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First e-book / opt-in advice?

by Chris Hardee
11 replies
I'm writing my first e-book to give away in order to get people to opt-in to my e-mail distribution list (first one of these as well).

Should I allow people to redistribute the e-book after they download to get more distribution?

Also, do you have a favorite license you use?
#advice #ebook #optin
  • Profile picture of the author E. Brian Rose
    Originally Posted by chardee42 View Post


    Should I allow people to redistribute the e-book after they download to get more distribution?
    For sure! Be smart about it. Place your web address in the header, footer, or both of every page. Also, make the first page of the site an "about you" section that has links to your other products.

    Any time that you mention a product or service in your ebook, don't just link to their website, use your affiliate link.

    None of this should devalue the content of your ebook.

    Now, let your subscribers pass it along to anybody they want and let the viralness begin.
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  • Profile picture of the author Diane S
    Originally Posted by chardee42 View Post

    Should I allow people to redistribute the e-book after they download to get more distribution?
    Absolutely! Hope it is full of links to your money sites! Or your masked affiliate links for lots of products.
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  • Profile picture of the author Alfredo Carrion
    Yes, and place a link not only to your blog, but also to a squeeze page. Something like: "If you haven't subscribe to my newsletter yet you can do it now and you will receive etc, etc."

    Think about placing some great tips in the Thank You page, before the download link. That way, the people that will read your ebook without subscribing will be (hopefullly) willing to go to your squeeze page and subscribe.
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  • Profile picture of the author DPWeb
    You can even make the author of the book be your website's URL.

    Not only should you let your readers redistribute, you should encourage it! You can state that it must be left intact and accessed via your URL, or you can let them take clips out as long as they give an attribution link. Those are all traffic building strategies!
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    • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
      Banned
      Originally Posted by DPWeb View Post

      Not only should you let your readers redistribute, you should encourage it!
      I started off doing this, but have now switched completely and discourage it, and with much better results.

      I do allow it, but I include a section explaining why, if someone has a friend to whom they want to pass on the content of the report, they'll actually be doing their friend a far bigger favour simply recommending it and encouraging their friend to opt in for it, so that their friend will receive not only the report itself but the accompanying email series following it. Along the lines of "Why give them only half the story when there's so much more available, too, and all of it free of charge?".

      I get a lot of additional opt-ins this way.

      I know that some people do simply forward the PDF's as well, and of course I'll take that as second-best.

      (I also do everything suggested above).
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  • Profile picture of the author marcuslim
    You might even want to share it on publishing sites like Book Publishers | Ebook Software | Online Publishing | Print Layout Templates at Issu.com or Scribd - for example, share the first few pages, and at the end, say 'for the scoop please opt in here and download the full report'
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    Marcus Lim
    Silver Bullet Publishing

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  • Profile picture of the author Chris Hardee
    Fantastic ideas! I have so much to learn. I've had this site for over a year and I'm kicking myself for waiting this long to start an email list.
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    Tech copywriter who simplifies complex ideas for a broader audience.
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  • Profile picture of the author fated82
    No....here is why. It is very unlikely that people will actually 'pass the book' around unless the information contained in the book is so amazing that you actually give the person no choice but to pass it on to someone else.

    So, what i suggest is this. Use the first one as an opt in and create a second book for upsell (probably $9). In the first ebook, have a link to the second eBook and include the following: "Earn 100% commission by promoting [enter your second ebook title here']

    Now, would you be motivated to promote my list if i pays you 100% for it? Obviously you would need a backend product to sell to those who bought the second ebook.

    If your second ebook sells like hot cake, you can increase the price of that ebook to 19.95, I am sure more affiliates will be interested in helping you promote your list if they can earn $19.95 for every book sold.

    What you got in return are people who are not only interested in your information, they literally are sold....
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    • Profile picture of the author DPWeb
      Originally Posted by fated82 View Post

      No....here is why. It is very unlikely that people will actually 'pass the book' around unless the information contained in the book is so amazing that you actually give the person no choice but to pass it on to someone else.

      So, what i suggest is this. Use the first one as an opt in and create a second book for upsell (probably $9). In the first ebook, have a link to the second eBook and include the following: "Earn 100% commission by promoting [enter your second ebook title here']

      Now, would you be motivated to promote my list if i pays you 100% for it? Obviously you would need a backend product to sell to those who bought the second ebook.

      If your second ebook sells like hot cake, you can increase the price of that ebook to 19.95, I am sure more affiliates will be interested in helping you promote your list if they can earn $19.95 for every book sold.

      What you got in return are people who are not only interested in your information, they literally are sold....
      Very interesting strategy. I will definitely implement this strategy on a few of my blogs.

      The person who posted after me also made AWESOME points about the free distribution problem.

      I agree with both people. I'm glad I came to this community.
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  • Profile picture of the author nvs74191
    Another problem with free distribution rights is that people don't necessarily do it just because you allow them to.

    I have found the response to be lukewarm. On the contrary, people who buy do something with it.

    I tend to agree with fated82 on this.
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    Swaminathan

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