Relling Public Domain Info

[Metanoia]

It seems to me this is the easiest way to create an information/ content product. It can be easily duplicated, but if you hit the right market with the right product you might be turn some decent coin. Any one have experience with public domain info?

Sorry that's reselling!

[cartoonfan1983]

Well, in my limited experience, it's hard to sell info like that because people don't understand why they need it. Say you found info about how to weave baskets from corn husks 1860's style, it may not be very important to people nowadays. If you can prove to a prospective customer why they need what you're giving, then by all means.

Remember Matthew Lesko, though. He has made tons of money selling a book about sources of free money. FREEE MONEY!

Just my 2 cents.

[Webzu]

You can still find some good gems, you would need to make some changes so that the basket weaving 1860's style is updated for the 21st century. So you would still need to add some touches to make it your own a little.

I have one public domain project in the back burner. I have several manuals issued by the U.S. government that I believe could turn into a nice muse. I haven't yet tested. I have a friend who is a patent atty so she reviewed it to make sure they were in the public domain and they are so I have clear sailing. I just need to edit and add my spin to it before I try to sell them. I have them all in PDF version which makes it easy to edit and distribute.

Lesko has made millions with government works because anything the govt puts out is in the public domain regardless of the year. Unless the govt hired a private company to put the material out. But if it's put out by the U.S. govt and it's been written by U.S. govt officials you're set (obviously if you get your hands on a top secret manual of the CIA and try to sell it you might end up with a lot of time for your muse in prison).

But don't just think about old book look into govt publications. You do have to dig around a lot but there is good stuff there.

[kindwomanxx]

Say you found info about how to weave baskets from corn husks 1860's style, it may not be very important to people nowadays.

Well, mayby not MOST people, but there are markets for these things. Re-enactors, people who are interested in older craft forms, artists who are trying to use old techniques in new media. I could definitely find groups to sell this too LOL

Joann

[cartoonfan1983]

Well, mayby not MOST people, but there are markets for these things. Re-enactors, people who are interested in older craft forms, artists who are trying to use old techniques in new media. I could definitely find groups to sell this too LOL

Joann
Ha.... well... maybe that could be someone's potential muse if they were interested in that....

Who knows?

[charkins]

I haven't attempted reselling public domain info, but have used offering up a public domain pdf as lead generator and a bonus to a physical product from my ecommerce store.

There are lots of ways to use pub domain, to enhance existing revenue streams or to create a muse.

The trick is finding the info that has wide appeal (like Lesko) or to find information that appeals to a passionate niche. The niche either has to be large enough to get you income off of the one product or passionate enough to buy all of your series of products.

For re-enactment types the market is smaller, but they are passionate, so a series of products (fighting styles/swordplay manuals, dress, craft, history, etc) would most likely get more bang. (Totally untested assertion.)

- Craig

[boyd84@sbcglobal.net]

There is a lady in the northwest who has made and is continuing to make a great living working with WATTLES's book pinned back ninety some years ago
before copyright laws. She made an audio of the book. Reworked the book by making it more linguistically current. Now sells to people worldwide.

[boyd84@sbcglobal.net]

:D :) Hope this is some help to your questionThere is a lady in the northwest who has made and is continuing to make a great living working with WATTLES's book pinned back ninety some years ago
before copyright laws. She made an audio of the book. Reworked the book by making it more linguistically current. Now sells to people worldwide.

[kindwomanxx]

After helping a friend's 17 yo son with history homework, I began thinking about writing study guides to some books. One in particular I'd like to read is "The art of war". The problem with reading books like this is, there's a certain amount of piecing together information that may people don't seem to be able to do. So perhaps I'll write an ebook describing what the philosphy really means, and how it might be applied today. I know this has been done before, but since I'd like to read the book anyway......

The same could be done with any books from http://www.gutenberg.org/wiki/Main_Page

I'm also thinking of writing up my study notes for the Java Certification exam I'm studying for....

Joann

[Webzu]

That is the key to make your own derivative work from the material. Just selling the original document as is would be a tough sell. Matt Furey made a fortune with an old wrestling manual which he sold as DVD teaching those techniques.