What is a free e-book?

A free e-book is usually an abridged or shortened version of a full e-book or information product. However, neither fact that it is free or that it is a shortened version of something else means that it can not have value on its own. In fact, you will quickly find that if it does not have its own intrinsic value, that it will be very difficult to distribute - even for free.

For example, our own free e-book gives away our entire content on heart disease and cholesterol - something that virtually everyone needs to know about if they want to maintain their health.

The reason for this is two-fold. Firstly, even if it isn't costing them money, people always want something for their efforts. To download something then actually read it takes effort, and that effort had better be worthwhile! Secondly, whole point of creating a free e-book is to showcase main product i.e. full book or information product, in order to generate sales. If free book is not up to scratch, then you can be sure that sales of full product will not benefit from it.

Why a free e-book, why not just sell it?

Good question. The simple answer is that people love to get something for nothing - or at least to feel that they are getting something for nothing. As stated above, in order for this to be case, they need to perceive that "something" has some value to them and process needs to be as simple as possible.

This means that far more people will be prepared to read your book if it is free than if they have to pay even a small amount for it, which both suggests it has little value and adds time and effort to process. Conversely, if people see your e-book is free it not only makes them more likely to download it, it also adds value to your main product, i.e. your paid-for book, by letting them know they can only get so much for free.

How will people find my free e-book if I have no website traffic?

This is perhaps most crucial aspect of giving away anything from your website, and until recently, a difficult issue to resolve. Building traffic to your site takes both time and considerable effort - building site, getting it hosted, promoting it etc. There are many ways to make this easier and relatively automatic, but it still takes some effort on your part, and, inevitably - time.

You might ask "What is viral marketing and why should I give something away for free after I spend weeks to create it?". On another note you probably don't even know how to write an eBook and what to talk about.

First things first. Viral marketing is exactly what name implies. You create a marketing effort that spreads like a virus. No, not kind of virus you fear on your computer. Here's an example.

You are running a home business and you're getting pretty good in attracting new customers, but you're working more and more hours to generate this traffic to your business. Well, there are only 24 hours in a day and there's only so much you can do.

No you have 2 options. Option 1: Hire an employee to help you with your workload or motivate somebody else to promote your product. I don't know about you, but thought alone having employees gives me creeps. If you ever had to deal with employees you know what I'm talking about.

That leaves us with option 2; motivate somebody else to do work for us. How do you do this? Easy, number one question you have to address is "What's in it for me?". If you can give this person something in return for their work you’re off to a good start.

Now here's when eBook thing comes into picture. eBooks and/or software are perfect products to sell or give away from a automated web site. No packing and shipping involved and system takes care of transaction without you doing anything. Don't you love this? I sure do!