So yes, the downsell can be effectively used online as well. Online selling is very close to offline selling in strategies, we just deal with larger audiences at once.

TW: I personally want to keep the difference between the “making money” like many business opportunity people talk about and earning money which I see as trading value for the money. My goal in business is always to create and provide value in exchange for the money. So even if I’m not personally doing the work, I’m still earning it by the value created. And I see it as a little of a difference between anyone that is promoting ‘get rich quick’ which I hate. They always use the term “making money.” Again it’s a minor distinction, and this one ha more to do with my own viewpoint.

YET ANOTHER great post! This one’s a real keeper! Thanks!

I had a suggestion for you (kinda unrelated to this thread though).

It’s a subtle distinction — has to do with the words used, and the mindset behind the use of certain words. In this case it’s about the difference between “MAKING” money and “EARNING” money.

As I see it, an entrepreneur “makes” money (more or less “creates” money (profits)). A self-employed person “earns” money (by trading hours for dollars).

I noticed your report is titled… 10 Key Strategies for Any Business Owner to Earn More, Work Less, and Enjoy Life!

Maybe it would reflect the proper mindset a little more if it wasn’t “EARN More” but instead, if it said, “MAKE More Money.”

Just an idea.

Cheers!

– TW

Jackie Tulos
twitter.com/jackietulos

This is a terrific list, especially as I particularly want to work on optimizing my thank you pages and this blog post just gave me a reminder jolt.

Phyllis

As always – terrific advice.

Question: Have you tested upselling vs. downselling?

I work with lots of small independently owned companies – primarily in the retail sector (and a specific niche within that sector). I read with interest all the discussion in the Internet marketing realm about the upsell, but I hardly ever hear about the downsell. We advise our clients that the push to higher price points is more likely when you establish credible expensive price points. In other words, the $45,000 Lexus doesn’t appear nearly as expensive after you’ve just looked at a $90,000 Mercedes. And the $60,000 BMW seems all the more attractive when compared to the Lexus and the Mercedes. (It’s not a great comparison since you’ll not likely be able to shop at a single place for all 3, but you get the idea).

I’m just curious, from an Internet marketing perspective, how different the upsell strategy is compared to that downsell approach.

FYI, I am a customer of yours. Primarily, because you appear to have high integrity and character. For that reason I was attracted to learn from you. I’m not an Internet marketer (in the traditional sense of providing know-how in how to make money on the Internet), but I’m a student of marketing and have spent the past 3 years looking at the people who most dominate that area. You and a select few others strike me as head and shoulders above the others when it comes to integrity. I appreciate that in you. Sorry for the long comment. Won’t happen again!