Doubting my muse - Software Video Tutorials

[jrmcintosh]

Here is my dilemma.

I have been working on putting a DVD together of how to use a lesser known software product.

As part of my muse I want to offer not only the whole DVD but also each video so that users can pick and choose what they would like to learn.

Here's my problem. I'm often impressed with how much information is out there for free. I'm planning to offer some free tutorials within a blog and 2 minute previews of the other videos. But without having people pay something for the videos my income generation is pretty non-existent.

If it were me, I probably wouldn't pay for the whole DVD, but might pay for a couple of the videos.

So I guess the question I'm posing is, all free and rely on internet ads, or pay per video and/or DVD product.

I'd be interested in any and all thoughts and/or just encouragement. Thanks.

[kamakiri]

I see you are a bit new, but I have to mention that failing to plan is the same as planning to fail.

The only think I can encourage you to do is to figure out what you are doing. Selling DVDs, videos, blogging...

There is no reason why you can't do all 3, the internet is a big place. Of course doing all 3 at the same time is a recipe for disaster, but working on each aspect. Testing and refining them as you go will make subsequent tests run smoother. and help you focus.

[Sven]

Most of what I read in you post is about lack of confidence. That is a shame!

I can's say if "a less well known software product" may have a market. But it is a niche and that is what it is all about. Try to find reasons to try this route, stop looking at reasons NOT to go this route. It will never be a waste of time to try accieving something new.
But it is allmost allways a waste of time doing things that you've been doing all the time....

[dvdwlsh]

Whatever software or problem you're trying to solve, niche it down. Then niche it down again. Then you might have a market.

You will never make a dime selling a Microsoft Office course - the 4-Dummies guides and such will annihilate you. You might make an absolute killing selling a video course on using Microsoft Word to create animal-themed origami patterns for special-needs children in the midwest.

No, that's not to be taken seriously. The point is to get damn focused on a real need that seems far too niche to be filled. There's often people Googling for the solution, with cash-in-hand.

Back to your idea for selling on-demand pick-and-choose video guides. The guys at PeepCode (www.peepcode.com (http://www.peepcode.com/)) have an absolutely brilliant architecture and library. They sell the most absurdly niche programming tutorials for $9. I dare say they do pretty well. I know a lot of developers that buy from them all the time.

Most people don't want to buy knowledge. They want to buy a fix. A solution. Something that let's them get on with their life. Make sure that's what you're selling.

[jrmcintosh]

Thanks for the encouragement, ideas, and frankly kicking me square in the ass.

It is much appreciated and I'm much more focused on the goal at hand.

[webgal]

Now that's confidence.

[kamakiri]

Good job of showing some resilience, but what are your goals? Confidence is great, but is it ready for round 2?

[jrmcintosh]

I sat down and re-read part of the four hour, this got me motivated to get rid of some time wasters in my life (email, FB, twitter). I made a hard deadline to get this product accomplished in 2 weeks rather than a month. Since then I've been non-stop working on it. It's not so hard to do when you get organized, have a deadline, and stop letting things build up in your head. Ring the bell, round 2.