How much would copy promoting a new ebook cost for me?

[bertuseng]

I am thinking about doing my first ebook, but unfortunately my copywriting skills could be better and I think the sales page is even more important than the product itself. SO I decided, when I am finished with this ebook, I want to hire someone to write the sales page and also maybe some promotional material for me.

Obviously I don't have a big budget, so I wanted know how much would it cost me to get this done for decent sales pages (and whatever else is needed) after I created this first course?

Thanks.

[Alexa Smith]

Hi Bertus, sales copy is available in all price ranges. If you want to find someone who will do it for $99 or $149, then you'll be able to (just giving that as an example: I know that you know better than to try this, really!), but if you want to find a copywriter whose minimum is $5,000, you'll be able to find that too. Just the market realities.

There are a lot of threads here, over a long period, about "the prices of copywriting" and seriously, they're a very instructive read!

Good luck with your product when it's released.

[Paul McQuillan]

I have seen some pretty good copywriters offer some good deals
in the WSO. For an ebook I don't think it is necessary to spend
thousands unless you are planning to push it hard with affiliates.

I scribbled out my first sales page for a $77 ebook (at that time) and
I did not know much about writing copy. It sold really well.

Great copy is not always needed if the niche is hungry and the believability
is intact. I have barely touched the original sales page I did since I
wrote it. it does not take John Carlton skills to be successful, as you can
see here- My first sales page

Good thing I was not aware how crazy a price of $77 was

[edmltw]

Originally Posted by Paul McQuillan

Great copy is not always needed if the niche is hungry and the believability
is intact. I have barely touched the original sales page I did since I
wrote it. it does not take John Carlton skills to be successful, as you can
see here- My first sales page

WOAH. This proves that words sell. Sometimes you do not need 20 pages long sales letters and "impressive" videos nor audios to convince a person to buy. Sure that might be a increase in sales rate, however, why use a blade meant to slaughter cows on a chicken? Save those techniques for a high ticket product. Great job there Paul Its a case of the right sales technique meeting the right crowd.

Regards,
Edmund

[Collette]

Originally Posted by edmltw

WOAH. This proves that words sell. Sometimes you do not need 20 pages long sales letters and "impressive" videos nor audios to convince a person to buy. ....Regards,
Edmund

If you can articulate The Big Idea, you don't need even 20 words.

Recognize any of these?:

"Just do it"
"Have it your way"
"Where's the beef?"
"We bring good things to life"
"We'll leave the light on for you"
"Keeps going... and going... and going..."
"When you care enough to send the very best"
"When it absolutely, positively has to get there on time."
"It's the real thing"
"Think Small"

In 10 words or less, these words helped build their respective companies into industry leaders.

Relevance sells.

[Collette]

Sorry, OP. Back to your question...

How much have you set aside to spend on your marketing? If you haven't made a marketing budget, do so now.

Plan ahead. Allocate your resources according to your needs, your skills and your bank balance.

For example, if you plan to market this ebook using, say, articles that you write yourself, then your marketing "cost" = "your time".

If you'll need to outsource your writing, how many articles do you plan to submit per week? Do you want to work with someone you can pick up the phone and call? Do you want someone competent enough to create articles that incorporate selling techniques and drive traffic directly, or someone who can write decent content that will get your articles republished elsewhere (one is sales; the other is PR).

Figure out whether you intend to aim for quantity or quality. In other words, if you want to move hundreds of copies of your ebook, quickly, you're going to want to make the price point an intrinsic part of your "irresistable offer". Or if your book has built-in red-hot appeal to a proven market of buyers, you can sell it just by letting them know where and how to get it.

In this case, you may not need long copy to sell it, and it may be the kind of project that is perfect for a beginning copywriter.

(Inexperienced copywriters combined with long copy is a train wreck waiting to happen. Yabbering on for 20 pages is useless unless you're saying all the right things. Inexperienced copywriters rarely know all the right things to say - yet. The result is irrelevance. Irrelevance is boring. Nothing kills your sale faster than being boring.)

OTOH, if you think you have a really high-quality product, and you want to sell it for reasonable coin, you'll need someone who can persuasively articulate the value you're bringing to the prospect. Those folks usually don't come cheap. However, don't despair...

Contact copywriters whose work you like, tell them about your project, tell them your budget (in an non-arrogant way!), and see if they can/will work with you. If it's obvious that you're not trying to nickle and dime them, you might be surprised at the result.

You see, a knowledgable copywriter will not quote you a figure until they know the size, scope, and intended market of the project. Because a knowledgable copywriter knows these things matter.

Frank Kern can send out an email saying, "Go buy this now" and make sales for a $2K product. Joe Whatsisname wouldn't make a dime using the same approach for a $2 product.

Like you, experienced copywriters like to know what they're in for - before they commit themselves.

[Kevin Lam]

Couldn't agree more with you, Collette. You rock.

[bertuseng]

Thanks for all the advice. I think I will just start small. Will use existing sales pages as examples and model my sales page on that, making it small. Will see how that goes and maybe outsource next projects. Will keep you guys up to date on this new project of mine.

Thanks again, this forum is really a wonderful resources.

[Daniel Scott]

Hi Bertus,

Getting the budget together for your first sales letter is always hard.

My advice is to do what Collette said... contact copywriters and let them know your budget.

I pass on work to colleagues all the time when prospects can't afford me... and I know a lot of other copywriters do the same.

You also know you're getting in touch with someone DECENT that way... not just a guy who hustles you.

And you'll know if you're dreaming with your budget.

Kind regards,

-Dan

[MontelloMarketing]

Originally Posted by bertuseng

Thanks for all the advice. I think I will just start small. Will use existing sales pages as examples and model my sales page on that, making it small. Will see how that goes and maybe outsource next projects. Will keep you guys up to date on this new project of mine.

Thanks again, this forum is really a wonderful resources.

Be careful in your "modeling." Work doubly hard not to plagiarize other sales pages. Use their essence... their salesmanship. DO NOT USE THEIR WORDS.