Short reports can be a great business builder and you may use reports for a variety of reasons in your business. The problem is, many report publishers often wonder the same thing – how can they monetize their reports effectively?
The good news is when people say that they published a report, but got no results…it’s often simple to see where they can make immediate improvements for better results. Sometimes it’s just a matter of a few tweaks you can easily implement into your own report marketing.
If you’re looking to monetize your reports, let’s start by breaking this down into potential monetization goals. Because after all, if you want results – you need to know what those desired results are. You may want to:
- Build a List: You know the deal. You give a free report when your visitors sign up for your mailing list. It’s one of the most powerful uses of a free report.
- Promote a Product: Reports are a great way to promote products – whether it’s your product or something you promote through an affiliate link.
- Generate Leads: If you’re looking for people to contact you for more information (think biz op, a service, etc.), a report can be used as a very effective lead generator.
- Recruit Affiliates: You can create affiliate training materials that teach about affiliate marketing and draw people into your own program.
Of course, it’s not enough to simply have a monetization goal because despite what people say, great content doesn’t speak for itself. Great content speaks (in conversion terms) when it’s combined with smart marketing & in particular, good salesmanship.
Here are some tips to increase your conversions with your reports:
- Download Page: Depending on the nature of your offer, a call-to-action on your download page can go a long way. Invite your reader to sign up for updates, give hard-to-resist offers…something that they aren’t going to want to miss.
You just want to be careful that your prospect doesn’t get confused (i.e. FRUSTRATED) trying to find the download amongst the offer. Keep your offer above-the-fold and design it to get plenty of attention.
- Create a Visual Brand for Your Reports. Of course you want to include things like your logo, but if you release multiple reports, go for a consistent and familiar design and layout. Your readers will come to know your reports and offers as great quality…and immediately know they’re in the right place when they see your familiar brand.
- Include a Forward: Don’t be shy…introduce yourself to establish your authority and let your readers know about your desired call-to-action. For example, if you’re selling a blogging coaching program and the report is about blogging…tell them what they will learn in the report and how they can get even more hands-on, one-on-one help through your coaching.
- Footers: The footer allows you to repeat your message several times over and keeps it in your readers mind.
- Body Reminders: You don’t have to beat them over the head with it, but remind people about your offer where it’s appropriate in the body of your report. You might even put these benefit-laden reminders in a colored box to make it stand out. But the key is to give a new benefit or a new reason to take action. Don’t simply keep repeating yourself.
For example, if you have a report on toddler discipline and you’re selling an info product for parents of toddlers, mention the product in a few key places. If the report includes advice on tantrums, highlight a key part of the product for sale that gives parents practical solutions to tantrums. And then when you’re giving advice on sharing, include information on how the info product helps with sharing issues. In other words, make your promotions relevant to exactly what you are talking about.
**TIP** Have one main monetization goal for your reports. Yes, you can link to other products in the body of your report, but for best results stay ultra-focused on getting them to take action on the most relevant and most desired call-to-action.
- Call-to-Action Conclusion: Have a well-defined conclusion that incorporates your desired call-to-action. Don’t mention the offer as an afterthought. Instead, make sure you integrate what was taught in the report with what the reader should do next. If your report gives advice on selling a home in a tough market, include some information on how you help your clients overcome these obstacles. You might also include some statistical information about how quickly, on average, you’ve helped your clients sell their homes and encourage the report reader to give you a call.
- Follow-Up: If you captured an email address when you gave out the report, be sure to follow-up. Mention the product or offer you are promoting again – giving your readers even more reason to take action.
The key to making monetization for your reports work is great content, a relevant and hard-to-resist offer along with consistency. You can’t expect to put one random link in a report and your work is done. You need to keep showing your prospect just how compelling your offer is…all the while delivering them the satisfaction from useful content.
Related Info Products:
Affilorama – The #1 Affiliate Marketing Training Portal
Modern Podcasting – Learn Profitable Podcasting