I’ll be using this plan in 2010 for one of my projects. As I complete the steps, I’ll keep you posted.

Set a six month schedule for yourself from today, 1 December 2009, to launch day on 31 May 2010.

December

Starting today and going through the rest of December, research a B2B niche. Marketing, investments, real estate, forex, business consulting, what have you.

Really take every day of the whole month and find a niche that will pay 200 bucks for a solid info product. You don’t have to spend all day doing this, but don’t just spend a single hour on this and think you’ve done enough…take 15 minutes a day or more for one full month. Market research is the most important step in product creation.

Now come up with the idea for that product.

I would make a three DVD set. An hour each.

January

In January, outline your product and research it. Or, if you don’t know enough about the subject to produce an outline, research it and then do your outline. Take the full month and get in-depth facts about your subject. Think about your findings. Make mental connections between the facts you dig up. Let what you find lead you into new ideas. Write all this stuff down.

Again, do some research every day. Don’t spend 10 hours a day doing this…just a half hour or maybe an hour each day. Spreading it out over a month is good, since it gives your mind time to take in the info and make associations between ideas. Don’t rush this step and don’t short-change your end product by doing skimpy research.

February

February, start weaving all your notes and research material into an organized pile of information while continuing research…use your outline as your guide. At this time, start thinking about how you’ll promote your product. Sketch out a marketing plan.

Also in February, join forums and participate with no aims at promoting yourself. You’re there to provide value and establish a name for yourself without appearing self-promotional. Do the same with the big name blogs in your chosen niche.

March

In March, start writing a storyboard and script for your product. This example is about a DVD set, so figure out what each part will be about. Break it down into video chapters. Write a bit each day…make it good. Take time to produce a high quality, polished script. Keep in mind how the visuals will play out…that’s why I mentioned a storyboard and not just a script.

Keep up the forum and blog participation through til the end of the six months.

Also in March, get a good domain name…try to name your product the same thing as your domain name. Get web hosting, set up Wordpress (or whatever you’re familiar with), and install some kind of shopping cart system that will handle physical product orders and shipping.

Arrange for customer service, such as email support for questions about orders, as well as a system for returns and refunds. Get this stuff nailed down and functioning by the end of April so you don’t have to worry about it on launch day.

Start writing (or pay someone to write) articles and point them to your new website…front page of that site should just be a form for collecting first and last names and email address. Include teaser copy about your upcoming product.

April

In April, shoot and edit your videos. Produce them for DVD publication and have 1000 packages made in advance. You’ll need cover and disc art.

Make a few two minute trailers and distribute through the major video sites. Point to your site throughout each video.

Open up accounts on several major social media outlets and begin posting teaser info. Twitter, Facebook, etc…the usual suspects.

Keep posting to forums and blogs. Start pointing to your site, videos, Twitter, Facebook, etc by adding a signature. Just follow the etiquette and customs of each forum regarding self-promotion. (Don’t pick forums that don’t allow self-promotion.)

Backlink all the material you’ve published online so far.

May

For the final month in May, write up a sales letter. Keep the simple email form on the front page until launch day. Keep up the posting, social media, video teasers, etc…that will keep going even after launch day.

Test your order system a couple times before launch day to ensure smooth sailing. (And don’t forget to double check your newly minted DVD packages. Crack open a couple for quality control purposes. Give these opened packages away as review copies or something.)

On launch day at the end of May, replace the email form on the front page with your sales letter.

Email your list and tell them you’re open for business.