Is There More to Life Than Ebooks?

[George Chernikov]

I'm curious - for those of you who market your own products, do you do something other than ebooks/affiliate marketing/writing/design/programming services?

It could be anything - a comparison shopping site or a forum community that you monetize... I'm just curious how many IMers here stick with traditional e-books and how many dare to explore.

From what I've observed, you can't write an e-book in any market - some just aren't primed for it. For example, if you wanted to enter the heavy machinery niche, probably an e-book wouldn't do the trick!

Thanks in advance,
George

[Tyrus Antas]

The thing about digital products, specially ebooks, are the huge profit margins. You have those in music and software as well. But how many people have the talent and knowledge for that?

There are other options: selling advertising, selling physical products... None of these options are as profitable and hassle free as selling information.

Tyrus

[George Chernikov]

In all honesty, you don't need much talent to write an e-book... I know I'll get flamed for posting this, but I've been approached by several people who, after checking my writing samples, wanted to retain me as a ghostwriter. I've produced several ebooks in the past that my clients have been happy with - and I wouldn't consider myself a talented writer by any stretch of imagination.

Now, writing copy is, of course, completely different!

Now, on a more related note, I guess what I'm trying to get at here is that, the second anyone - myself included - starts looking for ways to make money online, we're immediately told that the money is in the product. A lot of us assume that the product has to be an ebook - and the second we do that, we close the door on a number of potentially lucrative niches which just don't lend themselves to e-books.

For example, let's say people are looking to buy a piece of gym equipment online. I, for one, don't see how you could sell an ebook to them (maybe how to exercise and lose weight at home, but that's pushing it already). On the other hand, you could easily set up a scripted comparison shopping website for used home gym equipment.

[honestbizpro]

Originally Posted by dannyhw

Yeah that's the thing about information products. You lose most of your visitors the second they notice that you're trying to sell them something. There's also the problem of promoting it when everyone knows you're just trying to push something.

If you write some good content and give it away for free, you'll get many times the visitors, they'll actually read it and you'll make more from clicks than trying to shove some ebook down their throat.

Thats right.

Simple and very effective.

Give some great value upfront and you can make a killing later.






"For example, let's say people are looking to buy a piece of gym equipment online. I, for one, don't see how you could sell an ebook to them "


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[jasonl70]

But which sort of product will make you the most money for the equal amount of time/effort invested in promoting it?

[myob]

Ebooks are a powerful marketing tool, especially in a competitive marketplace. I have written many dozens of ebooks on products I sell, which does include gym equipment and the industrial and heavy construction equipment niche markets. I am still earning commissions on these products featured in many of my ebooks written as long as 8 years ago. Writing ebooks and articles gives you free advertising for unlimited products or services. I might add, most of the market niches I sell in I don't have a clue about except for what I can find in Google and offline trade magazines. In my opinion, writing ebooks is the easiest and most effective marketing tool.

[MarkWrites]

Traffic monetization is great, but if you asked those same people how many have clicked on an ad and then made a purchase, the number would go back down again.

You also can't forget that there is more to an ebook than just selling it. Ebooks are effectively used as promotional tools, both as a free bonus or gift as well as the items, programs, or websites promoted within the book itself. A free ebook can lead to a large amount of revenue, plus you don't have to "push it down someone's throat" when its free, they swallow it on their own (just trying to finish the metaphor)

[jasonl70]

Originally Posted by dannyhw

you'll make more from clicks than trying to shove some ebook down their throat.

hmmm.. I have some sites with adsense, and I make a ton more money with my other sites from affiliate sales.

You really shouldn't push off personal opinion as fact..