Product Survey Results (Blog)

[Savage]

Use this thread to discuss the following entry from Steve Pavlina's blog:

Product Survey Results

[James81]

I can't believe I read all of that.

This part:

It’s a bit strange to accept on a deeper level that no matter what I do or don’t do, I’m always annoying some people while delighting others — and that it’s impossible to prevent that.

is oh so true. Took me a while to let that one sink into my head, but it's true...the more you spend time trying to please everyone, the more you wind up pleasing everyone but yourself.

I like what you had to say about pricing, too. I think my suggestion to you on that survey was to price it competitively based on similar products rather than pricing it high just to show people how much value it supposedly has.

I'd buy an audio program in that range probably, depending on the cost versus the length. A 6 hour audio program is prolly worth closer to $40 than $100, but a 16 hour audio program is worth $100 or more.

[Savage]

Originally Posted by James81

I can't believe I read all of that.

I can't believe I wrote all of that (8777 words). :P

I actually wrote about 90% of it and then stopped for a few days, wondering if it was a stupid idea to share so much detail that many people might not even care to read. Was I overdoing the whole transparency thing? Would it be better to shut up and just start implementing it instead of broadcasting what I intend to do?

While talking to a friend this week (Lise Janelle), I asked her what she thought about sharing the survey results. She said that if she had taken the survey, she'd probably appreciate knowing what the results were and how it affected my decisions.

So I almost nuked this post w/o publishing it, but Lise helped me conclude that it could be worth sharing. Even if many people don't care to read it, I hope some will find it interesting.

[Andrew Brunelle]

That was one long article, and I found it really interesting and I know your motives are pure, Steve, so if you create something to my liking, I will buy it because I know you stand behind your work and the vast majority of your work is unparalleled.

[momo313]

Originally Posted by Savage

I can't believe I wrote all of that (8777 words). :P

I actually wrote about 90% of it and then stopped for a few days, wondering if it was a stupid idea to share so much detail that many people might not even care to read. Was I overdoing the whole transparency thing? Would it be better to shut up and just start implementing it instead of broadcasting what I intend to do?

While talking to a friend this week (Lise Janelle), I asked her what she thought about sharing the survey results. She said that if she had taken the survey, she'd probably appreciate knowing what the results were and how it affected my decisions.

So I almost nuked this post w/o publishing it, but Lise helped me conclude that it could be worth sharing. Even if many people don't care to read it, I hope some will find it interesting.

It's immensely interesting since I'm in the demographic (early 20s, entrepreneurial, want the behind the scenes look into how you operate) you intended to reach with this article.

The main value I receive when you share with such transparency is that I get a vivid glimpse of your vibe, it helps to see how you're operating in the physical world - seeing a clean and effective application of TLP in action (especially in your reasoning about pricing strategy). There just isn't a voice that upholds the principles of conscious growth(!) in the online business world (that is, in my current reality) and I'm excited to see more of how you navigate this new business model.

I believe the results obtained from your survey are reflective of the larger internet audience who are interested in personal development info products, not just your readership. The results definitely provide a pointer in the right direction for those wandering what's in demand.

So: (broadcast + why) + implementation = WIN.

[Broderick]

It was the repeated listening of those audio programs day after day for years that indelibly etched those lessons into my mind. They still serve me well today. Because these ideas are so ingrained in me, I forget that many people have yet to internalize them, especially those who’ve had the opposite lessons ingrained into them from a young age.

Yeahhhhh....I've always wondered how much those audio programs impacted you. I didn't realize you listened to them that much and for that long (2 hours a day).

Little by little I'm stumbling on gunk I have ingrained from childhood. Paraliminals have helped tremendously, so lately I've been curious to see how other audio would work if I listened consistently.

[LisaSparkle]

I read all of it, too.

I subscribe to a lot of law of attraction/how to be successful type mailing lists and one thing that always sort of bugs me is when it says "$19472948 of value for only $19.95!!".

Things like that always make me wary of the product instead of making me want to buy it. Just say how much the product is and what it does, you know?

