Give Away A Free Report And Watch Your Opt-in List Explode

Free reports are one of the best products to offer at the top of your product funnel as part of your brand awareness and list building strategies. Watch your opt-in list explode as visitors to your site willingly trade their details for something which wont have them digging into their wallets. Everyone loves receiving things for free, and if you give away real value in your free report, you will have the opportunity to build a relationship with them over time, convert them into paying customers and progress them further down your product funnel.

Why give away a free report?

As a business owner the more you can give your prospects in terms of quality and information, the more you'll stay in the forefront of their minds. Offering a free report is a good way to build your mailing list as well as give something of value to your customers. You're also establishing yourself as an expert in your chosen field, which will build trust and credibility with your customers.

It's also thought that when customers can instantly download a special report onto their computers it creates a sense of increased value. This report is on their computer and they can access it at any time or print it out if they choose. If you go a step further and have a professional looking cover made for your free special report you will increase the perceived value even further.

In today's hectic world, people can become overloaded and overwhelmed with too much information. When someone is experiencing a problem, they want a solution for that problem and they want it now. They often don't have the time or the energy to go sifting through mountains of text or hours of audio looking for the answer. By providing the solution in a short, succinct format such as a special report, your prospects and customers will be delighted.

What exactly is a special report?

A special report is a document or manuscript on a specific topic. Generally kept to between 5 and 30 pages in length, the contents of a report will address a particular issue or problem being experienced by your target market. On the other hand, an ebook, being anything up to 500 pages or more would cover a more general topic.

For example, if you are a relationship coach, you might confine your special report to a specific issue such as "How To Cope With A Partner Who Cheats" or "Tips To Have Your Partner Willingly Share The Housework", whereas an ebook could cover a far more general topic as "Creating Harmony With Your Loved One".

So when should you write a free report?

Anytime your target market experiences an 'itch they want scratched' and anytime you can provide the ideal solution, is the answer. Free reports can be written around a product or service you offer. For example, if you offer a learn to read phonics program for parents of younger children, then you can write a report which outlines the importance of reading to children, how early reading helps build vocabulary and self esteem and so on. You can add reading statistics about reading improvement by using the phonics system and even include a few case studies about children whose reading has improved due to using phonics.

The report shouldn't read like a sales pitch but instead should focus on providing value to your customers and the information they crave. Throughout the special report you can include links to your phonics programs or related services, and may even include several other affiliate links for similar helpful products. Be careful that you don't include too many links and you want to make sure the products you do recommend are all related to the specific issue at hand.

Free special reports are one of the most popular methods of sharing your expertise with both new prospects and existing clients, building your list and expanding your visibility and credibility.

As well as providing you with opportunities to upsell your prospects and customers to higher level products and services, grow your opt-in list, have you seen as the expert in your target niche, use free special reports to begin building your product funnel.