The great thing about online business is that you can do whatever you like.

No two business owners will ever have the exact same experience and that suggests that it's best to try things, test them out, see what works best for you in your niche and with the audience that you build.

When you say "make the website the ebook" - I assume you're talking about filling your site with niche content. If that's what you mean, then yes, it's good to show your niche authority and try to gain the trust of your audience so they will buy your paid products.

Why not create a niche ebook with lots of great information as well as putting useful content on your web site? You don't have to limit yourself to just one or the other.

Steve

Test both to see which works best.

The winner will be the one with the highest ROI over time.

Brent

What seems more fun to you? What are you more drawn to? I prefer to run everything through my blog, so I can help folks and promote my eBooks, my products and my services.

Maybe promote the website so that you can actually create enough targeted traffic so you can sell stuff.

Now the eBook can be sold or given away as a lead magnet to build a list.

I've been leaning toward X-day ecourses over ebooks but you should test out what works best for your business!

I really do not get your question. What exactly you want to do.

Actually creating the website and then promotion is the way to go.
I am not saying another way won't work but by having your website up at the early stage you are open to few other marketing strategies as well. Which will give you more ROI.

Try what ever you want, every one have unique experience regarding their own business website/blog. So Try and get result !

This is exactly why you need to have a product strategy...most online marketers think only of ONE product (either an affiliate product or their own) when the truth is that every successful online business has multiple products - so start thinking "If I turn my ebook into a 3-5 part video series and allow people to download the ebook or guide, then what ELSE could I sell them next?"

It could be a second phase of reaching their ultimate objective.

It could be additional tools or resources they need to reach their desired outcome.

It could be the "application" of the information in the form of group or 1:1 coaching.

It could be physical goods associated with what you teach them (Ex. Fitness training program offering fitness gear or supplements on the back-end)

Having a product strategy is CRITICAL today - especially given the increasing cost/effort associated with getting targeted traffic - the business with the superior product strategy leading to greater ROI on their traffic/lead gen wins...