Sell My Content Or Give It Away For Free?

8 years ago

Here is the challenge: Usually if you have difficulty selling something, you
would also have a problem giving it away. People don't take things simply
because they are free but because they perceive value in what you are offering.

But I would not give up so quickly unless you have really looked critically at how
you are marketing your site and the reason why it's not selling. For sure, if the
material is of high quality and you offer it free, then monetizing your website
with ads could work.

-Ray Edwards

Thanks

Signature

The most powerful and concentrated copywriting training online today bar none! Autoresponder Writing Email SECRETS

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10404037].message }}

Mark Singletary

8 years ago

Sounds like you don't have a content problem but you have a marketing problem. If so, and if there isn't anyone to see your free content, no one will see your ads or click on them either.

Getting traffic to a free offer and to a paid offer is typically the same process. While having FREE in the link may help some, those that you want - people who are passionate about dogs - will click any convincing headline they feel will help their babies. They spend BILLIONS for every conceivable thing.

What are you doing to get your content out there marketing wise?

Mark

Originally Posted by Alexbrightdog

So I have created a dog training membership website with over 150 custom videos, pdf's, and more all custom made by me. I have been trying to sell it as a monthly paid membership site.

The problem I am having now is getting it out there and it has me thinking.

Having as much content as I do, could I make more money by simply making all my content free, then just having ads on my sites/videos? If my content is free than their is literally 0 barrier for entry, and I would imagine getting traffic would be easier?

What would be the best way to make use of my content and make the most money?

Thanks

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10404042].message }}

Joan Altz

8 years ago

No need to give away 150 videos. You could give away just a few of the videos if they don't buy into the membership.

Check out how Doggy Dan has his offer set up on ClickBank, and also sign up as an affiliate and see how he supplies affiliate tools, plus keeps his affiliates motivated.

He also offers a limited time free trial to his membership.

You don't have to set it up exactly like his setup, but that will give you some ideas and about how he uses his content for different purposes.

Thanks

Signature

Get the NEW PLR Manager Pro V2

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10404056].message }}

gvidass

8 years ago

You did hard job creating this content, I would suggest you not to give it for free. You just give some samples for free, or lets say free trial. If costumers gonna see that it's worth it to spend money and they gonna like it, you won't have any problems.

Just give them something at the beggining and so you will make them to want more and spend money for your products.

Thanks

Signature

Unleash Full Potential of Pinterest Course

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10404097].message }}

umohlee

8 years ago

From your post so far I followed, I will suggest you try and get traffic to site first before nothing.
I believe once you promote your site well and get impressive visit daily, Google absence could work out fine.
Advise:
1, create a YouTube channel and post few of your videos there.
2, create a Facebook fan page to promote your site with daily tips about your service with link to your site
3, use your twitter handle to get more friends and channel them to share and retweet your post also visit your site.
4. write short reviews about each of your videos and submit them on file share directories.
5. don't forget Google plus as part of your traffic generation.
Well, all I could think of. I hope it helps.

I am a freelancer, I can help out if you have anything you want to outsource, like social media marketing. I can get active lead to your website, fan page like, twitter followers and twitter post retweet or I can help help submitted you review to many directories online

Thanks

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10404113].message }}

TBosch

8 years ago

When I hear about something being given away for free, I admit I am already prejudiced that it is going to be a low quality offering. I suppose some people are lured in with the idea of bonuses and freebies but for me, I don't see the point in throwing in ticky-tac fluff just to close a sale.

If your content is good then I say sell it for top dollar, then let the free market decide.

Thanks

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10404116].message }}

expressg

8 years ago

I would keep it simple: run an ad to a squeeze page giving away a report or guide on your training, then hit them with a follow up sequence to upsell your membership site. A powerful email follow sequence would be offering them 3 or so of your videos free, send one in each email or a link to a landing page containing a video. Then follow with "if you'd like to see more we offer over 150 videos of topic x" or something along those lines. Similarly your lead magnet on your squeeze page can be one of those videos, followed by emails containing a few more. Strategically place links to where they can buy your membership throughout the emails.

