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Selling ebooks from free content

by Gonzosan
7 replies
I have a video tutorial site and I want to start making ebook versions of these. I would be selling these even though the video versions would be completely free through Youtube. Would this be bad? I know there are some people who think they would be cheated if they found out they could have seen the videos for free.

My logic is that since I'm creating it into an ebook that they can read anywhere and actually "own" that it would be worth purchasing. I would also include a few little extras in the form of extra project files they could find useful. thoughts? Anyone have experience in this?
#content #ebooks #free #selling
  • Profile picture of the author ekimnotrab
    I would beef them up a little bit, add lots of bonus info and than advertise them on the YouTube videos as the "complete" lessons or guide.
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  • Profile picture of the author therealfactoid
    in a sense its fair because of the time and energy you spend converting the content over to ebook, but i agree with above post that you must add something more than what you take from the videos.
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  • Profile picture of the author Gonzosan
    Thanks, I agree with both of you. I would make the ebooks a little bit "beefier" with some extras and maybe even include ebook specific content.
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  • Profile picture of the author Danielle Lynn
    Your gut is telling you they'll feel cheated. Your gut is likely right.

    Don't simply transcribe and sell what they can already get for free from you.

    Like Ekim suggested, you have to add value to them. Perhaps it comes with a workbook feature, extra materials, bonuses, added depth and content.

    Put something together that YOU would be happy to pay for if you were in their shoes.

    Remember, you won't get far with angry, cheated customers.
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  • Profile picture of the author Joe Crosbie
    This is a bit of funny question, since most of the things you content you will find in a paid product will be available for free somewhere on the web. I am starting to notice this more and more these days, especially with products in the IM niche. They seem to be just a collection of blog posts LOL.

    I am not against your idea, that was just my opinion on things. I do think it's a good idea and it is certainly a way to monetise your idea. I think if you market it right, by making the YouTube videos seem as if they only part of the product and for access to the major stuff you have to buy the e-Book.

    Beefing the e-Books up a bit as you said, would be a safe way to ensure that you don't annoy any of your customers.

    J Crosbie
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    I chose entrepreneurship over further education despite being laughed at by my friends and family..

    I recently hit the "RESTART" button on my life, read my personal blog to find out how I did it :)
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    • Profile picture of the author Sandra Martinez
      I started a series of lenses a couple of years ago. When I looked at them, I realized I had an ebook. Made it into ebook format and gave it away for free.

      Last January I created a second version of it, with very slight changes and no more real information and published it for kindle. I´m charging 99 cents for it, people know there is a free pdf version that has almost the same information. It sells very well, and almost has no refunds (1 in 100 or so).

      So, can you make ebooks out of your videos and sell them? Absolutely. IS it ethical? I think it is. The ebook allows people to take their time to go from one page to the other; a video is much more uncomfortable. You are charging for the service, not the information, for the commodity of having it in a format that is easier to use.

      In my case, I am not even charging for that, but the formatting for kindle. People do not feel cheated at all.
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      Coloring book niche? I have a proposal for you.
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  • Profile picture of the author Gonzosan
    Thanks all and the reason I pose this question is because I have seen and even heard from some people who just package up their own blog posts in one neat little package and sell it in an ebook format.

    Nonetheless I plan on making the ebook more than just a different format of the same information. I know a few people use a combination of some information found online for free with exclusive content only found through that ebook.

    I'll probably ask my viewers if they'd like to see PDF formats of my most popular tutorials for a small fee ($1-5). Thanks all for the advice, just wanted to get opinions on what you all thought.
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