I respectfully agree with some things you say. Most ebooks, videos or seminars can offer up some gems that can validate some worth. I can only still think of a few that have really offered their worth in return for my money spent. One I paid for is now free as mentioned in a prior post. Another ebook was turned into a subscription service and is doing quite well. Another I got for free and was a paid book when it first came out and another was a dvd that came as an enticement for a magazine subscription.
The rest of the ebooks that I have in a folder on my computer and desktop that represent hundreds if not thousands of dollars were accidentally deleted and the backup drive failed would prove to be no real loss. The ones that have served me well are on my computer, my backup drive and a thumb drive. The dvd is on the shelf.
The best information I have found in forums usually obtained from asking good questions. The problem with most people who are new to this is the amount of information can be overwhelming and trying to sort good from the bad can be a task but continuing to ask questions will often deliver an acceptable or good answer.
With many ebooks especially in the last few years is as you said yourself they are often a calling card and from what I can see after buying and reading so many and many review copies is they are often regurgitated info that can be found for free, in forums or figured out with a little reasoning and offer little value and in some cases back ending and promoting affiliate products. I have no real issues with it if the book is free but why should I pay for back ending and affiliate links.
So if I were starting over 11 years ago I would be using the forums for information,
applying the information and spending more money on tools instead of paid info.
Oh and seeing it was brought up in the last two post I would spend a more time checking out 2 tier programs. I am involved in 2 of those as we speak and the nice thing about those is when my sales may be down a few affiliates below may be have some good SERP results... but the emphasis should always be on the product.
The rest of the ebooks that I have in a folder on my computer and desktop that represent hundreds if not thousands of dollars were accidentally deleted and the backup drive failed would prove to be no real loss. The ones that have served me well are on my computer, my backup drive and a thumb drive. The dvd is on the shelf.
The best information I have found in forums usually obtained from asking good questions. The problem with most people who are new to this is the amount of information can be overwhelming and trying to sort good from the bad can be a task but continuing to ask questions will often deliver an acceptable or good answer.
With many ebooks especially in the last few years is as you said yourself they are often a calling card and from what I can see after buying and reading so many and many review copies is they are often regurgitated info that can be found for free, in forums or figured out with a little reasoning and offer little value and in some cases back ending and promoting affiliate products. I have no real issues with it if the book is free but why should I pay for back ending and affiliate links.
So if I were starting over 11 years ago I would be using the forums for information,
applying the information and spending more money on tools instead of paid info.
Oh and seeing it was brought up in the last two post I would spend a more time checking out 2 tier programs. I am involved in 2 of those as we speak and the nice thing about those is when my sales may be down a few affiliates below may be have some good SERP results... but the emphasis should always be on the product.