Is this a good idea?

Everyone is going to go with the freebie, just human nature.

Cheap skate like me would simply say, no I don't want to pay for it, I want it for free!

Use this technique, start by created 2 e-books. Put your basics down on the first one, with a conclusion of your ebook in the second one.

Give away your first e-book and charge for the second one.

If you can snag them good on the first one, they will be willing to pay for the second one to finish your awesome e-book that will change them from wimpy wimpy wimpy to Hefty Hefty Hefty!

Hope this helps!

Expanding on iMarketing Cafe's comments:

Your first offering could be a short report. Maybe 3-4 pages long is all you need, and create or buy a really nice-looking e-cover for it so it really pops. Offer it for free, in exchange for their e-mail address (unless you've already got it).

In your short report, provide some good and useful information, and provide some of the outline of what's covered in the premium report. Throughout the short report tease your premium product. You can use phrases like: "That's just one way your body's own systems are destroying your chances of losing weight. In my EXCLUSIVE NEW REPORT, I expose NINE more CRITICAL ways your weight loss efforts are being completely WASTED and you don't even realize it! You can download my exclusive report here..."

Don't say you can "buy" my report, say "download" it. It's better to have folks click through and decide they'd rather not purchase it AFTER your sales pitch rather than decide that BEFORE you pitch them.

There's more, but that should get you going.

Remember, your short report can be just a much shorter and less developed version of your premium product. You don't have to create two completely different items, just condense your premium product and put it in the short report -- but save the best stuff for the buyers.

I would simply add that you want to make sure your shorter "report" provides something that provides genuine, actionable solutions. Give them a taste by providing something they can use today, instead of making the 'report" just another sales letter with no good content.

I think it's an excellent idea! Go for it ;-)

Thanx guys, I'm gonna write a short report to catch their emails and then announce Premium content coming in future which will be way more in depth!

I realy like Steven's idea as it is something which can be used for any product by anyone.

simply put
1. write an outline for a product (including some good info but only the basics)
2. expand on the outline product to produce a much more indepth product
3. give away the outline product to (a) get email addresses (b) promote the full product
4. create sales page for the full product

I think you should do a poll, but not with the question if they would buy or not.
Ask them to describe their 3-5 biggest problems they have that prevent them from gaining muscle (quickly) for example. Then give them the solution for free in form of an ebook, ppt, audioprogram...

then upsell that free thingy with one very specific ebook (ie: nutrition) at the thank you page, or later on... you might be able to upgrade those buyers to a coaching program.

Hope this helps

Have fun

Bart

Another idea is to say that you will be answering 14 questions over the next two weeks. A new question answered each day. Have people submit questions. This will create traffic to your blog and the questions for your book. Just go in much more depth in the book.

Keep up the good work,

Brian

Also, there is some thought that the term "e-book" has become tarnished, so you may want to avoid using that term and refer to your: report, guide, system, plan, product, package, etc...