Niche Profit Classroom 2.0 (Review)
Above: Screen Shot of NPC 2.0 Classroom Panel in late 2009
I previewed Niche Profits Classroom back in February 2009. Since that time it has changed.
If you are not familiar with Niche Profits Classroom 2.0 this program is for niche marketing which is different from blogging for expert status or about a particular topic to establish yourself as an expert.
This week Adam Short and Alen Sultanic offered a limited dollar special to come in and look for seven days–however they decided to reopen it again for two days–so if you are interested head over to NPC 2.0 now for the deal.
Basically, it teaches you how to set up profitable mini-sites to generate income over time.
Part of this is to develop one of your first products.
If my memory serves me, it was much easier to navigate the course back in February of 2009 and the responsiveness of customer support was great.
Now, there are more navigational aids than I like to have–and it is easy to get lost. But the content and course has been much improved since February.
Once inside it is a good idea to watch the NPC Roadmap, a video guide to the use of the NPC 2.0. This was a good addition because of the large expanse of the training center.
It is easy to get lost.
Having said that the layout is pretty clean.
One of the things I did not like was that there was an upsell that was not disclosed prior to joining (if it was I missed it).
So some of the areas are not accessible to standard members (and these have an * next to them).
However, standard members can buy some of the options should they want to.
NPC 2.0 includes:
Main Classroom
NPC Center
-Niche Profit Press
-Niche Profit Mastermind Webinars
-NPC Media Center
-Module X*
-Teleseminars & Interviews
-Read Made Niche businesses* (or upsell and every month *members get two free)
-Niche Profit Link Tracks* (or upsell) they provide insight into sites that provide high PR backlinks
-Niche Profit Hot Markets*
-Niche Profit Hot List
–Reviews of products and services (only two posted on viewing) and are things that have worked and given good results.
Software Suite Overview
-Niche Profit Leaders provide ongoing support, but members meet them in this Community Member List. NPLs are limited to ten people who are proficient in the areas being studied and selected from applications are submitted for the positions. Those selected moderate the forums and assist members.
Software
-Moneywords Keyword Tool (didn’t work for me and support didn’t get back to me until after I had left the program several days later).
-Market Scorecard (which helps define and locate markets that are worth pursuing)
-Market Profiler (an in-depth market research tool)
-Market Checklist (keeps track of your progress on each website you build)
-Sales Letter Wizard (awesome tool helps to create a sales letter in minutes)
Outsourcing*
Hosting (NPC 2.o allows you to host 15 domains with account)
T-Capsule (upsell for packages that you might have missed previously)
NPC Community (forum)
Partners (NPC 2.0 has a really nice affiliate center but I can’t access my account even with the password they sent me and support has not helped on this matter).
CP (where bucket management happens–a bucket is a storage area for research and tools.
Above: The Infamous Bucket Area
NPC 2.0 Course Modules
The course modules form the main area of NPC 2.0 and is where most of the daily learning takes place. (I am not listing everything since since only members should get the entire glimpse but this is a pretty comprehensive summary.)
Each module consists of an:
Introduction
Video Training
Resources
Action Steps
1-Introduction
Talks about Niche Marketing
Niche Marketing 2.0 Formula
2-Market Research
5 Core Attributes to a Golden Niche
6th is the passion you have for it
Brainstorming
Real World Market Research
Low to Medium Competition
Adequate Market Size
Long Term Potential
Good Target Audience (eager to buy)
Product Cost
3-Project Planning
Prospect Interests & Desires
Types of Info Products
Mind Mapping in 20 Minutes or Less
Do I have to Create My Own Product?
4-Graphics
Introductions to Templates & Graphics
Getting Templates Created
Sending Sample Graphics to Designer
5-Web Hosting
14 Part series by EarnersGuild.Com (which is a defunct website)
Registration
Hosting
What is it
Basic Hosting Terms
Different Hosting Levels
6-Domain Names
choosing and registering a domain name
12-14 total videos
7-On Site Articles
Articles & SEO
Life Force of the Internet
Money Word Matrix
Real World Keyword Research
Selecting Article Topics
Create Your Articles
Finding & Hiring Great Writers
ICA (Resources)
8-Project Creation
Pages for an Ebook
Royalty Free Images
Methods of Creation
Anatomy of a Good eBook
Creating an eBook
Hiring a Writer
Converting Finished Product
9-Auto Responders
Copyrighting
Web Site Building
Traffic Secrets
Profit Boosting
Bonus Training
10-Copywriting
Introduction to Copywriting
Creating Your Million Dollar Sales Letter
Outsourcing Copywriting
11-Web Site Building
Intro to Building Your Website
How to Build
Clickbank
Tracking Code
SEO
Selecting a Domain Name
Keyword Phrases
Keyword Research
Meta
Navigation
Internal Linking
Anchor Text
Image Links
Absolute & Relative Links
LSI
Keyword Density
Text Style
Real World SEO
Payment Processing
12-Traffic Secrets
Free Traffic for Life
Article Marketing Mastery
21 Day Traffic Blueprint
Set Up Your Affiliate Program
Day 22 & Beyond
13-Profit Boosting
Maximize List Value
Increase Traffic
Maximize Conversions Add Bonuses
Split Test
Gather & Add Testimonials
Expand Your Product Line Add Upsells
Add Back Ends
14-Bonus Training
Affiliate Cash Traps
Pre-Requisites
Choosing a Product
Affiliate Cash Traps SSM
Other Topics Covered:
Introduction to Email Marketing
Email Marketing 101
Action Steps to Maximizing List Profits
Add Traffic Channels
Intro to Bonuses
Creating Bonuses
Integrating Your Bonuses with your Website and Marketing
Split Testing
Introduction to Testimonials
The Testimonial Cruncher Method
Expand Your Product Line & Upsells
Add Back Ends
In addition there is a whole media center dedicated to specific topics.