Thanks

Signature

- IM All Day -

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10404117].message }}

Alex Antoniazzi

8 years ago

I guess what I am getting at to the core is can you make money

A. Selling your own product

or

B. Having your product for free and make money through advertising

Thanks
4 replies

Signature

I'll Get You On The First Page Of Google...For FREE!https://alexantoniazzi.com

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10404120].message }}

Mark Singletary

8 years ago

Originally Posted by Alexbrightdog

I guess what I am getting at to the core is can you make money

A. Selling your own product

or

B. Having your product for free and make money through advertising

You can make money both ways if your content is wanted by enough people and if you have marketing systems in place to bring those people to your site and if the content (including sales copy) convinces the visitor that you are the real deal with real value to offer.

How much traffic are you getting now?

Mark

Thanks

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10404133].message }}

Raydal

8 years ago

Originally Posted by Alexbrightdog

I guess what I am getting at to the core is can you make money
A. Selling your own product
or
B. Having your product for free and make money through advertising

Both models work and both need marketing attached to them.

Model B is followed by Google, Facebook, Yahoo etc. They provide a
free service and charge advertisers to reach their members.

-Ray Edwards

Thanks

Signature

The most powerful and concentrated copywriting training online today bar none! Autoresponder Writing Email SECRETS

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10404136].message }}

Steve B

8 years ago

Originally Posted by Alexbrightdog

I guess what I am getting at to the core is can you make money
A. Selling your own product
or
B. Having your product for free and make money through advertising

Alex,

Just a few thoughts . . .

* Typically, making money through ads requires that you have a great deal of traffic coming to your site on a regular basis in order to generate enough income to make the model profitable. "Ad blindness" is a problem and if you're advertising with Adwords (or similar) you will only make a small pittance for each click away from your site that you generate. If you are having trouble getting traffic to your site right now, plan on a very small profit from this model until you figure out how to turn the traffic on steadily.

*Selling your own product through a membership site is a nice model but you have to be careful of several things. First, have you done your market research to show that there is demand for what you're offering? Second, have you tested your products individually to see if they will sell? If they will, selling them outside a membership site may be the preferred model. It's increasingly difficult to commit people to long-term recurring payments.

*Membership sites make sense for certain markets - others not so much. If you are creating a community of rabid fans that want to come together and interact, a membership site is a great choice. If all you're trying to do is gain a monthly payment from members - and all you're doing is offering lots of products - it's not such a good model unless there is timeliness or "news" benefit to what you're offering. People will see through the recurring payments and hesitate.

*Dog sites (including training) are everywhere. What are you offering that can't already be found online? Do you have new methods? Fantastic results? Already happy and satisfied customers? Because you're the new guy trying to take market share from the heavy hitters that have been doing business for years, it will be imperative that you are different, stand out, and clearly have a product that isn't available elsewhere. You've got to be better than others and show that in your offering and sales letter.

Ultimately, you will have to make your own decision on how to proceed. Whatever you do, start now to build a list of subscribers and nurture that list with great content. No matter the model you settle on, the list will be valuable in the future.

If I were in your shoes, I would test several different models and see how much traffic you can generate before you settle on a particular model. Test, track, and optimize until you have a system in place that is profitable. Then is the time to turn on the paid traffic faucet and ramp up your sales.

Good luck to you,

Steve

Thanks

Signature

Steve Browne, online business strategies, tips, guidance, and resources
SteveBrowneDirect

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10404198].message }}

Steve L

8 years ago

Originally Posted by Alexbrightdog

I guess what I am getting at to the core is can you make money

A. Selling your own product

or

B. Having your product for free and make money through advertising

Affiliate links woven throughout the content can work but normal banner ads or adsense are getting blocked by adblockers these days. I'd continue focusing on selling product though.

