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Ebook, mini ebook, report - which motivates sign ups the best?

by ncloud
11 replies
I have a 30 page ebook that I give to people to get them to sign up to my list. I've heard that this doesn't work as good as it use to. I know it still works, but supposedly not as well as it use to.

I'm wondering why that is. Is it because when people see the word "ebook" they assume it's going to be like 200 pages long, like the average size book, and they don't want to take the time to read that much? Or is because so many people give away low quality ebooks that they just assume it's probably not going to be any good? Maybe it's a combination of both of those.

Some people give away "reports" which aren't usually very long. Is there a difference between a report and a mini ebook? Or are they just different names for the same thing? Does one convert to sign up better than the other? If I saw that someone was giving away a mini ebook I would probably think it's mini because they didn't want to put much time into it. Which means it probably isn't any good.

When I see someone's giving away a report, it reminds me of having to do a report on something in school and those reports were always boring. So I assume their report is going to be boring too.

So I guess I don't really like the term "mini ebook" or "report" since for me mini ebook translates to crap and report translates to boring. But it's not really about what I like, it's about what converts (to a sign up) the best.

These days a lot of people are giving out other things to get people to sign up to their lists, like a cheat sheet, check list, a video, or something else that isn't very long. That probably does convert to a sign up better than a ebook these days, and I might eventually switch to a checklist. But, right now I'm still giving away an ebook (30 pages), so I'm wondering what I should call it - an ebook, a mini ebook, a report, or something else? Basically I'm wondering what converts (gets people to sign up) the best out of whatever my options are?

Maybe I should just continue calling it an ebook and mention on my landing page somewhere that it is a 30 page ebook? I'm not sure if that would help or hinder conversions (sign ups). What do you think?

I know someone is going to tell me to test it for myself, they always do, but I've got plenty of other things to test, surely people have figured out by now what converts better. I just want to learn from other people's experience - that is what a forum is for.
#ebook #mini #motivates #report #sign #ups
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  • Profile picture of the author Richard Gora
    Rich Gora Says There are a ton of free eBooks out there, no matter what eReader you own--Amazon's Kindle, Barnes & Noble's Nook, Sony's Reader, etc. And with those eReaders ... The best thing--it has over 26,000 free titles in over 20 digital formats, including LIT, LRF, ePUB, MOBI, PDF, etc. Link:ManyBooks.
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  • Profile picture of the author DIABL0
    Checklist, cheat sheet, blueprint.

    Provide quality, actionable info that can be consumed within a couple minutes.
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    How to Build LARGE EMAIL LISTS on a Budget and MONETIZE Like a PRO
    18 Years Exp . . . . . . . . . . . . Email - CPA - PPL
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  • Profile picture of the author SugarPickle
    value is value. there will never be a time when offering great value to the right person at the right time, will "not work as good as before"
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  • Profile picture of the author 1Bryan
    "Guide" still works well. When people are "lost" ... they need a guide.
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  • Profile picture of the author GordonJ
    Originally Posted by ncloud View Post

    I have a 30 page ebook that I give to people to get them to sign up to my list. I've heard that this doesn't work as good as it use to. I know it still works, but supposedly not as well as it use to.

    I'm wondering why that is. Is it because when people see the word "ebook" they assume it's going to be like 200 pages long, like the average size book, and they don't want to take the time to read that much? Or is because so many people give away low quality ebooks that they just assume it's probably not going to be any good? Maybe it's a combination of both of those.

    Some people give away "reports" which aren't usually very long. Is there a difference between a report and a mini ebook? Or are they just different names for the same thing? Does one convert to sign up better than the other? If I saw that someone was giving away a mini ebook I would probably think it's mini because they didn't want to put much time into it. Which means it probably isn't any good.

    When I see someone's giving away a report, it reminds me of having to do a report on something in school and those reports were always boring. So I assume their report is going to be boring too.

    So I guess I don't really like the term "mini ebook" or "report" since for me mini ebook translates to crap and report translates to boring. But it's not really about what I like, it's about what converts (to a sign up) the best.

    These days a lot of people are giving out other things to get people to sign up to their lists, like a cheat sheet, check list, a video, or something else that isn't very long. That probably does convert to a sign up better than a ebook these days, and I might eventually switch to a checklist. But, right now I'm still giving away an ebook (30 pages), so I'm wondering what I should call it - an ebook, a mini ebook, a report, or something else? Basically I'm wondering what converts (gets people to sign up) the best out of whatever my options are?

