19 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}
19 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}

Recipe eBooks SUCK?!

by GeorgeJoel
15 replies
Is anyone having success with selling recipe ebooks online? I need a few tips from someone that is actually selling them too and not just speculating on how one might sell them.

I have referred 5 affiliate commissions to clickbank and earned $100. But I am having a hard time selling the 47+ that I have rights to. You can check out my site at www.recipes.fm

Thanks.
George

P.S. I have over 500 recipe domains that get over 90,000 uniques a month. Got traffic... need sales?!
#ebooks #recipe #recipes
  • Profile picture of the author garyv
    I once made huge profits selling recipe ebooks. I still own recipecd.com, and I need to do something with it.

    But I found that I had the most success by selling recipe ebooks in very narrow categories. Like I had a giftjar recipes ebook, a pizza recipes ebook, a jerky recipes ebook, a diabetes recipe ebook, and many others. I'd offer them seperately for a fairly cheap price, and then offer them all in a package or all on CDrom for a good price. In it's prime, I was selling 500 CDs a month. Another tip is to make sure you have an opt in link in every ebook, and a link to a main website in every ebook. Also a good way to get opt ins, is by giving one of your recipe ebooks away.

    Good Luck!
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[109492].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author SusanUSA
      Originally Posted by garyv View Post

      I found that I had the most success by selling recipe ebooks in very narrow categories. Like I had a giftjar recipes ebook, a pizza recipes ebook, a jerky recipes ebook, a diabetes recipe ebook, and many others.
      I made a lot of money selling a recipe book to a very targeted market . . . I think that's the key. Diabetes recipe books are very popular. One micro niche I would try would be Southern Recipes for people with Diabetes. I know that sounds a little odd, but folks in the south are very particular about what they eat and the flavors they like. Men and women with diabetes find it hard to get recipes with a southern flair.
      Signature
      SusanUSA

      Believe me! If I can do it, so can you!

      How a grandma made $12k+ in 5 weeks on her first IM offer spending less than $100!
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[109684].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author John Ritz
        Some good advice here!

        Bottom line, you can substitute "IM eBooks" or "Dating eBooks" or just about anything else for "Recipe eBooks" and they'll all probably suck.

        Unless you craft a great offer and have a good USP. That is, what separates you from your competitors?

        Too many people look at that as an afterthought, when it really should be the first thing.

        Never underestimate the power of a GREAT offer!

        Cheers,

        John
        Signature
        => A Neat Little Twitter Trick...
        => Want More Comments For Your Blog? Try This Free Tool
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[109727].message }}
        • Profile picture of the author myob
          This niche is a huge market. My wife sells recipe books with a twist, and makes almost as much as I do. She sells historical recipes giving a description of their origin. For example, "pioneer" recipes, carnival recipes, Victorian Age recipes, "Depression Era", and on into the epochs in our history. People buy because it is much more than recipes, customers literally enjoy a "taste" of history.
          {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[109780].message }}
          • Profile picture of the author GeorgeJoel
            Hmmm... The advice keeps getting better. Ron, I'll send you a PM- thanks!

            Just doing some calculations, if I released a new recipe book each day for the hight traffic target recipe niches(domains) I've got... It would take nearly 2 years to get through them! Man.. I've got a lot of work ahead! Even if I hire a person to put the books together.

            George

            P.S. What do you think about pricing the books? Recipe books on ebay are around $1, I've seen others at $29. Not sure where to settle on price.?
            {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[110623].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Monetize
    Ppl don't usually pay for recipes since those are free all over
    the internet, they do pay for "secret" recipes. Do some things
    that differentiate your recipes from all the others, gear them
    towards certain demographics (for example, ppl with special
    dietary needs - diabetics, vegetarians, etc.) and include more
    descriptive words such as "mouthwatering" and "tantalizing."
    Above all, don't stay with a niche that isn't profitable. There
    is too much money to be made out here.
    Signature
    Monetization Skool
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[109500].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author ibringjoy
    It seems like with that many uniques per month, you would be making sales.

    Do you have a unique selling proposition (USP) - something that is unique about your recipe books? Such as:

    A recipe book with hard to find recipes?

    A book with specialized recipes for a specific target market?

    Perhaps your sales pages can address a specific problem that cooks have, and show how your recipe book can solve that problem.

    One person who can help you is Willie Crawford. He is a Senior Warrior here. He made a fortune selling a recipe book. He often refers to it in his marketing lessons. He is very down to earth and gives good marketing advice. Perhaps you can ask his advice.