Thanks

Signature

How To Design A Website That Converts!

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10404262].message }}

Alex Antoniazzi

8 years ago

I am getting no traffic at all...obviously that is the key problem.

The reason I am trying to find this out is because if selling my product is the best way, I think I should invest in paid traffic.

If advertising is the best way to make money, I should invest in SEO.

Trying to figure out which business model is best so I know where to get traffic.

Thanks
1 reply

Signature

I'll Get You On The First Page Of Google...For FREE!https://alexantoniazzi.com

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10404143].message }}

hagendazz07

8 years ago

Originally Posted by Alexbrightdog

I am getting no traffic at all...obviously that is the key problem.

The reason I am trying to find this out is because if selling my product is the best way, I think I should invest in paid traffic.

If advertising is the best way to make money, I should invest in SEO.

Trying to figure out which business model is best so I know where to get traffic.

First you need to drive traffic to your product to know whether it's going to sell or not. In order to do that you should use paid traffic to drive traffic to you product more rapidly. Then you'll be able to assess the situation more clearly, ie I drove 100 clicks to my product but only did 2 sales, how can I increase my conversion rate.

Joel

Thanks

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10404283].message }}

Joan Altz

8 years ago

I saw your other thread where you mentioned you had this product on JVZoo.

JVZoo is all about Internet Marketing. It's internet marketers selling internet marketing products to other internet marketers. Where you see different categories for pets, weight loss and so on, the products that sell in those categories are plr products, not products for end users (not for people who actually want to train their dogs, not for people who actually want to lose weight, etc..,)

If you do manage to sell a membership to someone using JVZoo, your customer will receive emails every day from JVZoo about internet marketing products, not about dog products - internet marketing products. Every. Single. Day.

Just go to JVZoo, click on "Marketplace" in the menu bar, and type in "dogs" in the search bar. See the 3 products listed? Those are the only products making any significant sales. All of them are plr products.

That should give you a clue about what you need to do first. Get your product off of JVZoo. It's the worst possible place for a product like yours if you want affiliates who will promote this, and generally a bad experience for your would-be customers, who won't see the fine print and options at the bottom of the checkout page, and end up with JVZoo spam by permission.

[ 1 ] Thanks

Signature

Get the NEW PLR Manager Pro V2

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10404173].message }}

Steve L

8 years ago

Originally Posted by Alexbrightdog

So I have created a dog training membership website with over 150 custom videos, pdf's, and more all custom made by me. I have been trying to sell it as a monthly paid membership site.

The problem I am having now is getting it out there and it has me thinking.

Having as much content as I do, could I make more money by simply making all my content free, then just having ads on my sites/videos? If my content is free than their is literally 0 barrier for entry, and I would imagine getting traffic would be easier?

What would be the best way to make use of my content and make the most money?

Personally, I'd break up all of that content into several different products and sell them each with 'pay-what-you-want' pricing all with their own sales letter. Offer complimentary products as an affiliate within your content for extra income and offer a high-ticket service on the backend if you can.

Thanks

Signature

How To Design A Website That Converts!

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10404257].message }}

violet0176

8 years ago

Perhaps, partner with pet shops and popular pet blogs to build market base.

edit: lol @ pet shops, i meant to say pet stores, like ecommerce or even physical pet supply stores. Partner with the owners and build from there.

Thanks

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10404269].message }}

Juan Jose

8 years ago

Hey Alex.

To solve your lack of traffic, what you need to do is put your content in the eyes of potential users/buyers that are raving to get a dog training solution (which your product sounds as the obvious golden nugget for them).

Thanks
1 reply

Signature

~ MachadoWS ~

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10404288].message }}

Alex Antoniazzi

8 years ago

Originally Posted by Juan Jose

Hey Alex.

