What do you think of using Content Upgrades?

14 replies
So I have been reading on a lot of places that you should use Content Upgrades to gather more subscribers and build your list.

However, I am not a fan of all the popups and popunders and sliders etc on most slides saying "hey here's a free ebook" and all of that. I want people to subscribe because they like my content, not because I 'spam' them with a lot of ways to sign up.

I might lose a lot of subscribers though so I am really not sure which way to go here.

Do you think I should use Content Upgrades? If yes - one, two, multiple...?
#content #upgrades
  • Profile picture of the author OmiiKaz
    You should not use it. It looks so fake and even this could cause you to loose audience.

    Its best to use quality content and a newsletter option in side bar. If your content is useful people will subscribe themselves without any pushup or pop-ups. The main thing is create your 'reputation'
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10823220].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author james flynn
      Originally Posted by OmiiKaz View Post

      You should not use it. It looks so fake and even this could cause you to loose audience.

      Its best to use quality content and a newsletter option in side bar. If your content is useful people will subscribe themselves without any pushup or pop-ups. The main thing is create your 'reputation'
      Exactly.The main idea behind a credible business is to build up an honest reputation which offers sustainability in it's foundation. Spamming people's inbox will only end up destroying your brand legacy. We have to keep every action in our marketing marathon as original as possible.

      Cheers-James
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10823225].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author james flynn
    I think you should build up your brand in a legitimate way instead of going for shortcuts.By legitimate I mean you should build up your own opt-in email list by offering gated assets like free ebooks,consultations,quotes,webinars etc to attrat wider demographic.

    Cheers-James
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10823222].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author JohnMcCabe
    I think a lot of people are confusing the concept with faulty execution. Happens a lot around here, so don't feel bad.

    In essence, a content upgrade is an opt-in offer that relates to a single post or series of posts.

    Using Justin's example...

    People listen to the podcast, like the tips offered, and want to know more specifics. Justin catered to that desire by offering a PDF listing and describing the tools Jessica uses to achieve the result. Cost? An email address.

    That's a "content upgrade", and it doesn't require a swarm of popups, sliders, etc.

    The ones I find myself responding to are usually simple text, often in a graphic box or contrasting background, within the content itself.

    I love them, because I can add a field to the opt-in form that tells me which upgrade got the response. From that info, I can both evaluate different offers/media/etc. and segment the resulting list to deliver better-targeted content and offers to that list segment.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10824006].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Nick Churick
      Originally Posted by JohnMcCabe View Post

      I think a lot of people are confusing the concept with faulty execution. Happens a lot around here, so don't feel bad.

      In essence, a content upgrade is an opt-in offer that relates to a single post or series of posts.

      Using Justin's example...

      People listen to the podcast, like the tips offered, and want to know more specifics. Justin catered to that desire by offering a PDF listing and describing the tools Jessica uses to achieve the result. Cost? An email address.

      That's a "content upgrade", and it doesn't require a swarm of popups, sliders, etc.

      The ones I find myself responding to are usually simple text, often in a graphic box or contrasting background, within the content itself.

      I love them, because I can add a field to the opt-in form that tells me which upgrade got the response. From that info, I can both evaluate different offers/media/etc. and segment the resulting list to deliver better-targeted content and offers to that list segment.
      Can't agree more. If people use black-hat link building methods, does it mean we should avoid link building as well?!

      Content Upgrades is a great tactic to get new email subscribers. And the quality of these subscribers is high. It's particularly important.

      It's nothing like stealing email addresses. It takes you time and effort to create an outstanding content upgrade and you actually "sell" it by getting a new email address in return.

      Besides content upgrades do not suddenly throw pop-ups into your face, and don't interrupt reading.

      I can tell it with all the possible confidence. We have created our own plugin for WordPress, called Content Upgrades PRO. And our clients thank us! They sometimes share their conversion rates with me. And it's sometimes around 7,10,15% These numbers are quite impressive.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10825002].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author luciesmazanska
    Hello

    Dont do the shortcuts...it doesnt worth..
    instead of that build your reputation be more flexible and attract more visitors for example from youtube to get more opt-ins and than be able to convert them into buyers.
    Signature
    ★★★★★
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10824135].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Rose Anderson
    A content upgrade is not a short cut. I'm not sure people are even reading the OP's link.

    As John said, a content upgrade is just giving the reader some sort of additional information that directly relates to the post they are reading. He's suggesting using that sort of incentive instead of a mundane, generic give-a-way.

    Rose
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10824154].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Nick Churick
    Do you think I should use Content Upgrades? If yes - one, two, multiple...?
    Are you asking about the whole blog or about a single post?

    If you use one single lead magnet across your blog, say an e-book, then it's not a content upgrade.

    Content upgrade is created specifically for a single blog post. OK, sometimes it can be used in a couple of posts, but not blogwide.

    Content upgrade must be a bonus to your content. That means that your blog post has to be great, but a content upgrade must make it even better.

    A checklist comes great with some instructional content.
    A list of tools on a single compact sheet will help your readers.
    Etc.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10825026].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Alexis Gil
    It depends on how to use it. I'm not an adherent of this method. I prefer good content.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10825028].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Nick Churick
      Originally Posted by Alexis Gil View Post

      It depends on how to use it. I'm not an adherent of this method. I prefer good content.
      BTW, content upgrades are nothing without good content.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10825031].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author trobo
    I have seen blogs that do this, usually with a question that asks "would you like to learn more? - sign up to get the full article."

    This question was placed at the very end of the blogpost, the reader had the choice of getting the rest of the info or not. There was no selling involved, the blog owner was just trying to build a targeted list.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10825314].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author agmccall
      Originally Posted by trobo View Post

      I have seen blogs that do this, usually with a question that asks "would you like to learn more? - sign up to get the full article."

      This question was placed at the very end of the blogpost, the reader had the choice of getting the rest of the info or not. There was no selling involved, the blog owner was just trying to build a targeted list.
      That is not a content upgrade that is a content "Lock" and in order to unlock the content you have to pay with a email address, a like, a tweet, or many other forms of payment.

      A content upgrade, on the other hand, would be something like. You write an article on email marketing via an autoresponder sequence. The content upgrade would be a step by step guide on how to do this with resources that the reader can download.

      al
      Signature

      "Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work." Thomas Edison

      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10825319].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Hemantkumar
    NO I agree don't go for shortcut, Go for Honesty & wait for the right time. You'll get the success soon for longer.
    Signature

    Take your blog to the next level with LetsTrick | SEO | WhatsApp | Facebook | Phones | computer

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10825404].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Rose Anderson
    I'm still confused why posters are thinking a content upgrade is a short-cut? Why do you view it that way?


    Rose
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10825540].message }}

Trending Topics