How To Do It Better
It’s not always the smartest, most funded or largest companies that succeed, but instead, those who do it better. Why are some affiliate networks better than others? The same reason why landing page A performs better than landing page B. To continually test and put forth the effort to do better than the competition, is the key to success.
iPhone 3G S vs. Flip Video
TechCrunch just wrote an article about how the new iPhone is going to destroy the Flip Video camcorder. The massive growth and attraction over the past couple years were phenomenal for the Flip Video. They found a way to make an awesome product, with a relatively low cost and people loved it. Their model was to make something small, simple and affordable… while being able to compete against the big guys like Canon and Nikon. Their business model has worked great, until the new iPhone 3G S just came out, which has it’s own built in video camera and editing capabilities. Now it’s Apple “doing it better“.
Flogs, Flogs and More Flogs
Whether you agree with the re-bill offers, or how they are being promoted, there is definitely a lot to learn from these marketers. In the beginning it was a few html pages with testimonials, now it’s full blogs with fake testimonials, with fake comments and pictures of their checks. With each new tweak, it slightly increases conversions that much more. Every week we are seeing brand new ways people are increasing conversions on these flog pages. Have you seen the new “newspaper” and “talking” flogs? Quite impressive!
The list goes on and on… but the key takeaway here, is that you don’t need to think of a new product or idea to make a few thousand, or even a couple hundred thousand dollars. You just need to find a way to DO IT BETTER! Look at your market, find your top competitors and see what you can do better and offer to your potential customers that they arent.
As always, good advice!
Thanks, Zac.
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Zac,
Good points– minor optimization is shaving pennies in mass quantities. Or being a "faster copycat", as I call it. You ready to discuss Facebook landing page techniques at ASE?
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Great advice, Zac. Just think if Pepsi had said, "meh, Coke's already made soda, so we can't add anything to the market." Then, we'd never have Mountain Dew!
BTW, no way the iPhone 3Gs takes out the Flip. The Flip is a $150-200 committment vs. a 2 year cell phone contract. No comparison. Plus, I've seen some of the videos from the new iPhone and they're not quite as good as the Flip, IMHO.
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This is a timeless post!
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Hey Zac
I just bought my wife a 3G S and I about to get one.
I need to compare that vs my HD flip cam. Is apple video feature really that MUCH better?
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<a class="replyTo" href="#comment-109040" rel="nofollow">@Amit:
I don't think it's so much that the iPhone is higher quality vs. the Flip, but instead the ability to walk around with a phone that can do video. No one wants to walk around with a phone and a camera… but soon enough everyone with an iPhone will have a camera as well.
Isn't an iPhone a bit more of cost and commitment than a flip video? I think there is still room for both.
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Just my 2c – using flogs is deemed illegal as of February and considered fake testimonials. If you're going to do it – remember to add a terms of service on the bottom!
@Ryan Eagle:
So adding a terms of service makes a flog okay? Kind of like how it makes it okay if you say "Just Kidding!" after you make fun of a fat person?
Right awwwnn! lol.
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It such a great advise and impressive thought. I have done bookmarked in my mind. Thanks to share it.
The new iPhone 3Gs is way better the regular 3G it does do what they say it does the iphone is just getting better!
I think if you want high quality videos, iPhone is not recommended. But, for just capturing everyday activities and fun moments, iPhone can be of handy.
So you are saying people should make flogs with fake success stories, comments etc? Isn't that a little unethical?
<a class="replyTo" href="#comment-109098" rel="nofollow">@Chris Guthrie:
I am not condoning the use of flogs, I am simply referencing to how others are "one upping" each other in this area. They are continually finding new ways to make these pages more convincing and return a largest investment on their advertising dollars.
Its a great and informative post. Its awesome.
Ah, the fake checks, lol. I noticed that one guy claimed he got this huge check from Google, but the picture of the check was actually a Canadian government check lol. I'm Canadian and we get those for our income tax returns so i recognised it right away and thought, ok, so when people take pics of their earnings, they really ARE fake most of the time
It was mainly towards mid 2008 when the Flip camera actually gained popularity. All of it is actually due to bloggers in high popularity or low. The iPhone S would beat it merely because every single person in the world has an iPhone now. lol.
-Mike
Apple are one of the best at taking something and making it better. Just look at the ipods, iphone and new Snow Leopard Safari due out soon. Yes, you pay for the look, but hell, it is cool. Too many times companies try to "better" something by making ti cheaper but then compromise on quality. The flip phone was cheap, but all my friends have said it produced quality and hence why it has had the success it's had.
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I always say, go big or go home. I apply it mainly to skateboarding, when we try to one up each other on our tricks. But it’s also a good life lesson; a great business lesson.
Till then,
Jean
Easily room for both. While the iPhone may in fact be "better", there are some people who don't need a phone and a music player and are just looking for a good affordable camera. Flip chose a great market and it's in a completely different category than the iPhone.
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The list goes on and on… but the key takeaway here, is that you don’t need to think of a new product or idea to make a few thousand, or even a couple hundred thousand dollars.
Lida
You just need to find a way to DO IT BETTER! Look at your market, find your top competitors and see what you can do better and offer to your potential customers that they arent.