Newbie with questions

12 replies
Hi,
I'm new to this forum and to internet marketing beyond basic SEO.

I've been a web developer for over 17 years. I've got all the technical ability anyone could want.

I've been waiting for the perfect product to market, and then it dawned on me - Duh, I'm a published author. I have written a book. I can promote the book. That's my own unique product, and there is a definite demand.

It's a self-help book for people suffering with panic attacks and anxiety disorder. I lived through hell and wrote a book about it so that others won't have to endure the same hell.

I went through a publisher. It's on amazon and barnes and noble, basically any book seller that's in the Ingram distribution network.

The book currently sells on amazon as a paperback for $13.49 and the kindle version is $8.99. It sells around 25 copies per month with no marketing efforts outside of amazon.

There is definitely a demand. My book is virtually invisible outside of amazon.com. I'm hoping to put some of these warrior techniques to work.

I want to sell an ebook version of my paperback. I'm also looking into becoming a vender at clickbank so others can sell it too.

My concerns are:
- Price. I can't really sell an ebook for more than the kindle or paperback price. Can I? Maybe if I bundle it with something else (suggestions?)
- Intellectual property protection. If I roll this out through clickbank, is it likely someone will rip me off and claim the book as their own? It is copyrighted.
- Appeal to affiliates. If it's only $8.99, will affiliates get excited about promoting it for a mere $4 per sale?

I'm thinking the real value is in getting the email address of the buyers so I can promote related products that have decent commissions. Should I look past the initial purchase of $8.99 and be thinking back end sales?

Feedback is appreciated.
#newbie #questions
  • Profile picture of the author Rob Thayer
    What I would do is take your knowledge and make a new product out of it. Create an ebook and a video series. Sell the set for $27-47 on Clickbank. Affiliates may not get excited about a $4 commission but are more likely to be excited by a $14-24 commission. Provide plenty of affiliate tools to attract them.

    Don't let worrying about being ripped off prevent you from taking action. If it happens, you can handle it legally later.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2350469].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author n8
      Congratulations! It feels good to take action doesn't it! I was in a very similar situation as you and in a similar market! I would definatly reccomend you release an ebook copy. I understand your concerns with people pirating your work. I have found that letting people know that when they purchase your ebook it will be water marked and you have access to tracking.

      Once you implement all of your marketing efforts including; squeeze page, sales page, auto responder etc your profits will really increase. Let me know if I can help, I just did all of this a few months back. Once you get your sales page up and you focus on your traffic I would recommend one funnel at a time. Over time you will have articles, videos, blogs etc. Focus on one maybe youtube and videos. Offer your prospects a leaked chapter or some free things. Show them value! Remember that this is a competitive market and you need to prove yourself to them. Do not SELL SELL SELL in your videos, what you to do is give them value, let them know they can trust you. You know, not only the owner but a client type of things.

      Once they opt into your autoresponder you can then build a relationship with them and show them you are here to help not to sell........ than then buy!

      Best of luck!
      Signature

      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2350519].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Alex Barboza
    I am not an expert in the field but one suggestion I could give you now is, if you plan to sell your book as an ebook on Clickbank, you should add something that raises its appreciated value. For example create audios or videos about your information so that buyers can watch or listen to the information instead of reading it. You can charge US$37 or more if you add multimedia version of your product.

    Just my opinion

    English is not my first language. I hope I am clear
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2350473].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author MandoThrasher
      Thanks for the responses so far.

      I could certainly do an audio version of the book to sell as a bundle. I'm even thinking maybe a weekly workbook (PDF) that can be used to track progress. Do you think ebook, audio version and workbook are worth $37?

      Is clickbank the way to go with a product like this? Has anyone had any bad experiences with them?
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2350491].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author sbucciarel
    Banned
    Personally, I would create the sales page and direct people to the amazon editions. You put it in pdf format and before you know it will all over the Internet on torrent sites and black hat sites for free, which may also affect your Amazon/paperback sales.

