10 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}
10 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}

Advice sought on best channel(s) to sell ebook

by zetaReticullan
10 replies
I am in the process of writing an ebook (roughly 200 pages, complete with diagrams and charts). The niche is financial markets. It is a distillation of over two decades of hard knocks (as well as successes) in the financial markets.

I intend to sell the book for $19.99. The book is targeted at complete novices, as well as those with intermediate experience with this particular market.

I will be writing more comprehensive, detailed information (from basic, through to advanced level) via a series of Udemy courses (as part of my sales funnel).

I want to know if there is a "best practice" way of selling the book. The options available to me (AFAICT) are:

1. Create a sales page and sell it (via paypal, shopify etc)
2. Sell it via Amazon (are there restrictions on where else the book can be sold if I choose this option?)
3. Sell it as a CD via kunaki (or some other alternative?)
4. Turn it into a course on Udemy

I would prefer to perhaps avoid option 1, for at least two reasons:

a). My traffic generation skills is not yet up to speed, so I think outsourcing that to either Udemy or amazon may make more sense
b). Although I have development skills (software architect in a previous life), I would prefer not to go down this route (unless the benefits far outweigh the disadvantages)

Mindful of all of the above, what would be the advisable way to sell my ebook?
#advice #advice needed #amazon #channels #ebook #sell #sought #udemy
  • Profile picture of the author Jill Carpenter
    Even if you just list it on Amazon, you are still going to have to drive your own traffic to the book. It won't magically get sales just because you are in their platform.
    Signature

    "May I have ten thousand marbles, please?"

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10449724].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author zetaReticullan
      Originally Posted by Jill Carpenter View Post

      Even if you just list it on Amazon, you are still going to have to drive your own traffic to the book. It won't magically get sales just because you are in their platform.
      Thanks for taking the time to reply Jill. I suspected that was indeed the case, but since Udemy took on the burden of driving traffic (for a fee of course), I assumed Amazon did the same.

      I'll read Amazon's T&C to see what their revenue rates are (as well as any restrictive clauses); their (admittedly assumed) enormous reach however, makes them appealing - unless their T&C are too draconian/restrictive.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10449736].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Tomas Lodén
    I would set up my own site with diff squeezepages and promo it via facebook. The key here is to split test 8-10 ads and 2-5 squeezepages to see where you make the most money per visitor and scale. You can even give away parts of your ebook for free by using a signup form on your site and take it from there.. Good Luck..
    Signature
    6-fig affiliate marketer since 2003
    Free coaching to your first $100 dollars. DM me now..
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10449740].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author zetaReticullan
      Originally Posted by Tomas Lodén View Post

      The key here is to split test 8-10 ads and 2-5 squeezepages to see where you make the most money per visitor and scale.
      Hi Tomas, could you please explain what you mean by split test 8-10 ads and 2-5 squeezepages?. I'm guessing that you mean A/B testing. How would I actually go about implementing that in practice? What is the workflow (i.e. what are the actual steps involved in doing "split test 8-10 ads and 2-5 squeezepages")?

      Unfortunately, when it comes to marketing, I'm a complete n00b!.

      BTW, thanks for your advice on the freebie. That's a good idea. MTIA
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10449783].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author NetMan
    Originally Posted by zetaReticullan View Post

    I am in the process of writing an ebook (roughly 200 pages, complete with diagrams and charts). The niche is financial markets. It is a distillation of over two decades of hard knocks (as well as successes) in the financial markets.

    I intend to sell the book for $19.99. The book is targeted at complete novices, as well as those with intermediate experience with this particular market.

    I will be writing more comprehensive, detailed information (from basic, through to advanced level) via a series of Udemy courses (as part of my sales funnel).

    I want to know if there is a "best practice" way of selling the book. The options available to me (AFAICT) are:

    1. Create a sales page and sell it (via paypal, shopify etc)
    2. Sell it via Amazon (are there restrictions on where else the book can be sold if I choose this option?)
    3. Sell it as a CD via kunaki (or some other alternative?)
    4. Turn it into a course on Udemy

    I would prefer to perhaps avoid option 1, for at least two reasons:

    a). My traffic generation skills is not yet up to speed, so I think outsourcing that to either Udemy or amazon may make more sense
    b). Although I have development skills (software architect in a previous life), I would prefer not to go down this route (unless the benefits far outweigh the disadvantages)

    Mindful of all of the above, what would be the advisable way to sell my ebook?
    Hello I'd say "all of the above" is good somehow.

