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I'm creating a freebie, would you recommend this?

by Tony Palus
20 replies
Ok, I have decided to create a freebie(e-book) in exchange for emails. It's going to be about changing a mind from employee's thinking to business thinking.
My question is: can I add in the end a chapter named: "What's next?" where I would review and promote a cb or cj product about building business. Good or bad idea?
#creating #freebie #recommend
  • Profile picture of the author Isaiah Jackson
    Originally Posted by Tony Palus View Post

    Ok, I have decided to create a freebie(e-book) in exchange for emails. It's going to be about changing a mind from employee's thinking to business thinking.
    My question is: can I add in the end a chapter named: "What's next?" where I would review and promote a cb or cj product about building business. Good or bad idea?
    Yes, that would work.

    Basically what you will be doing is monetizing the report your creating.

    So yeah it makes sense to do that.

    Good idea.

    -Isaiah Jackson.
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  • Profile picture of the author Tom Addams
    It sounds like a good idea. The only problem I foresee, and you're going to hate me, is the product itself. The average person who comes across your book what's something concrete and relatively instant and a bunch of other things, all of which amount to this: they want something easy and the end result of that something easy should have some form of strong payoff. The payoff could be a date, big muscles, money. I believe you'll have a limited audience with such a product and, for that reason alone, it isn't an ideal means of growing a list.

    Tom
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    • Profile picture of the author Tony Palus
      Thank you for responses!
      I want to add that my list is small and the main purpose of creating the e-book is collecting emails, respectively building audience. So this can also influence your opinions about this idea.
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  • Profile picture of the author mazzuca
    Surely no doubt that its an Excellent idea. Try this and i believe it will work. I do something like that always and it works for me.
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    • Profile picture of the author Michael Shook
      This is a good idea, I might make a suggestion.

      In your book, do not put an affiliate link to a product anywhere. Those products are notoriously short lived, and when they are disbanded, you are left with a bunch of ebooks in existence that have useless links in them.

      Create a page on your website where you review programs like this and add your affiliate links to that page. Then put the link to that page in your ebook. You can always change wha ti son your page as the programs come and go and your link will be valid for as long as you have your website.

      You are going to get some dropoff, but you will also get some people who will stay with you as long as you treat them well, and don't send them links to a bunch of crap programs.
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      • Profile picture of the author Crowsnest
        People like inspirational stories and enjoy being inspired and there are certainly tons of people wishing they could make the shift from employee to employer. If you ensure that you are giving good value to your potential subscribers I think you are on the right lines.
        Well done on taking positive action

        Brian B
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        Don't be a watcher - build yourself an income!
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      • Profile picture of the author ACandi
        Originally Posted by Michael Shook View Post

        This is a good idea, I might make a suggestion.

        In your book, do not put an affiliate link to a product anywhere. Those products are notoriously short lived, and when they are disbanded, you are left with a bunch of ebooks in existence that have useless links in them.

        Create a page on your website where you review programs like this and add your affiliate links to that page. Then put the link to that page in your ebook. You can always change wha ti son your page as the programs come and go and your link will be valid for as long as you have your website.

        You are going to get some dropoff, but you will also get some people who will stay with you as long as you treat them well, and don't send them links to a bunch of crap programs.

        Hi Michael,

        Your suggestion is excellent. I would support your recommendation. I still think Tony needs to use three to five follow up emails after getting the email address.

        The first immediate response follow up email should provide the download link for the ebook and introduce whatever product he is currently promoting. He will have to include the benefits of the product and a link (his affiliate link) to the product sales page.

        The other follow up emails would continue the promotion using copy writing persuasion techniques.

        LB
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      • Profile picture of the author getveryrich_net
        Originally Posted by Michael Shook View Post

        This is a good idea, I might make a suggestion.

        In your book, do not put an affiliate link to a product anywhere. Those products are notoriously short lived, and when they are disbanded, you are left with a bunch of ebooks in existence that have useless links in them.

