HOW TO CREATE AND SELL YOUR FIRST DIGITAL PRODUCTWhat I’ve learned during my first year of making a living online

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ABOUT ALEXIS GRANT

Writing background Started guides on side of day job Left my day job a year ago to

focus on my business In addition to creating guides and

courses, I also help small businesses with blogging and social media

alexisgrant.com

WHY CREATE A DIGITAL PRODUCT

Create content you enjoy creating

Establish yourself as an expert

Recurring income Make a living on your own terms

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STEPS TO EARNING VIA EBOOKS

1. Come up with your idea2. Write & edit (Scrivener

rocks)3. Formatting & cover4. Set up sales system5. Promotion (so people

actually buy it)alexisgrant.com

VETTING YOUR IDEA

What do readers and friends ask you about again and again?

Experiment Replicate success

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LOGISTICS, STARTING WITH…. YOUR COVER

DIY vs. professional Costs = $150-500 Don’t know a designer? Try crowd-sourcing websites like 99designs ($299?)

IF THERE’S ONE THING YOU SHOULD PUT MONEY INTO, IT’S YOUR COVER.

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THE BEAUTY OF PDF

Can be read on most devices Easy to create One-stop shop for you Biggest bang for your buck

LESSON = PDF is a good choice for beginners

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FORMATTING YOUR EBOOK (PDF)

DIY or hire a professionalDIY tips: Buy other guides and see how they do it

Lots of white space Include details like links, page numbers, footer, table of contents alexisgrant.com

THE COSTS OF CREATING

Cover Editing Formatting E-Junkie ($5/month) Website Your timeTip: Don’t forget to

barter!alexisgrant.com

BOTTOM LINE = EBOOKS COST ALMOST NOTHING TO CREATE.

(Most costs are optional.)

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CHOOSING A PRICE

Informational ebooks sell for more than story books

Prices span HUGE range It’s not about what you’d like to

earn, but what value you offer the reader

People will always complain about your price – they’re not your market

Want to sell on Kindle? Lower pricealexisgrant.com

WHY SELL ON YOUR OWN SITE

PROS: Keep all profits = earn more Higher price Partner with affiliates Build your email list and online community Sell repeatedly to those buyers

CONS Limited to your reach and reach of affiliates No Kindle versionalexisgrant.com

WHY SELL ON KINDLE

PROS: Expand your reach Findable through Amazon’s search (SEO) If you don’t have an email list or online presence and don’t care to build one Kindle is popularCONS: Share profits Lower price Requires different formatting Don’t collect buyers’ emails

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NOT SELLING ON YOUR OWN SITE IS A MISSED OPPORTUNITY.

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HOW SELLING THROUGH YOUR OWN SITE WORKS

Reader buys via sales page Pays through PayPal E-Junkie sends ebook automatically

You’ll get email notification of sale

Collect emails and use them to follow up

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CREATING YOUR SALES PAGE

Writing sales copy is an art Look at others for ideas Add a money-back guarantee – and stick to it = reduces risk for buyers

Include social proof (testimonials or recommendations)

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PLANNING YOUR LAUNCH

Build anticipation beforehand Hints, whispers Pre-launch sale (discount to list)

Create urgency at launch Dave Navarro’s ebook on launching

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LAUNCH CALENDAR EXAMPLE: MAY

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ADDITIONAL CONTENT TO CREATE

Sales page Newsletter for your email list Post for your own blog Guest posts for other blogs

Tip: Watch other people launch to see how they do it.

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PROMOTING YOUR PRODUCT WILL TAKE AS MUCH OR MORE EFFORT AS CREATING IT.

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PROMOTION

1.Your own network – social media (Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn), newsletter

2. Blog = build trust3. Networks of people you know

and affiliates4. Guest posts5. Other partnership

opportunitiesalexisgrant.com

GROW A NEWSLETTER

**THE SMARTEST THING YOU CAN DO**

Go to readers rather than making them come to you

Start collecting emails NOW Use products to build email list & build list to sell products

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GUEST POSTING FOR PROMOTION

Planning entire webinar on this…

Requires planning & pitching & writing

Big blogs or niche blogs Giving away free info builds your credibilityalexisgrant.com

WORKING WITH AFFILIATES

Easy through E-Junkie Incentive = 50% commission Few of your affiliates will sell most copies

LESSON: Worry about quality of affiliates, not quantity

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WHAT TO EXPECT FOR SALES

Biggest sales initially, at launch – if you prepare properly

Will continue to sell over time, especially when you do a guest post or sale or webinar

Work your SEO – it keeps on giving

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THROW A SALE

Because people LOVE them!

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HELP YOUR READER FEEL…

Excited

Satisfied

HAPPY

Ready to GO

WAYS TO OVER-DELIVER

Follow up with readers – ask for feedback, offer more information

Offer great customer service Go beyond the ebook – for example, Facebook group

WHY? Because they’ll buy again!alexisgrant.com

DON’T WAIT TO CREATE YOUR FIRST PRODUCT, EVEN IF YOU FEEL LIKE YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT YOU’RE DOING.

FIGURE IT OUT AS YOU GO.

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QUESTIONS?

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Twitter: @alexisgrant#alexiswebinar

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