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Can "Free" List-Building E-Books Just Be Too Good?

by Paulz0r
5 replies
Hey guys,

I'm likely going to give away a freebie e-book in order to build a list, but I wonder, just how good should I make it/should it be (in the event that it's ghostwritten, PLR, etc.)? I mean, say the niche I'm working with is fitness for women at home; if the routines in the e-book are just too good, what incentive is there to purchase anything that I may promote to the list subscribers?

Then again, if I make the e-book "bland" and useless, I may not have their trust with any products that I market to them.
#ebooks #free #good #listbuilding
  • Profile picture of the author Sumit Menon
    Mark Joyner says don't give anything away for free that you wouldn't sell otherwise.

    If you are in a niche market, I believe well written non exclusive PLR content won't hurt you.
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    • Profile picture of the author abundantlife085
      I've found the better your 'free' stuff is, the more likely someone is to buy from you. People generally think "wow, if he/she is giving THIS away for free, think how great their paid stuff must be?" I'd definitely give away GREAT content in your free e-book, as well as in your paid product of course.
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  • Profile picture of the author JohnMcCabe
    Limit the quantity, not the quality.

    When you get a sample in the grocery store, they don't say, "here's a full plate of food, but if you actually buy it, it will taste better," do they? No, they take the actual product and give you a little taste of the real thing. If you want more, you have to buy it.

    Using your fitness for women example, do a top-notch job on one routine or exercise or muscle group, etc. Knock their socks off.

    Then tell them where they can get more...
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    • Profile picture of the author James Clark
      Understand, sometimes people don't place value on anything that is free. I disagree with this thinking. The trick is spot what is good and what is not. If your free stuff is good then you want them thinking the paid stuff must be great.

      Go look at the information that my friend Stephen Pierce gives away. Let me be clear, the stuff that he gives away is better than what most marketers are selling.

      I have a good reputation. Trust me, I'm happy with the free stuff and I very happy with the information that I buy from him also. While I'm here you can add Kevin Riley and John Taylor name to that list also.

      Keep this in mind, I don't know what your education level is, but somehow I just don't believe it was free. Remember, the Guru's are not in the charity business.

      If you don't have some other information that you can sell, than that makes you a one trick pony. You should be writing about your personal experiences.



      Jimmy
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      The Art of Marketing Online
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  • Profile picture of the author Doug Stewart Online
    If someone gave me great free content and then continued to do so then I'd be more likely to buy from that person later on.
    To give away something that's useless would be like shooting yourself in the foot
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    Hands Free Strategy For Building Insanely Profitable Blogs- Free ebook with step by step instructions - www.dougstewartonline.com
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