Build list or sell product?

39 replies
Hi warriors,

now I had just created a product. But should I sell this product or use it to build list?

What will you do?

Leo
#build #list #product #sell
  • Profile picture of the author TopKat22
    I would definitely build a list. Then you can sell multiple things to your list.

    But make sure to give a lot of value even in your follow up emails before you start promoting anything and then also, make sure what you promote is valuable to your list.
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  • Profile picture of the author Gama Seva
    well, you can do both at the same time.
    1. Create 2 versions of your product with 2 separate domain, sell the other version in CB and use for list building the other version.
    2. If your product is ebook convert it into audio or video and make it as an upsell to your squeeze page.
    3. Make a PLR version of your product and use it as an upsell...

    There's a bunch of options, you just have to be creative and greedy (sometimes)

    Gama
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  • Profile picture of the author art72
    Theoretically, you could do both. Package it inexpensively, get affiliates to promote it to their list by offering them (the buyers) exclusive 100% commissions, and create a simple squeeze page for the *new customers your affiliates send to your product.

    Some affiliates frown on this, but it's not uncommon to have to opt-in to access products these days.

    Just another option to consider.

    The 1st thing as TopKat22 mentions is deliver value, so affiliates will be more likely to send it to their lists.

    All the Best,

    Art
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  • Profile picture of the author TiffLee
    I agree with the last few posts.

    ... is it not silly to be deciding between the two? Do both and make them work together.
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    • Profile picture of the author Carolyn L.
      It depends upon if you want to make a fast few dollars or if you're willing to wait and earn later. By selling your product, you'll make some money now. But if you use this product to build a list, as a few others have said, you can sell over and over. Just be sure that what you give away is of high quality. First impressions only happen once.
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    • Profile picture of the author Carolyn L.
      Whoops for some reason it posted twice.
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      • Profile picture of the author wilsonljx
        Use it to build a list.It will benefit you in the long run.

        If the free content is really good,they will tend to trust you and will be more interested to check your offers to them.
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      • Profile picture of the author YukonJack
        There are a number of reasons why trying to just sell will yield far less results in comparison to giving away a free product in return for an email address:
        1. They don't know you yet. A list allows you to earn their trust over time with an autoresponder.
        2. Law of reciprocation. Whenever you do something nice to people, ie GIVE them something, they are much more likely to want to return the favor, ie. Buy a product from you.
        3. You have no scarcity when selling a product online. When you promote to your list, you can easily build scarcity.
        4. If sell online only, no potential for affiliate sales follow up, which if played right can far exceed your product sales. And you will lose all the leads from the people that decided to not buy.

        It seems like more work, but in the long run it is more profitable and less work once your funnel is set up.
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        • Profile picture of the author TopKat22
          Originally Posted by YukonJack View Post

          There are a number of reasons why trying to just sell will yield far less results in comparison to giving away a free product in return for an email address:
          1. They don't know you yet. A list allows you to earn their trust over time with an autoresponder.
          2. Law of reciprocation. Whenever you do something nice to people, ie GIVE them something, they are much more likely to want to return the favor, ie. Buy a product from you.
          3. You have no scarcity when selling a product online. When you promote to your list, you can easily build scarcity.
          4. If sell online only, no potential for affiliate sales follow up, which if played right can far exceed your product sales. And you will lose all the leads from the people that decided to not buy.

          It seems like more work, but in the long run it is more profitable and less work once your funnel is set up.
          Great post. I couldn't agree with you more.

          Another benefit to building a list is that you own it.

          Google can change something and people lose money from sales sites and adsense sites or an company can change or stop an affiliate commission, but if you have your own list, you can just promote something else to them.
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          44 days in and we broke the $10K a month recurring bench mark.

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  • Profile picture of the author ganang
    In my experience

    It better to sell it and create buyer list the same time. I have my product and decide to build list some ago. But the list in my AR just freebie seeker. I get less sale promoting to my list.

    that's why I think buyer list is more important and worth more.

    best Regard,
    ganang
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  • Profile picture of the author RyanLB
    I say..why not do both? Sell products and build lists alongside it. There is no reason why they should be viewed as one or the other. Just make sure that you focus mostly on one.
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  • Profile picture of the author louie6925
    Build a list everytime
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  • Profile picture of the author amritrr
    What is the product you have created? And what does it do?
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  • Profile picture of the author zamzung
    I would do both... it shouldn't be a problem to create another ebook that you will sell to your list as OTO or something similar... if nothing else, you could create light version of your main product and offer it for free to build your list, then hit them with full product on OTO or through email followup messages...

    Also, maybe you could create a sales page for your ebook... then add an exit script that would give your visitors a chance to download free light version... that way you could do both in the same time... someone will buy your ebook and be added to your buyer's list... while others will be on your non-buyer's list... then you can market to both of them though email followup messages...
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  • How about building your list BY selling products?

