1 Secret to Launching an eBook Successfully

by ryanbiddulph

Posted: 10 years ago 31 replies

INTERNET MARKETING

Hi Guys,

After studying some eBook selling pro buddies and yep, after observing my experience, 1 secret seems to put eBook sales into the stratosphere.

Give it away for free. For at least a few days.

Now, this may not sound like a secret, but truth be told, many struggling bloggers and eBook authors are so obsessed with trying to make money off of their eBooks that they can't find it in their hearts to enroll the products in any of Amazon's programs, or heck, on any platform.

Don't think for today alone. Keep an eye on tomorrow. Keep an eye on next week after you've generated 30 fresh, new, positive endorsements of the eBook, that you've received, and that have pushed your eBooks way up the charts. Again, think about the Big Picture.

Prime the eBook marketing pump. Do a free blitz. You can experiment for a certain number of days but from what I've seen 1-2 day offerings, through a carefully designed email and friend network promotional blitz, seems to do the trick.

After the free giveaway blitz you can charge your asking price.

Again, think of priming the marketing pump. What you give freely today, and what is valuable, and helpful, grows into something wonderful, later today, tomorrow, next month. That's the thing: hold the intent to get your eBook into as many people's hands as possible. Give it out to influencers for reviews, offer it for free on high profile networks, and the more folks download it, and read it, and promote it, and endorse you, the greater a buzz you receive.

I recall reading James Patterson - he of the 300 million books sold, last I saw - gave away countless books of his for months before he began to hit it big. Evidence of his free giving? Pretty easy to see

What are your thoughts guys?

Ryan

#ebook #launching #secret #successfully

Edwin Torres 10 years ago

You're talking about giving it away for free on Kindle?
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- ryanbiddulph 10 years ago
  
  Hi Edwin,
  
  For a limited time, hell yeah
  
  Then, charging after the free giveaway period. Fans the flames.
  
  What's your experience? Or your take?
  
  Thanks!
  
  Thanks
  
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bluejeans 10 years ago

I think if you yo-yo on that, free sometimes, sometimes not free, you can breed resentment amongst the people who did pay for your materials. You're effectively saying, it's worth something Tuesday but not worth anything on Wednesday. If I was going to give one away, I'd always give that one book away, even let people choose which free ebook they wanted, then hook my subscribers with the rest of a paid series. idk, just a thought.

How have your sales been going lately?
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- ryanbiddulph 10 years ago
  
  Hi,
  
  All is well here in Bali
  
  RB
  
  Thanks
  
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  gogu8 10 years ago
  
  Hey there,
  Im visiting Bali next week.
  It would be a great idea to meet up and chat!
  
  Thanks
  
  2 replies
  
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  discrat 10 years ago
  
  Thank you, Ryan. I think it can be a great way to get the ball a rolling.
  
  I like that term or phrase 'priming the pump'. This has applied also to Offline sales when I was younger as well.
  
  - Robert Andrew
  
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  ryanbiddulph 10 years ago
  
  Much appreciated Robert I read about this idea a while back in terms of abundance, and know a few marketers who use it successfully. Always fun to learn from the pros of the eBook/Kindle publishing world.
  
  Thanks for stopping by.
  
  Ryan
  
  Thanks
  
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  ryanbiddulph 10 years ago
  
  Cool, I saw your PM.
  
  Feel free to let me know where you'll be. I'm in the Bukit, in South Bali.
  
  We can get together for a coconut water perhaps Or some tempeh, it's my favorite local food here....Babi gulung is supposed to be fabulous too; I'm intending to go vegetarian...here and there at least, LOL.
  
  RB
  
  Thanks
  
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- ryanbiddulph 10 years ago
  
  BTW Jeans, that's code for "pretty darn swimmingly" lol
  
  RB
  
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  mrmathiasjr 10 years ago
  
  The best $1.99 you will ever spend. Amazon.com: The First Ten Steps eBook: M. R....
  
  Thanks
  
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  quadagon 10 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by mrmathiasjr
  
  The best $1.99 you will ever spend. Amazon.com: The First Ten Steps eBook: M. R. Mathias: Kindle Store
  
  Your book by any chance?
  
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  ryanbiddulph 10 years ago
  
  Looks like a great read.
  
  If such a link is allowed here?
  
  Here's a better approach M; write an in-depth post explaining - for free - how to market your eBook. Then link in through your sig file, to your blog. Awesome way to build long term bonds and to establish your authority, because most folks have ad blindness these days lol.
  
  Onward and upward!
  
  Signing off from beautiful Bali, the Island of the Gods.
  
  Ryan
  
  Thanks
  
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zerofatzreturns 10 years ago

it works well if you use it as a way to give people on your list and people you have networked with a chance to get it for free. It helps to boost your positive reviews. This in turn helps you push more units. If you create a concentrated effort to do this every 3 months it helps quite a bit.
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- ryanbiddulph 10 years ago
  
  Good points here, and that 3 month time frame sounds just about right
  
  I learned much of this stuff from guys like Steve Scott and Rob Cubbon. Both are awesome dudes, so helpful and have seen monstrous success selling eBooks.
  
  Thanks!
  
  Ryan
  
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nicolasmd2112 10 years ago

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- ryanbiddulph 10 years ago
  
  Thanks Nic much appreciated!
  
  It comes back to mindset too; if you feel abundant, you'll see the Big Picture. Give out as many as possible, for free, to sow seeds, then charge, and folks will buy based on the buzz, and you'll touch so many more lives while prospering too. Win win both ways.
  
