Do you think this will help or hurt conversions?

Sounds like it could work as long as you choose your sample carefully.

Remember, you job as a marketer is to create incompletion that can only be resolved through the purchase of your product.

Make sure your sample doesn't give away enough to make them not want to actually buy.

I remember the Nitro boys (Kevin Wilke and Matt Gill) offered the first three chapters of e-book offerings for visitors who decided not to proceed with the purchase. It was an optin and they did that for many of their offers.

Now, I don't have any stats or figures to back it up, but you could probably take from that it helped conversions.

What you're suggesting Shawn is slightly different in the implementation. So as they say, the only way to know for sure is to test. Would be an interesting one for sure.

What an excellent idea actually, I don't know why I didn't think of doing that on my product (eBook) website!

Of course...there's only two types of website visitors: people who are interested in the product/offer, and people who aren't. So offering a sample that they can see (makes it that much more "tangible") would help steer them in the direction of making a decision quicker--that they may have otherwise put off or avoided altogether (by not purchasing or returning to the site, or leaving quickly).

For example, I offer the first two chapters in my eBook PDF, but visitors need to leave an email address in order to get a download link. Had I tried YOUR idea, I'm sure those same visitors who refused to leave their email and interact on the site, would have at least clicked to view the sample; and a small percentage may have even decided to make a purchase then and there, based on that.

Good stuff. I think it can only help your conversion, provided you don't give too much info as stated.

Giving away a free chapter is similar to just giving away any other free content that is related to your product or niche.

Also, yes, I've seen it done once or twice throughout the years, where the author gives away the actual first chapter of the ebook as a promotional item or a "sign up to my list and get the first chapter free" item.

If it works on Amazon why wouldn't it work elsewhere. The only question I'd have is that if the traffic is coming from a list shouldn't they already be ready to receive the offer? Cold traffic, maybe, but any traffic from a list should have a taste well before they reach the sales letter.

I've done that for several years now--offer sample chapters
from my ebooks. It offers a great way to build an interest
list by providing this sample to those who sign up.

It does help to boost conversion because you show what
your product is about without giving away the farm.

You can see one example here:

http://www.computerageinprophecy.com/sample.pdf

-Ray Edwards

fatloss4idiots.com

Tiny Little Businesses

I think these two sites might be as close to what you're looking for as possible.

Basically they deliver content in a form of a magalog. Once you finish reading the first page, they ask you to click on a link to continue. And it goes on and on until they've packed you with relevant content and finally ask for for sale.

I think TLB always sells out when they offer the program and fatloss4idiots did 21 million in 08.

Hope that helps.

I really like the idea! I think it could really help! I know Amazon has been doing this for a long time, and I would think it could work great. Like other are saying here, the best way to find out for sure is to test it. But I think you're on to something!

I can't speak to sales letters but a lot of forums are set up in this way. They will let you read a few threads. Then when you go to click on another thread a screen will come up that says something like "You have exceeded your daily limit of content as a guest, please register" or something to that effect. I was always surprised the Warrior Forum didn't do this. I'm more likely to register at a forum that does that. Rather than one that makes me register right off the bat. It allows you to see what kind of content the forum has before going through the hassle of a registration process.

To be honest, when it comes to Amazon, I very rarely use the take a look inside feature. I go straight for the social proof. I read the reviews both good and bad. Just because something has a lot of negative reviews doesn't necessarily mean I won't buy it. In fact, usually, you'll find people in the review section saying something like "I don't know why so and so or I don't know why so many people are giving this a bad review. Personally I found this to be really great...." I tend to put more weight in those types of reviews because I know how many "complainers" and "whiners" there are in the world.

So, I guess what I'm saying is test it and see if it works, but in my opinion, strong social proof in the way of testimonials (even some negative ones) are the way to go and are the best "samples."

Shawn, a suggestion, since a lot of people do use that feature at Amazon, I would highly suggest you take advantage of associating your product with Amazon by having the same kind of graphic Amazon uses wrapped around a picture of the ebook, the "Click to look inside" graphic.

I forget the technical term in copywriting when you're associating your product with someone bigger than you, however, that will probably help your conversions too.

I almost always put samples of the product I'm selling in the copy. For services, it's usually impossible, but for products it certainly helps the reader visualize the product.

You also can make use of certain details in the sample itself to hint at the value of the product. For example, put up page 141 of your ebook to hint at the size of the ebook; this SHOWING of the page number certainly beats TELLING the customer the size of the book in terms of credibility.

I think the key point here is the concept of self persuasion. You're essentially lowering his options to as few as possible... and then giving him the illusion of choice. Who else trusts others more than himself?

A good hybrid would be to use what I mentioned along with what others were saying; wrap that same graphic Amazon uses around the picture of the ebook that says "Click to look inside" then when they click have your optin box popup and explain you'll email them a free chapter.

It combines the best of both suggestions.

It is a very very good idea. Definitely worthy of a split test or two. Thanks very much Shawn.