HOW TO MAKE MONEY WITH FLEECE & FIBER PRODUCTS OVER THE INTERNET By Jay Reeder, Apple Mountain Alpacas 2016 AOA National Fleece Conference
THE INTERNET. WHY DOES MY SMALL FARM OR FIBER BUSINESS NEED IT? Twenty years ago, businesses needed a retail storefront…but today, when you need something, where do you often go looking for it? If it’s not on Google or Amazon – it doesn’t exist.
AOBA 2009 SURVEY In a 2009 AOBA Member Survey, 80% of those researching alpacas for the first time said they used search engines and individual farm websites to do their research. One recent study shows that 97% of consumers research online before purchasing locally. Another indicates that 94% of B2B buyers research online for purchase decisions.
OUR NEW ZMOT WORLD • 2/3 of smartphone users check their phone within 15 minutes of waking • On average, we check our phones 150x per day • 82% consult phone when purchasing in store • 91% use phones for ideas when working a task
ZMOT IS LIKE A TOLL FREE LINE … and it’s ringing off the hook with questions. • 87% of Consumers Use Second Screen Device While Watching TV (zmot’s happen then & there) • If a micro-moment happens & you’re not there to engage, they can only act on what they know. • These questions are all ZMOT and the opportunity for you is… are you answering the call?
10 WAYS TO MAKE MONEY OVER THE INTERNET AND IMPACT ZMOT
1. ETSY/WEB STORE
1. ETSY/WEB STORE • Etsy is an online marketplace like an online flea market where people sell handmade items, vintage goods and craft supplies you can’t find anywhere else. • Costs: $0.20/listing, 3.5% of sale, and for CC payments addl. $0.25+3% of sale • Average Etsy seller makes $3400/yr • LeiLei Secor, 19 – made $100k over last 3 years selling jewelry (DesignedByLei) • ThreeBirdsNest – 70k/mo – started selling headbands and accessories
1. ETSY/WEB STORE (CONT) • Sample product anyone could sell is “dryer balls”. • Recent facebook poster said: “I sell 500 sets of 3 a year for the last 4 years for about 20.00 a set of 3. Could sell many more - but limited by time to make them!” • Don’t have time to make them yourself, outsource it: “The cost to process is $3.00 per ball with your supply of fiber. 100 balls will require 10-12 pounds of fiber. They are packaged in a bag of 4 and retail for $25.00. Return shipping is included in the processing price.” ~5R Alpacas
2. UDEMY
2. UDEMY • The world’s online learning marketplace, where 10 million+ students are taking courses in everything from programming to yoga to photography–and much, much more. • Cost: 50% (they do everything) • Average instructor earns $8000/yr, 1 in 4 earned > $10,000 • Victor Bastos earned $325,000/yr from his class on web development. • David Nightingale earned $35,000 in 3 months from class on B&W photography. • Classes can be 1 hour+ series broken into 5-10 minute pieces.
3. SELF PUBLISH BOOK
3. SELF PUBLISH BOOK • Self Publish e-books through Amazon Kindle. • Cost: 30% if priced between $3-$10, 65% if priced $10 or higher. • Almost 10,000 authors earn > 10k/yr – ½ earn > 25k/yr – ¼ earn > 50k/yr • Steve Gillman made 2k after spending a couple days writing on ultralight backpacking. • Mark Dawson makes six figures per year self publishing books through Amazon. • Hugh Howey has many six figure months self publishing books through Amazon.
4. FIVERR
4. FIVERR • Fiverr is a global online marketplace offering tasks and services, beginning at a cost of $5 per job performed, from which it gets its name. Each job is called a “Gig” and can be priced at $25, $50, or $100 • Cost: 20% • Charmaine Pocek earns $38k-$48k/mo writing resumes • Levi Newman earns $10k-$15k/mo as a copywriter • Redd Horrocks earns $15k/mo as a voiceover artist
5. INSTAGRAM/INSTAPRINTS
5. INSTAGRAM/INSTAPRINTS • Instaprints is a division of Pixels.com - the world's largest online art site. On Pixels.com, you'll find beautiful works of art and print-on-demand products (e.g. canvas prints, throw pillows, t-shirts, etc.) which have been created by living artists and photographers from all over the world. On Instaprints.com, you can create and buy those same products... using your own personal photos! • Cost: Base fee varies per item • greeting cards, framed prints, art prints, acrylic prints, metal prints, canvas prints, iphone cases and galaxy cases, t-shirts, onesies, throw pillow, shower curtains, etc. • Set your own price for “one of a kind” items (ex: cookie cutter) • Many people “love alpacas” or “love knitting” and would love a one-of-a-kind gift
6. SKYPE
6. SKYPE • Skype is for doing things together, whenever you’re apart. Skype’s text, voice and video make it simple to share experiences with the people that matter to you, wherever they are. • Cost: FREE • Sites like Samespeak will pay you $10 for every 30 minute session coaching English. • People are holding virtual live seminars, remote coaching, giving virtual tours, and even virtual “assessments” over skype.
7. YOUTUBE
7. YOUTUBE • YouTube allows billions of people to discover, watch and share originally-created videos. (world’s 2 nd largest search engine) • Cost: Free • mousetrap car • DisneyCollectorBR, which Social Blade rates as one of the top three YouTube channels, is estimated to earn between $1.4 and $21.9 million each year. • Bethany Mota, 18-years-old, but makes millions with her shopping “haul” videos • Many make six figures from youtube videos
8. BLOG
8. BLOG • Open source WordPress is the most popular online publishing platform, currently powering more than 26% of the web. • Cost: Free (hosting varies ~$10/mo) • Market your products/services • Payphone-project.com: sell advertising for other sites on your site • Affiliate sales of other products/services (ex: ThePrarieHomestead.com – essential oils) 75k+ receive newsletter.
9. GROUPON
9. GROUPON • Groupon is a global e-commerce marketplace connecting millions of subscribers with local merchants by offering activities, travel, goods and services in more than 28 countries. • Cost: 50% of event reservation (you keep all of farm store revenue) • People want to purchase unique experiences (timeshare example) • NYT article California has 700 farms that avg 50k/yr agritourism • USDA 2007 census 23k farms earn avg of 25k on agritourism • Several alpaca farms I know use Groupon to market/schedule/collect $ for tours or seminars netting 50k/yr+
10. WEB/MOBILE NICHE APP
10. WEB/MOBILE APP FOR A NICHE • Could be a directory of suppliers, fiber festivals, or curation of other farms/businesses. Buildfire can convert website to mobile app • Cost: Buildfire is $39/mo • Alpacanation, openherd, etc. • Excellent example: breeding color calculator • Find a need and fill it: product ideas, business plan, conversion/calculators, epd multi-trait index, hay alert, local fiber coop, seminar directory, etc.
TIPS FOR EVERY ONLINE BUSINESS • Build a following you can communicate with for free (your Tribe) • Email, Facebook, Blog, Youtube • Send email newsletters or announcements to keep your tribe engaged • Network online and in-person • Join associations and sponsor for inexpensive SEO boost • Stay motivated and get new ideas from online communities like unsettle.org
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