I love that Steve is straight and direct and doesn't bother with any of that nonsense

[Lynn 007]

As I reviewed the survey results, especially the text comments, one thing became abundantly clear: Y’all are crazy!

Well, thank you -

Steve, thank you for taking the time to share the results and listening to your friend Lise, she was right.

I think your survey results refect life.
1. You can't please everyone so do what resonates with you
2. You get out of it; what you put into it.

I'm looking forward to this new business model - exciting times ahead!!!

[Angelique]

I love this article! Audio's next? Yesyesyesyesyesyes!!

[MourningStar]

Originally Posted by James81

I can't believe I read all of that.

This part:

is oh so true. Took me a while to let that one sink into my head, but it's true...the more you spend time trying to please everyone, the more you wind up pleasing everyone but yourself.

Ohhh yeah, this article definitely put that into perspective for me. I started flipping out a little when I began getting negative feedback on my own blog, but if everyone's readers are this "crazy" it means that someone will always enjoy whatever I write even if someone else hates the whole damn blog (It's a fashion blog so probably none of you would be interested, lol.)

That part stood out to me, but I enjoyed the whole thing. Thank you so much for sharing this article with us, Steve. I'm so glad you didn't trash it after all!

[Malwina]

I also found it really interesting to read the survey results... And I'm looking forward to your audio programs!

One thing that made me really excited was that you'd like to offer workshops internationally. I'm a Polish-German expat living in Holland, so I know my way around Europe :-) And just wanted to let you know that, should you ever look for people to help you out here (be it during workshops you might offer, or just as a friendly travel guide), I'd love to help!

[Warping]

Any concerns about piracy with digital delivery?

[Bradshaw]

Originally Posted by Warping

Any concerns about piracy with digital delivery?

Although I don't think it's really needed as people will gladly pay for high quality stuff, you can easily protect and track PDF's and other digital files wherever they go with something like WatchDox. It can be used to protect and track documents, eBooks and reports sent to a large audience.

I think it can also be used with Audio files.

It can easily be integrated into a website. Since Steve is planning to to release products on a regular basis, this is something to take into consideration, but honestly I don't feel it's necessary.

[Carl Carlson IV]

Originally Posted by Bradshaw

Although I don't think it's really needed as people will gladly pay for high quality stuff, you can easily protect and track PDF's and other digital files wherever they go with something like WatchDox. It can be used to protect and track documents, eBooks and reports sent to a large audience.

I think it can also be used with Audio files.

It can easily be integrated into a website. Since Steve is planning to to release products on a regular basis, this is something to take into consideration, but honestly I don't feel it's necessary.

This won't work. When Steve releases any digital content it will be pirated and there will be nothing he can do about it. I think it would be better for him to focus his energy in a quality product rather than into preventing his work from appearing on torrent websites, which they will. However, I don't think it will be an issue that it will be "stolen" because the quality of content Steve releases, most people who follow him will probably be willing to part with $40-$100.

Related to the survey, I just wanted to share that the absolute best bomb diggity content Steve created was this video series - YouTube - Creating Abundance (Part 1 of 4) Ever since he released it I've been waiting and waaaaaiting for more video. It's so much more personal which gets across the message so much clearer. Don't allow me to become one of those pissed of people, fill my need.

[waizen]

Originally Posted by Savage

I can't believe I wrote all of that (8777 words). :P

I actually wrote about 90% of it and then stopped for a few days, wondering if it was a stupid idea to share so much detail that many people might not even care to read...

Relax about it... it was worth publishing. People get out of it what they get out of it. I ended up reading roughly 80% of it. The rest I skimmed past. Other people's mileage will vary.

Just out of curiosity, will the future products be copyrighted or open to republish? I don't want to republish, I'm just curious.

[Savage]

Originally Posted by Warping

Any concerns about piracy with digital delivery?

Think about it...

Imagine what will happen in the long run if lots of pirates download my work for free -- and then actually listen to it.

Imagine people who believe they can get something for nothing repeatedly exposing themselves to values like honesty, integrity, oneness, hard work, self-discipline, life purpose, creativity, courage, etc.

