How to Build on Someone Else’s Product Ethically

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, but when you are creating a website, product or service, you don’t want to be accused of ripping off someone else’s work. The best way to do this is to create something totally fresh and unique. This can be a challenge sometimes, especially when other marketers are trying to find niche markets to serve at the same time you are.

Instead of getting discouraged and giving up, you can try building on the success of someone else and creating a complimentary product. A complimentary product is something that adds to or increases the value of the first product. You’re not out to compete directly with the original creator and you don’t want to repeat what they’ve done. You’re going to create something that works with the original and enhances it in some way.

Here’s how the process works:

Once you find a niche that has a good amount of interest, look for other products that serve that niche. Read their sales letters and, if you’re really serious about this, go ahead and buy a copy of the product. It won’t hurt to ask for a review copy from the creator if you are planning a serious affiliate marketing campaign. You might not get it, but no harm done for asking.

Read through the top products in the niche and take notes as you go. What questions do you have at the end of the reading? Does the product need a step by step "how to" guide? Are you missing any information or feel like you need a more in depth guide in regard to a portion of the subject?

Write down some ideas on how you can fill the gaps in the product. Maybe the original author presented a theory but didn’t give any action steps. Maybe they provided a method but no case studies on the method. Maybe you can provide a unique twist to the product or the method.

Try to fill the holes in the product and figure out how you can make it better. If it’s a software program, you can create a series of video tutorials showing how to use it better. You can add a new twist on a product by applying the method to a different niche. There are a lot of different possibilities.

Your goal should be to improve upon the product that’s already been created without stepping on the toes of the original creator. You’ll see why this is so important in just a moment.

Once you create the product, you have several different options. The easiest thing to do is to create a sales page and an affiliate program, and then contact the creator of the other product. Let them know about what you created and give them an exclusive affiliate deal.

While they were marketing their own product, they no doubt created a large list of customers. They can market your new product, which goes perfectly with what their customers already have, and make lots of sales for both of you.

You can also use your complimentary product to create your own bonuses for affiliate marketing. Set up a sales page that extols the benefits of the original product. Let the reader know that when they buy that product through your site, they’ll also get your product as a free bonus. Talk about having a corner on the market!

This works really well for more expensive purchases, like software. Pick a software program and then create your own tutorial guide. Show tricks and tips for using the software effectively, package it up and then use it as a bonus to make sales through your affiliate link.

Of course, your product doesn’t necessarily have to be associated with the original product. You could always market it separately and just target the same market. Your angle in your marketing can involve a comparison of the two products. Show your website visitors what your product has that theirs doesn’t.

Remember when you do this that you need to work hard to make your product distinct from the original. Although you are enhancing or improving on the original idea, you need to avoid being accused of plagiarism. As long as you take the time to find out the holes in the original product, you’ll create a unique and useful product of your own that can stand alone.

Jerry McVictor shows you how to make money online. Husband and father of a lovely boy, Jerry loves long walks and Italian food, plays the guitar and is determined to retire on a tropical Island at the age of 50.