John Thornhill Quizzed! But What’s All That About?

It was a couple of nights ago, that I was sitting with some paper and a pen. I started to write down some questions that I wantted some ansews too. So, John Thornhill was the lucky candidate that I sent then too. And a couple of hours later, John had sent me a reply to say that he would indeed answer them.

So, without keeping you waiting any longer…let’s get onto the first question;

1] Mark: How did you go and create all of your products? At a rough count, you have 12 [many more though I guess] but how do you take your ideas and thrun them into cash producing products?

I have many ideas that I have written down over time, but will probably never get round to creating a product with them. So…do you just think of a couple and go with one of them, or is it just something completely different?

John: Well as my main niche is eBay and information products, I try and stay within that area. I usually just have ideas out of the blue and make a note of it. One thing I always do is make sure I only work on one product at a time. It’s easy to be halfway through a product and get an idea for something else that can throw you off course. So, I now make sure I always complete the product I am working on before moving onto the next.

2] Mark: If you were going to create a new membership site, then what would you be looking to do? How would you build it, and depending on what it was…would you go with a monthly fee or just a fixed price?

John: Well, I actually have 2 paid membership sites. NinetyDayPowerseller.com is a fixed price membership site, and MentorshipMonthly.com is a monthly fee site. Both work well and it really depends what you are selling. If you constantly update a site and provide new material, I would suggest having a monthly fee site.

3] Mark: You are going to UPDATE an existing product. When is the right time to even think about it? I know that when you updated Auction Traffic Explosion, you changed from the $7 script too using Clickbank. Or do you not really think about updating them?

John: I am actually quite lazy when it comes to updating products. I know I should update my sites more but I just don’t. I guess I’m too busy working on new projects.

4] Mark: Your a huge fan of My Digital Dispatch [MyDD], but what do you think about the other digital delivery scripts around, such as DLGuard or EW Portal? What makes you like MyDD so much, is it down too the features, or it’s customer support?

John: I actually only use MyDD because I found it first. However, I would not change it as I have been happily using it since 2005 and have never had any issues. One of the best things about that software is the ability to embed your affiliate ID in the delivery emails that it send out. This is an easy way to make autopilot income.

As for the other products, while they are probably fine, I have never used them.

5] Mark: Do you interact much with other marketer’s through MSN or Skype? Or is this not your thing? Does it just happen via emails, or through forums?

John: Beware of MSN and Skype, they eat away at your working day. I only use them when I have to. I tend to do everything via email and have the odd phone conversation.

6] Mark: Unless I’ve missed them anywhere, do you create many viral eBooks? If not, then why? Do you not think they could build your business even more?

John: Lol, I have hundreds ‘out there’ but you, wouldn’t know it as they cover every niche imaginable. Most are simply Private Label eBooks I have ‘edited’ with my affiliate links or simple brandable eBooks I have personalised or ‘branded’ with me affiliate ID.

7] Mark: Your PlanetSMS trade name is known all over the place, and you’re a very successful eBay Powerseller…but here is my question. On your eBay download pages, do you have a different subscribe box on each page, or do you just use the same? You’d have hundreds of lists if you didn’t use the same.

John: I just have a link to my main newsletter although I do keep the ‘upsells’ within the niche I am selling. Eg, if I sell you a weight loss eBook, I would probably promote a weight loss product from Clickbank on the download page. This is simple marketing that works very well.

8] Mark: What are the TOP 5 products that you need’use to help automate and build your business? Are they digital delivery script, or software that helps you too create affiliate pages?

John: Hmm, that’s a good question. I would imagine my top 5 automation tools are;

1, AWeber (Autoresponder service)
2, My Digital Dispatch (Delivery Script)
3, Turbo Lister (eBay Listing Tool)
4, Selling Manager Pro (eBay Management Tool)
5, Amember (Membership Script)

9] Mark: If you had to start from scratch again, then what would you do different from before? What costly mistakes or errors have you made in the past that you wouldn’t like to do again? Is one of them not buying YourFullName.com

John: Yes, the first thing you should do is buy yourname.com. I failed to do that and now someone else owns it, but it’s OK as it links to one of my products via an affiliate link.

I also wish I never paid for traffic. I’ve wasted thousands on useless traffic programs. Now I don’t pay a penny as my viral eBooks bring me most of my traffic.

10] Mark: Now, I know you were going to set me up a couple of discount pages for some of your products. However, how do you actually do this? Is it a trade secret, or just some simply HTML? Are there any videos on doing this?

John: It actually depends on what payment processor you use. Most of the time your affiliate software will do the job, but like I said it depends what you use for payment so I can’t really answer that one, sorry.

But let me assure you if someone asks you to create a discount page, seriously consider it. Especially if it’s someone with a mailing list.

11] Mark: As your business grows, how important is it to outsource? I know that your friend, Dan Sumner is on your support desk. He also runs his own IM business. How can he find the time to do both?

John: You would have to ask Dan that. I suppose I pay him too much.

12] Mark: What would you look out for if another marketer was to ask you too work with them on a new project, ie. JV right from the start? Is this your thing or not. Would you take a look at the propsoition?

John: I look at every JV request as I remember what it was like for me trying to get people to promote my products. I always try and help people along and as long as a product is good quality that will benefit my subscribers, I will always consider it.

I also help a lot of people with poduct creation, if you need any help just get in touch through my helpdesk.

13] Mark: We all know that the money is in the list, is that why I don’t have a list (Or any money?) But what are the main ways that you ‘collect’ subscribers? Would you use something like Dan Thompson’s Boomerang List Builder or not? And what’s your opionio when people say that a small list is better than a large one?

John: My principle is this - Many products building many lists.

That’s it. Sounds simple and it is really. I just create a new product every few months and use that product to build my list. I currently have over 20 mailing lists.

Also, it’s not about the list size but how you manage your lists. You could have a 100k list but treat your subscribers badly and you will earn less than the little guy with 500 subscribers who treats their list like gold. Of course a large list getting treated like gold is the untimate combination.

14] Mark: A serious matter crops up and you really need $1000 to cover it. There is only $200 in the bank. What would you do, knowing that time was short…and that you could not use anything you already had? Except for that $200. Is this when you would concentrate on affiliate marketing?

John: I’d probably create a really good report or eBook and list it on eBay. I would list with 25 items available using the reatured option and price it at $10.

Once I have sold 2, I’m in profit. As my eBay fees wouldn’t be due for a month I’d still have the $200 in the bank.

Well, that’s the interview over, I hope that you enjoyed reading it and if you learned somthing…then GREAT! If you’ve got any other questions about anything, then just ask and I’ll do my best to answer for you.

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