Which "Source" is Better for Email: List signup or Product Sample

by BeckM2
6 replies
Hi,

I sell a physical book online and I have an opt-in list where you can download a free, short guide on a related topic by signing up for the newsletter. As I learned here, I will use this list to market and hopefully drive book sales.

However I also offer a free download of the table of contents and the intro to the book. I'm converting fairly well from a source (a forum) in getting people to download the sample content.

So here it is....should I require a subscription to the newsletter in order to get the sample book content?
I feel like I now have a handful of people who were interested enough to download the free sample content, but I have no idea who they are and I cannot follow-up. Then again, if had required a signup, would I have chased them away and not have them download in the first place. At least with the first way I have sample content out there....

Thanks
#email #list #product #sample #signup #source
  • Profile picture of the author Ross Cohen
    Just offer the download via email for signing up for your newsletter. State when you'll email them (i.e. monthly), and most people shouldn't be against it as they can opt-in just as easily as opting-in. You can have a widget on the side of your site through your autoresponder such as AWeber - all very simple to do, and there's tutorials if things get confusing as well.
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    • Profile picture of the author BeckM2
      Originally Posted by resellcells View Post

      Just offer the download via email for signing up for your newsletter. State when you'll email them (i.e. monthly), and most people shouldn't be against it as they can opt-in just as easily as opting-in. You can have a widget on the side of your site through your autoresponder such as AWeber - all very simple to do, and there's tutorials if things get confusing as well.
      I have mailchimp and it works fine. But I have TWO target audiences:

      1) dentists, doctors and healthcare providers who will eventually hopefully hire my company to build their website and do SEO.

      2) dentists who will buy the book (and hopefully become clients at some point).

      I see two options:

      Option 1: Keep everything on the site way it is (E.g. promoting the adwords guide as the free download for the signup), and keep that as LIST #1.

      Then on the "free content" page for the book, add text making the sample content from the book as the free download for the signup. I'll call this LIST #2.

      So now I'd have TWO lists with TWO different opt-in free download forms -- one for the adwords and one for the sample book content.

      I can then simply combine the lists regularly and send everyone the same email.


      Option 2: Keep everything as it is with promoting the adwords download across the site (e.g. in the sidebar and after blog posts) , but on the free content page mention the sample book content AND the AdWords guide.

      The advantage is that I would one list, but the "disadvantage" if you'd call it that - is that the single opt-in will have the link to both downloads. I have no problem giving them both away, but will giving the book sample away to doctors and chiropractors who only want an adwords guide and have no interest in the "dentist workbook" be confusing for them?

      Thank you very much!
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      Internet Marketing for Dentists and Physicians
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      • Profile picture of the author samuraig
        I don't think it would be confusing. If you give both lists the same things, they will apply it to what they need. One dentist may see it as a sample of your work... and the other will see it as exactly what they needed. Plus, even though the dentists that do their own SEO work say they do their own SEO work, that doesn't mean that they may never hire you in the future. Keep putting your stuff in front of them and asking for the sale. When they need it, they'll think of you first. So, build the list and follow up.

        The ones that want the information will sign up for it... and you never know when they'll come back months down the road to sign up later.

        Another option is to build a membership site for the ones that want to learn SEO and teach them monthly (with recurring subscription) as you go along.
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  • Profile picture of the author JOSourcing
    Banned
    Originally Posted by BeckM2 View Post

    Hi,

    I sell a physical book online and I have an opt-in list where you can download a free, short guide on a related topic by signing up for the newsletter. As I learned here, I will use this list to market and hopefully drive book sales.

    However I also offer a free download of the table of contents and the intro to the book. I'm converting fairly well from a source (a forum) in getting people to download the sample content.

    So here it is....should I require a subscription to the newsletter in order to get the sample book content?
    I feel like I now have a handful of people who were interested enough to download the free sample content, but I have no idea who they are and I cannot follow-up. Then again, if had required a signup, would I have chased them away and not have them download in the first place. At least with the first way I have sample content out there....

    Thanks
    Providing sample content is always a plus. And you're right - a sign up requirement may chase people away. Just know that the runaways are people who had no intention on buying your book in the first place. If they can't even make the effort to fill out a form, it's highly unlikely they'll pull out a credit card. The genuine interest just isn't there.
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  • Profile picture of the author Dann Vicker
    Whatever you do, never fail to incorporate an opt-in mechanism into your business. This is the only way to ensure a sustainable stream of profits.
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    Looking for high quality solo ad traffic? 200-2000 clicks available/day. Testimonials here. PM me

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  • Profile picture of the author Workfromhomeguy
    Having some free content out there doesn't do you any good when you don't know who has it. Let them opt-in in order to get the free content. That way you will not only be able to follow up but you will be able to contact them with future offers. If they are not interested, they can opt out.
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