To solve your lack of traffic, what you need to do is put your content in the eyes of potential users/buyers that are raving to get a dog training solution (which your product sounds as the obvious golden nugget for them).

Hah, easier said than done

I know I have a great high quality product. Just struggling to get traffic.

Thanks

Signature

I'll Get You On The First Page Of Google...For FREE!https://alexantoniazzi.com

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10404370].message }}

ChrisBa

8 years ago

Originally Posted by Alexbrightdog

So I have created a dog training membership website with over 150 custom videos, pdf's, and more all custom made by me. I have been trying to sell it as a monthly paid membership site.

The problem I am having now is getting it out there and it has me thinking.

Having as much content as I do, could I make more money by simply making all my content free, then just having ads on my sites/videos? If my content is free than their is literally 0 barrier for entry, and I would imagine getting traffic would be easier?

What would be the best way to make use of my content and make the most money?

Why not start by trying to sell it, once sales plateau, move it to free?

Thanks
1 reply

Signature

$ POPS GUIDE - YOUR FIRST CONVERSION GUARANTEED! $

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10404406].message }}

discrat 8 years ago

You could make some of it free and get some Traffic that way and also package a few of the top videos that really have Value and sell them to Traffic you build up with free content.

Test it and see where it goes.

- Robert Andrew
- Thanks
- 1 reply
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10404586].message }}
- tasman 8 years ago
  
  After reading your post I thought of a great product that would be the perfect fit for you.
  
  Rob Stafford has just released a new product (which was WSO Of The Day) called Instant Passive Profits
  .
  Rob shows how to run membership sites easily and quickly and this would suit you with all the content you have.
  
  I don't want to reveal too much of what is contained in his system but maybe it would be to your advantage to have a look.
  
  Hope this helps.
  
  Thanks
  
  {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10405799].message }}

lrtowner

8 years ago

I don't see this discussed, so I'll ask the question here.

How are you currently interacting with dog owners?
Do you visit dog related discussion forums like this one?
Are you social media friends with any of the more "known" trainers, schools, or dog owner clubs?
How about discussions on local parks and rec sites about animal care in public?

Just some ideas for getting out there and showing your expertise (while having squeeze pages, offers, and other materials in place for those who are interested).

Lance

Thanks

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10405822].message }}

YourBizAid

Banned 8 years ago

The more goodwill you create on the marketplace, the more money you can make.

I'll advice you use your best free content to build a list. This way, folks will appreciate your free content.

However, if you go out there and throw it on anyone who cares to look, the perceived value of your content will reduce greatly.

So find a way to give it out, but in a way that builds trust and gain you more authority on your industry.

Louis

Thanks

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10405923].message }}

ivanadee

8 years ago

Sell it for cheap price. Do not forget to add related OTOs

Thanks

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10412094].message }}

Randall Magwood

8 years ago

Originally Posted by Alexbrightdog

If my content is free than their is literally 0 barrier for entry, and I would imagine getting traffic would be easier?

Fallacy.

Originally Posted by Alexbrightdog

What would be the best way to make use of my content and make the most money?

Keep it on the membership site, and promote the heck out of your membership site. Truth be told creating content is simple and easy. If the marketing sucks, then it doesn't matter how good the content is. I would start with paid advertising to get some tests done on a good strategy you should proceed with. Good luck.... with the marketing.

Thanks

Signature

==>> Free book reveals make money with affiliate marketing

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10412572].message }}

Attie25

8 years ago

With these new products you can take old products as bonuses. This is my opinion .

Thanks

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10413422].message }}

[Justin]

8 years ago

Originally Posted by Alexbrightdog

So I have created a dog training membership website with over 150 custom videos, pdf's, and more all custom made by me. I have been trying to sell it as a monthly paid membership site.

The problem I am having now is getting it out there and it has me thinking.

Having as much content as I do, could I make more money by simply making all my content free, then just having ads on my sites/videos? If my content is free than their is literally 0 barrier for entry, and I would imagine getting traffic would be easier?

