Taking InstantCert to the Big Time

[lrgaul]

Just thought I'd throw this out there--I know we have a lot of bright, accomplished members with great ideas...

Any ideas for how to get more sales? Ideas like businesses, industries, websites to partner with, places to advertise, pricing/packaging strategy....anything!

Right now we rely on search engines and word of mouth, which has been very successful, but limited.

[SIZE="2"][COLOR="Navy"]1) Consider building a web demo as part of your advertising strategy. People love being able to see something in action.

2) Definitely submit emails to bloggers talking about IC. Most bloggers will "talk you up" for FREE and it will increase your web presence, and your credibility. I would specifically target bloggers who specialize in non-traditional student services or information. There are lots of them! Set a goal of writing to at least 5 bloggers a day and see what your success rate is with them.

3)Q & A forums are another great bet. Yahoo and other Q & A forums have people who are specifically asking about how to pass CLEP or DANTES exams. I have posted information about IC to several of these inquiries, and I imagine that 20 people doing this would generate quite a response. The best part about this method is that you are consistenly advertising to "warm leads," plus it is free.

4) Forums, in general, are fantastic if you can avoid sounding too "market" oriented. It is free and easy to drop advice to people who are chatting about wanting to get a degree on a forum. Again, the trick is consistency and volume, without sounding like you are trying to hard to "make a sale".

Truthfully, my opinion is that IC is an easy sale once you get people to the site. The price is awesome, and anyone who tries this service will be THRILLED! Not a little bit happy . . . THRILLED is definitely not too strong of a word here. Fortunately, generating traffic to your site can be pretty much free if you are willing to shoot for online communication. I think all of the people who benefit from using your site will probably be willing to help with communicating online with bloggers or warm leads as well.[/COLOR][/SIZE]

[Runner4064]

Hi, I have a background in marketing. As soon as I get done w/ Excelsior later this week I'll dedicate some time to writing up a CHEAP marketing plan for you. I'll do it for free as a way of saying "thank you" for the help.
* Here is what you have going for you... This Forum! I've been an IC member on and off for years now (am currently)- originally I wasn't overly impressed but it became more accurate. Since finding this forum that you set up I am overjoyed! I have had more help from members here than anywhere else.
-This has been a link for a lot of us. In essence you have a lot of volunteers!
* Make your IC flyer easier to see and access. Make it captivating (in that) if you were a total stranger and you glanced at it for 2-3 seconds, would it get your attention?
* Consider a myspace page. Ask the current members/ forum to link it. It may not be a heavy hitter but it is one more free option.
* Get testimonials!!! When someone is unsure of something they look to others for advise. You have a lot of us who would gladly give props to IC- OPEN UP A TESTIMONIALS link (make it obvious).
*Maybe set up a CLEP/DSST/EC info page (1pg.) describing these.
*One of the bigger problem I see isn't getting IC on the map, it's getting CLEP + DSST on the map. I'm close w/ the staff at FSU testing and they fumble through the set-up. They said that almost no-one takes DSST's or CLEP's.
*I'll do some thinking but maybe you should target community colleges and maybe even certain High Schools?
*Military testing offices (obviously) are gold. Let me try to get clearance to the DLI and I'll go to their office.
-Let me finish EC and I'll put some serious effort into this and see if I can't give IC a boost.
-Thanks again for this forum. It has helped me tremendously.

[Shadowless]

I'm no expert but the things I would worry about, would be once you get off the ground how many copy sites are there going to be? You are also going to have to worry about people finding the site and bothering you with questions such as, where did you get the information for the tests and how come some of the questions are the exact same as on the tests ect... This may cause more damage from good, but then again that is just one mans opinion. Also I don't know if you would beable to keep the exam feedback forum because if the test makers new what was on there they may try to shut that part of the forum down.

And this may be a bad thing to say but I will be honest, I don't tell many people about this site for the fact that I want to seperate myself from the pact, if everyone in the world new about this site and used it to earn 100+ credits then everyone would have a bachelors and a bachelors wouldn't mean anything any longer in the scheme of things because everyone would have one.

[Runner4064]

You are right there are Lawyers everywhere looking to pounce. The taller you get the more people try to chop you down. It's a real shame. As far as people rushing out to get degrees (even through IC and CLEP/DSST) I'm not real worried. First & foremost most people don't believe it's possible. They think it's some type of scam. Second- (if they believe) it's possible that they need to know encyclopedic volumes just to consider taking the test(s), people are intimidated. Too many have come accustom to the notion that they must be spoon-fed and be able to regurgitate info in order for it to qualify as legit. These are the in the box, cubicle bound minions. Third- either way you slice it, this is work. Fourth, traditional schools discriminate against these units as they would rather keep the money themselves. Fifth- People are LAZY! This forum is one rare exception as (birds of a feather ...) How many people are disciplined to study day in and day out? This way of school takes a LOT of discipline! Most people procrastinate, are lazy, indecisive, or overanalyze to the point of paralysis.
I've even tried to get my little sis to do this. I've offered to bribe her, coach her, help her, and even threatened to beat her but for whatever reason she's not on board.
I'm not sure if I would worry about a mad dash. But I would worry about haters. The integrity of this forum is sound (see my response to the person asking for direct answers) but in today's over litigious climate you have to prove your innocence before someone has to prove your guilt.

[zefrench]

I am a long time reader of the forums, and I have yet to sign up for flash cards.
I contribute in threads, and I am really active, but I have not made that step yet.

Why?

Because I want to see a sample of maybe 5 flash cards in the 3 most popular exams before I do. I am like that. I want to see thing before buying.

I imagine I am not the only one.

Cost? this demo section should not cost that mutch to create since the material already exists.

Downside? I highly doubt 5 flash cards for 3 exams would cause concerns for pirates or plagiarism

Just giving you free feedback.

[Inwe]

zefrench,

I am not sure if this is still available, but when I signed up for IC about seven months ago. There a money-back first month policy. The deal was (is??) that if you were not satisfied with the first month. You could cancel and get your money back. I would definitely recommend IC it has helped me so much, and I do not think I would have passed most of my exms without it.

[originalbigjim]

If I was trying to make this site blow up I'd take out an ad in military times, since 80% of people who take these exams are in the military the military times would be great target marketing.

[larry7crys]

I agree with bigjim. Put out a post in the NAVY/ARMY/AIR FORCE TIMES and you'll see numbers swell.

[sgloer]

Hey everybody, I just wanted to let you know that I AM reading your suggestions and I see a lot of well thought-out and interesting ideas.

[Old Rusty Pipe]

Now that I see the suggestion, I think an ad in the Army/Navy/Air Force/Marine Times would probably be a very good idea. A very, very, very good idea.