One of the very first things we do with our InfoMarketer’sZone members who want to launch and grow successful online businesses is to set both goals/objectives and to map those to a concrete action plan.

In the case of those who are entering an information publishing and marketing business, a common goal (even if it is interim on the way to something much larger) is to hit your first 1000 ebook or infoproduct sales.

There are 4 reasons why it is important to set and then commit to these goals:

1. Results drive actions. Many people fool themselves into thinking they are making progressing by setting goals around completing their product or bringing their product to market…but these aren’t really what you’re after – what people want is to make a sale, then make profit, then achieve a specific level of profit so they can reach milestones such as getting out of debt, having enough income they can spend more time on their business, replacing income from somewhere else (like a job), reaching a level where they can hire their first employee (part-time or full-time), etc… It stands to reason then that setting your first objective around a result such as selling 1000 copies is a pretty important initial objective

2. Real and Visual. I like setting results around a fixed number of products selling because it is something that you can actually visualize and experience in your mind…I don’t know about you, but I can see EXACTLY how much money would be in my bank account, what my inbox would look like and see myself operating a business when I reach the 1000 ebook mark. Real, emotional images like that go a long way to both motivating you and your market to participate in what you are doing

3.  Thinking Backwards From The Result. I have found nothing more profound or useful in my years of running businesses than working backward from a desired result.  If you set a goal of selling 1000 ebooks suddenly your frame of mind changes, you begin to analyze all aspects of your product, marketing and day-to-day activities around achieving that goal.  This brings focus and a path that is measurable…both fundamental to succeeding at anything in life

4. You Are In A Real Business. Think of it this way, someone who says they want to write a book, write an ebook, start information marketing…they are expressing an interest in doing the activity without a real focus on the result and then are surprised when their “business” really ends up to be more of a hobby than a properly run business.  On the other hand, when you set objectives for sales and profits, you force yourself to prioritize your activity based on getting the result you want.  That means if it takes 50% more effort, you’ll do it.  If it takes changing course or making sacrifices, you’ll do it.  That’s what running real businesses are all about.

Getting To Your First 1000 Ebook Sales

1. The product. Obviously an important part of reaching 1000 ebook sales is the product itself.  However, it has much more to do with a) How well you have targeted your market b) Laser focus on an in-demand topic where there is a highly emotional desire for transformation in your customer’s life and c) How well you have been able to position your solution toward meeting that desire.  A good part of your ebook sales will depend on researching your market, finding out how they are, what frustrations they have, what motivates them, what ELSE you can offer them that will fit the bill.