What would be the best way to make use of my content and make the most money?

Keep everything paid, and give out the same info in chunks for free just to drive traffic. People never care when they pay for something after they already got most of it for free, that's kind of what makes them buy. They go to your site and get so much free info they are like "oh wow, all this free info is worth even more than the price of the product, so I'm for sure going to buy this, I already got my moneys worth anyways." There's a dating company called real social dynamics. They give out everything for free on youtube and on their website, and then they have products priced from 67-697 and people happily buy even though you don't learn anything new in it. Same with like John Chow, people buy blogging with John Chow even though there's nothing in it that you can't find on his site for free, and he even says that all the time and people still buy anyways.

Soo, keep everything paid, and just give out the same info in different ways for free in order to drive more traffic to your site.

I don't even have my first product up yet, I'm working on it now, but I learned this from many extremely successful people, it really is the best thing you can do.

Thanks

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10413954].message }}

Jouvan Johnson

8 years ago

Sounds great man. I suggest you work hard at studying marketing and salesmanship to get as many members into your membership as possible.

Work at building your list by giving them valuable content while building a relationship with your subscribers.

Build a funnel around your membership so your customers follow a path to your membership.

Lead Capture --> Low ticket offer ($7 - $27) --> Core Offer --> Monthly Membership

You should find a similar product in your niche that is doing well and making lots of sales and go through their whole funnel (actually buy from them) so you see what is working and model their funnel process because it is proven to work

Thanks
1 reply

Signature

I help the overworked & underpaid wage slave break free from the shackles of their 9 - 5 using just the internet and email. Find out how at ==> www.EducatedRebel.com

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10415012].message }}

hbeezy

8 years ago

Originally Posted by Jouvan Johnson

Sounds great man. I suggest you work hard at studying marketing and salesmanship to get as many members into your membership as possible.

Work at building your list by giving them valuable content while building a relationship with your subscribers.

Build a funnel around your membership so your customers follow a path to your membership.

Lead Capture --> Low ticket offer ($7 - $27) --> Core Offer --> Monthly Membership

You should find a similar product in your niche that is doing well and making lots of sales and go through their whole funnel (actually buy from them) so you see what is working and model their funnel process because it is proven to work

I was literally waiting for someone to say this. This method makes a lot more sense because from a buyer's perspective, he or she has no idea what you have to sell. All he or she sees on your website is just a site with probably a sales page and nothing else to judge it off of (do you have reviews of your content?) ...

So, "hook" the prospect with your lead magnet and build the relationship via email marketing. Then go from there, as mentioned in the quoted post.

150 videos for free? I would never do that unless every single of those videos were linked to an affiliate offer, your sales page or your lead magnet.

The pdf on the other hand, that could be a lead magnet right away, but if you do that make sure to not give away everything. Break off a small good snippet of it and let it be your "lite" version, thus hooking your prospects more.

Split testing in between squeeze pages, sales pages and solo click sends (if you want to do that) could be beneficial to you.

[ 1 ] Thanks

Signature

PLR Game Changer - Helping you turn your PLR into something special.
FREE WSO - How To Setup An Online Marketing Funnel

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10415219].message }}

writeaway

8 years ago

Give out the basic stuff and promote the heck out of it on SOCIAL MEDIA

For the more in-depth stuff, you should have a MEMBER'S ONLY SECTION

Give teasers out so people can join your mailing list

Hit your list members hard to join your members only area

Thanks

Signature

Earn More Money with your AI IMAGES- FREE TOOL

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10419145].message }}

Sell My Content Or Give It Away For Free?

Trending Topics

How do I effectively build and nurture an email list for affiliate marketing purposes?

Are billboards still effective in driving customers?

Are Solo ADs the Most Cost Effective Way to Promote your Product?

Been a while! Any of you Old Timers here?

How much does the rebranding affect CR ?