I talk a lot about values both to life coaching clients and here on this blog. I make no apologies for doing so, because they are so crucially important to anybody that wants to take control of their life.
Over the last week or so I’ve had my very own value conflicts going on that took me a while to spot. And that’s the thing with values, they’re slippery suckers that aren’t always easy to pin down.
I had all the tell-tale symptoms of feeling a bit uneasy, but I wasn’t really sure why until I remembered a conversation I had on Twitter a couple of years ago.
The person in question was telling all his followers to spread the word that anybody who went to his website could get a free copy of his book. I was interested in seeing what it was all about so I followed the link.
I ended up on a long-letter squeeze page that went into great detail in telling me how wonderful this guy was and that his book (on NLP by the way) would change my life in every conceivable way, and that to get it all I had to do was give him my e-mail address.
I didn’t fancy leaving my e-mail address on such a site so I asked the guy on Twitter if it really was free when what he was doing was exchanging one commodity that had value (an e-mail address) for another, a book.
After all, he wouldn’t want my e-mail address if it had no value to him, would he?
I think he thought I was mental because he just unfollowed me and that was the end of that.
Of course I want people to sign up for my newsletter otherwise there would be no point having one, but by saying you can only have the book if you give me your e-mail address, then I’m being hypocritical and setting up a value conflict.
I realize professional marketers will think I’m nuts because this isn’t how it’s done at all. If you give something away for free you need to get something back in return, but surely that’s a contradiction in terms?
I’m not saying it isn’t creating a win/win and I’m not getting on my high moral horse and say people shouldn’t do it.
I was filling some questions out the other day for an interview about How To Be Rich and Happy and I was asked how we came to decide to give the books away to good causes.
I was explaining the decision sprung out of the fact that both myself and John wanted to get the books in front of as many people as possible and we didn’t want to exclude people simply because they couldn’t afford to pay.
Neither did we want to exclude people that are simply unaware of this kind of material so wouldn’t know to buy it in the first place.
BOOM!
That’s a real live value conflict right there because that’s not what I’m doing with my books. With my books there is a barrier to entry that doesn’t need to be there and will limit the amount I give away.
I’ve had almost 800 people sign up since I announced I was giving my ebooks away through my newsletter and I’ve had several hundred downloads of the book since I sent out the link.
That’s all well and good, but in the greater scheme of things it’s not that many when you consider how many people suffer from elevated and unnecessary levels of fear and anxiety on a daily basis.
Surely if the reason for writing the book is first and foremost to help people (and it is), there shouldn’t be any more barriers to getting the book out there than absolutely necessary?
I know for a fact some people will not sign up for a free ebook. Even though Don’t Ask Stupid Questions has been selling in the Kindle format steadily at $7.99 and the hardback sold hundreds of copies at $19.99 on release, it’s still just a ‘free ebook’ to many people and the perception of value can be low.
After all, how good can it be if I’m giving it away? And how many shit ebooks do you have to download before you find one that adds any real value and isn’t simply a vehicle for selling me more stuff?
Tim Brownson is a Certified Life Coach and has been unsticking people and helping them reach their true potential since 2005. If you would like to know how he can help you
I am so impressed with this because it is giving me an idea to market my books. I wrote three of them which have not sold since being available since last year and I am rather disappointed. So, therefore I am setting up another blog to market them but the pitch should be exactly what you are doing. Giving something for free! I have never done an e-book or made one but I am sure there are loads of available info to help me. thanks for inspiring me and good luck with yours! xoxo
It’s tough selling books PB, there have never been so many out there and with ebooks bursting on to the scene the barrier to write one is negligible.
Also, there are so many bad ebooks because of that (especially in my field) that people are wary of spending money. You can only buy so many $47 steaming pile of crap ebooks before getting antsy ;-)
You are some kind of awesome dude. I only wish more people knew it. I keep telling them but somehow that seems to devalue your worth. Or maybe it’s because they’ve already heard you curse like a dockworker and avoid you like the plague? Seriously mate, I wouldn’t be in a hurry to introduce you to my grandmother, not with your potty mouth. Bersides which she’s dead, so it might be a bit difficult anyway.
I’m going to download Bob’s book only. That’s mainly because I already have the others.
Thanks
Dave
I think that decision should be down to your gran mate. Leaving aside the fact that she’s a bit dead, I do think she’d old enough to make her own mind up.
I think you’re probably right but it’s a risk I’m not prepared to take. As much as I think you’re a great guy I don’t want you as my step grandad.
