Beginners- What do you want in a ebook

15 years ago

Hi Nick,

Free or not free, what I crave is a map of the territory; a shallow but broad overview of the entire terrain of "IM World".

The structure of an ebook that reveals such an overview might go something like this (I'm making this up as I go along, so give me a little wiggle-room on the details):

1. Simplest scenario - IMer creates their own information product, creates their own website and sells the info product on the website. This scenario is called "Info product creation and marketing".

2. Little more complex - IMer creates their own website and buys the rights to sell someone else's information product but keep all of the profits. This scenario is called "buying the reprint rights".

3. Next step in complexity - IMer creates their own website, advertises someone else's info product on their site and takes commission on each sale. This scenario is called "Affiliate marketing".

4. More complex still - IMer creates their own website... blah, blah, blah. This is called "Private label rights"

...and so on and so forth...

Like I say, I haven't really thought too hard about putting those in the correct order, but I'm sure that you can see the structure that I'm trying to convey there.

If you could create some kind of overview that builds up a 'menu' of all of the IM possibilities in the beginner's mind from the simplest system (which they'll easily comprehend) up to the most complex (with all of the bells and whistles), then I think that it would be one of the most downloaded files you could imagine.

Hope that helps...

Thanks
1 reply

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[343666].message }}

thegoddessofeleven

15 years ago

I will scream this until the end of time because I have thought about it a lot and written to a lot of product publishers about it, but have yet to buy an ebook, program, or course that includes the SINGLE thing I am most desperately in need of:

EXAMPLES.
EXAMPLES.
EXAMPLES.

That is, MULTIPLE complete case studies, from the conception of the idea to when the paychecks start rolling in.

I want the first words to be, "So, I'm about to brainstorm ideas for some eBooks. Here's how I do it..."

and the last words to be, "And here is my first check from Clickbank for my promotion of the product we created!"

Most of us (well, me, at least) learn best by example. But when I plunk down $47 on the latest eBook, what do I get? A 150 page manual that explains the theory of whatever the seller does.

Instead of telling people to go do keyword research, why don't you show them, step-by-step, the reason you picked five or ten keywords? Then, instead of telling them to go to Clickbank and look for a related product with high gravity, why don't you go find an affiliate product for each of the keywords you chose in the previous step? Show them which ones you picked, why you picked them, AND which ones you rejected and why you rejected them.

Then, instead of telling them to write articles on their topic, why not write a couple of (good) articles for each of the products and explain why you think they'll be effective? Show them how to generate article ideas, how to research those ideas, etc.

Get my drift?

I want to be SHOWN what to do; not TOLD.

I want to see the step-by-step process that results in a successful campaign. And at the end of it all, I want you to show me what YOUR results were.

The one product I've come across that came close to this level of detail was Craig Beckta's Secret Affiliate Code. However, his example was for his own book (which, for me, rendered it almost entirely ineffective). I don't want you to show me how to promote your eBook that teaches people how to promote eBooks.

It would also be extremely refreshing to see-- for once-- absolute full-disclosure.
That's the biggest problem with IMers trying to teach people how to get into IM-- they have all these trade secrets to protect and want to make money selling their ideas without compromising their own business. I want someone to give me their eZineArticles pen name. Let me SEE what a collection of effective articles looks like (rather than telling me to go out and construct one of my own). I don't want to rip off your ideas-- I want to identify and emulate the logic and formulas you used to come up with them! Don't just tell me about how you made a successful campaign out of a book you wrote about the care and feeding of goldfish-- show me the damn eBook! Include it in the package! Let me see what you did at EVERY step of the process so that I can do it successfully, too! In every case study I've ever seen, the author skips around from one step to the next, presumably to save time and to "clean up" his/her book, but valuable information gets lost in the process.

