Confessions of a Screensaver Thousandaire

by: Brent Whinfield

Click here for the Video version of this article: http://www.see-it-on-video.com/stvc.html There is a little item which is treated with scorn by many marketing "gurus," yet which has proven to be popular with the "masses" year after year, after year. Why is there still a craze for screensavers? I mean, let's get real here. This is something we first became acquainted with waaay back in the day, when the Internet was commonly referred to as the World Wide Web. Screensaver is old school, right? Wrongo! The amazing thing is, despite the death knell being tolled by sages, screensavers continue to enjoy unprecedented popularity. Don't believe me? I dare you to type in the word "screensaver" into Google, and take a look at the bewildering number of websites that offer them. Go ahead, write to a few of those site owners and ask how popular those little programs are. They'll tell you that they're one of the most downloaded items on the 'net. Need further proof? Stroll through the screensaver section of cnet/download.com and observe the phenomenon up close and personal. The great thing about download.com is that at a glance you can determine what date the saver was first listed, how many downloads it has enjoyed, and very importantly, what users thing of it. Inside download.com you can quite easily see that many savers are free, while the majority sell for between $14.95. and $19.95. Speaking of CNET, according to their research, screensavers are the second most downloaded software application on the Internet. Yahoo reports the word "screensaver" has appeared in their "Top 100 Searches" list every week since 1995. The term "screensaver" is searched for an average of 34,357 times a day according to statistics provided by WordTracker. So, we've established that there is a genuine craze for these desktop ornaments. But do all these people make money with them? I mean, it seems more often than not, screensavers that are being offered at all the hundreds of download sites are...free. Didn't your mother tell you that there is no such thing as "free" in this world? You should listen to her. She is absolutely correct. Well then, how can people make money who are giving away screensavers for free? In order to answer your question, I'll unfortunately have to use a dirty word. It's a word that brings a shudder of revulsion to Internet users far and wide. That almost obscene word is, ugh... Spyware. That's right, spyware! Spyware is the number one reason today why many screensaver authors try to inveigle you into freely downloading their software. You see, these unethical marketers make deals to hide advertising and such into their programs. Unknowingly after you have downloaded that attractive looking screensaver, the spyware embeds itself into your computer system. Once there, they call home to the "mother ship" with explicit details on your surfing habits, your buying habits, plus other personal details. My advice...stay away from free screensavers. Now don't get me wrong - of course there are still a good number of saver authors who will not lower themselves to such unethical practices, but as a general rule, you should look at free offers with a jaundiced eye. Legitimate screensaver authors offer a free download of their screensavers either as shareware, or freeware which is limited in some way. In the software industry this is known as "cripple-ware." After getting a taste of the free limited version, hopefully you'll be willing to pay a reasonable sum for the "Pro" version which has lots more features. Sharware as you know, enables you to try out the screensaver for a specific length of time before it expires. This is try-before-you- buy marketing. In the Screensaver Thousandaire Video Course I teach my students how it is possible to create an excellent income by selling screensavers to specific markets...niche marketing, if you will. Since we have established that screensavers are popular, then it makes absolute sense that individuals with a particular passion would find attractive a screensaver which features their passion. In other words, we are often told by marketing gurus to first find a need and then fill it. First identify the niche market, and then sell to it. Let's use one of my screensaver projects as an example. I happen to be a vegetarian. This means that I'm one of those growing number of weirdos who refuses to eat anything with a face...or who ever had a mother :) So no meat, and no dairy for Uncle Brent. Well, the most natural thing in world is for me to not only try and connect with other vegetarians on the 'net, but also to try and find info which feeds (sorry about the pun), my passion. How do you think I'll react if someone offered me a screensaver of vegetarian recipes? Especially if those recipes feature beautiful color photos that show step-by-step how to prepare healthy meals, or better yet, teach me through a series of UPDATEABLE content? Don't you think I'll grab it if the price is reasonable? Of course I will! That by the way was how I created one of my screensaver products. See what I mean? Provide a product which directly appeals to a specific audience and you will immediately tap into immediate income. Updateable content? Yes Virginia, it is now possible for you to place fresh content onto your customers screensaver using a certain secret device. You'll do so without the customer even being aware of it. He'll wake up one morning to new images, music, and Flash videos in his saver. He'll love you for that. No more boring, stale screensavers! How many of those can you sell all day long? In conclusion, there is an awful lot of money in marketing screensavers. There does not seem to be any waning of the demand. I sell screensavers because there is a huge demand for them. I encourage you to first find a niche, and then create a saver based on the specific demands of that specific market. Here's a cool little flash presentation of this article: http://www.see-it-on-video.com/stvc.html God loves you. Brent Whinfield brent@see-it-on-video.com ********************************************************** The Screensaver Thousandaire Video Course "Ten Eye-Candy Videos That Propel You Into Cash...Within 36 Hours! http://www.see-it-on-video.com/thousandaire.html The Screensaver Thousandaire Video Course consists of Ten Videos which point you among other things, to a certain place on the 'net where you'll find hundreds of niche groups waiting for your products. The course also shows you how to create savers in a matter of minutes, even if you're a techno-klutz like me. ********************************************************** About the author: Brent Whinfield is a Success Coach who helps individuals earn money on the Internet. On the 'net since 1999, Brent has a wealth of experience which he willing shares. The Brent Whinfield Video Letter highlights profit-producing ideas. http://www.see-it-on-video.com/bwvl.html Circulated by Bandoni Media