    Small profit products or even freebies are great for this.
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  • Profile picture of the author Nak
    You can do this...
    1) Build a squeeze page & offer "Leaked part of your ebook" This part must be interesting
    2)Give subscribers great but incomplete information
    3)Generate interest & then pitch them...your real product...
    This will give you long term benefits
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  • Profile picture of the author World Marketing
    Doing both will give you more options and potentially more revenue.
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  • Profile picture of the author RobKonrad
    Hi think this also depends on the product.

    If you put a lot of effort into the product, it might be better to create some smaller, easier products (still with great value) first to promote and to collect leads with, and then pitch your "quality" product to them...

    Cheers,
    Rob Konrad
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  • Profile picture of the author Franck Silvestre
    Same for me, do both. Build your list with a reverse squeeze page for the ebook, and build your list with a normal squeeze page.

    Or you can sell the ebook with a pop up on the home page. It still works very well.

    You can also try a 100% commission on the front end, but you need to have an upsell in place and other backends. This is a little bit more advanced.

    All this will depend on your niche.

    Franck
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  • Profile picture of the author JCorp
    I'd echo some of the people here and do both simultaneously.
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    • Profile picture of the author niksbro
      Do both at the same time. Just make sure that you offer them valuable information or product. Your audience will come back again if you value them giving valuable information. At the same time having them as your list/leads.
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  • Profile picture of the author mattpaul2000
    Both, create a free report to then sell your product. List building is a major part of the sales funnel.
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    • Profile picture of the author jbsmith
      One technique I've used for info-products when I want to pre-launch or develop a giveway for list building is to have someone interview me about the upcoming (or completed) ebook/book/infoproduct - keep it to about 20-30 minutes and share some of the tips as well as "pre-selling" more complete information in your product.

      That way you get a highly percieved value giveaway (your audio recording) and can pre-market your product at the same time.

      Jeff
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      • Profile picture of the author James Sides
        Hey there,

        Its been a while since I poked my head in the regular section of the forum but felt like dispensing some free advice today!

        So you have a product, you aren't sure whether to sell it or use it as a lead magnet.

        Here is a few options for you:

        1) Use it as a lead magnet which you know about (list builder)
        2) Sell it which is not a bad option

        or you can do a hybrid

        3) Give away the first chapter or two as a lead magnet. Once they are on your list you can then upsell them and have them purchase access to the rest of your book. (THIS is the method I'd recommend)

        Cheers

        James
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  • Profile picture of the author Dann Vicker
    Focus on your listbuilding first, then market to them. That's a sustainable strategy
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    • Profile picture of the author mominternet
      It all depends on what kind of a list you want to build. Giving products away is great provided that you have a strategy, a plan for how your list will be RESPONSIVE when it is all said and done.

      I am assuming you plan to profit in the long run. So consider if your product will be what you profit from or use give it away opening you up to greater opportunities...but again consider on building a responsive list.

      :rolleyes: Have you thought of giving your product away in a more creative manner such as offering 100% commissions to potential JVs?

      This way you can build a list of responsive JV partners who build your list for you PLUS you will build a list of responsive BUYERS right off the bat.

      Just my MomInternet 2 cents worth...look forward to what you plan.
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  • Profile picture of the author marcos08
    I agree with Gama that is the best way to do it and you have two things working for you at the same time .... good luck with both and maybe I have purchased??
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  • Profile picture of the author absolutelee
    It's according to the niche and the product, but usually you need to do both. This is not an either or situation. It's an AND situation. You might have to back up and create a smaller product from your existing product and use that as a lead product in your sales funnel or as a giveaway.
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  • Profile picture of the author Jason Rankin
    If your new product is awsome, you may want to buy a product thats related to yours that you can use to create a list with. Something in your price range that you have rights to.
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  • Profile picture of the author Cartellian
    Both!

    Break up your product into 10+ pieces... Share the first 5 for free via blog/youtube/podcast/web2.0/socialmedia, etc... They must subscribe for lessons 6-10 which are obviously integral to 'getting it'

    Then they get the opportunity to buy the unabridged ebook for instant download... The self published book from balboapress.com... The audiobook you have produced via disk.com or your kajabi membership...

    Man, I think I just laid out the entire Brenden Burchard TPB idea right there.
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  • Profile picture of the author FitnessNut
    I am doing a little bit of both like others have mentioned.

    It is definitely possible to build a very strong list while promoting products if you do it right.

    Focus on feeding your list very high quality info and help them out, and they will be forever loyal.
    (I know most of you have heard this but there are some who have not yet)

    Good luck,
    Chris
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  • Profile picture of the author feliciayapsl
    I would do both.
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  • Profile picture of the author celente
    build your list and sell products.

    We are in several niches, and have different products and different sales funnel.

    Most people think you get rich from writing a killer ebook and selling it. While this can make you some good money, you need sales funnels, low end, high end, membership and back ends, upsells, downsells...the list goes on. Once we did this, our income quadrupled very quickly. And just keeps growing.
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