I’ve always thought that one of the most exciting aspects
of the internet comes in the form of tiny digital packages
we so fondly call ebooks.
Knowledge and experience is transformed into digital form
and packaged for distribution, all in a matter of seconds. And
internet denizens hungry for more information devour them
as quickly as they appear.
My computer is always full to the brim with all kinds,
downloaded from so many places, I can’t even begin to
tell you where. Day after day, a layer of e-dust covers
this monstrous pile!
Despite the dizzying parade of giveaways that greet your
eyes each day, there is no denying the simple fact that
giving away something for free drives traffic your way. In
many cases, we’re all happy for any traffic we can get.
It is no wonder that virtually in every website — in our case,
internet marketing — that you visit, you’ll be sure to find a
large ebook library offering up the latest and hottest releases.
DON’T JUST FOLLOW THE PARADE If you already have a
mailing-list or website, you’re likely eager to do the same.
And there’s the rub: everybody else is thinking along the
same lines. “Hey, I’ll do that, too!”
Wait a minute! Take a pause and think things through…
When it comes to giving away ebooks, there are a few but
essential problems you should consider:
- practically everyone is giving them away
- there is a staggering amount of ebooks already out there
- they vary greatly in quality (a needle in a haystack!)
On that note, I am going to share with you a few pointers
that have helped me decide whether an ebook is worth
giving away or not.
its Author
There’s nothing like a big name to stamp instant credibility
onto any ebook before you’ve even read it. But not everyone
is familiar with the big names in their respective niches.
Try to get an idea of who the author is, either by visiting
their homepage through the links in the ebook or by
performing a simple search online. You may get dazzled and
excited at how established and renowned the author is, or
wonder why you can’t find a single trace. All the same,
read the ebook! You’ll get a much better feel of the author,
not just as a knowledgeable expert but also as a real
person.
Is the author distant? impersonal? formal?
Or is he/she relaxed? personable? friendly?
For me the answer to these questions bear a lot of weight
when deciding whether or not to recommend, promote and –
perhaps in the long run — sign up as an affiliate, if such
a program is available. I would want to interact,
communicate and do business with someone who is not only
professional but also friendly, open, and approachable.
Wouldn’t you?
Does the author have something unique to share?
How well does he/she communicate ideas?
In this case, many ebooks are repetitions or slight
variations of the same subject. A good rule of thumb is to
choose the ebook whose author covers the subject best.
Scope & Depth of Content
You may think that because you’re not yet very familiar with
the subject of the ebook that you cannot possibly assess
the quality of the content. Believe me, you can!
Whether it’s instinct or intuition, you can tell whether there’s
something to the material or not, merely by reading between
the lines. You will see the difference between a mere
rephrasing of an idea with nothing new to add, from a truly
unique perspective and improvement of old time-proven
methods or techniques.
How wide and how deep does it go?
Is it merely a general overview?
Does it get down to step-by-step gritty details?
Your decision will depend on what you want to achieve with
the giveaway. You may want it to complement an article on
your website, for example, so you would want it more detailed.
Or perhaps you want to use it only as an introduction to your
product.
This is a technique commonly employed by many pros. It is
highly recommended by Terry Dean in his article “Give First
& Prove Your Worth.” Give away a high-quality ebook that
provides a general but sufficient overview of a topic, and
still provides plenty of valuable information. Your main
product, in turn, reveals the full, in-depth, and detailed
step-by-step instructions.
Reader Accessibility
Consider your intended recipient. Check whether or not the
subject itself is familiar or of any interest to them. If
not, is it explained in such a way that they can easily
comprehend it? Also, is it closely related to the
information they ask for? This simple check ensures that
you do not alienate (or annoy) any of your readers.
Even if you have not written the ebook yourself, it would be
a considerate gesture on your part to go over it and make
sure that they have the best experience with your giveaway.
It conveys the fact that you are genuinely looking after
their benefit and not merely pushing an ebook for your own
ends.
On the technical side of things, it is worth checking the
format in which it is compiled. EXE is accessible only to
PC users, not to MAC. PDF, on the other hand, is accessible
to both.
Layout & Organization
Just as in your website design and content, you want to give
your audience the best experience possible with your
giveaway. Consider questions like these:
Is the ebook organized sensibly?
Can you find your way through its contents?
Are you faced with a sea of text?
Is it divided in neat sections?
Is the font type & size comfortable for reading?
Are the colors distracting? neutral? unintrusive?
You may not mind these things yourself, but it doesn’t hurt
to make sure that, like your website, what you give away is
equally attractive and professional-looking as well as
informative.
In introducing the ebook to them, mention your impressions
of the material and its presentation so that they know what
to expect. When your intended recipient opens the ebook,
he/she does won’t frown and wonder what it is that you have
given away. Better safe than sorry…
Freshness
Depending on your niche, freshness can be a major deciding
factor on your choice. On the one hand, certain subjects
don’t get outdated: old time-proven concepts, inspirational
writings, etc. And on the other, applications of concepts
and ideas online, for example, are affected by changing
trends and developments in technologies. Collections of
resources or links, for example, would warrant a thorough
check online.
Your Own Assessment
This is one of the most important points to consider because
you are responsible for what you give away to your
visitors, in one way or another. Never use your audience
merely for your own ends. Don’t shove anything just to get
them to sign up, so you can sell to them.
If you want to be truly successful, you must build a good
reputation for yourself online. You achieve this out of a
genuine intention to be of help to your target audience.
Give them something that you know will benefit them. Be
someone who is ethical, trustworthy, and dependable. It will
go a long way to benefit both parties. They will know that
everytime they visit your website for information, they can
always be confident of the value you provide. Having read
the ebook, ask yourself:
How do you personally feel about it?
Has it taught you something new?
Has it revealed something you’ve overlooked?
Would you happily recommend it to others?
Would you stand behind it 100%?
IN CONCLUSION All things considered, always remember
that your target audience comes first. By offering them only
giveaways of high value and quality information, you can
successfully build a relationship that will not only benefit
them, but you and your business for many years to come.
When not buried in ebooks, MARGAUX ALHANEN is compiling
notes and gathering tools for internet marketing beginners
at http://www.imnotebook.com. Download your free copy of
her first eNotebook entitled “Starting Ahead: How to
Develop a Winning Attitude in Business” today!
