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Build Your Mailing List With A FREE Book Offer (And Get Other Advertisers To Pay For It)

by AmericanMuscleTA
13 replies
Fellow Marketing Superstar,

A few months back I requested the free copy of Ryan Levesque's new book Ask. It was absolutely free and I didn't even have to pay the shipping. He's obviously building up his list.

Well, the book finally came in the mail yesterday and I couldn't help but noticed there were ads included in the package. Here's a picture:



I thought to myself, what a genius! He gave away a free book with free shipping (a lot of other marketers have the free book giveaway, but you still have to pay shipping), and helped cover his costs by including other advertisers in the package.

Reminds me of Bob Ross's 9x12 postcard. Get your own advertising out for free while others pay for it. Cha-Ching

I thought it was a clever way to build up his mailing list by offering something absolutely free, even shipping, and having other advertisers covering his costs.

Also, I wonder if he did research about which advertisers to include with the book (or, maybe it was Barnes and Noble's doing, since they're the ones who shipped it).

Obviously, we can all relate to food. So I wonder if a majority of his prospects are interested in photography (which seems like everyone and their mother is a pro photographer these days with their fancy smart phones) and wine (I'm not an alcohol drinker... but I do realize I'm an odd ball).

Your thoughts?
#advertisers #book #build #free #list #mailing #offer #pay
  • Profile picture of the author kenmichaels
    Out of curiosity - what makes you think Amazon isn't the one who
    put in the adverts?

    ( I have never purchased anything from amazon - so no basis for my question
    other then ... hmmm - how does he know )
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    Selling Ain't for Sissies!
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    • Profile picture of the author ewenmack
      I've seen a variation of it.

      If you don't have your own book and want to tap into
      somebody else's list who have your ideal clients,
      do this.

      Buy one of the high priced training programs
      and make it a prize draw.

      Two ways to go with this...

      1 Ask the training creator to email his list with the offer

      2 Run a Facebook ad to his followers

      Take a video of yourself holding up the big box
      and it's contents and what they have to do to to enter and win.

      Best,
      Doctor E. Vile
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      • Profile picture of the author savidge4
        The book came from Barnes and Nobles.. and yes.. they send adverts
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        Success is an ACT not an idea
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        • Profile picture of the author Claude Whitacre
          Originally Posted by savidge4 View Post

          The book came from Barnes and Nobles.. and yes.. they send adverts
          I knew that. You don't think I knew that? Well, I did know that.....


          No I didn't.
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          One Call Closing book https://www.amazon.com/One-Call-Clos...=1527788418&sr

          What if they're not stars? What if they are holes poked in the top of a container so we can breath?
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          • Profile picture of the author savidge4
            Originally Posted by Claude Whitacre View Post

            I knew that. You don't think I knew that? Well, I did know that.....


            No I didn't.
            Just kinda had to look at the coupons to figure it out I guess.... the Wine coupon is compliments of.. "Barnes and Nobles" Look at the URL on the Photography offer card. "..../3BNB" And I have ordered books from them before and got more than 3 coupons!

            So no.. the marketer guy aint all that smart... They are probably using Barnes as a print on demand service. Basically the guy is paying out the nose to get you on his list! LOL The sales pitch in the next month or so is probably going to be stellar!
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  • Profile picture of the author Claude Whitacre
    Originally Posted by AmericanMuscleTA View Post

    Fellow Marketing Superstar,

    A few months back I requested the free copy of Ryan Levesque's new book Ask. It was absolutely free and I didn't even have to pay the shipping. He's obviously building up his list.

    Well, the book finally came in the mail yesterday and I couldn't help but noticed there were ads included in the package. Here's a picture:



    I thought to myself, what a genius! He gave away a free book with free shipping (a lot of other marketers have the free book giveaway, but you still have to pay shipping), and helped cover his costs by including other advertisers in the package.

    Reminds me of Bob Ross's 9x12 postcard. Get your own advertising out for free while others pay for it. Cha-Ching

    I thought it was a clever way to build up his mailing list by offering something absolutely free, even shipping, and having other advertisers covering his costs.

    Also, I wonder if he did research about which advertisers to include with the book (or, maybe it was Barnes and Noble's doing, since they're the ones who shipped it).

    Obviously, we can all relate to food. So I wonder if a majority of his prospects are interested in photography (which seems like everyone and their mother is a pro photographer these days with their fancy smart phones) and wine (I'm not an alcohol drinker... but I do realize I'm an odd ball).

    Your thoughts?
    The book is not free on Amazon,and Amazon wouldn't send ads with the book. (At least I've never had ads arrive with a book from Amazon).

