It’s been six months since I launched my latest blog—FeelGooder—and today it’s entering a new phase, so I thought it might be time for a bit of an update.
You might remember back in November we launched FeelGooder and I outlined some of the backstory here on ProBlogger. The blog was a slightly new approach to me for a number of reasons—partly because of the wide niche (it covers everything from health, to relationships, to finance, to social good), but also because I decided to launch without any kind of advertising, and with the intent of monetization without ads.
It was an ambitious task and something of an experiment, but I was excited by the prospect.
Over the last six months, the focus on FeelGooder has really been to build up an archive of content (and a team of authors), and to build up a core readership. We’ve done both, although the going has been a little slower than I’d hoped, mainly because of the juggling I and my team are now doing across multiple websites.
However today we’re moving into a new phase and are launching an ebook: 7 Ways to FeelBetter.
You can read more about it on its sales page, but in short, it’s a week-long challenge for readers to work through. We think it will lift their spirits, help them to feel better about their lives, and hopefully help them to develop some life-changing habits.
I’m very excited about the reaction we’ve been receiving from those who have already reviewed it, and love the way it looks (we’re getting a lot of positive feedback on its design).
A new approach (for me) to launching products
One of the things I’m excited about in this particular ebook launch is that we’re experimenting with a slightly different launch process. Here’s how it looks:
- We’re giving the first 500 copies away for free.
- We’re then offering the next 500 copies at 50% off ($4.99).
- Then we’ll be selling it at its normal price of $9.99.
UPDATE: due to limitations with e-junkie allowing only 100 free copies to be given away per day I’ve had to put the price up to 1 cent for the first 500 buyers.
This is a bit of a departure from my normal launch process, and is one I’m excited to see the results of. You can check out how it’s going over at FeelGooder today, because as this post goes live, we’re starting the giveaway part of the launch.
One of the main reasons I’m taking this approach is that, with a smaller audience on FeelGooder than here on ProBlogger or dPS, I suspect it’ll be a little harder to get momentum going with a new product.
The aim with this giveaway is to get what we think is a great product in front of as many people as possible. My hope then is that with it “out there,” we’ll have some opportunities to grow the momentum as people begin to use it.
One of the ways that we’ll do this is through a push via social media—particularly Twitter. We’re encouraging those who participate in the challenge to use a common hashtag to document what they’re doing with the challenge.
Time will tell how it goes, but I wanted to keep ProBlogger readers up to date as to what we’re experimenting with on FeelGooder.
P.S. Want to give some copies away on your blog?
If your niche relates to that of FeelGooder (life tips, health, relationships, fitness, finance, social good, etc.), any tweets, blog posts or linkups to this great little ebook would be greatly appreciated.
We’re also open to doing a handful of giveaways on related blogs—feel free to contact me via the contact form here on ProBlogger if you think your readership might be interested. Do include a link to your blog and any details of your audience (size, demographics, etc.) with your email.
just downloaded! thank you!
i’m super excited about this.
is it breaching any copyrights if i start a project on my blog and document doing all the suggestions in the ebook? credit will be give, of course, but i want to make a month project out of it, encouraging my friends to play along with me.
let me know. and thanks again!
the ebook is solid! =)
Heidi – you’re welcome to document what you are doing and thinking about it – as long as you don’t republish it in full we have no issues at all with that.
thanks
Got that for 4.99. Never had a doubt about value I’ll get.
Hi
It’s me Patricia from http://www.boomerwizdom.com. Sure wish I’d created this ebook. I am working on my first giveaway, hopefully something in this vein to increase subscribers. You and your team have done an excellent job of integrating all the things that enhance one’s quality of life and that my site seeks to discuss relevantly.
My new little bloglet could use an association with Feel Gooder. Presently I do not have an audience for the site. I do have FB followers who I believe I could entice to my blog if I had a quality giveaway such as this around which I could generate conversation—maybe even figure out a way to slant it to a boomer constituency.
Please consider collaborating with me.
Regards
I just got mine! I love the design. I can’t wait to get started.
Thanks! :)
Got my copy! I look forward to going through the ‘challenge’ ;)
Hi Darren,
Pretty neat to read through your process here and I have a few questions for ya…
1.) Have you ever done a free ebook giveaway as a way to build your list?
2.) Each of your ebooks has a phenomenal design. Do you take care of that yourself or do you partner with someone to care of it for you?
I’m reading your case study and thinking, is there some other strategy for building that list of prospective buyers aside from the base of content?
Darren,
I’ve been a long time reader of FeelGooder and intend to submit a guest post ASAP.
Going to buy it
Right on time. Just the book I need!
And BTW, the design on the cover is awesome!
Hey Darren,
Just purchased your book. I’ll be in touch after I read it!
All the best with it!
Lori
I make sure my dad reads the book cause he is so angy everytime and has dark spots below his eyes due to tension. He thinks i am wasting my time blogging and surfing…..and need to go to an MBA school for my career. Hey Darren, mind if i write a post on how to convince your parents for blogging and time management just for all your young followers.
Rahul, your dad is right. Listen to him, or you’ll regret it when it’s too late. He’s been around much longer than you and knows what he’s talking about. He doesn’t want you to end up bitter and angry like him.
