Is it best to 1.Give content away 2. Sell content dirt cheap [ex. $5] or 3. Sell @ mid range??

It depends on your immediate and long term goals.

You can totally just ignore free content altogether and try to get buyers first. You do so by skipping the squeeze page and going with a sales page then collecting the buyers on a list.

This has several advantages and disadvantages.

I recommend collecting everyone on a list and giving out something solid, immediately doable, and something rare they probably don't know about first.

Then follow up with something that is the same as the first, that genuinely helps people.

And then again.

The fourth day, send them to your sales letter/video/affiliate offer. Tell them that you enjoyed helping them and you know they would do the same for you.

If you made the free info powerful, but easily doable and somewhat unique (but didn't give away the farm) then the last line will really invoke feelings of reciprocation.

You then make a cool offer for them. Further help/advice/etc. in the form of your course or your affiliates course.

If it's an affiliate, stack a cool, helpful bonus. Personal help? A complimentary course? something that adds value works really well.

If it is an affiliate offer, give them the chance to buy WITHOUT your affiliate link. Why?

Because it shows you care about them first. Simple tell them "here is my link - if you buy from me, I get a small commission from sending you there way. I want to be upfront though - if you want to get it without sending me something, that's cool. We can still be friends."

This also covers you with the FTC - disclosing your business relationship. It also shows them that you really do like the product and think's it will help them.

Trust me - they will use your link. I can guarantee it

Rob

Rob, you've helped me twice in a matter of days. Thanks so much! I truly appreciate it.

P.S. I had another $100+ day, woohoo!

Alot of it also depends on your target market. For example...if you are building a list in the make money online niche..these people are used to getting free stuff for the opt in.

This does one of two things....they are expecting it to be completely free so they could be turned off even if you used a low price.

OR

Since they get so much free stuff they tend to throw it away as crap. By putting a price you could increase the amount of QUALITY opt ins.


It's a tricky question but I think it just comes down to your market.

I think there`s no need to separate these strategies. It could be better and more profitable if you combine them all.
You can build a list of subscribers and increase your traffic by offering a free "viral" report where you give some valuable information and recommend related products, tell about your service, offer some valuable tips and solutions people can use to solve their problem. There`s nothing wrong if you insert your affiliate links or links to your own products as well in this report. Then send this report to:
1. Scribd
2. DocStoc
3. Google Docs
4. Gazhoo.com
5. Pdf directories
6. Facebook and other social media sites
7. Create a simple video talking about your report and submit this to Youtube
So that`s not like an article marketing - you don`t need to make it unique for every submitting and it won`t take a lot of efforts. That use to be like a short summary of your product where you reveal your expertise. If you can`t write it by yourself just go to Textbroker.com and get it for 10-25$. Then there are real chances to get some real commissions and what`s even more important quality backlinks and targeted traffic - people who already interested in your content. Then it shouldn`t be a problem to get them to your list. Your current subscribers also will get some extra value if they get a piece of free content from you and at the same time that will help you to build a trust - the very main key to loyal customers. After they know about you, they know what you can do for them you can try to offer them to purchase your product. To increase your sales make its price affordable for everyone. Something about 10-15$ is not a brainer for most of us. You can even create a CD and and make a free + shipping offer with shipping cost from 9.97$ to 14.97$. Using Kunaki.com service can automate this process. If you send just 1 CD or DVD with DVD case to USA, Canada, Europe or Asia they charge you just 5.20 for manufacturing and shipping. And you keep your difference - from 5 to 10 bucks. If you really have something to say create a WSO. But after they decide to buy your cheap product - give them upsell offer - an option to buy a more advanced product from you. If they buy once from you chances are they will buy your other products - because they already know and trust you and they know you provide a quality information. Some people when they get a quality WSO on WarriorForum go to buy other products from that author not even reading the sales letter just because they trust him! So if they buy your cheap product they are more likely to take your upselling offer.
And that`s not actually difficult to do - just create a different versions of your product - free report, short and cheap ebook (video or CD), and advanced version with extra tips and questions covered and make an extra offer in your shopping cart. You can do it even with Clickbank.

Opportunities are endless. Try different models, track your results and improve your conversions.

The free plus shipping can no longer be done, but I get your drift. Thanks for sharing such valuable info...especially on your second post in the forum! Thank you.

Actually if I know it right you can do F+S, just you can`t offer it in a bundle with other products like a 97$ membership or something they can`t refuse. But you can offer an option to buy an extra product by using a check box which has to be unchecked. Anyway that doesn`t have to be exactly like that...

I know the change is recent, so I'll have to look in it, but again, awesome suggestion. I think the model you speak of is an excellent way to convert sales!