    Maybe I should just continue calling it an ebook and mention on my landing page somewhere that it is a 30 page ebook? I'm not sure if that would help or hinder conversions (sign ups). What do you think?

    I know someone is going to tell me to test it for myself, they always do, but I've got plenty of other things to test, surely people have figured out by now what converts better. I just want to learn from other people's experience - that is what a forum is for.
    What converts better? That is the question, and the answer is, it doesn't matter what you call it, more important is it a match with the traffic.

    Where does your traffic, your visitors come from? How do they land on this site? IF your message to market is a match, they will sign up for any and all information which is releveant to their search.

    What is more important than finding out what your prospects really want? That is the point of testing, isn't it?

    If your subject is complicated or advanced, they like a short little folio (or whatever you choose to call it), guide, hotsheet (if topical), cheatsheet, guide, manual, report, white paper, list or whatever.

    If you have secret or specialized knowledge to a huge niche, then a more detailed report might work.

    The answer lies in who your target prospects are, where they come from, what are they looking for and what you can provide them...and there are other options rather than making them give up an email addy, often a throw away one at that.

    What do your prospects want?

    GordonJ
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  • Profile picture of the author Louis Gendron
    I personnally think that ebook is the way to go
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  • Profile picture of the author ryanbiddulph
    Hi ncloud,

    Any giveaway your users find useful goads them to sign up.

    If you write a 10 page free report that addresses some basic need of theirs, they will offer their email to get it.

    Length matters not. In truth, me and a few other established folks erred in going overboard for a long time, giving away so much through my freebie offer, folks felt overwhelmed. Now I give away freebies through my blog - they are called "blog posts" and people seem to read it based on the freebies I give away.

    Ryan
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    Ryan Biddulph, Blogger, Author, World Traveling Digital Nomad
    If you want to become a full time blogger you can buy my eBook here
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  • Profile picture of the author ncloud
    Thanks guys, maybe I should just continue to call it an ebook for now. I might mentioned that it's a short ebook on the landing page somewhere. "In this short ebook you will learn..." For those people that don't like reading longer books that might motivate them to sign up. Later when I have more time I might create a checklist and see which converts better.
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  • Profile picture of the author yukon
    Banned
    Originally Posted by ncloud View Post

    I have a 30 page ebook that I give to people to get them to sign up to my list. I've heard that this doesn't work as good as it use to. I know it still works, but supposedly not as well as it use to.

    I'm wondering why that is. Is it because when people see the word "ebook" they assume it's going to be like 200 pages long, like the average size book, and they don't want to take the time to read that much? Or is because so many people give away low quality ebooks that they just assume it's probably not going to be any good? Maybe it's a combination of both of those.

    Some people give away "reports" which aren't usually very long. Is there a difference between a report and a mini ebook? Or are they just different names for the same thing? Does one convert to sign up better than the other? If I saw that someone was giving away a mini ebook I would probably think it's mini because they didn't want to put much time into it. Which means it probably isn't any good.

    When I see someone's giving away a report, it reminds me of having to do a report on something in school and those reports were always boring. So I assume their report is going to be boring too.

    So I guess I don't really like the term "mini ebook" or "report" since for me mini ebook translates to crap and report translates to boring. But it's not really about what I like, it's about what converts (to a sign up) the best.

    These days a lot of people are giving out other things to get people to sign up to their lists, like a cheat sheet, check list, a video, or something else that isn't very long. That probably does convert to a sign up better than a ebook these days, and I might eventually switch to a checklist. But, right now I'm still giving away an ebook (30 pages), so I'm wondering what I should call it - an ebook, a mini ebook, a report, or something else? Basically I'm wondering what converts (gets people to sign up) the best out of whatever my options are?

    Maybe I should just continue calling it an ebook and mention on my landing page somewhere that it is a 30 page ebook? I'm not sure if that would help or hinder conversions (sign ups). What do you think?

    I know someone is going to tell me to test it for myself, they always do, but I've got plenty of other things to test, surely people have figured out by now what converts better. I just want to learn from other people's experience - that is what a forum is for.

    You should be split testing.

    Switch the sales page out with a new test, collect data (lead counts). Repeat with a new test. Compare the test data. Optimize based on your own data.
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    Hi
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  • Profile picture of the author iamludwing
    it doesnt matter if you have an ebook, mini ebook or anything... you need to provide quality .. the topic is the most important thing!
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    [URL="http://www.warriorforum.com/warrior-special-offers/1273700-launch-new-product-10-days-i-will-do-everything-you.html"]Launch A New Product In 10 Days or Less - I will do Everything for you![/URL]

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