Cool Offer Darren… i’ll get one copy of it :)
I have downloaded a copy. Really helpful information. For me its worth US$30.00. Thank you Darren for the new ebook.
I can’t believe you have time for all of these projects! But congrats on the launch and good luck. I’m going to try my hand at my first giveaway soon to promote my blog, so I’m crossing my fingers that it works as well as all of these promotions I read about seem to. :)
I like the way that you are launching this product. As a still relatively new website there is always the dilemma of introducing paid products to your readers and how they will respond.
The dilemma is whether you should release the product for free as a way of gaining trust/feedback or release it with a small pricetag and set early expectations. The trust/feedback issue is massively important for a first-time product as it will provide the necessary momentum and social proof that will help drive future sales.
By offering the product free there is no risk placed on your readers and you can quickly obtain the necessary feedback you require. The only problem with offering something like this for free is that you are setting early expectations that all your products might be free, making it much more difficult to introduce a price at a later date.
The method that you have used here not only sets the early expectation that this product (and future products) is of commercial value, you have the benefit of obtaining social proof while at the same time rewarding your early readers with a freebie on a paid product which really reinforces their loyalty to you and your site.
I like the way that you are launching this product. As a still relatively new website there is always the dilemma of introducing paid products to your readers and how they will respond.
The dilemma is whether you should release the product for free as a way of gaining trust/feedback or release it with a small pricetag and set early expectations. The trust/feedback issue is massively important for a first-time product as it will provide the necessary momentum and social proof that will help drive future sales.
I like FeelGooder and would love to read this book :)
I got Feelgooder for 1 cent and feel good about getting into it. :)
going to buy it…
Can not wait to read this E-book…I am realy exited to read your e-book.
I am building a blog related your niche but mine is very new… :(
Shajjad
Really interesting Darren, I will most definetly buy the book, so I can read it, and probably make a review about it. Oh and I just learned about your other blog, FeelGooder.
Thanks for the update on FeelGooder, and best of luck with the e-book launch. Cool pricing structure at the launch — will be interested to hear how it does.
Wow I just submitted a guest post proposal as response to recent studies on the serious health risks to sitting still all day ie. on computer! My back ground is trained in yoga tchr/mindfulness and stress mngment. Now it’s like oh that might be great over at your new site Feelgooder! Which is closer to my niche…I blog on holistic health techniques especially to deal with stress at work and how to transition to a more joyful life as I’ve done. Great good luck with that site, it does have a broad lifestyle range which is cool.
Kala
Thanks for the outline Darren. Really helpful. I was tweeting about the book last week. I love that it has a week long action plan for people to actually put it into action. Congrats I Iook forward to reading it!
Hi Darren, Congrats to the launch of your new ebook “7 Ways to Feel Better”. I am sure it will really help the readers in the aspect of feeling good about themselves, their lives, their social community. The Ebook cover design was very cool, I like it. A great strategy to give away the first 500 copies of the ebook for free, the clients loves a blog that is generous.
Darren,
Thanks so much for sharing your experience in launching a new product.
It’s important to the rest of us to understand the journey or taking a new product to market so we can become more comfortable with the exercise and start doing it for our own business growth.
Thanks again for sharing!
Krizia
That’s a good approach to jump starting your new blog. Getting some cross-pollination from your existing readers over to your newer niche is a nice idea. Something I’ll have to try soon.
You have a really good plan set with your new E-book that you have set out. I just finished writing my own first E-book and have been trying to come up with new ideas of how to get more people to view and read it. I am going to have to use your strategy with giving it away to a couple of hundred people.
You have a really good plan set with your new E-book that you have set out. I just finished writing my own first E-book and have been trying to come up with new ideas of how to get more people to view and read it. I am going to have to use your strategy with giving it away to a couple of hundred people.
Darren,
One of the things I love so much about you and ProBlogger is the transparency. Thanks so much for sharing this and I would be interested to find out how this strategy works!
Russ
Great strategy for promote a new product! Thank you very much for sharing.
And it is so pity can’t get the free e-book( I think all of them are sold-out, right) now, but look forward for your next product promotion.
Nice – and am fascinated by your new approach to a product launch. Will be interested to hear how it goes….
(Am just about to launch my first e-product and have been gathering up the learning from the process, so I can improve Launch No. 2…..)
Darren,
Thank You.
As you know, I have been reading and commenting on your blog for the longest time.
However, this is the first time I have heard about your feelgooder blog: I was not even aware that such a blog existed. It is truly my loss. To think I could have been reading this blog six months ago or so.
I visited this blog and have only good things to report about it. It is one of those sound investments and unique experiments. I think this blog will do a world of good. It will make a positive difference to the work-lives of so many of your readers or subscribers. It can help them to change life-long habits and so on.
Best wishes to you and your team on the product launch. And please stay in touch and keep us updated.
We would like to know more about what you are upto, so shed some light. A lot of us want to contibute to your activities and participate in your creative endeavours. Have a nice day. Cheerio.
thanks Darren
I don’t know, how you can making it
Hi Darren!
I just started a blog/website for military wives – I have a health section with subsections titled Strong Health, Strong Bodies, Strong Minds. I think this e-book would be a great giveaway for one of the lucky wives. How can we set this up?