        Create a page on your website where you review programs like this and add your affiliate links to that page. Then put the link to that page in your ebook. You can always change wha ti son your page as the programs come and go and your link will be valid for as long as you have your website.

        You are going to get some dropoff, but you will also get some people who will stay with you as long as you treat them well, and don't send them links to a bunch of crap programs.
        Excellent idea Micheal - keeps the ebook links from going obsolete ...
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  • Profile picture of the author Edwin Torres
    Yeah that could work well. Try to pitch the product in a way where they NEED it in order to achieve the next step of the process.

    Frank Kern does something called 'Results in Advance' where he takes the prospect through each and every step needed until they reach their end goal.

    The report (I'm assuming) will be step #1 for them. Get them curious about a possibility of making money online. The product you promote should help them with their next logical question which would be: What do I do next? Where do I start?

    Remember not to give the entire farm away in your free report. Give information but still tease them that there is something that can help them out (aka your product).

    Hope that helps!
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  • Profile picture of the author Randall Magwood
    Originally Posted by Tony Palus View Post

    My question is: can I add in the end a chapter named: "What's next?" where I would review and promote a cb or cj product about building business. Good or bad idea?
    Absolutely. It's a great idea. The true task is getting targeted people to view your freebie. If you can find a good way to continually get people viewing your freebie and reading it everyday... you'll do just fine. Yeah add a CB product review (make sure it's closely related to your freebie content). It's a good idea.
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  • Profile picture of the author ACandi
    Hi Tony,

    Yes I think its a good idea. You will still have to prepare your follow up emails to promote the product.

    After you get the email address, your first response email should remind the visitor about the ebook and give access to a download link. The rest of the email should introduce the product, mention its benefits and use a 'Get it now' command with the product sales page link embedded in the command.

    You should send another two to five follow up emails promoting the product.

    LB.
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  • Profile picture of the author QueenMelanie
    Maybe not a what's next, but maybe "tools to make it easier" , or "become a greater expert with" , more a friendly reccomendation < you know , those kind of headings.. I think it might seem a bit cheeky to to have it as "whats next" , because they just paid for your book thinking they'll get all they needed..
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    • Profile picture of the author discrat
      Hey Tony,
      I wouldn't put an Affiliate Link in your Freebie. I never do and I think it is a little too early and intrusive at this moment in the sales funnel.

      That is just my opinion. MMO Niche is different as I would not have as much a problem ( even though I do not myself).

      But not this Niche



      - Robert Andrew
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      • Profile picture of the author Tony Palus
        Many of you are saying it's good idea. But there are also opinions that it's not a good idea in the beginning.
        So it looks like, there are 3 ways:
        1.Put affiliate link at the end.
        2.No affiliate in the e-book, only after few(3-5) emails.
        3.No affiliate at all.
        What do you think?
        Consider that firstly I want to build an audience.
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        • Profile picture of the author Steve B
          Tony,

          As I read your sig file ("My mission is to help unfulfilled people to become authentic leaders and inspire them to accomplish their deepest dreams.") it seems to me that simply sending subscribers to an affiliate product is not going to inspire anybody to trust you in helping them to become a leader. I don't know what your long term business model looks like . . . but if you plan to do coaching, or mentoring, or other "help you to become . . ." type programs - you should, from the outset, prove your own worth.

          If I were you . . . I would try to create or (have created) your own product. I would want something that builds trust and authority and confidence in me rather than simply sending subscribers to someone else's offer. Does that make sense?

          I guess you have to ask yourself if you're in business for the long haul and do you truly want to help people (over time of course) or are you just looking for the one time sale? Personally, I can tell you that many successful marketers here have made their fortunes selling back end products to repeat customers. I have found that it's easier to sell to satisfied previous buyers than to constantly be looking to sell to new buyers.