    The different platforms for selling your product are just good as tools, among several other things required to successfully sell online, but these are not marketing strategies and funnel.

    One very important thing is that you build yourself (or have someone build for you) an public information website that breaths Authority by providing high-quality informational content, and building a targeted list of interested parties on which you follow up with the goal that they eventually buy your book.

    Of course there's a lot more to say and elaborate on the details, but with more or less variations, this is mainly how one must go in 2016 to promote any kind of business / service / product online. I suggest you either get a mentor to guide you through the route or hire someone as an expert to build and integrate this whole process because here all you will get is pieces of this and that here and there, by much who believe they know it all though they only repeat what they've read elsewhere, mainly old tactics that just don't work anymore.

    Best regards,
    Andre Foisy
    Signature

    <!---
    IGNORANCE is not an excuse anymore, all you need is Automate Kit!
    ---/>

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10450001].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author EPoltrack77
    Sounds good!

    Understand at least for me anyways is there is no build it and they will come approach. I am much better now but there is an optimization process that needs to take place. Small changes to get your desired results.

    Right off from the beginning Id start with building a list. Skip the instant gratification and give the book away for free. (at first anyways) The idea here is to ask for feedback from your list on the book. The more people that read it the bigger the picture you will gain and can optimize accordingly.

    From here you can monetize by all different methods. Before we get into that lets first work on the traffic and conversions.

    The big thing is once you have a sales page or a way to monitize you understand traffic and now can get other affiliates to promote for you. Big Money
    Signature
    Working to achieve higher results...
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10450212].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Steve L
    Originally Posted by zetaReticullan View Post

    I am in the process of writing an ebook (roughly 200 pages, complete with diagrams and charts). The niche is financial markets. It is a distillation of over two decades of hard knocks (as well as successes) in the financial markets.

    I intend to sell the book for $19.99. The book is targeted at complete novices, as well as those with intermediate experience with this particular market.

    I will be writing more comprehensive, detailed information (from basic, through to advanced level) via a series of Udemy courses (as part of my sales funnel).

    I want to know if there is a "best practice" way of selling the book. The options available to me (AFAICT) are:

    1. Create a sales page and sell it (via paypal, shopify etc)
    2. Sell it via Amazon (are there restrictions on where else the book can be sold if I choose this option?)
    3. Sell it as a CD via kunaki (or some other alternative?)
    4. Turn it into a course on Udemy

    I would prefer to perhaps avoid option 1, for at least two reasons:

    a). My traffic generation skills is not yet up to speed, so I think outsourcing that to either Udemy or amazon may make more sense
    b). Although I have development skills (software architect in a previous life), I would prefer not to go down this route (unless the benefits far outweigh the disadvantages)

    Mindful of all of the above, what would be the advisable way to sell my ebook?
    I personally don't like selling on Amazon since I'm not able to build a customer list that way.
    Signature
    How To Design A Website That Converts!
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10450253].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author NetMan
      Originally Posted by Steve L View Post

      I personally don't like selling on Amazon since I'm not able to build a customer list that way.
      If one chose to sell one's book on Amazon, using it as a selling platform, the idea is to build a presence with an Authority website and build a list to which one will sell one's book on Amazon!
      Signature

      <!---
      IGNORANCE is not an excuse anymore, all you need is Automate Kit!
      ---/>

      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10450372].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author Steve B
        Don't overlook the strategy of selling your book from a very simple web site and advertising on high authority sites specifically in your niche. After all, these authority sites already have your targeted viewers coming to them and you would be in a position to offer them a commission on every copy sold. Why would they do it? High traffic sites are always looking for extra income from non-competing products in the niche.

        You have to get your book in front of people that are looking for exactly what you have. So you piggyback on the eyeballs gathered at the high authority and popular sites in your niche.

        Steve
        Signature

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

        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10450442].message }}

Trending Topics