These days, the term “information superhighway” is considered outdated and passé, but perhaps that is simply because everyone has accepted the truth of that expression. It is no longer necessary to call it that, because everyone knows that’s what it is. It is taken for granted.
Ours is becoming more and more an information society. People buy and sell things on Craigslist. For this they require information. They search for jobs online or about illnesses faced by themselves or by family members. They engage in research projects for school or work.
Of course, a lot of people play games online, but these can also be called a form of information. Then, too, the games are often monetized with the ever-present advertising, another form of information. And of course, gamers search for hacks, cheats, tips and tricks in order to enhance their game playing experience. More information! And with more people accessing the Internet from a variety of devices such as iPhones and iPads, the Internet is becoming more and more infused into our everyday lives.
But with so much free information available online, many people wonder, is there an incentive anymore to pay for information?
Ask Apple. The company has invested huge amounts of money and effort into the iTunes Store, its iBooks Author software and the iPad, which is essentially and information device! Yes, information still sells!
People will pay for information, and they will even buy information that they could otherwise get for no charge. The key is to package the information in a convenient way.
This is why Apple’s iBooks Author contains so many tools for adding rich media content. The iPad makes the dissemination and reading of information “cool” and that “coolness factor” is a big part of its popularity. If you can tap into that “coolness factor” you will have a better chance of selling your information.
Another key is to make information easy to read, understand and absorb. A good word processor, such as Apple’s Pages, for example, will allow the creation of an automatic table of contents if your section headings are formatted properly. When your document is converted to PDF format, clicking on any item in the table of contents will then bring the reader to the appropriate section. Little touches like this can make your information far more accessible and enjoyable.
If you lack outstanding technical or even business skills, the best and most promising way to make a living online is by selling information. It requires no inventory, warehousing, shipping or handling.
Apple has proved that people will still pay for information, provided it is relevant, convenient, timely and packaged in an easy to read and absorbe fashion. This is especially true if the information helps the reader to feel better, look better or solve a problem.