          Yes, you can reward a subscriber by sending him to an affiliate offer . . . but if you truly want to create a business where you are the authority and the enabler, I would think you'd be better off showing your worth with your own product. You need to be the star, the go-to guy, the one who people trust to actually help them!

          Just my opinion . . .

          Good luck to you,

          Steve
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          • Profile picture of the author art72
            Originally Posted by Steve B View Post

            Tony,

            As I read your sig file ("My mission is to help unfulfilled people to become authentic leaders and inspire them to accomplish their deepest dreams.") it seems to me that simply sending subscribers to an affiliate product is not going to inspire anybody to trust you in helping them to become a leader. I don't know what your long term business model looks like . . . but if you plan to do coaching, or mentoring, or other "help you to become . . ." type programs - you should, from the outset, prove your own worth.

            If I were you . . . I would try to create or (have created) your own product. I would want something that builds trust and authority and confidence in me rather than simply sending subscribers to someone else's offer. Does that make sense?

            I guess you have to ask yourself if you're in business for the long haul and do you truly want to help people (over time of course) or are you just looking for the one time sale? Personally, I can tell you that many successful marketers here have made their fortunes selling back end products to repeat customers. I have found that it's easier to sell to satisfied previous buyers than to constantly be looking to sell to new buyers.

            Yes, you can reward a subscriber by sending him to an affiliate offer . . . but if you truly want to create a business where you are the authority and the enabler, I would think you'd be better off showing your worth with your own product. You need to be the star, the go-to guy, the one who people trust to actually help them!

            Just my opinion . . .

            Good luck to you,

            Steve
            Great advice Steve.

            In truth, I pulled the brakes on many of my affiliate promotions largely impart to the same advice you gave above concerning the credibility and trust building facets of long term business.

            I couldn't see building my business around referring others to someone elses consultations.

            This is not to say I discourage the OP from using affiliate products until developing their own products and/or skillset.

            Being I share a common interest in directly enhancing peoples lives concerning the recipients changing their mindset from any limitations... I fully agree, writing the book, building the list, and directly influencing positive changes in a visitors/readers mind (*all positive actions) could have a negative effect... the minute you direct them to someone elses products and/or services.

            However, on the other hand... If done respectfully to the tools a d resources concerning the attainment of the OP's objective goal, it could be said that recommending the tools or software needed could essentially maintain the subscribers focus, while monetizing through affiliate channels. Thus, you continue to work their mindset, and introduce them to the typical resources needed to make the transition from a job to their independence.

            All the Best,

            Art
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            • Profile picture of the author Tony Palus
              Thank you, Steve!
              I forgot the first rule of email marketing - build relationship.
              When I am thinking about it. Why would someone believe even my recommendation.
              So no affiliate at the moment. Firstly, I have to build a trust. It's same in real life.
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  • Profile picture of the author gcbmark20
    Hi,

    LEAKED content the form of an e-book always works pretty well.

    Your visitors are getting a real taste of your content.

    Then when they want more, you show them by offering them the complete
    version but at a price.

    There was a solid WSO released not too far back about this very concept.

    It was so good I recommended it to my subscribers.

    But always TEST and TRACK your results!!!

    The link to the PAID version needs to have a tracking link in there so
    you know how well this strategy works for varying traffic sources etc.
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  • Profile picture of the author razorz18
    Originally Posted by Tony Palus View Post

    Ok, I have decided to create a freebie(e-book) in exchange for emails. It's going to be about changing a mind from employee's thinking to business thinking.
    My question is: can I add in the end a chapter named: "What's next?" where I would review and promote a cb or cj product about building business. Good or bad idea?
    Yes you can but I would rather to stay away from this first. Try to not pitch them as they just know you. Engage more in mailing list. Video tutorial is nice add up to pitch your affiliate link throughout the autoresponder sequence but don't focus on it as much important is have great relationship with your list should be main priority.
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  • Profile picture of the author fernelis2009
    That´s a great idea
    the best thign you can do is test it out!
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