Placing a product offer in your free report?

13 replies
I just got done compiling my free report for my first squeeze page. It's just five pages but with a pretty important and relevant lesson regarding the topic. As I finished typing it up, I realized the crux of what I was writing was based off a phenomenal book I read on the subject.

So I thought, "Hey, why not see if he's got an affiliate program for his book?"
Sure enough, he does (30% booo lol). Now I'm wondering whether it would be a good idea to promote the book at the end of the report. Nothing intrusive, just a small line of text and a picture at the end.

What's at stake if I do this? Thoughts?
#free #offer #placing #product #report
  • Profile picture of the author shaunfm
    Would be a good idea for building your list,worry about commissions further down the line>
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    • Profile picture of the author GBGRiPE
      Yes for sure put in that in your Report.

      You dont need to HARD sell it, just write a line or two and refer to this awesome book. "If you like this report - you will love the real book that i got inspired from get it > here <"

      Something like that.. For sure do not leave it out..
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      • Profile picture of the author seriousjake
        Originally Posted by shaunfm View Post

        Would be a good idea for building your list,worry about commissions further down the line>
        Yep, that's the goal here.

        Originally Posted by GBGRiPE View Post

        Yes for sure put in that in your Report.

        You dont need to HARD sell it, just write a line or two and refer to this awesome book. "If you like this report - you will love the real book that i got inspired from get it > here <"

        Something like that.. For sure do not leave it out..
        That's a relief. I guess I have a decent idea now and then lol.
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  • Profile picture of the author threezerozero
    shouldnt be a problem to "recommend" the book to people who subscribed. don't hard sell it to your readers....just make it subtle and mention it a few times as an anchor text link. That way if the reader is interested...they can just click on it.

    One other thing you can do is add a "Resources" section and throw the link to the book in there as well or add a section explaining your influences with a link in there as well.

    Lots of ways you can approach this...but like I said..more on the subtle side so it looks like it fits rather than a hard sell.

    Best of luck.
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  • Profile picture of the author michaelcorvin
    I would do both...promote the book and continue building your list. But 99% of the people getting the report had to get the report by opting in to your list anyway, so focus on the book.
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  • Profile picture of the author gcbmark20
    Hi SeriousJake!

    Hey at the end of the day we are all marketers and want to make a decent enough living from what we do.

    So we can do what we want, when we want, with who we want, whenever we want to!

    You are okay to sell things to people as long as you provide the FREE GIFT you promised at your Squeeze Page.

    And as long it's high quality information (ALWAYS) your conversions will be much higher because that trust and credibility will increase ten fold.

    Reports are great for subtly offering related products at the end of them because as long as the report gives the reader what they are looking for and gets them excited about the possibilities, then they will gladly appreciate you recommending something that can compliment that report.

    Hope this helps you out my friend and good day!




    "I have known successful salespeople who were alcoholics, gamblers, liars, thieves… but I have never known a successful salesperson who sat on his ass all day."
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  • Profile picture of the author laurencewins
    30% of something is better than 100% of nothing.
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    Cheers, Laurence.
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  • Profile picture of the author lesterlim85
    Yea you can have the recommendation at the end of your report, and your report itself can even be a presell to the book already (if you can make them like the report enough). You can also add an OTO right after they opt-in so that u can sieve out the buyers right off the bat.

    Cheers,
    Lester
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  • Profile picture of the author anwar001
    A lot of people promote affiliate products in their free reports. So, there shouldn't be much of a problem with that, specially if the offer you are promoting is related to the topic of the report and if its a good offer. Go ahead and do it.
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  • Profile picture of the author IMDealBox
    This is an entire sub-industry - Selling something within a free gift!

    And it is probably one of the most converting tactics.

    The free report would be considered as Pre-Selling!
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    I.M Hound: Intelligent Business Solutions & I.M News
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  • Profile picture of the author retsced
    Since the book is relevant to topic they're reading, It would be rude not to
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  • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
    Banned
    Originally Posted by shaunfm View Post

    Would be a good idea for building your list
    The OP is discussing what he sends to people after they've opted in, Shaun.

    Originally Posted by seriousjake View Post

    Now I'm wondering whether it would be a good idea to promote the book at the end of the report. Nothing intrusive, just a small line of text and a picture at the end.
    I often do the same. My PDF reports "for the opt-in" are usually about 6/7 pages, and contain several links to various pages of my own site, and usually one small product-promotion as well. I know that people pass those little PDF's on to their friends, and this is a way of trying to get something back from that, too.

    As long as nobody can imagine that the one little promotion was the purpose of the free report, I can't see much downside. All that really matters is that the free report needs to be specifically designed and produced for the purpose of maximising your subsequent open-rates, and does all the following things ...
    • Brand yourself and your site
    • Set your subscribers' expectations
    • Ensure that the subsequent email series gets the maximum possible open-rate and attention
    • Continue the process of establishing credibility and trust already commenced on your site
    • Provide content able to interest and impress subscribers enough to grab their attention and make sure they "stay with you"
    If you have all that covered, I think a little product promotion's harmless?
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  • Profile picture of the author Randall Magwood
    Nothing wrong with that. If you have your own product though, you should promote your own product instead of his product.
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