    The ads don't seem to have a theme. I think the author just sold ads to be delivered with his free book. The market would be pretty tight; people who read marketing books, people who buy books online, people who are probably more educated and intelligent than average.....The ads might not pay for the whole mailing, but it's a smart idea. The ads take nothing away from the book.
    Signature
    One Call Closing book https://www.amazon.com/One-Call-Clos...=1527788418&sr

    What if they're not stars? What if they are holes poked in the top of a container so we can breath?
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  • Profile picture of the author Oziboomer
    The play behind it was joining Ryan's NLM group and probably as you have said also a list building exercise.

    When I first read the OP my immediate impression was a promotion of past clients and people who had been through the program in the past....

    ...but then as things unfolded...

    Thanks Savidge for pointing out the POD from Barnes & Noble.

    I've been a bit of a fan of Ryan's stuff since Survey Funnel days and the psychological stuff he had/has going on.
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  • Profile picture of the author bizgrower
    This means I'll probably get my copy of "Ask" on Monday. LOL

    I just received my copy of Russell Brunson's "Dotcom Secrets".
    (I paid for shipping. The pipsqueak's - LOL - endorsed by Tony Robbins
    and the foreword is by Dan Kennedy.)

    Also sent by Barnes & Noble. There are coupons for virginwines.com/bn
    (a Branson company), Highlights magazine, a cook book, and a snack food.

    Interesting to note that my wine coupon is tracked "bn" and OPs is "taste".
    Is that just for B&N's tracking, or are there affiliate payments to the authors?
    (All the coupons have some kind of tracking.)

    The packing slip says thank you and if you want help implementing go to
    www.dotcom...

    Dan
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    "If you think you're the smartest person in the room, then you're probably in the wrong room."

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  • Profile picture of the author AmericanMuscleTA
    Ha, yeah I noticed the promo codes with "Barnes" in them.


    So, does B&N always send out coupons (for their own benefit), or does the author choose to have the coupons sent with their book to help cover costs/affiliate, etc. (as bizgrower was asking about the tracking)?


    If it's B&N, then I wonder if Amazon is going to start jumping on the band wagon (So far, I've never received any advertisements with my Amazon orders).
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    David Hunter | Duke of Marketing
    www.DukeOfMarketing.com
    www.BibleAndFriendsYouTube.com

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    • Profile picture of the author Claude Whitacre
      Barnes & Noble do not have the book for free in print.

      Here's a link if you want it for free; You still pay $6.95 shipping.
      http://www.askformula.com/


      Does anyone have a link for free with free shipping?
      Signature
      One Call Closing book https://www.amazon.com/One-Call-Clos...=1527788418&sr

      What if they're not stars? What if they are holes poked in the top of a container so we can breath?
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      • Profile picture of the author AmericanMuscleTA
        Originally Posted by Claude Whitacre View Post

        Barnes & Noble do not have the book for free in print.

        Here's a link if you want it for free; You still pay $6.95 shipping.
        Get Your FREE Copy Of ASK


        Does anyone have a link for free with free shipping?

        So, you made me questions myself... Maybe I was dreaming about the free shipping.

        But....... I just looked back and I ordered the book January 29. I got a receipt and it was free. No payment, no credit card, nothing.

        It must have been a "very" special offer. I can't remember how I found out about it, but I jumped on it. I even checked my credit card bills to see if I was charged shipping. Nothing-nadda-zip

        Also, I just did a Google search and found a link from Facebook with the free offer with free shipping: https://www.facebook.com/permalink.p...48051348573385 ... (It says 100% Free: No Cost, no shipping, no catch.) When you click on the link through facebook it takes you to the site you mentioned, Claude, but they obviously updated it so you got to pay shipping now. :-/

        Also, if you read the comments, it looks like he had a promo code (ASK2015), but it no longer works.

        Phew, at least I wasn't dreaming!
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        David Hunter | Duke of Marketing
        www.DukeOfMarketing.com
        www.BibleAndFriendsYouTube.com

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  • Profile picture of the author yukon
    Banned
    Maybe the author is doing affiliate marketing considering each of the coupons in the OP screenshot have tracking IDs in the response URLs.

    Also, coupons inside books isn't new.
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  • Profile picture of the author SashaLee
    Hi there,

    This is a great share. Thank you - idea shamelessly swiped for tomorrow morning's meeting. Anyone could do this and this could be made especially effective on a local level.

    All the best,

    Sasha.

    (Banging head against wall having received several packages like this and not drawing the connection).
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