I told you about the 30 days to $10k webinar from Ryan Deiss and it turns out that this is to promote a new product training called Subscription Empire.
In this webinar, Ryan makes a compelling case to get yourself into the subscription business and in particular, to build a membership site that generates plenty of money for you.
30 days to $10k webinar - affiliate link
If you think it's a bit creepy how Ryan is talking about making $10k per month when that's exactly what you dream about, don't worry. Ryan surveys his customers and he's found that many people settle on that $10k per month level which puts them easily in the top 10% of income earners in the USA.
What is Subscription Empire?
Ryan Deiss used to sell a membership site product called Continuity Blueprint (affiliate link) because he has built his own business on continuity income.
Subscription Empire is an update of Continuity Blueprint and it has been designed to help you to build and market your own subscription-based business in 30 days, if you go through the training and take action.
The Subscription Empire Review
I've been lucky to be given free access to Subscription Empire because I'm known for my detailed reviews that tell you how it really is. This can be a risky move but Ryan Deiss has confidence in the products he sells.
Here is a little look inside Subscription Empire.
And the modules.
As you can see, the design is professional looking and gives you the feeling that you're going to learn things that can have a major impact on your life.
The course starts with two short videos from Ryan Deiss in the "Watch This First" section.
The first gives you a quick overview of the Subscription Empire course and in the second Ryan shares a productivity tip which helps to get you ready to succeed. He also links to his favourite time management system. This is important because many people don't get the success they want because they fail to buy time from themselves. See my article on the Stop Start More Less Grid.
Beware of fake reviews for Subscription Empire. Unfortunately some affiliates hype courses up that they haven't seen.
The content for Subscription Empire is being released gradually to help early members focus on doing as well as learning. You don't make money by buying courses but by putting the ideas into action.
Module 1 - available now
Module 2 - released November 22
Module 3 - released November 29
Module 4 - released December 6
Module 5 - released December 13
The Modules In Subscription Empire
The training is delivered by video with a download for the mp3 and the presentation. If this develops like Inbox Empire (another course from Ryan Deiss), transcripts will be added later.
While his sales videos can go on too long, one of the reasons why I like the Ryan Deiss courses is that they are concise and practical. Too many people in my opinion feel the need to pad out the content and waste the time of the buyers.
Module 1 - Getting Started
The goal is to "fully understand the subscription business and select the market and model you will follow in your pursuit of the $10k in 30 days objective."
This first module has three parts:
- Market validation
- Your subscriber avatar
- Proven subscription models
First Ryan Deiss wants you to check that you're setting yourself up for success by choosing a niche that offers you the opportunity to make money. Sometimes there are no competitors because no one is prepared to pay!
Second you should create a persona or avatar for your typical customer. This makes it much easier to think through what a customer wants and what you need to say in your marketer to persuade him or her to buy.
For example Frank Kern has an avatar for his typical customer as a middle aged man call Bob who is stuck in a dead-end insurance job and he dreams of a way out of that dreary existence and into a life of financial freedom and easy living. Frank Kern then projects his own avatar as someone who is already living that life.
In the third section Ryan covers some of the material from the webinar and the different types of subscription models that work.
By the end of module 1 of your Subscription Empire course, you will know the niche you're going to target, have a clear view of the typical customer and the product you will be promoting.
It's good stuff and puts over the message I give my coaching clients - if you want to succeed, you need to get focused.
My only niggle about module 1 that I've found is that some of the hyperlinks to other resource websites don't work from the presentation pdf. It's not a big problem but it's irritating.
Module 2 - Architecture
The goal is to "map out and construct a skeleton of your subscription site. Overcome any technical hurdles through outsourcing or DIY tutorials."
This second module of Subscription Empire has four parts:
- Your content strategy
- Core components
- Your front end strategy
- Pricing strategies
The first part looks at what you'll decide to give your members each month in return for their subscriptions and the four rules of providing content.
The second section looks at the technical issues involved with building a membership site with paid and free solutions to fit your budget and needs to control the membership, manage the content and to collect the money. Ryan very clearly identifies the advantages and disdvantages of each.
This includes popular products like 1shoppingcart as the payment processor and Wishlist Member for the membership management (both affiliate links).
The third part examines how you will sell the idea of joining your membership program. Subscription Empire reveals that there are much better ways than putting out a marketing message that says "please join my membership program because I'll give you lots of good stuff."
In the pricing strategies section, Ryan looks at the price you charge and how you structure the deal based on the membership model.
Once again, this module of Subscription Empire is packed with good, parctical advice without the time-wasting fluff that many premium priced courses are padded out with.
It's very focused on helping you to decide what you are going to do. There are also demonstration videos to help you implement the recommended technical solutions.
Module 3 - Getting Content
The goal is to "fill your site with quality, original content and establish a system for cranking out new content each month with little or no work on your part and prepare for launch!"
In this module of Subscription Empire, Ryan Deiss shares plenty of practical tips on how you can create and/or compile valueable content for your members.
