How to make a ebook go viral?

Hi Nick,

(I realise you said 'apart from branding' but just in case...)

1) It's not just about branding (as in branding it with a straight url for example.)

If you use viralpdf (or similar) then you can make an affiliate link brandable. So here are two options -

a) include a presell for a product where the affiliate link is brandable

b) (even better) include the same but for a product in your OWN affiliate program

b) is better than a) because unless there is some other benefit for you from the ebook going viral, there's no point - you are giving the commission to the person who passes it on.

With a) - they get paid from your program, therefore it's a win-win.

But with b) you could give them a link to brand, and keep another one for yourself. Or the ebook is branded to your url and the content reflects well on the author (you). Or you add a link to your opt-in. Or many other things.


Some more answers to your question above -

2) Make the content absolutely amazing. Then encourage people to give it away. Explain to them the benefits/mechanics of giving it away - for example, explain how they can set up a mailing list and use your ebook as a tempter. The fact that the content is awesome will endear the readers to the person who gave it to them (as well as the author).

3) Connected to 2) above - give them as many different things that make it easier for them to start spreading the ebook around. For example - build a html page, with headline/sales pitch/opt in form that presells the benefits of reading the ebook. Add instructions on how to alter the page and upload for those who don't know.

Give them some quality graphic buttons they can use to link to the ebook download page. Or get a wordpress widget created that does the same, or simply give them the html code to add to a text widget.


You will see that most of these are really obvious. But if each little effort you make, gets an extra 1% of people to distribute the ebook, then the benefits will be exponentially huge - if this isn't clear to you, try and find some of the teachings of Mark Joyner where he explains how the effect of a viral product is similar to a snowball - it gathers speed as it's mass gets bigger AND collects more mass as it's surface area grows.

He doesn't use that analogy (as far as I know) but that's the same principle. The effect is compounding, like interest on money.

If you want even more ideas, try reading some of Ewen Chia's viral training ebooks or Jimmy D Brown's 'viral ebook brainstorm.' They might not give ALL of the answers, but they WILL get you excited and motivated and also get your brain thinking of new ways to answer your own question - and in my opinion, that is the key -

Understand the core concept, never forget that small efforts can produce big results (don't cut corners - give them everything they might possibly need to pass it on) and then brainstorm new ways to make it easier/reward them, for passing it on.

Hope this helps.