I want to tell here my little story about my product creation. About a month ago, I thought why not to try create a product and submit it to Clickbank. I wanted to become a publisher, because I think they do less work, but earn much more than affiliates. So first I started to write my own original ebook. I've read many ebooks, so I had an idea how an ebook should look like. I was writing about 1 page a day, which I think is ok. So what's the ebook is about? Clickbank Business Guide is an excellent guide for beginners who are just starting Affiliate marketing. Advanced affiliates, probably, won't find anything special in this ebook, but my aim is to help the newbies, who ask so many questions everyday here on forum. The price that I was going to put on ebook was $37. It's pretty low, compared to other products in this niche. Ok, so I finished the ebook. Now I need to make a website for that. Honestly, website was an easier step to do compared how much time I spent on the ebook. It was another "make money online" website, with nice pictures with expensive cars and big houses, etc, etc. Paragraphs about "how a broke can become a millionaire" and other stuff like that. The website wasn't really long, but it had everything to convert. I also created "Affiliates" section, because I was definitely sure that Clickbank will approve my product. So, guess what happened next. I logged in to my Clickbank account, submitted information about my product, the commission, which I was going to pay to affiliates(75%), and my thank you page. I've done a test purchase and everything worked. Now it says "Product approval requested". I need to wait 3-5 days to receive a response whether my product is approved or not. The next day was one of the worst days ever. A crappy email from Clickbank saying that they don't accept products which simply "provide basic information, which is available on their website". Well, of course thats bullsh*t, because not even one of my techniques is on Clickbank's website. I didn't want to write an "nice" email back to them, because I thought it's not going to change their decision. All my efforts has gone to nowhere in just one day. However, I didn't want to delete my ebook and website, and thought why not to give out my ebook for free? Actually, I don't need a website anymore, because I am not going to sell the ebook. So, I just uploaded it to rapidshare.com and put a link to download on my blog. My ebook is available to download for free from my blog at www.clickbankbusinessguide.com Just click on the link on the right, where it says "Click here to download......." A bit sad ending, but I hope that my ebook will help some people to start making money online. Maybe, that will make me feel better.
Hi there, That's a pretty cool thing to do to give it away for free... I don't want to spoil it, but have you considered selling it via paydotcom? They are usually a lot easier to deal with than clickbank - they have a pretty good affiliate system too, and you won't get as many as clickbank, but you'll get a few. Just an idea. I had the something happen to me about a year ago and as it turned out I got plenty of affiliates through paydotcom anyway.
I know about other affiliate networks, but my idea was to publish it at Clickbank, because I really like it.
I would suggest that you shouldn't give up yet. Clickbank fears that your product might have a high refund rate since the information is easily available around. Try to edit the Ebook further and add some more useful points which would add a greater value to the book and submit again. You see in life sometimes you need more than one attempt to succeed.
I totally agree, and I think ryanman made a good statement here. You should keep trying. Try tweaking your ebook around and never give up! And remember, Nothing in life comes easy!
Also, after looking at your ebook, I think clickbank is correct, as the ebook is very basic and doesnt offer any real material that you cant find on your own. Most of the information is actually right off the clickbank site itself. I think instead of trying to tell people how to use clickbank, try to give people advise on how they can make money from clickbank and what tools, secrets, advantages etc, they can use by reading your ebook. No offense or anything, but I would definitely want my money back if I bought this ebook. I know this is a bit criticizing but, I only mean it in a good way.
ryanman, microtekblue Thanks for your suggestions, but I've already decided to give it out for free. I know that ebook contains basic information, but as I said it's aimed to newbies, who are just starting online business. justlikeit Try this >>> www.clickbankbusinessguide.com I doesn't work without "www"
Why don't you just sell it via paypal? You make something instead of nothing. Or you can run a very great email campaign using the ebook as you main reason for newbies to join your mailing list and too stay on it. Also you could do both especially if you don't get a lot of sales via paypal. You can offer it for free if they join your list and show them that it costs $xx.xx amount of money if they have to buy it. I think this way you will have great number of people signing up for your list and you can make a lot of money promoting other products using your ebook as the main source of leverage. What I'm saying is don't let your work go to waste.
Steve, Thanks for the free guide! It is a shame, that you couldn't of sold this to make some coin, and buy something you really wanted with the extra proceeds! I will read this book, and put some of your ideas to awesome usage! Hopefully some of the fellow affiliates who are currently struggling could put this to great use! Thank you! tom
You could've sold it on e-bay, and if you added more links and stuff to your ebook, you would start seeing sales, from e-bay.
Wow man, that really sucks. Sometimes Clickbank surprises me. I just looked through the book - man that's so GOLD info for any beginner. However, I BEG YOU, change the links in your ebook to your aff links. For CB products, Aweber, etc... especially if you give it out for free. Another IMPORTANT thing, don't just give it... build a list by giving it away! This could come handy in the future Alex
I would say even if you had offered more information, they would have rejected it as it would take taken away focus from clickbank university that they have launched themselves. Although if you are giving the ebook away for free, you might as well put any relevant affiliate links of yours into the book and it may generate some additional income at some stage in the future.