How to offer free book for sign up?

[baldricko]

I used instafreebies to offer free content in exchange for a signup to my newsletter. Now that they are Prolific-something-or-other they still take the names and email, but, they do not pass the same on to me like they use to, not unless I front up with $120 a year. What do they do with the names and emails (or is that obvious and I am being awfully naive here?)

The subscription to collect the emails and names for my list is not a huge amount, but I'd rather take control of this one myself. Has anyone done this? i.e. A reader clicks on your banner/ popup to claim a freebie, but first must enter their name and email.

I use Weebly, Mailchimp, and Bookfunnel (to offer ARCs).

Is there a smart way this can be done?

[Simon Haynes]

I use Bookfunnel to offer freebies in exchange for signups. It integrates with Mailerlite, and I'm pretty sure it would integrate with Mailchimp too.

I do all kinds of web programming, but I couldn't be bothered writing something and digging around with APIs when it's so easy (and relatively cheap) to use bookfunnel.

[baldricko]

Do you use a banner for potential readers to click initially?

I was thinking of the strategy used by Joanna.

See https://jfpenn.com

[Simon Haynes]

Yes, I have banners all over my websites (spacejock.com and spacejock.com.au). 

[baldricko]

Well done!

I wished I was able to put together a decent site.

But, I think I will have to stick with Weebly for the time being. Far too much time needed to change things. I think it best I spend my time on writing rather than learning the skills necessary to create my own site.

[Simon Haynes]

I code html by hand, and I use my own ygen2 software (free) to generate the sites.  It allows nested includes and variables, so I can create (for example) one page for a particular novel, then change the variables and reuse the same code template for all my other novels.

I don't think I've ever documented ygen because it's a bit complicated and probably much more than most people would need (or want!)

[Bill Hiatt]

I use Bookfunnel to offer freebies in exchange for signups. It integrates with Mailerlite, and I'm pretty sure it would integrate with Mailchimp too.

I do all kinds of web programming, but I couldn't be bothered writing something and digging around with APIs when it's so easy (and relatively cheap) to use bookfunnel.

Yes, BookFunnel integrates with Mailchimp. I'm in my first group giveaways on BF, and I've been running with about a 42% conversion rate. (That is, about 42% of the people who downloaded the book signed up; I made sign-ups optional.) Anyway, I'm very pleased with it.

[Bill Hiatt]

Well done!

I wished I was able to put together a decent site.

But, I think I will have to stick with Weebly for the time being. Far too much time needed to change things. I think it best I spend my time on writing rather than learning the skills necessary to create my own site.

Yeah, if Weebly works for you, stick with it.

I use Wordpress, but I like tinkering under the hood a little. It can definitely be a time-suck if you're not careful.

[baldricko]

I code html by hand, and I use my own ygen2 software (free) to generate the sites.  It allows nested includes and variables, so I can create (for example) one page for a particular novel, then change the variables and reuse the same code template for all my other novels.

I don't think I've ever documented ygen because it's a bit complicated and probably much more than most people would need (or want!)

I always imagine one day I will be able to code. I like to think I have some language ability (other than my native tongue), but it seems I have enough trouble mastering effective conversation in Japanese.

[baldricko]

Well done!

I wished I was able to put together a decent site.

But, I think I will have to stick with Weebly for the time being. Far too much time needed to change things. I think it best I spend my time on writing rather than learning the skills necessary to create my own site.

Yeah, if Weebly works for you, stick with it.

I use Wordpress, but I like tinkering under the hood a little. It can definitely be a time-suck if you're not careful.

Thanks Bill. I do wish I had not left Wordpress for Weebly. I've found a way to set up the banner through Mailchimp for Weebly. Good to know Bookfunnel will work with Mailchimp. This should work.

[Tom Wood]

...
I was thinking of the strategy used by Joanna.

See https://jfpenn.com

If you can create pages with active buttons on Weebly, then you should be able to mimic Penn's process. She's using a double opt-in to ensure that people understand that they are also signing up for her newsletter. I can't tell for sure, but it looks like the smaller popup where she captures their email for the first time is a MailChimp* signup form. The last page had a link to BookFunnel (you had to hover over it and look in your browser window to see it) but now it mentions an email download.

BookFunnel has a paid plan that fully integrates MailChimp* and BookFunnel, so if Weebly is too unwieldy that could be an option.

* or another email service

[baldricko]

...
I was thinking of the strategy used by Joanna.

See https://jfpenn.com

If you can create pages with active buttons on Weebly, then you should be able to mimic Penn's process. She's using a double opt-in to ensure that people understand that they are also signing up for her newsletter. I can't tell for sure, but it looks like the smaller popup where she captures their email for the first time is a MailChimp* signup form. The last page had a link to BookFunnel (you had to hover over it and look in your browser window to see it) but now it mentions an email download.