I wanted to let you know that the Don’t Panic book came at a great time – My sister-in-law, back in school to finish a nursing degree, posted on Facebook that she was finally taking a public speaking course she’d been putting off. I forwarded your book to her and she was delighted. She said she’d be passing in on to others in her class. If you’ve got a bunch of new Iowans on your list, it’s probably thanks to her! :)
Thanks so much Debi, I really appreciate that!
Hey Tim – I respect any man (or woman) who can live by their values. Now, I know you’ve already given away much – but could I ask you for something extra (I bought HTBRH, so I know I ‘should’)? Please could you add some Tweet and Facebook Share buttons on your free stuff page? Even though you’re doing the downloaders a massive favour by giving your stuff away, people are lazy – so please also take down the barriers (i.e. make it even easier for them) to help put your considerable writing talent and life coaching expertise into the hands of many. Thank you.
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Great idea mate, never thought of that, it will be done, thanks!
Tim,
I’ve been hearing raves about you from my friend Karen at Effindiets and here you are yet again showing up as someone I’d love to model. Different from seeing you model, but you get my drift ;-)
I am so $%^^& clear that when my actions are aligned with my values life is so much juicier. Thanks for a brilliant and public reminder of what this can look like in action!
Sandi Amorim recently posted..Burning Down the House
Thanks a lot Sandi, just don’t model my bank account!
Spot on Tim, I love your honest approach.
Interestingly I almost always subscribe to and buy (lots) from those who are willing to add value genuinely without any demands. It’s probably something to do with trust.
Fair, honest, exchange is fine yet I couldn’t agree more – you’re not giving away something for free if you’re asking for someone’s email.
Rob recently posted..Conformity is Corrosive and Why Courage Rocks
I agree, and true win/win relationships are built this way. At least mine are.
I stumbled upon your blog a few days ago, added it to my reader. This is the first post I’ve read, and I thought it was nice and honest. I downloaded Don’t Ask Stupid Questions to bookmark and read later on, but found myself reading it through to the end for an hour and a half.
Interestingly enough, I think you applied the basic concept(s) of that book to your decision in making your free e-books REALLY free. Nice!
I have sent your link to a lot of my friends, and I will definitely get your next book, free or not. :)
diana recently posted..Whos On First
Thanks a lot Diana and how fortuitous that I do indeed have another book out called ‘How To Be Rich and Happy’ ;-)
http://www.howtoberichandhappy.com
I’m so in awe of your style. I’m also a coach, and I sometimes feel it is a little like church – everyone is expected to be perfect and no-one talks about the ‘slip ups’ of being human. That said, today’s blog inspired mine, so I’ve linked to you so hopefully we can get closer to your 6billion follower goal.. :)
Thanks for an incredibly relevant and useful blog – I love the humanity that you bring to it, and the way you share your knowledge. I’ve been reading bits of your posts to my husband for the last couple of hours, because he keeps asking what I’m chuckling at.
Yours is the only subscription that I actually open up every time I get an email.
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Thanks so much for the kind words Janet! I hope I can keep it up now the pressure is on ;-)
For the record, I’m a professional marketer and I don’t think you’re nuts.
Well, I think you’re nuts. But not because of this. The nuts-ness was a pre-existing condition.
Naomi Dunford recently posted..Wherein I Give A Bunch Of Stuff Away- Am Dubbed An Ambassador- And A Lot Of Cool Stuff Involving Glitter Happens
I’ve spent two hours trying to construct a devastatingly witty put down and all I’ve managed to come up with is “Bollocks”
What is it with you two and nuts? I recently read Naomi’s article about having balls and feeling cocky.
You two would get the ‘sack’ if you weren’t self employed.
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It makes me so happy to know that you were thinking of insulting me before six o’clock in the morning.
Ahh. I have goosebumps and warm fuzzies. All is right in my world.
Naomi Dunford recently posted..Wherein I Give A Bunch Of Stuff Away- Am Dubbed An Ambassador- And A Lot Of Cool Stuff Involving Glitter Happens
The first e-book that I wrote (a few weeks ago) was free. And then I read a lot of Internet marketing mumbo jumbo, and I decided to make people sign up for my newsletter to get it, but then I realized, “Since when do I listen to what other people say?” so it’s going to be free again. If people want to sign up for my newsletter, they will. If not, I’ll live. I’ve never heard a coroner’s report say: Cause of Death – Lack of Newsletter Sign Ups.
Everything will be alright.
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