Does Anyone Else Do this?

19 replies
You have a lot of knowledge about a certain topic, yet you don't share it with others? Or you had a problem...solved it but don't post about it on your blog?

Some examples of what I mean are:

How to edit a certain thing in wordpress,
How to do something in google analytics,
Learn how to use a cool tool online, etc...

It could be anything really...but you don't publish a blog post or an article or some type of content about it?

If you're like me you even document it for your own use, yet the information just sits on your hard drive and nobody else sees it?

I know I do this a lot.

I know I have tons of stuff I've written, screencapture vids I've made that I'm sure others would like to see, but I don't post them because I'm "saving" them for a product I may include it in eventually.

I think it comes down to this concern -
"if I just give away what I know, what will I have left to sell?"

I've been making a living online for 10 years and I still struggle with this.
  • Profile picture of the author whiteshadow1890
    Banned
    I agree with you, why to publish something for free, when you can market it, you can make money from that product. I think it is perfectly normal.
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  • Profile picture of the author webcosmo
    most of the time i make a blog or forum post for keeping reference. but in most complex cases that require huge amount of time and money i wont of course share it.

    i dont think its anything wrong not sharing it, its just a choice.
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  • Profile picture of the author TurnKey Internet
    Well-- I think it depends. If you are hoping for a direct 1:1 relationship between the product and the sale then yes, wait until you can sell it as an e-book or something. But, if you are looking to build traffic or an audience, posting free content can help you sell other things in the future-- because you have developed dedicated subscribers. It all depends on your goals.
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  • Profile picture of the author KaiArora
    Originally Posted by jamawebinc View Post

    You have a lot of knowledge about a certain topic, yet you don't share it with others? Or you had a problem...solved it but don't post about it on your blog?

    Some examples of what I mean are:

    How to edit a certain thing in wordpress,
    How to do something in google analytics,
    Learn how to use a cool tool online, etc...

    It could be anything really...but you don't publish a blog post or an article or some type of content about it?

    If you're like me you even document it for your own use, yet the information just sits on your hard drive and nobody else sees it?

    I know I do this a lot.

    I know I have tons of stuff I've written, screencapture vids I've made that I'm sure others would like to see, but I don't post them because I'm "saving" them for a product I may include it in eventually.

    I think it comes down to this concern -
    "if I just give away what I know, what will I have left to sell?"

    I've been making a living online for 10 years and I still struggle with this.
    I document every activity I want to repeat again & again in future so other's can do that perfectly but I didn't shared same on blog.

    I believe sharing knowledge if very useful and you gain loyal readers.

    Your post gave me thought to share knowledge on my blog. I will try this... have you tired?

    Kai
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  • Profile picture of the author Ty Wagner
    Even if you did write about everything you know you would still have plenty of content to sell. You can package your writing as an ebook/report and sell that to subscribers that like your content.

    This gives everyone the ability to take your content on the go. Giving free info is a good thing. Especially when you don't have any proof of knowledge in internet marketing. Your customers will know who you are and they will know what kind of content you deliver.
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  • Profile picture of the author JamesW
    I definitely have this same problem. I sometimes think about writing an article for the article directories and then think this stuff is too good for the likes of Ezinearticles and Goarticles. So I put it on my blog instead or save it for a later date.
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  • Profile picture of the author Lazy
    Well if you're sitting on content that's worth money, you should sell it.

    But if you're never going to get around to it, why not put it out there for someone else to use.

    Either way, if it's useful information, you're doing yourself, and the community a disservice by sitting on it.
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  • Profile picture of the author Barry Unruh
    Originally Posted by jamawebinc View Post

    I know I have tons of stuff I've written, screencapture vids I've made that I'm sure others would like to see, but I don't post them because I'm "saving" them for a product I may include it in eventually.
    Use Snippets or Sections of the content to get people interested, get feedback, and optins. Then when you know which of the items you are "saving" hits a hot button, you can quickly package the entire item into a "for sale" product and launch it.
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  • Profile picture of the author mandark
    I do this too sometimes - but I try to take any of these ideas which are old (I wrote them down over a month ago) and solitary (I don't have other similar tips saved which I could bundle with it) and publish them to the public.
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  • Profile picture of the author King Shiloh
    Banned
    If you eat without going to the toilet, you might get yourself into trouble. And you might not eat again.