There is considerable cross-over in this module with th training provided in the Inbox Empire course about creating email based newsletters.
It includes controversial views about "being the expert" which will be reassuring to you if you're concerned about the breadth and depth of your knowledge.
According to Ryan, the money comes from being the publisher rather than the creator. I know from my own experience with membership sites that there are plenty of experts who are happy to be interviewed to gain publicity and give your members value for money.
Subscription Empire gives you detailed guidance on how to find experts to provide content (although Ryan doesn't mention popular bloggers who obviously love to write) and how to set up the deals.
The ideas in this module will be challenging if you've been attracted to the idea of a subscription based membership site to show-off your own expertise. I know because that's my preferred option but it will help you to realise that it's not the only way, or even the best way.
Module 4 - Reaching Critical Mass
The goal is to "reach your $10k per month goal and establish a system for growing your subscriber base on auto-pilot."
The fourth module of Subscription Empire starts by examining how you will position your subscription website offer in terms of perceived value with examples of four main aproaches.
Ryan then goes onto how you can get traffic to your offer through affiliates and the type of deals you want to get plenty of people to join your site. This also includes a guide on how to identify and approach affiliates with plenty of potential.
Ryan Deiss then moves onto the business model you need and his million dollar napkin idea which is the foundation for much of the way that Ryan runs his own businesses.
Finally in this module, he covers stick strategies. Getting people to try you membership site is problem 1, getting them to stick around and keep paying you is problem 2. Some people will leave, but if you bring more people in through the top of your funnel than you lose at the bottom, your continuity income will grow.
There are also three bonuses included with the offer and I think you're going to love number 3 which Ryan says you can keep, even if you ask for a refund under the 60 day guarantee.
In the webinar, Ryan talks about Subscription Empire consisting of six modules, this is these four plus two of the bonuses.
Subscription Empire - affiliate link
Can You Really Make $10k Per Month?
In the webinar, Ryan uses a technique that I use in my coaching which is to break down broad goals to see what it really means.
$10,000 =
- 1,000 sales at $10
- 200 sales at $50
- 100 sales at $100
The continuity model means that to stay at $10k per month you need to match the new customers with the number of people who cancel (the attrition rate).
Is it easy? No.
Is it doable? Yes if you pick the right market, offer great value to get people to try it and then continue to offer value for money to keep the subscribers happy.
You've probably been a member of a continuity program yourself, perhaps several because I know I have.
Some I'll try and decide that they are not for me because I can't see the ongoing value.
Others I'll stay in because I'm happy to keep paying the small monthly fee for what I get back out.
A few months ago Ryan Deiss launched his new membership site for Internet Marketers called Digital Marketer Lab. It's been a big success and as an affiliate I've sold plenty of memberships.
Is It As Easy As Ryan Makes It Sound?
Ryan makes a compelling case for taking up the toll booth position, a phrase that Jay Abraham uses in Masters of Passive Income for someone who sits in the middle and takes the money.
He's suggesting that you get help to:
- Create the content for the membership site
- Market the continuity program
That makes a lot of sense to me although the more help you get, the more you'll have to share the revenues so to make the $10k per month target net of paying others, the number of subscribers has to increase.
Are you prepared to do that?
I have a bit of a mental block in this area as I'm a perfectionist and a control freak. I find it very difficult to get other people to do stuff for me.
It's stupid and I wish I could change because I know it's holding back my own income as well as taking up more of my time than it really should.
Hopefully you don't have the same issues.
What If Your Subscription Website Doesn't Make $10k Per Month?
What can you do if your subscription based membership site only creates a net income of $5k per month?
You can rinse and repeat.
You know how to build and market a membership site so you can do it again in a different market niche where:
- customers may be more willing to pay a higher monthly fee
- there may be more potential customers
- there may be fewer competitors
In the webinar, Ryan shows that he's involved in a number of subscription services across different niches so you can do what he does.
Who Shouldn't Buy Subscription Empire?
If you don't have the money to buy Subscription Empire don't put yourself in debt or make silly sacrifices as we're coming up to Thanksgiving and Christmas.
If you have the nasty habit of buying information products and you then don't go through the training or you don't apply what you've learnt by taking purposeful action, don't buy Subscription Empire.
If you don't feel passionate about at least one niche, I'd pass on the opportunity that Subscription Empire presents. The Continuity model means new content every month and even if you outsource it, you should still be quality checking it to make sure you keep the value for money high and the attrition rate low.
Seizing Control And Buying Subscription Empire
If you think that the ideas behind Subscription Empire sound good and you've got the money, the time and the commitment to make it work, then I think you should give it a try.
Ryan has put together a sweet deal to encourage you with:
- affordable payments and a chance to go through the training before the second and third payments are due.
- a 60 day money back guarantee that should give you time to get your membership started and generating some cash, even if it's not yet at the $10k per month level.
- a great bonus that you can keep, even if you ask for your money back, which will appeal to anyone who wants to make money on the Internet.
Subscription Empire - affiliate link
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