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To FREE or Not to FREE - That is the Question++Opinions on giving away free content....or Not.

by Sophist
11 replies
Hey everybody,

Im just about wrapped on my first e-book. Im so excited! But, as I creep closer and closer to completion I'm getting more and more nervous. My mind is starting to race in the hopes that I have crossed all my T's and dotted all my I's. Im sure everyone feels this at some point in their career.

Well, now that my book is almost complete Im trying to figure out if I should just give it away for free. I originally planned to sell it as an e-book course, but now I'm thinking maybe I should just give it away as a lead in to a more profitable back end offer. Im popping my cherry on this one and want to make sure I do the best I can. It frankly scares me to give it away for free. Yeah I know it will all come back to me if I market it properly, but hey, I've never done it before so the anxiety is kicking in.

Can I get some opinions on which option might be better suited for long term business. It could be that I sell the ebook and then hit my customers with another similar product later. Or I could give it away and then they're clamoring for more so the back end offers are already pre-sold. Decisions decisions.

I appreciate your help on this one,

Sophist
#backend #contentor #free #free content #give away #giving #opinions #question
  • Profile picture of the author Alexgrett
    HI,
    I would create/extract an excerpt (a chapter) from the eBook and give that away for free.
    Also, you can create a secondary eBook, related to the first one only this time a smaller one of 10-15 pages maximum, and give it away for free, in exchange for your visitor's email address and name. Then you can follow up with your potential buyers.

    You may also give the main eBook for free, to a limited number of people for testimonials. Testimonials will make you more sales.

    And a final tip: Don't launch your eBook before it has been read by another 'pair of eyes', than yours. Give it to a relative or a friend. You need a second opinion on your ebook.

    Congrats on finishing the ebook and good luck with the sales!
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    • Profile picture of the author Sophist
      Originally Posted by Alexgrett View Post

      HI,
      I would create/extract an excerpt (a chapter) from the eBook and give that away for free.
      Also, you can create a secondary eBook, related to the first one only this time a smaller one of 10-15 pages maximum, and give it away for free, in exchange for your visitor's email address and name. Then you can follow up with your potential buyers.

      You may also give the main eBook for free, to a limited number of people for testimonials. Testimonials will make you more sales.

      And a final tip: Don't launch your eBook before it has been read by another 'pair of eyes', than yours. Give it to a relative or a friend. You need a second opinion on your ebook.

      Congrats on finishing the ebook and good luck with the sales!
      Alex, both great ideas. I was actually thinking about just providing maybe one of the chapters as a give away in exchange for an opt-in.

      And I definitely will have it proofread. I do a pretty bang up job, but after a while it all starts to run together, lol.
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      • Profile picture of the author Sophist
        Originally Posted by Razer Rage View Post

        If it's free, then that is how much it is worth. It might be a good idea to give it away for free in an effort to build your list.

        It's up to you. You don't have to give it away for free, and personally, I'd charge for it.

        The trick is to have confidence in the value of your product. If you don't think it's worth very much, then neither will anyone else.
        You're absolutely right Razer. The funny thing is I've been the most confident person on the planet, but then the questions started swirling. But I think Im gonna give maybe one chapter away but still charge for it like you said.

        Originally Posted by Lou Diamond View Post

        Hello,
        Pepper it with some affiliate links and make it go viral.
        Make sure your website url is all over the place as well.
        Good luck.
        Already done Mr. Phillips :-)
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  • Profile picture of the author Lou Diamond
    Hello,
    Pepper it with some affiliate links and make it go viral.
    Make sure your website url is all over the place as well.
    Good luck.
    Signature

    Something new soon.

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  • Profile picture of the author la dominatrix
    Give it away free but get value yourself. You can give it away through twitter but they have to join your twitter account. Add laods of links and recommend that they can give it away to anyone.
    Then when you give it away have an upsell another product so that you can make some money. Don't believe that you can make money giving something away the look at Google
    La dominatrix
    Signature
    https:catherineford.com/
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  • Profile picture of the author katiec
    I also agree with the idea of making a "Teaser" chapter of your E-book for free.
    Signature

    Please read the sig file rules

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  • Profile picture of the author JohnMcCabe
    Originally Posted by Sophist View Post

    I originally planned to sell it as an e-book course, but now I'm thinking maybe I should just give it away as a lead in to a more profitable back end offer.

    I appreciate your help on this one,

    Sophist
    This might seem like a silly question, but do you have a "more profitable back end offer" yet?
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    • Profile picture of the author lee.sporzello
      Hi I just started out on the internet and have came across alot of affiliate marketing gurus who give away / sell their free ebooks for a dollar, most of the time with an added sense of urgency to it, for example, "you only see this offer one time" or "this offer is only available to the first 300".

      Then after confirming purchase is a backend offer (which they usually state previously as a added bonus for purchasing this "ebook for a dollar") and in their ebook is a bunch of their own affiliate links (and maybe more backend offers).

      I'm not sure but this way of selling / giving out the book is pretty effective to me! Or at least I fall for it half the time. You can attach giveaway or resell rights to your ebook, propelling your own viral ebook marketing campaign.
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  • Profile picture of the author Matt Bard
    Sell it for a reduced price and have them register (opt-in) to receive the discount.

    Now you are building a list of buyers.

    A small list of buyers is more valuable than a big list of freebie seekers.

    Matt
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  • Profile picture of the author Anonymous Affiliate
    The question should not be whether to sell it or to give it for free. The question should be: are you new in that niche?

    If you're new in that niche, I'd give it away for free via a squeeze page (toss affiliate links within the ebook to monetize it some) in order to build a list so, on your next ebook, you can get immediate sales off that list.

    In my opinion, the goal of your first product when you come into a new niche should not be to make you money but rather to buy you a ticket into that niche. Money will come afterwards.
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