I used to pirate many years ago. Now I don't. One of the things that transformed me was repeatedly exposing myself to ideas like I mentioned above. I eventually realized that piracy was incongruent with the man I wished to be. I blogged about this a while back.

I'm not naive about piracy. In fact, I'm counting on it.

Imagine all those people giving me the opportunity to turn them into honest customers. And I can reach them for free.

People have told me they pirated my book, then read it, then realized I deserved the money and went and bought a copy. So this sort of thing is already happening on a small scale.

[alexplatups]

Steve, thanks for sharing that information. That is really an amazing opportunity
to observe what a community like this wants as far as paid content. I can really
understand why you hesitated about publishing or not publishing these results.
But, in the end, your friend was right, the tension that was built up after
taking the survey has been resolved after reading those 8,000+ words

For me, the most interesting part of the article was where you talked about
the many different parts/voices inside of you, and how they all wanted to have
their opinions/ideas to be heard.

I have given this link to many people on this forum, and even though I never
read the actual book from which this chapter is taken, it still it affected me
deeply. Most likely you read this book and heard about these authors, so if you
have the chance I would like to know "what you think about the primary and
the disowned selves theory, and if you have noticed being attracted to
people because some of their sub-personalities are completely opposite
from your primary sub-personalities?"

Voice Dialogue International :: Embracing

Thanks in advance, and just wanted to say I'm glad you have chosen this
new path with the new paid content products, it is something that I'm sure
will help the majority of the people that love to read and listen to what
you create in the self development domain.

[Asten]

I enjoyed reading the results, so thank you for taking that time and deciding to publish it. (I'm one of those people that likes the behind-the-scene details )

I think the point here is that even when you can receive high-quality feedback from intelligent people who are on a similar journey, in the end you still have to follow your own inner guidance. To attempt to satisfy others’ desires for you would only make you crazy. You can gain a lot by listening to others and by caring about what they have to say; however, at the end of the day, their feedback is only useful if it helps you get in touch with your inner truth. Other people’s opinions cannot serve as a substitute for your inner guidance.

That right there is a fantastic piece of wisdom--not that it hasn't been said before here, but that particular situation certainly illustrates its worth.

I can see why the early responders might have a bias towards wanting extra help with self-discipline, especially if they caught the survey early because they were web surfing as a form of procrastination.

I lol'd. And have no doubt I was one of them.

people actually like it when I push them as opposed to merely suggesting or informing.

I know this pisses some people off, because they get impressions about you as a person and make negative assumptions, but I consider it a big strength in some of your articles.

I always admire that you're willing to take that tone, inevitably knowing it'll irritate some of your readers and make them think you're a big, arrogant meany but knowing others will be motivated and inspired by it, which is your intention.

I listened to hundreds of hours of audio programs while I was going through college (about 2 hours per day on average)

I'm slacking, clearly. Thanks for that inspiring detail. I'll get on that.

I really enjoyed reading through your thought process. I had a feeling it was going to go the way you seem to be, but it's interesting seeing your reasoning in action. It all sounds very intelligent and logical, and I found it inspiring, despite not being a business owner myself (yet).

I look forward to seeing (and buying!) what you create.

[Asten]

Originally Posted by Savage

I'm not naive about piracy. In fact, I'm counting on it.

That makes sense.

The people who get his products for free and are affected by it will more than likely turn around and pay him for the value he's given. It'll reach people it couldn't have reached before.

And the people who don't--well, that's their issue, isn't it?

[Savage]

If people want to pirate my products, there's no need to get them from P2P sites or anything like that.

They can simply get the product direct from me and then take advantage of the money-back guarantee and then keep the product after getting their money back.

It's safer for them (no worries about someone tampering with the files), they're guaranteed to get the most up-to-date version, and they don't have to waste time searching for the product elsewhere.

If anyone wants any of my digitally delivered products for free and doesn't want to pay for them, I'll make sure it's easy and safe to do that. For my larger works, I'd prefer a relationship based on mutual exchange, but if they'd rather not have that kind of relationship with me, that is their choice to make.

