7 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}
7 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}

Offering a free book - does it work?

by davidreese
5 replies
Hi,

I'm working on a building up my email list for a new class I'm offering. The class starts in April. I was think of offering a free book to anyone that joins the email list for the class.

It is a very specific acting technique: Meisner Technique and there are a couple of really good books.

The book cost $12. I was thinking it would help me also build an offline mailing list.

There are people visiting the page on a regular basis and I have people emailing me asking when the class is starting every few days.

I figure I can tack the cost of the book into the class price.

Does this type of freebie work? Do people that get the items usually convert or is it a waste.

I think it is mentioned in Scientific Advertising and in Dan Kennedy's stuff.

Thanks for any input or comments.
#book #free #offering #work
  • Profile picture of the author John Durham
    Originally Posted by davidreese View Post

    Hi,

    I'm working on a building up my email list for a new class I'm offering. The class starts in April. I was think of offering a free book to anyone that joins the email list for the class.

    It is a very specific acting technique: Meisner Technique and there are a couple of really good books.

    The book cost $12. I was thinking it would help me also build an offline mailing list.

    There are people visiting the page on a regular basis and I have people emailing me asking when the class is starting every few days.

    I figure I can tack the cost of the book into the class price.

    Does this type of freebie work? Do people that get the items usually convert or is it a waste.

    I think it is mentioned in Scientific Advertising and in Dan Kennedy's stuff.

    Thanks for any input or comments.
    I think it will work. The thing about doing classes though (Online anyway) is that you need to really make sure you sign up 3 or 4 times as many people as you think you need, or else the class may not reach the level of critical mass needed to make it feel "active".

    In other words, alot of people will lurk in the class instead of actively participate, and if you dont have alot of members, to insure that at least a handful are participating in the actual dialogue, then you may feel like you are talking to yourself alot without alot of participation from the members.

    You have to have alot of people in a class for it to be exciting, because only a percentage will actually get involved in the dialogue.

    It can be quite uncomfortable feeling like you are talking to yourself.

    I have done it both ways, and in my experience with MMO niches at least , a larger class is better because there are alot more lurkers than active participants usually... So if you are going to market through an email list, better get started now opting people in, and market HARD, because April isnt far away.

    There is nothing worse than teaching a class where no one is saying anything back to you..

    Your niche may be different, but in ours, if you want 10-15 people actively participating and contributing to the classes energy, then you need to have signed up 100 people.

    Hope this helps.

    -John

    Ps. This post should maybe be in the main discussion as opposed to offline marketing.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7807024].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Claude Whitacre
    Originally Posted by davidreese View Post

    Hi,

    I'm working on a building up my email list for a new class I'm offering. The class starts in April. I was think of offering a free book to anyone that joins the email list for the class.

    It is a very specific acting technique: Meisner Technique and there are a couple of really good books.

    The book cost $12. I was thinking it would help me also build an offline mailing list.

    There are people visiting the page on a regular basis and I have people emailing me asking when the class is starting every few days.

    I figure I can tack the cost of the book into the class price.

    Does this type of freebie work? Do people that get the items usually convert or is it a waste.

    I think it is mentioned in Scientific Advertising and in Dan Kennedy's stuff.

    Thanks for any input or comments.
    Offering a book is a good idea. But you have two problems;
    1) You're paying retail for the book. In any quantity, you could do much better.

    2) The book will only help you if you wrote it. If you are teaching a class, you already know far more than you need to write a book. Just transcribe what you teach in your class. Pay someone on Fiverr $5 to format it. Pay $5 on Fiverr for someone to design a cover. Upload it to Amazon with Createspace. It will cost you almost nothing to do. You'll be an authority (you wrote the book), and it will only cost you $2-3 a copy to get them printed (in any quantity, even one) and sent to you as needed.

    If you had to, you could get this done in a couple of weeks. No need for a masterpiece, just an example of your teachings, and your story of how you got started. 100 pages is plenty.

    The only book that will help build your list is one by you. You need your list to be full of fans. I have three books on Amazon that I use as premiums, gifts, and as part of a PR package. This isn't guesswork.

    Really, that's the answer.
    Signature
    One Call Closing book https://www.amazon.com/One-Call-Clos...=1527788418&sr

    “Do not seek to follow in the footsteps of the wise; seek what they sought.” - Matsuo Basho
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7807193].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author misterme
    You can only test it and see. A series of emailed videos may work too.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7809353].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Hari Luker
      A book in many ways has a lot of advantages such as you will need to get a lot of information from the prospect so you can actually send them the book.

      This now gives you a lot more marketing leverage in the future for your next classes with direct mail etc.

      But at the same time this may deter a few also.

      As said earlier, it will really be a testing game to see if you get your ROI.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7809382].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author kelvintoro
    Giving a free book could get you more signups. But I agree with Claude, it would be best to give away your own book. I believe your knowledge is more than enough to be able to write a good book on acting. Giving away your own book could also increase the number of your students. A person who signs up and gets your free book would have an idea on how knowledgeable you are on that subject. He/she would tell his/her friends about it and they would most probably be interested in signing up too.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7811956].message }}

Trending Topics