DVDs or digital download?

[neilsara]

Hi everyone

I've got a Muse in mind -- basically, instructional videos, and a supporting manual, to explain how to do something (the closest parallel would be the "yoga for runners" example).

Has anyone had any experience with selling a knowledge product as a digital download, as opposed to DVDs?

Will people pay as much for digital downloads as they will for DVDs?

Anyone used something like iTunes App Store to give buyers access to the video files?

DVDs seem so yester-year ... but I suspect they are the medium that with the highest margin.

Thanks in advance for your thoughts, Neil

[FrozenCanuck]

I sell audio downloads AND physical CDs online right now. The file size is about 150 Megs total so it's OK for a download. If you have a full DVD you might find the audience isn't easily able to download it. But, if you put it in DivX form (or whatever codec the cool kids use today) and offer it to the tech-friendly crowd at a discount you might just have a good audience.

Here's how I do it:

DIGITAL product is sold on my website, and downloads are handled by DLGuard (this is the best software in my view). This software is installed on my server with a regular cheap hosting account that costs $7 per month.

PHYSICAL product is delivered by CD-Fulfillment.com - I take the orders by PayPal and simply copy / paste into their online form for fulfillment when I get physical orders. I don't get enough physical orders to worry about automation, but it IS easy to automate the process when you hit volume.

For my 3-CD program, it costs me about $10 to send out the CDs including all costs (manufacturing, printing, packaging, mailing). That's pretty good.

They do not handle printed manuals of more than 6 pages as far as I know, so you might need a different solution for a longer manual. But you could also offer the manual as a PDF download and ship the DVD.

DVD manufacturing costs the same as CD manufacturing with the company I use. They are good. I'm happy.

[neilsara]

Great information. Glad to hear that you are happy with cd-fulfillment.com. I'll plan to go that way also.

Regards, Neil

[lex6819]

I've heard good things about Kunaki.com. They drop ship your CD or DVD products. You could also still sell them as downloads, so your customers could pick the format they prefer to buy. Physical products often still have higher perceived value than digital downloads (not always, but often).

[EditorDude]

Changing the topic slightly, I would like your help to clarify something.
Nowadays, ebooks or printable information can be exchanged freely over the internet, so in business terms, it is probably defunct.

The advantage with mp3/videos, the audience pays attention during the running time - whereas with printed material, you are going to have to make time to read it etc. So this perception in the mind of the consumer may be an added marketing advantage.

So, which is the way to go for a pay-to-download business:

If you have specialised information which can be supplied as a downloadable PDF or Word file, that doesn't really need to be visible unlike, for example, yoga routines, would it be better to only supply it as an audio mp3 or video (of a talking head) - and perhaps mail out hard copies of the printed material?

Or - as Neilsara asked - just mail out DVDs/CDs and a manual? (Or even without a printed manual)

And, to ask the obvious (sorry), therefore - should I abandon a downloadable printed version altogether?

The reason for the question is just to identify where I should concentrate my time and effort. Thanks.

[charlestown]

I have an ebook I wrote available for electronic download, however, I've never tried selling it on CD and I can't see any great advantage in doing so. The only piece of information I can offer is that I find e-junkie.com (http://www.e-junkie.com/) extremely good for the billing and electronic delivery part. Their system allows for users to sell both physical and electronic goods unlike most other billing options.

[EditorDude]

Thanks Charlestown - that's a start. In marketing terms:

Do you think you would do better with your business if the same information in the ebook were to be presented as a downloadable talking audiobook or even a video of a talking presenter?

Or would it make no difference?

[charlestown]

In my case the ebook is over 325 pages and related to photography, so I am not sure how well it would play as an audio book owing to the need for visual reference and of course the written form is great for quick referencing with searches. I do think there would be scope though for combining the PDF book with video, however, I would really need to think that through and see how it works out for costs etc. I guess it depends on your product.

[EditorDude]

That's great Charlestown. Kudos to you for putting together the ebook. Just out of curiosity, how long did it take for you to write the ebook?

[charlestown]

I wrote my ebook before hearing about Tim's book, which I am just going through now, so no doubt I'll be kicking myself when he says he wrote his book in two hours using some amazing shortcut.

Doing things the old fashioned way the ebook actually took me 9 months of near full time work to complete and of course 20 years of experience before that so I knew what to write. It does bring in some income but not nearly enough for all the work involved so far, so I am hoping to learn ways of significantly increasing the sales without spending endless hours in front of the computer. It is clear that 99% of affiliates aren't that great so I need to search out and recruit a few with more targeted traffic.

Tim's book is an eye opener and yet in many ways quite self evident in that I know deep down some of the mistakes I have been making, but seeing them clearly described has helped to focus my attention and desire to find a new way of working.

I know a guy in the UK who makes money with everything he touches on the internet and it doesn't seem to matter if it's an app for the iPhone or selling widgets on eBay I can guarantee that within a month or so of starting he'll be making $1000+ per day and that can't all be luck. Whenever I speak to him though he is always relaxed and enjoying life. It makes you think...

[robertjetsetlife]

I think it really depends on WHO is buying the product. For example, when I sell products to woman in their 50's- I always offer it as a physical product. They just tend to be not as tech savy as far as the downloads.

But, when I sell products to men in let's say their 30's I only offer it as a digital product because they prefer to consume it that way. Just my 2 cents

[Danica]

I think it really depends on WHO is buying the product. For example, when I sell products to woman in their 50's- I always offer it as a physical product. They just tend to be not as tech savy as far as the downloads.

But, when I sell products to men in let's say their 30's I only offer it as a digital product because they prefer to consume it that way. Just my 2 cents

Not true. Remember something Tim stated in his book about 'being in your market'. If you're not a 50+ female or know any that are engineers, doctors, programmers, accountants or attorneys (which is my market) then you can't really know whether they are tech savvy or not.

Are we tech savvy...depends what you deem the term to mean and what you're selling.

[paulwbrowning]

I suppose you could test both or offer both. I bought 'magic words can bring you riches' by ted nicholas and he offerd the e-book version for less than the printed version.

I sell both my e-book and downloadable video has sold about $24,000 via www.subnetting-secrets.com I think because it satisfied peoples need for immediate gratification.

DVD sets have higher perceived value and you can also pack in more for less such as the audio files as mp3. I even got mine transcribed into a book to add with the bundle. will be releasing that in about a week.

Regards

paul

[dbergan]

One drawback of downloads for video that I have found is that the big companies (Amazon and iTunes) set the prices. With a target price of $50 - $200, the $9.99 iTunes price leaves a lot to be desired.

Has anyone been able to sell a video download at either of these places and set your own price? Or, what other services are out there for video downloads?

(Streaming video has lots of options available, but for downloads I haven't found anything...)

Dan