Sell EBook versus Give Away EBook

Not necessarily ...

See you are on someone's list right now! Are you a dedicated follower? Most likely - NOT.

Unless you can share quality information and promote products that your list is looking for or interested in, the conversions would be low.

It depends on the niche you wrote this ebook for, and also if this information is already available to people or are you teaching them something that is new and unique.

I strongly recommend selling the ebook (for a lower price if you wish) to get more sales but at least you know the people who bought the ebook are serious about the niche and want to learn more. Then it becomes easier for you to promote other valuable products / services to them.

A totally free giveaway might keep people wondering what's the catch and some might not even value the true content that you are providing.

Just my 2 cents !

What I would personally do is create a report on the same subject to give out for free. This way you can have a separate page operating with the free report to build your list and still be able to sell your ebook.

In fact, you can advertise the book to the people who sign up to recieve the free report.

How about selling the ebook, but giving away the first chapter or two so people can judge it? If it's as good as you think it is, that should help you make sales.

Personally, I don't like the "teaser" approach. I consider my time to be valuable. If I download something, even a freebee, I want to feel that I am somewhat better for having done it. When I get a "teaser" from someone, without any real (i.e. useful) content, it has a negative effect on me. I feel as if I've simply wasted some of my time, donating it for free to the seller's sales pitch.

Of course, that's just me. Others will have different opinions.

Definetely sell the ebook. At least then you can provide an incentive for others to promote it as well. That will build your list faster than anything.

I've done it both ways with one particular product, and have had more financial success giving away the ebook and selling related materials to the list (later changed to giving away a video instruction series upfront and selling to the list).

Why?

Well, the ebook itself wasn't really what I would consider a high-ticket item. So while more people bought the ebook when it was for sale outright, I had to sell it at a fairly low price otherwise so as not to overstate the value. When I switched to giving it away (and later giving away a series of videos) I was able to sell much higher ticket items to the list on the backend. Fewer buyers, but at a higher price.

In fact, I'm working on my next product launch right now, and that product will follow the exact same model: I will be giving away a video series on a good topic, and then selling to the list that results because I have a group of backend products that will further the material provided in the videos.

Interesting site/blog, your disclaimer link is a 404 error on your optin box. Here is a thought, why not first let a few warriors review your ebook (builds credibility) and then once some trust has been formed, then sell it and then have affiliates promote your book and you shall be making money and building your list at the same time. The free approach can be good if lets say thousands of people bought it and it was pure quality, this helps build your brand and your future sales funnel.

If many freebie seekers just download you ebook for free, then there is a great chance that not many will ever buy from you, so get the testimonials, sell, recruit affiliates, build your list filled with qualified /more responsive list members.

Cheers,
Magic

I tend to do a bit of both , when visitors email me I will send them a free copy for being on my list sort to speak , but I also sell that same ebook to other people and it is in a marketplace.

I think the cure for this one is to keep on developing hot new content. Study and develop your mindshare in areas related to your ebook... and as you develop new content, you will have more options and can decide which material to give away, and which to sell.

The choice is only difficult when you don't have much material. Aim to be in a situation where you have multiple products, that gives you all kinds of flexibility as to what gets bundled with what, what gets given away, etc.... hope that helps.