    I see a lot of authors with sales pages and other channels that direct the traffic to their Amazon listing.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2350486].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author MandoThrasher
      Originally Posted by sbucciarel View Post

      Personally, I would create the sales page and direct people to the amazon editions. You put it in pdf format and before you know it will all over the Internet on torrent sites and black hat sites for free, which may also affect your Amazon/paperback sales.

      I see a lot of authors with sales pages and other channels that direct the traffic to their Amazon listing.

      That was my first inclination, but then that prevents me from using an affiliate program as a sales channel. Or did I miss something?

      Thanks
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2350496].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author sbucciarel
        Banned
        Originally Posted by MandoThrasher View Post

        That was my first inclination, but then that prevents me from using an affiliate program as a sales channel. Or did I miss something?

        Thanks
        Well, you don't need to limit yourself to one or the other. Promote that Amazon book and create an audio/pdf/video version for Clickbank.

        Personally, as an affiliate, I don't want to bother promoting products for peanuts but if you had a dynamite audio/pdf/video version, I would list it for at least $47-$67 and offer affiliates 75% to make it worth their while promoting it.
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2350544].message }}
        • Profile picture of the author MandoThrasher
          Thanks guys. Very helpful information.

          So, how many people do this kind of thing full time as their only source of income?
          {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2350723].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Alfred Shelver
    I think here is the secret with your techical background you could setup a website squeeze page and auto responder in minutes and with your published author status you could build a sizeable list quickly ... I would also look at a JV with someone already in that panic niche on clickbank If i had a great converting clickbank product and an author of real printed book came along I would jump at an JV oppertunity but I may also be naive and new at this,,, but judging from your question you are going to be fine

    Originally Posted by MandoThrasher View Post

    Hi,

    I'm thinking the real value is in getting the email address of the buyers so I can promote related products that have decent commissions. Should I look past the initial purchase of $8.99 and be thinking back end sales?

    Feedback is appreciated.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2350729].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author sdavadi
    Banned
    [DELETED]
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2350916].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author MandoThrasher
      Originally Posted by sdavadi View Post

      Before you start creating a product you should check if people need such a product. You should start with keyword research. Start with keywords in the niche where you have some knowledge and find out what people are searching for. You need to find keywords that have high search volume, low competition, and are related to something you are able to offer.
      High search volume is needed because it makes no sense to create a product that is rarely used or searched for. For example, you have created a superb product--a real masterpiece. It may happen that this product is worthless for online business because nobody needs it.
      Low competition is a prerequisite to reach top positions of search results. You will promote the product on pages created around carefully selected keywords and the goal should be to have these pages in search results when people will search for target keywords. When they will see what they are looking for they will click on the link and this will bring them to your page and hopefully they will buy your product. However, if there is huge competition for some keyword you will not be able to have a website on the first page of search results and consequently this will mean no visitors to see and buy your product.
      I have been using Market Samurai for keyword research. So far, it looks like a workable pursuit.

      Thanks
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2351010].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author nicholasb
    You can sell ebooks for way more than you can get on amazon or kindle. Turn it into an cd or dvd course and you can easily get $97. throw in some seminars and workshops and you can easily get thousands.

    You should always be thinking backend sales. Once you build a list you can promote many things, like related affiliate offers.

    If your worried about someone ripping off your product, don't you can't just sit around and work yourself into a frenzy worrying about it.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2351041].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author mlord10
    Build a targeted email list to promote your book, first and foremost. I would do as many have suggested and place your ebook on Clickbank for $47. I would then include 30 days of personal coaching in order to build value.

    You can communicate with people via Skype or email, and teach them the same techniques that you use to get over panic attacks.

    In reality, you are building serious value for your product, without a lot of extra work. I have no data to back this up, but I would estimate that only 10% of the people would ever actually seek your personal advice via email or Skype, because this is an embarrassing issue for many people.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2351077].message }}

Trending Topics