  Have a fab day!
  
  Ryan
  
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andorod77 10 years ago

If thinking about publishing your book on kindle, you can enroll in the KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing) select.

What this does is it publishes your book for 90 days as a free product. It is great for building an audience for your books and even boosts your sales potential.

You can also think about giving a free ebook on your website and following up with your paid products. All in all great information you posted.
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- ryanbiddulph 10 years ago
  
  Thanks Jose
  
  Yep in KDP now, and am also thinking about the free giveaway on my blog too.
  
  Appreciate it!
  
  Ryan
  
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localmarketerguy 10 years ago

For sure a great way to get some momentum built on Amazon. Use KDP Select to run a 3-5 day free promo before making it paid.
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- Cheryl Majeski 10 years ago
  
  Hi Ryan!
  
  Something to consider -- you might want to entice individuals to buy by giving them either the first chapter for free or putting together a short report (depending upon what your subject matter is) to entice them -- spark their interest.
  
  By doing this, you're giving something free and are creating a sense of reciprocity among those who received your gift.
  
  You could also charge a nominal fee for a window of time to the first 100 people that buy or give away a couple of freebies to those that buy at full price.
  
  I also recommend that you read the following two books which offer a lot of really good information and insight.
  
  Launch: An Internet Millionaire's Secret Formula to Sell Almost Anything Online, Build a Business You Love and Live the Life of Your Dreams by Jeff Walker
  
  Launch! The Critical 90 Days from Idea to Market by Scott Duffy
  
  Hope this info helps, Ryan!
  
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  ryanbiddulph 10 years ago
  
  Thanks Cheryl!
  
  Always good to study different approaches. I dig the blitz one, and have also used a few of these strategies in the past.
  
  Appreciate the links and suggestions!
  
  Thanks
  
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- ryanbiddulph 10 years ago
  
  Bingo!
  
  Doing that with my main eBook now, the flagship in my series.
  
  People love getting a freebie, and it also spreads the word.
  
  In truth, we're generating good karma and also, we're generating a score of reviews too.
  
  Great to have folks chatting about our books, offering feedback, etc.
  
  I just am intending to get the eBooks into as many hands as possible.
  
  Thanks for sharing!
  
  Ryan
  
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elviira 10 years ago

Yeah, gave one of my Kindle books for free for two days, "sold" close to 1,000 copies and after the free days were over, sold 3...
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- ryanbiddulph 10 years ago
  
  Elvira, me thinks you have some money blocks
  
  Giving freely usually precedes receiving easily.
  
  Are you clear on the worth of your books? If so, dig down deep into personal development.
  
  People are happy to pay for what you believe to be worthy, because then they believe the same idea.
  
  Onward and upward!
  
  Ryan
  
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- More Than Tips 10 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by elviira
  
  Yeah, gave one of my Kindle books for free for two days, "sold" close to 1,000 copies and after the free days were over, sold 3...
  
  That would be one book I had plenty of RESOURCES AND RECOMMENDATIONS inside that just happened to pay me for any purchases. Like my other books.
  
  That was brutal my friend thanks for sharing.
  
  @ Ryan, I love your attitude and energy my friend thanks for the post.
  
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  ryanbiddulph 10 years ago
  
  You got it! Thanks for stopping by and sharing......
  
  Thanks
  
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- AntonioSeegars1 10 years ago
  
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  ryanbiddulph 10 years ago
  
  Hi Antonio,
  
  Great way to see the positive. 3 folks wanted it enough to buy it. See the good. Dwell on it. Use the positive to fuel your journey. Fab advice here, happy prospering!
  
  Ryan
  
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NoMoreWords 10 years ago

I think that it all comes down to trust. If you have a fanbase that is loyal and listens to you, you won't have a problem with sales. People won't risk paying for something if they doubt you. This is why freebies seem to "ignite" interest. People don't risk anything and they get to build trust in you.

It's the same with email lists. You give a report for an email. The report is quality stuff and the subscriber doesn't put you in their spam list. You send a couple of good emails and he realizes that you are really good at what you do. Etc..

If you try to sell an ebook without being an authority on the subject, then people aren't going to buy it. And becoming an authority is much easier said than done.
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- ryanbiddulph 10 years ago
  
  Practice makes better in this regard. Like, I write 6,000 words daily. To gain my authority. Then I make friends with a bunch of folks daily by promoting them and by commenting on their blogs.
  
  Then, I simply become a better writer, establish my authority and I have an army of friends who want to promote me, to vouch for me, to spread my word. Create. Connect. How you build trust.
  
  Thanks for sharing!
  
  Ryan
  
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dhdejordy 10 years ago

You guys rock, so much good advice! I do not think there is a right or wrong answer here. Testing the waters is always a good thing. We all work hard to create a valued product so if giving back works for you do it! If you find your sales are not what you wanted try other ways of marketing.
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BankSimpleOnline 10 years ago

I have been selling a few of my eBooks through my blog / website and on Sellfy.com, plus I use various free online classified ads to steer traffic to my site. I'm still kinda new so i'm trying to figure out what works best and focusing on creating good content.
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- ryanbiddulph 10 years ago
  
  The free giveaway works wonders, and also, building a supportive, inspired network of friends around you. They make your job easier
  
  I learned this freebie blitz thing from friends who sell thousands of eBooks monthly; these guys are good at it, so I figured, follow their lead, right?
  
  RB
  
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Roderick Gardner 10 years ago

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