The Internet Marketing Ebook Craze: How to Make Savvy Ebook Choices

Jeez! Internet marketing Ebooks are everywhere. "Secrets
Revealed" and "Something-or-another Magic". "10,000,000
Killer Ideas" and "Instant Money Without Working For It".
And, of course, the latest-and-greatest of all...

"How to Crank Out a New Ebook Every 30 Seconds!"

Is this what we call "the ebook craze"? A better name might
be the "Make-a-Quick-Buck Ebook Frenzy!"

Now, don't get me wrong. I like ebooks. I like them a lot.
I love being able to place an order, click download, and be
seeing what I bought light up 480,000 pixels in blazing
color on my computer screen within a matter of minutes.

But, I also want those kilobytes of data to deliver real
substance. "Meaty" stuff that I can sink my teeth into and
learn from. Original ideas that dispatch a psycho-electric
charge to my brain and makes that little light in my head
glow bright and warm.

Sadly, it's been a long while since an ebook has delivered
much more to my hard drive than the current you'd get from
a nearly dead AAA battery.

And is it any wonder? Some authors (and a few of them very
respected Internet marketers) are cranking out one ebook
after another. It seems the onslaught to cash in on the
ebook craze is creating an unending proliferation of poorly
done ebooks.

So, how can you weed out the good ebooks from the bad? How
can you know which ones will deliver value for your hard
earned dollar BEFORE you make the investment?

Here's a few "rules of thumb" that I think will serve you
well as you consider your next marketing ebook purchase:

#1 - A QUALITY PRODUCT WILL SELL ON IT'S OWN MERITS

I can't remember how many ebook sales sites I've visited
where half to two-thirds of the sales copy was directed at
all the "valuable(?) bonuses" I'd get with my purchase.
This kind of site screams "LOW QUALITY!" to me.

I've always felt that true quality can stand on it's own. A
product that delivers honest value needs no help from
freebies and will sell completely on it's own merit.

#2 - A HIGH AFFILIATE COMMISSION CAN SIGNAL INFLATED PRICES

Check to see if there is an affiliate program for the
ebook. If so, look at the commission structure. While not
always true, a commission pay out of greater than 25-35%
could mean you're paying an inflated price to make up for
the commission.

With commission structures you must exercise your own good
judgement. Just remember that those who make their living
by selling other's products through affiliate programs
consider a 25-35% commission a fair return.

#3 - IS THERE A FREE TRIAL DOWNLOAD?

Look for a free trial download of one or two chapters from
the ebook. This is a very good sign of the author's
confidence in the product and your opportunity to get a
glimpse of what you'll be getting with the full "paid-for"
version.

Always use this option if available. You can tell a lot
about the ebook and the quality of the content by reading a
single chapter. A free trial download generally comes with
a table-of-contents, too. Here you'll get an idea if the
ebook is going to deliver MORE or LESS than what you expect
for the price.

#4 - WATCH FOR THOSE "USE-IT-FOR-A-FULL-YEAR" GUARANTEES

Contrary to what you might believe, a LONG guarantee period
usually signals lower quality.

Think about it. Do you remember what you purchased a year
ago? This type of guarantee can lull you out of a sense of
urgency to evaluate your purchase. The author is likely
hoping you will "download-it-and-forget-it".

I have much more confidence in my ebook purchases when
there is a simple 30 day "no questions asked" money back
guarantee. It signals to me that the author is confident
that I will be a satisfied customer.

#5 - "YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR" DOESN'T ALWAYS APPLY

Ebooks literally cost next to nothing to produce and
deliver. Therefore, the prices of digital products are
determined strictly from perceived value. And perceived
value is directly related to good (or bad) sales copy.

Do a little research on the author. Many times you will
find that the content of the author's newest ebook is no
more than a collection of articles posted for FREE at his
web site only re-written in a little more detail.

Think twice before you shell out $97.00 plus for an ebook.
With the current ebook craze you RARELY get what you pay
for.

#6 - ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS DEMAND VALUE

Is there a "no questions asked" money back guarantee? If
there is, and you DON'T find a value that meets or exceeds
the price you paid, USE IT!

Unfortunately, this "make-a-quick-buck" craze gives a
black-eye to the quality-conscious ebook publishers and
their affiliate programs. By demanding quality we may
eventually see an end to the current tide of low value
ebooks.