Hi Mike,

When I have marketing questions I use the guerilla marketing forum to get some expert feedback. It does cost to join but the level of expertise and experience that you get answering your questions is just like having a professional board of directors at your side.

I know this might be construed as an ad because of my being a member of this forum but I sicerely believe their will be answers to your questions there.

Jay Conrad Levinson (this guy is a legend) and his team of coaches are continuously answering peoples marketing questions.

There's lots of other resources designed to help people market their businesses more effectively too.

I am in the middle of watching Mark Joyner and Jay give video presentations on Guerilla marketing and the psychology behind the tactics they deploy. Very enlightening. part of the membership.

Here's a reply from Jay (after 5 other coaches had also replied to a question) the quality of their suggestions as you can see are on of the highest calibre....
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Author: Jay Conrad Levinson (---.dsl.snfc21.pacbell.net)
Date: 02-19-03 17:26

sean --

i think that steve has given you some very bright advice. i hope you take it. here's more:

I don't think it's a dead duck, but it's in a very competitive market. You are going to have to get innovative. There are ways to do it that admittedly.

It will cost you time and brain cells but maybe not a lot of cash.

Sites such as Web MD loom large.

You need to
1. draw people in with free information, then
2. sell them something that is completely new and has a lot of range and versatility.

Draw them in with something.then sell them the product/s. To draw them in: What do free health sites such as Web MD have that you don't?

Make a list. Try and work on making your site the destination that has a lot to offer, even if you cannot totally compete with the larger health sites.

There's so much free information on the web that draws consumers, you need to add some to yours too. Whether in the form of forums and chats, or like the E-book you have offered. The more the better.

Then go for the sale: A consultation with a Dr. or health care provider of their choice. For starters.

Emphasize health care diversity, maybe not just surgery. Can you add consultations with other types of health care providers – such as family planning, acupunturists, chiropractors, midwives, PT and OT therapists,
mental health, pediatricians, chinese medical practioners, and others?

How about a twist? Health care professionals need a community to consult with, too….just like small business owners. Can you market to other health care professionals? If you sold memberships to the site to 10 percent of health care providers, you would be doing pretty well. Even a basic forum and chat are nice things to have if you are an ER room nurse with no one else to talk with about your experiences. Heck, you could market them stress balls, an automated joke a day, and make a fortune. You can let yourself be known by linking up to all the professional organizations.

Work the sales process as simply as possibly. Basic consultation. Some other products mentioned below/above are possibilities too. Have upgrades
available and try to sell them heavily.

You need to think of other things you can do with your well-developed site. You have it going, you now need to focus on giving your customers what THEY want, not what you feel that they need or want.

You have tested your product and it’s not a big seller. It seems like there may not be a huge market for surgery consultations.though I would bet there's a lot of folks who would pay 20 bucks for another type of consultation plus free access to forum boards and chats at a site that could offer, say: Medline access (for a little extra you could run it for your clients since medical research is hot), directory listings of health care professionals regionally, support products for people going through certain medical experiences, and a host of increasingly well-informed people.

As for guru consultants, you can find them right here! State your case and take bids! Read carefully the answers to your question. Take action on the ideas that make most sense to you.

I think that you my have a big seller if you change and expand your focus. Position yourself in the market as "The Website for people facing difficult medical decisions of all kinds."

Good luck. We're behind you!

jay

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