    If I have any idea, I share it so that more ideas can flow into me. I know when to share and when to sell. I know what to share and what to sell. It's all about striking a balance.
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  • Profile picture of the author Bingo123
    I know what you mean. I also sometimes have issues offering advice on here to people who are in the same segment of IM as me. I usually will help them out, but sometimes I see them as competition and chose to ignore the post.
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  • Profile picture of the author wayfoward
    If it's something that gives you an SEO edge over your competition why would you want to share it on your blog & risk losing your search results edge?
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  • Originally Posted by jamawebinc View Post

    You have a lot of knowledge about a certain topic, yet you don't share it with others? Or you had a problem...solved it but don't post about it on your blog?

    Some examples of what I mean are:

    How to edit a certain thing in wordpress,
    How to do something in google analytics,
    Learn how to use a cool tool online, etc...

    It could be anything really...but you don't publish a blog post or an article or some type of content about it?

    If you're like me you even document it for your own use, yet the information just sits on your hard drive and nobody else sees it?

    I know I do this a lot.

    I know I have tons of stuff I've written, screencapture vids I've made that I'm sure others would like to see, but I don't post them because I'm "saving" them for a product I may include it in eventually.

    I think it comes down to this concern -
    "if I just give away what I know, what will I have left to sell?"

    I've been making a living online for 10 years and I still struggle with this.
    My advice is to give as much as possible and then challenge yourself to give even more in your paid endeavors. People will see the free stuff and drool, some will even pay you simply to say thank you. I've seen quite a few sales of one of my ebooks from people who didn't even read it because they were looking to just say thanks.
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    • Profile picture of the author PhoebeSmellyCat
      I have a blog for confounding issues that I managed to solve with screen shots of the steps.

      I don't share this because it's just a data base for me.

      A lot of "how to" articles and blogs skip steps they think are common sense and it's confusing to us newbies so whenever I come across one, I try to fill-in-the-blanks and keep a record of it on my private blog.
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      • Profile picture of the author jamawebinc
        Let me give a more clear cut example.

        I have some screencapture videos on how to setup your aweber account. I've also written notes about emails, subject lines, and other "how to's"

        Now, I know they are helpful and many people would be interested in them.

        But if I post a few of them I would question the wisdom of doing so because what if I wanted to create a small training program such as "A Beginners Guide to Setting up Your Mailing List" that I could sell. The content would already be posted for free.
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        • Profile picture of the author Britt Malka
          Originally Posted by jamawebinc View Post

          But if I post a few of them I would question the wisdom of doing so because what if I wanted to create a small training program such as "A Beginners Guide to Setting up Your Mailing List" that I could sell. The content would already be posted for free.
          I don't know if such a guide would sell...

          However, recently I learned about a principle - you know how writers say that you should "show, don't tell"? Well, this principle says that you should "teach, don't sell", and that's exactly what you could do with your guide.

          Show people for free, teach them, how to set up their mailing list with a company, and then use your affiliate link, and ask them to sign up through it.
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          • Profile picture of the author jamawebinc
            Originally Posted by Britt Malka View Post

            I don't know if such a guide would sell...

            However, recently I learned about a principle - you know how writers say that you should "show, don't tell"? Well, this principle says that you should "teach, don't sell", and that's exactly what you could do with your guide.

            Show people for free, teach them, how to set up their mailing list with a company, and then use your affiliate link, and ask them to sign up through it.
            Thanks for the response. I'm not actually asking if a guide like that would sell. Personally, I think a class made for beginners about how to setup and use their aweber account would sell if it is marketed correctly, but that's something else.

            Yes, I forgot to include that of course I would recommend aweber and have my affiliate link scattered throughout the free content - I still want to monetize the free content. I am not talking about just giving away content without monetizing it.
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  • Profile picture of the author bryansamuels
    Well if the market for these ideas is broad enough, there maybe scope to do both - sell and share for free. over and over i see free advice out there which is repackaged into a sellable product.

    If the idea is specific to a particular need then doing both may also increase the interest of the activity and the solution offered. I would get it out all out there and monitor the results, you can create the market.
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