Best way to launch an ebook

To be honest, I hate creating a thread about this but this forum's input will most likely be very valuable. I asked a question in another thread but it was during the night so there was only one answer, which was good but can be expanded on.

I have a question for anyone experienced with ebook products. I've been thinking about the best way to launch in the past couple of days and I'm hesitant. I don't think there can be a "wrong" way, but there certainly may be an optimal way.

I just branched into ebooks after doing other affiliate marketing for years.

I believe my first ebook is up there in terms of quality and credibility versus what is currently on the market for this niche. With the content, sales pitch and added bonuses (video course), combined with the fact that it has been proven to be foolproof, I believe the price point should be a minimum of $97.

Since it's my first ebook, I should have started with a lower pricepoint but what can I say, it's hard to "dumb down" something just to sell it cheaper. Since competitors are mostly in the $37 bracket though, I'm willing to go lower at first and "overdeliver" to establish credibility. This is just to give you more information, it doesn't affect the following question.

The problem is, I don't have a list for this subject since it's my first ebook. I don't think I can launch the website and earn tens of thousands in the first day like some people here manage to do.

As such, I was wondering if I should keep it on the shelf for 2-3 months as I build a list for this niche market and other forms of prelaunch marketing. If I should make one or two ebooks with smaller price points, closer to the competitors, and then try to lure these customers into buying the "top quality" $97 version.

Either that or launch it asap and have it grow over time (ie seo, affiliates etc) instead of trying to have a big launch. My fear with this second approach is that without a "successful" launch, the ebook may have lower "gravity" which I assume (but do not know for sure) is pretty bad for a higher priced item. I remember some guy on this forum being in top 3 of business products in Clickbank after the second day, which must bring a lot of good affiliates.

What do you guys think?

Here is the one answer to my question so far, copy-pasted from the other thread:

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Robert,

IMHO I think you should take a look at the market and your competition and see what they are charging for an ebook like yours. If there is no-one else doing it, ask yourself why not? Perhaps market research has shown that there are no buyers. Let the market dictate your price.

That being said, I believe you should 'procrastinate later'. Get your product out there and then market the hell out of it, write articles about it, pay for a media release, blog, YouTube and Tweet about it. But don't waste time promoting yourself without a product to sell at the end of it.

Sure you can create a smaller 'report' - make it a freebie - to build your list. This will also show if you have a buying market. If you don't get takers for your free report, you won't have buyers @ $97.

Best of luck.

- Kerry Finch