Total videos claimed? 283
Okay, so what do I think?
If you are a beginner and want to target a specific niche as a business I think the NPC 2.0 program is an option.
My reasons for not joining:
- that although I think it is a great value, I have other resources and people I am training under,
- the glitches I encountered made me feel like I was one in too large of a group to receive timely answers and support when I needed them,
- I also didn’t get answers when I emailed directly to the program email account as instructed, and
- the program developers were not accessible as they are in other programs I am in/have been in, and
- I don’t like giving up my credit card to systems that do not allow me to manage payments or termination of my account.
I also need to disclose that I did not have a good experience when I was trying to get an issue resolved.
My web experience with programs previous to this have usually been good but in this one I had a hard time finding a real email for contact and the response I got when I finally tracked someone down was not very nice.
Yes, the issue was resolved but I considered the way I was handled to be a very poor reflection on the program and those responsible for it.
Perhaps it was the glut of issues within the massive launch process but I will certainly not be inclined to try any more of their products or services as a result of that experience.
Now, that said…back to the rest of the review.
We all know that asking visitors to click over and over again is not a good thing and I was surprised that once inside I hated that I had to click, click, click.
There are a series of videos on each topic. Each is very short (which is good for some people) but after you click into the module then you have to click to load a video, then when that video stops you have to click again, and again, and again until the entire module is over…did I mention that you also have to also click the video to get it to play?
Plan on a minimum of three clicks to even get started. I tend to watch and listen while I am doing other mundane tasks so being attached to the computer was not something I appreciated.
Personally I would have preferred longer snippets or some sort of choice to view a longer video versus just clicking all the shorter ones.
I suspect this has to do with updates and changes being more easily done for the future but it keeps me at the computer instead of working on the things being outlined.
Another factor is that once inside each module, beyond the videos, there are more clickable options for Lesson Navigation–this means you click through to the Introduction, Video Training, Resources, and Action Step items.
If you are not paying attention you could miss this easily.
Videos are a bit annoying because if something stops them they reset to the beginning and I was unable to fast forward to the location where I was cut off.
However, you can pause and resume without a problem.
The other thing is that great topics are only available online in the center. I am used to training I can download and do offline–guess I am spoiled since I understand the reasoning behind the strategy–keeps people from snagging and disclosing.
A bonus to the program is that, every two weeks, the duo does online coaching and critiques for members.
Members sign up for the Webinar on the main page–but no registration on the webinar replay page–which I believe is an oversight.
I attend the webinar during the week. It was a large event so things were a little glitchy but I was happy with the information. There was a lot of dead air that sometimes made me wonder if I was cut off or not. Eventually I just phoned in to listen.
My special interest was in the “hot seat” portion as I like to see real world examples of my classmates. Since the webinar went on for a while there were only a few.
Now, as I am right in the midst of preparing for a launch–I understand the glitches that happen–and my experience inside NPC 2.0 showed me just how important it is to attempt to avoid problems.
During this NPC 2.0 launch there were delays in getting a response from support and a few glitches–such as late delivery of a new product and the inability to use at least one of the software components–both of which I would have liked to have tested and was not able to.
But the slow response (and lack of response) from support was the biggest issue along with the way it was handled once I was able to connect with one of the right people–in a PM from a forum outside the program.
NPC 2.0 offers a lot of information for the money. It is a GREAT value if you want to learn proven techniques.
The program also empowers you by giving you two business packs a month to promote–everything you need (including the ebook) is provided. All you have to do is customize it.
Another great perk is the Niche Profits Press (now in a Pro Edition which I have not seen) which allows you to build niche profits sites with a ready made template that only needs customization.
They Money Matrix also helps you to determine just what niches and keywords would be of benefit to you in your niche.
Ultimately, for the monthly membership fee you really do get an amazing amount of resources, software, and support. When combined with the networking in the forums, the bi-weekly webinars, and other perks–despite what I thought were shortcomings–the program is a great value for anyone new to this type of online marketing and business.
Therefore NPC 2.0 is a solid program for niche businesse novices but I’d also suggest you look for other alternatives based on my end experience mentioned earlier. What would that be? Read my review of Crowd Mountain by Michelle MacPhearson.
If you are not sure, watch the Niche Profits Classroom 2.0 videos and opt-in for a while before you make your decision
If you join the affiliate program and manage to sell memberships you could certainly benefit and have those commissions pay for your course if you have a good audience that might be interested in this type of strategy.
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