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Opt-In Carrot: Ebook OR Email Course??

by GayleT
27 replies
Hi all,

Well, I'm wondering what is best "carrot" for Opt-In form: a free ebook to download or a free email course or series. Or BOTH??

One woman told me she doesn't like the ebooks she has to download but prefers an email series she can quickly scan in her email.

I'd appreciate any info you could share!
Thank you!
Gayle
#carrot #ebook #ecourse #email #optin
  • Profile picture of the author Chris Lockwood
    You'll do better with an ebook or other download, since most people perceive that as higher value.

    I think the woman is the exception- maybe she has a slow connection or something.

    After giving the ebook, you can still use tips from it in your emails, like an ecourse. It reminds people that you gave them the ebook and that they should read it.
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  • Profile picture of the author Loren Woirhaye
    Well, many people I think will realize that they won't actually
    do anything with your material, so they'll be more inclined to
    download a free ebook than commit to a course which will
    remind them on a daily basis that they aren't doing anything
    about their problem.

    A video e-course would have higher perceived value for many.
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    • Profile picture of the author jasondinner
      Originally Posted by Loren Woirhaye View Post

      Well, many people I think will realize that they won't actually
      do anything with your material, so they'll be more inclined to
      download a free ebook than commit to a course which will
      remind them on a daily basis that they aren't doing anything
      about their problem.
      Sad but true in many cases. Nice call
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      • Profile picture of the author Megas
        I find the ebook works really well for me. People do tend to perceive that as a higher value. Like getting a free book they can keep on their PC.
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  • Profile picture of the author jasonl70
    I would consider this:
    leave it ambiguous in the copy & then deliver as a email course (maybe include links to a pdf of that days course). You can include some affiliate links, etc, at the bottom of the email in a 'recommended' section. This should condition them to receiving email from you.
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    • Profile picture of the author GayleT
      Thank you! -- Jason, Loren and Chris! You've helped clarify this for me.
      I really appreciate your help...

      Gayle
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  • Profile picture of the author BigBenForCanton
    You got a little John Madden going on in your copy there. And then BOOM! Hey now, hey now, my Brett Favre's back!!!
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  • Profile picture of the author garyv
    Originally Posted by Razer Rage View Post

    First of all: It's "skim", and not "scan". Scan means to study intensively.

    /wombat

    Second of all, why not do both?
    I better "scan" the dictionary - because I thought it meant to read hastily

    Anyway - why not do a split test, and see which one works better.
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  • Profile picture of the author nicholasb
    I prefer giving a video or mp3, I think it is better for relationship building

    although to answer your question I would go with a 7 day email course
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  • Profile picture of the author Micheal Perkins
    I use a membership site that I create as my carrot. They sign up in my autoresponder and then are sent to the thank you page. Thank you page tells them to go click the confirm link to get access to the members area. Once they confirm, they get a new email with the link to the members area.

    Then they find some content inside the members area. This is where you could put some information that would otherwise be in a report format. You can also start sending them an ecourse with more advanced information in the ecourse, or sell the ecourse as a weekly lesson.

    You could possibly even send them some of your "advanced" information in the ecourse for free to start with, if you have a lot you can share. Then after they have received several lessons from you free, let them know that to continue receiving that information they have to pay for it.
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    • Profile picture of the author Maria Gudelis
      Originally Posted by Micheal Perkins View Post

      I use a membership site that I create as my carrot. They sign up in my autoresponder and then are sent to the thank you page. Thank you page tells them to go click the confirm link to get access to the members area. Once they confirm, they get a new email with the link to the members area.

      Then they find some content inside the members area. This is where you could put some information that would otherwise be in a report format. You can also start sending them an ecourse with more advanced information in the ecourse, or sell the ecourse as a weekly lesson.

      You could possibly even send them some of your "advanced" information in the ecourse for free to start with, if you have a lot you can share. Then after they have received several lessons from you free, let them know that to continue receiving that information they have to pay for it.
      Michael that is a brilliant idea, "putting a cage around your prospects" with a membership site offered for free...brands you etc. Thanks for the tip!
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  • Profile picture of the author esr
    I put my vote in for the ebook. Even me, being a marketer myself, perceive a downloadable ebook as having higher value than an email course.
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  • Profile picture of the author MGEBradley
    This thread was really useful to me, especially the membership site idea! Will try it!
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  • Profile picture of the author fated82
    Are you selling your own product or someone else product?

    If possible, give away part of the content that is in your main product.

    It can be in a form of an ebook or an email course (email course is better because you condition them to receive your next email).

    Give them something practical so that they can take it and apply. That way, if they will feel that they are getting something of value (with your ecourse) they will be more compel to purchase the full product.

    Make sense?
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  • Profile picture of the author jbsmith
    Even if you offer an email course, you will want to package that email sequence into a PDF (from experience!) as you ramp up your numbers the support burden will be huge for email-only as many people will either not receive one email in the sequence or misplace them, etc...

    Now, I offer SOLUTIONS to problems, when they opt-in, I give them immediate download with automatic subscription to the email sequence.

    Jeff
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  • Profile picture of the author Rose Anderson
    Split testing is always a good idea to see which your market prefers.

    Rose
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  • Profile picture of the author webmonopoly
    I did some research and have found that people are looking more for do it now solutions rather then do it yourself. They are looking for something they can use fast and now, people are getting tired if ebooks because of information overload, try something simpler like a top 10 list, package it as an eBook.
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  • Profile picture of the author Luke Corden
    I don't think you can ever get an exact answer unless you split test each time you come to make this decision. But my hunch would be ebook - you can always offer the email course as a follow up series, or offer both upfront.

    Someone on this thread suggested video series. great idea. I know it sounds a bit naff but whatever works works. People will be more interested in what the content is than what format it comes in.
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  • Profile picture of the author WillR
    From my own experience your free stuff should focus on quality and not quantity. Remember that people will not be interested in buying your paid stuff until they have at least been through your free stuff. So you need to make your free stuff easy to consume. Ideally it should be just a few short paragraphs or a 2-3 minute video. That way they can consume it on the spot and are then ready to move on to your paid stuff.
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    • Profile picture of the author ErinWalsh
      There is a lot of good information in this thread. I agree with those who said to split test to be sure which will get the best results with your market.
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  • Profile picture of the author sabatek
    Both or better yet split test.
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  • Profile picture of the author Randall Magwood
    I'd go with the ebook. One person's consensus doesn't speak for the whole world. Hopefully you'll take my advice.
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  • Profile picture of the author az wan
    keep giving ebook for free?
    i am in progress..
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  • Profile picture of the author jgant
    I don't sign up for email courses because I'm impatient. Therefore, I restrict my offerings to ebooks.
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  • Profile picture of the author JRJWrites
    Speaking form a potential subscriber's point of view, I would take an eBook - any day.

    Often, I find that e-mail courses are too ... slow. I like to have the whole thing at once, so that I can read through the entire thing, and learn all the concepts in one go.

    But that's just me.
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