eBook vs Blog

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jaydee

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Hey guys,

After trawling this forum for a while and thinking of ideas I finally stumbled upon my first niche market (or what appears to be one anyway). Initially I was thinking of writing an ebook on the subject and selling that for $29.95, which would also contain affiliate links for certain websites. But then I was thinking I could start up a blog and just have the links all on there. What are the pros and cons of each approach?
 


There's really only one way to know, and that's trying it out. It depends on which niche your ebook will be written for, and who the target demographic is. Are they a group of people that like free information that you can get to use your links, or would they will be willing to pay for the information up front. That's the shit you gotta think about.
 
Like Barman says ... it all depends. You can make money either way.

eBook: by selling it making $xx on the front end and affiliate offers on the backend

Blog: giving away valuable content, gaining readership and "brand" awareness, becoming an authority website (with the high PR that brings) so you can sell text links

There are pros and cons with both methods - I'd be more inclined to go down the blog route, building my "brand" and authority with good quality info (and affiliate links) and trying to capture name and email addresses to build a targeted list to promote other related offers on the backend as well as any products you create in the future.

Also, you're more likely to get traffic via Digg, Reddit, StumbleUpon etc. using the blog method.
 
being new to this, just like yourself, i would do both. that's the only way you'll learn which is better in the long run and plus you get a twice the experience.
 
Thanks guys for all the replies.

The way I was looking at it initially was - I think the particular information WOULD sell and the potential for affiliate backlinks within the book are just a big bonus. And I know the book can also be pirated bigtime - but even then theres the positive of affiliate links that will eventually make me some money back. Wider the distribution the better.

I like the idea of cross promoting. I may do that. Under a different name?

I was also going to drive all the traffic for the eBook using adwords and begin brushing up on SEO in the process. Is blogging a far easier way to garner traffic (with Digg etc) then my initial plan?

Thanks again,
- Jay
 
how about writing an ebook (assuming its large). Then releasing one portion a week, say 1/5 of a chapter. Then each post gives them the option to buy the entire book. That way they can get sucked into the information and not have to wait months to a year to get all of it. While thats happening you could always be working on the next version of the ebook, and just keep the process rolling so even when the first ebook is fully up and on the site with all its information and theres no more point to buying it you'll already have the next much better and more updated one ready to start. This will have the added benefit of even if they don't buy the book, and future readers who came in too late can still have an opportunity to get the info, like it, and be more apt to buy the next one.

I think this is a similar marketing strategy to how SEOBOOK originally got started. And I don't think he ever even got around to writing the second one.
 
Interesting perspective.

I've decided that I'll run both a website dedicated to the eBook and a simultaneous running blog (using Wordpress) that'll be related and have discussion relating to subject matter contained in the book.

One issue I just thought of is copyright issues. I live in Australia and I've been looking for information regarding copyrighting a digital book - but yet I've found none. Any news?
 
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