BookFunnel has a paid plan that fully integrates MailChimp* and BookFunnel, so if Weebly is too unwieldy that could be an option.

* or another email service

Thanks Tom. I'm trying to avoid another paid service. I'm already plugged into quite a few, and what I want to do is get a handle on coding 101. I'm with Bookfunnel and Mailchimp so will plug them in and see what happens. Should be fun and a bit of a time burner so I hope it will work.

[Tom Wood]

... I'm with Bookfunnel and Mailchimp so will plug them in and see what happens. Should be fun and a bit of a time burner so I hope it will work.

Let us know how it works. I'm setting up to do the same thing, also for ARCs prior to launch.

[C. Gockel]

I have been using StoryOrigin for free books. Right now it is free. I'm not sure how long it will remain free. I think Evan, the developer is playing with the idea of $10 a month.

https://storyoriginapp.com/

I've been using pages like this on my website: https://www.cgockelwrites.com/book/let-there-be-light/

The pages give readers the opportunity to buy a book or to download it free, but if they download it free I get their email address.

[baldricko]

... I'm with Bookfunnel and Mailchimp so will plug them in and see what happens. Should be fun and a bit of a time burner so I hope it will work.

Let us know how it works. I'm setting up to do the same thing, also for ARCs prior to launch.

I found I couldn't make my own banner using the theme I had, so spent this time rebuilding the website using a new theme. A major though not completely unforeseen complication. Next step is the banner and related bits and connect to the giveaway, possibly through StoryOrigin...

[baldricko]

I have been using StoryOrigin for free books. Right now it is free. I'm not sure how long it will remain free. I think Evan, the developer is playing with the idea of $10 a month.

https://storyoriginapp.com/

I've been using pages like this on my website: https://www.cgockelwrites.com/book/let-there-be-light/

The pages give readers the opportunity to buy a book or to download it free, but if they download it free I get their email address.

I followed the link and after a quick look I've got to say I'm in, and thank you for posting it.

[C. Gockel]

I followed the link and after a quick look I've got to say I'm in, and thank you for posting it.

I hope it works out for you!

[baldricko]

I ended up connecting my website to Bookfunnel. I like StoryOrigin and plan to stay with them but they don't appear to offer a couple of the list building advantages of using Bookfunnel.

With Bookfunnel the details of email and download are captured, i.e. who it was from my mail out list actually downloaded the book was one. Likewise with the specifics of a email address recorded, there seems to be no way to establish a tie between link to a book and an email so that if someone else is given the link they are unable to use it unless they have entered their email.

Since Story Origin is in beta I am interested to see how it will develop so I am going to stay with it. 

My efforts to create a discrete good looking popup without company names etc that people couldn't possibly take easy offense to have hit a brick wall. I would really like to know how to build a good looking and effective pop-up banner for my Weebly site. If anyone knows please do chime in here.

[bookworm]

I ended up connecting my website to Bookfunnel. I like StoryOrigin and plan to stay with them but they don't appear to offer a couple of the list building advantages of using Bookfunnel.

With Bookfunnel the details of email and download are captured, i.e. who it was from my mail out list actually downloaded the book was one. Likewise with the specifics of a email address recorded, there seems to be no way to establish a tie between link to a book and an email so that if someone else is given the link they are unable to use it unless they have entered their email.

Since Story Origin is in beta I am interested to see how it will develop so I am going to stay with it. 

My efforts to create a discrete good looking popup without company names etc that people couldn't possibly take easy offense to have hit a brick wall. I would really like to know how to build a good looking and effective pop-up banner for my Weebly site. If anyone knows please do chime in here.

Would you consider switching to Squarespace? The $18/month plan includes popups and it's SO easy to use. I'm building my website right now.

[baldricko]

I ended up connecting my website to Bookfunnel. I like StoryOrigin and plan to stay with them but they don't appear to offer a couple of the list building advantages of using Bookfunnel.

With Bookfunnel the details of email and download are captured, i.e. who it was from my mail out list actually downloaded the book was one. Likewise with the specifics of a email address recorded, there seems to be no way to establish a tie between link to a book and an email so that if someone else is given the link they are unable to use it unless they have entered their email.

Since Story Origin is in beta I am interested to see how it will develop so I am going to stay with it. 

My efforts to create a discrete good looking popup without company names etc that people couldn't possibly take easy offense to have hit a brick wall. I would really like to know how to build a good looking and effective pop-up banner for my Weebly site. If anyone knows please do chime in here.

Would you consider switching to Squarespace? The $18/month plan includes popups and it's SO easy to use. I'm building my website right now.

Not at the moment. I couldn't face rebuilding my website twice in the same month or even in one year. What a time-eater doing that is. Is Square related to Squarespace? Square bought Weebly a year or two ago.