When I start making money online (and I will), I'm going to write an eBook that does everything I've just described-- that gives example after example after example after example. Humans learn by repetition, right? Well, by the time I'm done with my reader, they're going to be intimately familiar with every stinking step of the process, to the point that they could do it in their sleep.

I know why it hasn't been done yet, and why it's unlikely to be done anytime soon: it would take a MASSIVE amount of work on the part of the author to do it. To explain not only his business model, but his creative process? Some would say it's almost impossible.

I believe it's entirely possible. It is just extremely demanding and will fatten your eBook by a few hundred pages.

Anyway, that's my suggestion.

[ 2 ] Thanks
2 replies

Signature

Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy, and good with ketchup.

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[343815].message }}

tomw

15 years ago

Originally Posted by thegoddessofeleven

I will scream this until the end of time because I have thought about it a lot and written to a lot of product publishers about it, but have yet to buy an ebook, program, or course that includes the SINGLE thing I am most desperately in need of:

EXAMPLES.
EXAMPLES.
EXAMPLES.

That is, MULTIPLE complete case studies, from the conception of the idea to when the paychecks start rolling in.

I want the first words to be, "So, I'm about to brainstorm ideas for some eBooks. Here's how I do it..."

and the last words to be, "And here is my first check from Clickbank for my promotion of the product we created!"

Most of us (well, me, at least) learn best by example. But when I plunk down $47 on the latest eBook, what do I get? A 150 page manual that explains the theory of whatever the seller does.

Instead of telling people to go do keyword research, why don't you show them, step-by-step, the reason you picked five or ten keywords? Then, instead of telling them to go to Clickbank and look for a related product with high gravity, why don't you go find an affiliate product for each of the keywords you chose in the previous step? Show them which ones you picked, why you picked them, AND which ones you rejected and why you rejected them.

Then, instead of telling them to write articles on their topic, why not write a couple of (good) articles for each of the products and explain why you think they'll be effective? Show them how to generate article ideas, how to research those ideas, etc.

Get my drift?

I want to be SHOWN what to do; not TOLD.

I want to see the step-by-step process that results in a successful campaign. And at the end of it all, I want you to show me what YOUR results were.

The one product I've come across that came close to this level of detail was Craig Beckta's Secret Affiliate Code. However, his example was for his own book (which, for me, rendered it almost entirely ineffective). I don't want you to show me how to promote your eBook that teaches people how to promote eBooks.

It would also be extremely refreshing to see-- for once-- absolute full-disclosure.
That's the biggest problem with IMers trying to teach people how to get into IM-- they have all these trade secrets to protect and want to make money selling their ideas without compromising their own business. I want someone to give me their eZineArticles pen name. Let me SEE what a collection of effective articles looks like (rather than telling me to go out and construct one of my own). I don't want to rip off your ideas-- I want to identify and emulate the logic and formulas you used to come up with them! Don't just tell me about how you made a successful campaign out of a book you wrote about the care and feeding of goldfish-- show me the damn eBook! Include it in the package! Let me see what you did at EVERY step of the process so that I can do it successfully, too! In every case study I've ever seen, the author skips around from one step to the next, presumably to save time and to "clean up" his/her book, but valuable information gets lost in the process.

When I start making money online (and I will), I'm going to write an eBook that does everything I've just described-- that gives example after example after example after example. Humans learn by repetition, right? Well, by the time I'm done with my reader, they're going to be intimately familiar with every stinking step of the process, to the point that they could do it in their sleep.

I know why it hasn't been done yet, and why it's unlikely to be done anytime soon: it would take a MASSIVE amount of work on the part of the author to do it. To explain not only his business model, but his creative process? Some would say it's almost impossible.

I believe it's entirely possible. It is just extremely demanding and will fatten your eBook by a few hundred pages.

Anyway, that's my suggestion.

You're right, but most front end products in an infoproduct based funnel show "what to do", the products leading the customer higher up the cost ladder show increasing degrees of "how to do it."

I'm not saying it's right or wrong, just that this is the way that it is.

