alecs out there – a lot of runners hate balaclavas, me included! If anyone could comment on/answer my questions I would greatly appreciate it or feel free to visit my site and comment on whether that is the issue (my website developer would love the feedback ;-)

[winvest]

@LEEN your muse idea is very timely, I just saw this article about something similar yesterday in the Washington Post
Sticky, smelly Bag Balm: Problem-salving for all (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/31/AR2010013100964.html)
Excerpt
LYNDONVILLE, Vt. -- Winter is most definitely here. It must be. The phones are ringing at Bag Balm headquarters.

Everyone wants a new tub of the gooey, yellow-green ointment. And all have a story about its problem-salving - they use it on squeaky bed springs, psoriasis, dry facial skin, cracked fingers, burns, zits, diaper rash, saddle sores, sunburn, pruned trees, rifles, shell casings, bed sores and radiation burns.

[Leen]

I hope you have done some market research before jumping into this! It seems like an useful product, but are people really buying and using it?
I'd try to also use a different URL, because the one right now leads me to think that I will learn more about how to keep up my running regimen in the cold rather than getting a face cream. Also, keep in mind, this is highly seasonal, so you will be able to sell it for 2-3 months tops out of the year. Not very good.
Try advertising with adwords content thingy on sites that have to do with running or physical exercise, etc. You can place ads on specific websites, yes, please research it.
Thank you very much for your very honest feedback! I have done my research and there are a couple of products like it on the market however they are very much targetted to and marketed to Skiiers. Although the products do mention that they can be used for any and all winter or cold weather sports the marketing is very much skiing focussed.
You are right. The product is very seasonal and I did consider that (thank goodness my husband is working on a muse right now that is more 'year round' - hope it works out for him/us!). I am going to take this week to step back and re-evaluate everything. I'll take your good advice and find running sites to place adwords or just plain ads on (for minimal cost of course). If that still nets no results then I'll call it a day will mosey along to the next muse...

[Leen]

@LEEN your muse idea is very timely, I just saw this article about something similar yesterday in the Washington Post
Sticky, smelly Bag Balm: Problem-salving for all (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/31/AR2010013100964.html)
Excerpt
LYNDONVILLE, Vt. -- Winter is most definitely here. It must be. The phones are ringing at Bag Balm headquarters.

Everyone wants a new tub of the gooey, yellow-green ointment. And all have a story about its problem-salving - they use it on squeaky bed springs, psoriasis, dry facial skin, cracked fingers, burns, zits, diaper rash, saddle sores, sunburn, pruned trees, rifles, shell casings, bed sores and radiation burns.
Great article! Thanks very much for sharing (it gives me a glimer of hope) :-)

[clanshrapnel]

Nice website and great job getting a product up.

I'd like to add, though, that as a runner myself, it's ill-advised to run in the winter when it's particularly cold, because the cold air actually damages your lungs. I'm not sure if that's new information or not, but it was on the Dr. Oz show the other day. You may want to consider that in your marketing, as your audience may shrink a bit if that information becomes more widespread.

[Leen]

Thank you very much for visiting and your feedback. I didn't see the Dr. Oz show where they talked about not running in the cold. I wish I could stay away from it in the colder months but I'm sure you would agree, running is like an addiction. I can't stop! The treadmill just doesn't do it for me... Happy Running and thanks again for checking out my site!

[AntonTheKhan]

I guess, you can also try different approaches. Start a running oriented blog. Get some good info there so it goes up in the ranks and use it to pitch your product. With something like this it doesn't hurt to try some more social media stuff.
Don't fool yourself, the stuff that Tim writes about, namely create or resell a product, put up any ad on Google and watch the money come in is largely a myth and unrealistic. It may happen with a very few products. Everything else is hard work and marketing.


Thank you very much for visiting and your feedback. I didn't see the Dr. Oz show where they talked about not running in the cold. I wish I could stay away from it in the colder months but I'm sure you would agree, running is like an addiction. I can't stop! The treadmill just doesn't do it for me... Happy Running and thanks again for checking out my site!

[Leen]

I guess, you can also try different approaches. Start a running oriented blog. Get some good info there so it goes up in the ranks and use it to pitch your product. With something like this it doesn't hurt to try some more social media stuff.
Don't fool yourself, the stuff that Tim writes about, namely create or resell a product, put up any ad on Google and watch the money come in is largely a myth and unrealistic. It may happen with a very few products. Everything else is hard work and marketing.
Thanks again for your feedback. I am getting onto some running forums and message boards to see what people are saying, wanting, doing etc. I will be starting some threads to generate interest in my product. Hopefully it generates a little interest and possibly some sales (so that I can hire a virtual marketing assistant to help out :-).