[Plays With Life]

Originally Posted by Savage

So I almost nuked this post w/o publishing it, but Lise helped me conclude that it could be worth sharing. Even if many people don't care to read it, I hope some will find it interesting.

I found it really interesting. I didn't read every word, but I skimmed every section. Thanks for sharing.

[ssandra]

Originally Posted by Savage

If people want to pirate my products, there's no need to get them from P2P sites or anything like that.

They can simply get the product direct from me and then take advantage of the money-back guarantee and then keep the product after getting their money back.

It's safer for them (no worries about someone tampering with the files), they're guaranteed to get the most up-to-date version, and they don't have to waste time searching for the product elsewhere.

If anyone wants any of my digitally delivered products for free and doesn't want to pay for them, I'll make sure it's easy and safe to do that. For my larger works, I'd prefer a relationship based on mutual exchange, but if they'd rather not have that kind of relationship with me, that is their choice to make.

LOL I think this is the very first time that I've seen someone actually giving advice on how to pirate their products...

My kinda guy!

[sarabell]

Loved this post, It is always interesting to me to see the inner workings of the things and people that inspire me.
Rock on Steve!
Excited for audio

[Curtis2011]

Originally Posted by Savage

If people want to pirate my products, there's no need to get them from P2P sites or anything like that.

They can simply get the product direct from me and then take advantage of the money-back guarantee and then keep the product after getting their money back.

It's safer for them (no worries about someone tampering with the files), they're guaranteed to get the most up-to-date version, and they don't have to waste time searching for the product elsewhere.

If anyone wants any of my digitally delivered products for free and doesn't want to pay for them, I'll make sure it's easy and safe to do that. For my larger works, I'd prefer a relationship based on mutual exchange, but if they'd rather not have that kind of relationship with me, that is their choice to make.

Many times have I thought about doing this with tons of internet marketers' products when I know they are good for their guarantees

But alas, I don't I think at some level I know it's wrong, or rather against my better character.

I have done it once or twice before but only when I was actually dissatisfied with the product.



As for the blog post, I read it all and found it interesting. I find behind-the-scenes survey results to be more interesting than subjective reality, mostly because I am confident in my own spirituality and don't really want anyone else's opinion on it.

[Trezker]

So if it seems that I’ve disappeared for weeks at a time, it doesn’t necessarily mean I’m dead.

You could set up live streaming while you work so people can have a look to see that you haven't died.

[Plays With Life]

Originally Posted by Trezker

You could set up live streaming while you work so people can have a look to see that you haven't died.

If it were me, I'd probably start to feel like I was on the Truman Show.

[Criseyde]

I loved this post! Especially the part at the end about saying yes one by one. Awesometastic.

[Bizarre Jester]

There should be a price tag on content as it is of unquestionable value. I like how Steve took a lot of time to consider a range of prices and how they will affect customers.

Originally Posted by LisaSparkle

I read all of it, too.

I subscribe to a lot of law of attraction/how to be successful type mailing lists and one thing that always sort of bugs me is when it says "$19472948 of value for only $19.95!!".

Things like that always make me wary of the product instead of making me want to buy it. Just say how much the product is and what it does, you know?

I love that Steve is straight and direct and doesn't bother with any of that nonsense

Yes that bugs everyone. I feel very comfortable and secure about buying one of Steve's future products because he won't try to shove it down my throat or do anything to convince me that I HAVE to buy it. I know he won't care less and is going to be financially abundant either way.

[supertom]

been reading the blog for 4 years and i didnt get the survey. My most liked articles were on subjective reality, polarity, D/s, life purpose and psychic development. Basically things that i didnt even know existed !!! Its just to bad that "?" articles arent on the survey.

[Andrew Brunelle]

Who cares if people pirate the software? It is probably going to happen anyway, and like Steve said, possibly change those pirates for the better, eventually. I haven't pirated anything in many, many years, and it was in 2002 when I did download a couple of audio comedy routines from different comedians, but that was it.

It's all about getting the word out, and if you know what Steve does for free, you can only imagine what quality these programs will have if they have a price tag.