Do free reports work anymore or are they a waste of time?

Sometimes, even many times, you don't have to solve the problem in the initial contact (the free report).

Many times, simply helping the individual to see the problem clearly and dispassionately is enough to earn trust and a chance to build the relationship. If you can take someone in pain or anxiety and help them clearly see the source, that person will make the leap to "he/she gets me" all by themselves.

That's when you can guide them to the solution that ends up in the win-win column...

Yes, they do still work. Atleast for me they do.
The key word in this is quality. I do not try to sell anything in my free reports. I do that in the follow up mails. and not the first follow up.

Free reports is still the number 1 way for me

Yep! saw that happening in real life...

mmmm I think the free product is not just a free product. it has to be something that complements and introduces the paid product.

For example, suppose you sell software.The free product can be a document applying it successfully to a niche product. Or better.. showing how it is done the hard way, and then showing how easier is to use it.

People who can´t or won´t buy the product still can make it happen, and will keep thinking about the soft with each boring task. Sooner or later they will come back to buy it.

What about the whole offer the first three chapters free format, and then opt-in, or pay for the remaining chapters?

Has anyone tried this with success?

RK

I think that's a blanket statement and it's side-stepping the issue. Sure there's a place for paying subscribers and you're right, they most likely will buy from you again. But if you do your homework well, you can turn your 'freebie seekers' into real, paying customers. It all depends on the value of what you offer and the relationship you build with them afterwards. Not offering a free report on your website (or wherever else you choose to offer it) is totally ignoring a legitimate tried and tested method of building your list.

Reports need to have closure.

Things that could work...

Suppose you develop a full marketing strategy to sell crafts online.

A good cloud would be: 5 awesome tips to promote your crafts online.

those are good and have closure, they are applicable.

Then you sell the whole system.

Now, if the cloud does not have closure, people get mad. Because you made them waste their time.

Another... Install your wp blog in 10 minutes

you give a step by step installing from cpanel.

then you sell the full package that is the set of plugins it needs for promotion, and a full social traffic system to make the blog stellar.

the product should be the next natural step, makes sense?

More or less... yes.

There are many different systems that work. But the bottom line is: you give what you promise, and do not waste the readers time.

Yes, you have to "strike a balance", one way or another, without giving away the farm.

I'd advise you to err on the side of giving away too much, though, rather than too little, never losing sight of the fact that the primary purpose of the "free report" is to secure the maximum possible open-rate for your subsequent autoresponder series. That does depend more on "how you say it" than on "what you say", though - so you don't really need to give away the farm!

It's essential to take a long-term view, because without your subscribers being willing to open, read and pay attention to your emails, you haven't actually achieved much: http://www.warriorforum.com/main-int...ml#post6123982

I told you what I would do... there are different ways to go around it, but the best one depends on the niche and the product you are offering. The cloud has to be designed specifically for the product.

What are you selling? an ebook?

Now... don´t get caught in the extreme perfectionism. Do you want to offer leaked chapters? go for it. And refine from the results.

Yes, putting out a free report or product that everyone else is putting out would be useless even if it is well done. You would have to make it appear unique or be unique to attract attention.

Why not put the whole product for free? If you are new to your market this is a great way to build subscribers and gain leverage.

I think most of us struggle with this question, and as it is, there has been a lot of variations to the answers.

From what I have gathered, it sounds like most people seem to be thinking mainly of people who are already exposed to IM.

The way I think of it is these old products that are turned into free reports are still powerful and highly informative for the right people and there are millions of these right people for there to be such a thing as saturation.

Of course people who have been exposed are the best as they have some understanding of the game but surely there are new entrants coming in everyday!

I think key is to just give value and more value and not hold back. Just use the PLR's and save yourself the time of creating something that you think is unique, that is way time consuming, and when and where are you going to find the time to create the actual product?

So, like has been said, give a complete and valuable report and continue to build relationship with more value while you entice them to buy something from you.

Problem is some of the information is too good and we do not want to give it for free. It's a catch 22 situation, very tricky.

But that's just 2 cents worth!