Or at least flying in the face of what I’ve been told by someone who makes a hell of a lot more money coaching/teaching than I do. After reading several blog posts about removing obstacles to your cool stuff so it can spread around the ‘net unencumbered by an opt-in form, I’m forced to re-evaluate my approach to distributing my ebook.
On one hand, everything I’ve been learning from this gal the past six months about list building insists you put all your “freebies” behind an opt-in form and goes as far as to say that I should have a squeeze page as the first page of my web site so I can funnel people on to my list, enticed by a really cool free thing.
(Besides this, I’ve been learning some REALLY VALUABLE STUFF from her, so I’m not knocking her process. It works, she’s making a shitload of cash, and she’s showing no signs of stopping. She’s one of my teachers & I wouldn’t be where I am without her guidance.)
This list building technique makes sense, and I did it because I’m relatively new at the whole coaching gig and my mailing list is a bit anemic.
But on the other hand, squeeze pages make me squirm.
And I know that they’ll most likely make tribe/ideal customer/my people squirm as well. Worse than squirm, actually. Squeeze pages make them frustrated and more inclined not to trust the business squeezing them.
In fact, I’ve been told as much.
I know my people are savvy internet folk, are tired of the hard sell and stuffy-ness of corporate-ish ways of doing stuff. And they’re tired of the hype and hard sell.
I know this because I’m tired of these things as well.
So I’m going to blatantly ignore what I’ve learned. It served me for a while, I’ve learned the basics of internet marketing, but I need to do things my way (there’s that fiercely independent streak…).
And since Trust and Honesty are at the top of my positioning list, the way I approach this needs to change.
Not only that, I have a message:
It’s OK to be a hungry artist. It’s not OK to be a starving artist.
And I want to spread my message far & wide and to as many people as I can touch.
Having this book behind an opt-in box limits the reach of my ebook.
So in response to all that’s been going on in my head, I’m officially offering my ebook “Five things to do before you kick your day job’s ass to the curb” for free. Forever.
No strings attached.
No email required.
All I ask is that you send it to everyone you know. And ask them to do the same.
photo credit: Jason Nelson
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#1 by Yolanda Facio on March 17, 2010 - 10:38 am
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Xllent! Besides, it’s an awesome ebook!
Now, off to spread far and wide!
#2 by Kelly on March 17, 2010 - 10:42 am
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Rock on! I feel the same way about squeeze pages.
May your ideas spread far and wide. I really look forward to reading it.
#3 by Marc Snyder on March 17, 2010 - 11:22 am
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I think you’re doing it just right by getting it out there, congratulations on the great book!
#4 by Catherine Caine on March 17, 2010 - 3:23 pm
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Rock on, Alexia! So proud of you and how you’re sharing your gifts. I know it will lead you to success!
#5 by Carole on March 17, 2010 - 4:08 pm
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You go girl! Must feel good to push it out into the world. And it’s filled with excellent ideas.
BTW, LOVE the photo of the Ring-billed Gull!
#6 by Franis Engel (An8el) on March 17, 2010 - 5:28 pm
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I applaud your attitude. (Yet another thought process that you and I share as Sher-scanners!) Your audience is a different one than the example you are learning from, and you are responding to that. Going to do some #ideapartying here for you about how to do both – make some $ AND spread your writing far & wide… take ‘em or leave ‘em.
What if you changed the concept of the squeeze page to fit your new attitude? Maybe the example of what to include in the “squeeze page” is the problem. Look at the examples of how Havi Brooks does it, by making people feel bigger rather than squeezed. Make it an appeal for supporting an artist, much as you’ve done here. Explain what you said here and fill it with ideas about how to give back – to you. Granted, freeing them up, completely – is where it’s at. Since you’re giving the book away now anyway, provide a “donation” button for those who want to give back to you or contribute to your lifestyle. Advertise that you’re going to pass on part of their donation to something like a micro loan fund to the disadvantaged in other countries. (I’ll put you in touch with someone who does that, if you’d like to know how.)
Maybe what you’re looking for is to craft a NEW series of things-to-do that gives back to you as well as them. Win-Win. A process that you’re not going to market to others, unless they’re smart enough to see what you’re doing that works for you.
Of course, the classic idea is to have something for sale, and also offer other things that are something content-rich for free. If someone wants to further your efforts so you can afford to work on and contribute more, they can buy if they want to do that.
In our culture, people often do not value what they do not pay for. (Strangely enough, people don’t use what they pay for also if it requires effort – no matter how much it costs!) In this case – you’re asking that people spread the word by forwarding your e-book, and that’s how they can give back to you. Cool.
Give ‘em another job too. A job that they can do to give back to you as they find value in what you say!
Anyway, now that I’ve come up with these bright ideas for you, I’m going to try taking my own advice. These questions you’re facing have stopped me from even FINISHING my e-book, probably! At the minimum, where are my own PayPal donation buttons for contributions to me???
#7 by SusanJ on March 17, 2010 - 9:58 pm
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Now you’ve got me re-evaluating too, Alexia. Happy launching!
#8 by Alexia on March 18, 2010 - 11:40 am
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Thanks everyone for their encouragement & I’m glad I got some of you thinking
@Franis: I do have ways for people to pay me (and am working on a few things to make it easier
) but I will keep your suggestions in mind – And when you get your ebook done, let me know!
@kelly: I neglected to add your blog post on squeeze pages to this post (which I will remedy shortly) – that’s what pointed me to those other posts I listed.
#9 by G. Michael Reynolds on March 18, 2010 - 12:35 pm
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Yep. you’re still Greek.
#10 by Kelly on March 19, 2010 - 10:23 pm
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Oh cool, thanks!
I got the chance to ask David Meerman Scott at SXSWi about this approach for us list builders and he recommended adding an invitation to something that requires signup within the thing you’re giving away – best of both worlds.
#11 by Jane on March 22, 2010 - 12:13 pm
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I happened by your blog just as I was about to write my own squeeze page. I feel exactly the same as you do, but I’m trying to follow the advice of people who’ve been successful, and they all have squeeze pages and the ‘long sell’ emails and pages.
I might try it my way, short, to the point and it’s here if you want it and I hope you find it useful.
#12 by Alexia on March 22, 2010 - 12:21 pm
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@Mike – you know it..
Can’t take the Greek out of the girl…
@Kelly – I added your squeeze pages post to my Starred Items post here: http://alexiapetrakos.com/links/starred-items-so-much-fun-stuff/
@Jane – welcome!
your link didn’t show up… if you want you can @ me on Twitter if you want to share the link…
#13 by Jane on March 22, 2010 - 1:15 pm
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Thanks for the welcome. I didn’t think I had a link to show? Ahh are you thinking of a link to my unconventional squeeze page? I’ve not written it yet – what can I say, I’m slow and it’s almost the end of my day.
#14 by Alexia on March 22, 2010 - 1:26 pm
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Hey Jane… you said “I might try it my way, short, to the point and it’s here if you want it and I hope you find it useful.”
That made me think you had one up
#15 by Julie & Sage (the dog) on March 29, 2010 - 11:39 am
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Your ebook was excellent. Right on target to get people off their butts. And very supportive at the end. I loved the contrast because that’s what creatives need.
You will be successful. I can see it already.
P.S. I’ve already passed your book on to 2 friends who are trying to start businesses.