If everything was given away up front, there would be little or no opportunity for selling additional products or services such as home study course, coaching and mentoring and so the likelihood of this ever changing is remote at best.

Thomas

Thanks
1 reply

Signature

STOP THE TRAFFIK: PEOPLE SHOULDN'T BE BOUGHT AND SOLD
Help Us Rescue, Rehabilitate And Reunite Victims With Their Families
STOP THE TRAFFIK is a growing global movement of individuals, communities and organisations fighting to PREVENT the sale of people,
PROTECT the trafficked and PROSECUTE the traffickers.

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[344057].message }}

Mike Linley 15 years ago

step by step detailed video instructions! I love the Warriors who are now showing you by watching over their shoulder on the exact steps on the computer what and how to do it!
Its the best way to learn anything.
- [ 1 ] Thanks
Signature
Let me show you how I get top rankings for FREE
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[344075].message }}

Frank Donovan

15 years ago

Originally Posted by thegoddessofeleven

I know why it hasn't been done yet, and why it's unlikely to be done anytime soon: it would take a MASSIVE amount of work on the part of the author to do it. To explain not only his business model, but his creative process? Some would say it's almost impossible.

Great post. The reason why you hardly ever see that, is because that would require the author to have actually achieved what he/she is "teaching".

Most "how-to" ebooks are compiled using generic methods and second-hand techniques gleaned from a variety of sources but seldom from personal experience.

I'm not having a go at the OP (who may well be experienced), but notice that he didn't specify which particular area of IM he specializes in - nobody can be an expert in every discipline - so how could a newbie reasonably expect expert tuition concerning their particular requirement?

Frank

Thanks
1 reply

Signature

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[344079].message }}

John Henderson

15 years ago

Originally Posted by Frank Donovan

Great post. The reason why you hardly ever see that, is because that would require the author to have actually achieved what he/she is "teaching".

Most "how-to" ebooks are compiled using generic methods and second-hand techniques gleaned from a variety of sources but seldom from personal experience.

Thanks for the naked truth, Frank -- it was kind of sobering....

Thanks
1 reply

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[344112].message }}

jimmymc 15 years ago

Interestingly, Frank Kern made a statement in his recent video that caught my attention. he said: Paraphrasing, If you had a marketing method that you were absolutely 100% positive would work and make you 6 figures a year...how hard would you work at it.

I mean really...if you knew it would absolutely work and make a guaranteed six figures wouldn't you bust your ass doing it.

The fact is, Internet marketing is just plain hard work, no matter which route you take...so pick something you like and go to work. There is no easy way, few short cuts and there's always something that will knock you down and try to destroy your confidence in your ability.

Just like the recent postings about clickbank not paying...You might think why should I sell clickbank stuff if they are not paying and quit. Believe me people are still making big clickbank checks and thieft and setbacks are just a part of doing business online or off...always has been and always will.

It's always slow going at first...but if you keep on working hard it will pay off in the long run.
- Thanks
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[344466].message }}

John Henderson

15 years ago

@Goddess of Eleven -- That was a fantastic post for two reasons;

Firstly, I agreed with everything you said. I also wish books had more examples and insights into what the experts think and why they make the decisions that they make
And secondly, the ebook/audiobook that I'm writing is written in exactly the style that you crave. So reading your post has been a big confidence boost for me!

Do you think that our suggestions will be heeded?

Thanks

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[344043].message }}

Allegro

15 years ago

i prefer pure text info material, but thats just me.

what i find the hardest is, when i finally picked a method, i dont know how to proceed. i find great pleasure in reading the very detailed business plans that come up here on the WF sometimes. so a very detailed step-by-step guide for maybe 3 months on the most basic stuff (article marketing, blogging, list building and such).

then a not so detailed guide how to find a good aff-product to promote and a not so detailed guide on product creation. and you could cover supplemental ways to make the first money online!