    Kathryn
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[109506].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author GeorgeJoel
      Thanks for the advice. The development I have in mind seems like a lot of work, so I am a little concerned if this is a profitable niche to be in or if it's all dried up.

      Here are a few of my ideas:
      :: Monthly membership with a new Recipe eBook added each month
      :: Selling the Recipe ebooks cheap (ie. $1.99 ea)
      :: Creating a recipe ebook unique to each domain (Time intensive)
      :: Adsense site: with recipes.fm I can target all the top searches (ie.soup.recipes.fm etc)

      I believe that there is more $$ in this niche, but looking for guidance.

      g.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[109545].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Ron Douglas
    Originally Posted by GeorgeJoel View Post

    Is anyone having success with selling recipe ebooks online? I need a few tips from someone that is actually selling them too and not just speculating on how one might sell them.

    I have referred 5 affiliate commissions to clickbank and earned $100. But I am having a hard time selling the 47+ that I have rights to. You can check out my site at RECIPES

    Thanks.
    George

    P.S. I have over 500 recipe domains that get over 90,000 uniques a month. Got traffic... need sales?!
    Hi George,

    I do really well in the cooking niche and I own the top spot on Clickbank in that category.

    As someone mentioned, you need a USP or different spin to make recipes sell.

    PM me and I'll give you some ideas.

    Best,

    Ron
    Signature
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[109598].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Kevin Riley
    Originally Posted by GeorgeJoel View Post

    Is anyone having success with selling recipe ebooks online? I need a few tips from someone that is actually selling them too and not just speculating on how one might sell them.

    I have referred 5 affiliate commissions to clickbank and earned $100. But I am having a hard time selling the 47+ that I have rights to. You can check out my site at RECIPES

    Thanks.
    George

    P.S. I have over 500 recipe domains that get over 90,000 uniques a month. Got traffic... need sales?!
    Looking at the books I see on your site, they are too generic.

    "101 Chicken Wing Recipes" "Great Sandwiches"? I'm sorry, but those kind of recipe books are everywhere, and not inspiring.

    Now, if it was "Succulent Sandwiches From The Kitchen's Of The Moulin Rouge" "Chicken Wing Recipes That Set Off Fire Alarms" ....
    Signature
    Kevin Riley, long-time Warrior living in Osaka, Japan

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[109663].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Kevin Birch
    Here is my take:

    Nowhere (that I could see) on your main page do you mention a membership. Your prospects think they have come to an ebook store where they are going to be shown a way where they can buy ALL your ebooks for 9 bucks.

    You then offer your prospects many ways to leave your page without ordering to check each book out. They then see each out of the box, individual book's sale page (usually priced at 14 bucks)

    Thats where your prospects will first learn about a membership at 9 bucks per month when they clickk- they will be confused as they think they will be able to get their paws on them all for 9 bucks.

    They will then probably think its a con because you haven't been up front about the REAL costs.

    Your prospects think they have come to an ebook store (thats what you initially call it) and they see that its not an ebook store . . . and its taken them something like 4 clicks to find the real offer - would you spend your valuable time on other sites you come across, clicking away to find the real offer?

    I think not!

    Remember the KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid) principle?
    Signature
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[110659].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author JohnMcCabe
      George, you might want to take a close look at the Time-Life model...

      Start with one very attractive product, and offer it cheap. Spin that into a continuity offer - Book of the Month style.

      "Buy this collection of specialty items for this ridiculously low price, and once a month we'll send you another one at the regular price. Cancel anytime."

      That model has sold everything from classic literature to "Girls Gone Wild" videos to high-buck collectibles.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[111081].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author GeorgeJoel
        Good Idea John. My first niche recipe book will be "101 Savory Fresh Fish Recipes for Internet Marketers who's signatures have gone fishing". Do you think it will sell?

        No, really... I appreciate your suggestion since I am headed down that path now. Just needed to hear it from others.

        George
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[111198].message }}
        • Profile picture of the author JohnMcCabe
          Originally Posted by GeorgeJoel View Post

          Good Idea John. My first niche recipe book will be "101 Savory Fresh Fish Recipes for Internet Marketers who's signatures have gone fishing". Do you think it will sell?

          No, really... I appreciate your suggestion since I am headed down that path now. Just needed to hear it from others.

          George
          I know you'd likely sell at least one!
          {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[111221].message }}
          • Profile picture of the author GeorgeJoel
            Does anyone have PLR recipe books that aren't given away all over the net for free and that are niche?

            George
            {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[116155].message }}

Trending Topics