The Bikini Concept of Writing
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Question: How much should you reveal on your blog?
I remember it vividly. I had written my first ebook and was starting a newsletter. And was worried: how much should I reveal in the newsletter? Will people buy my ebook and consulting services if I give away too many of my secrets in the newsletter?
I asked that question to my friend and mentor Sean D’Souza over phone. And I still remember his answer:
“Give away the ideas. Sell the system.” - Sean D’Souza
And thats what I did. I left nothing back in my newsletter. I deconstructed my ebook into smaller sub-topics. And wrote a case study on one sub-topic in each newsletter issue. People could read the newsletter and apply the lessons right away. But if they wanted to learn the whole step-by-step system, they had to buy.
Recently, Sean D’Souza gave an even better answer to the same question: how much should you reveal to people for free?
“I found out the age-old concept of the bikini to apply. That by giving away 90% of the concept, and keeping 10%, the attraction factor was just as strong, if not twice as strong. And yes, what the bikini didna_Tt reveal, was the part the audience most wanted (naturally), and was the part they were willing to pay for.” - Sean D’Souza
via: Spider Secret
Action Summary:
- Don’t be hesitant in sharing your ideas with your blog readers. The more you share, the more they will buy.
- Do keep an ace up your sleeve for your best clients.
- The 90:10 ratio is a good number. Give away 90% of your secrets. Retain the best 10%.
Posted by Ankesh Kothari under Writing on 02 Aug 2007
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