Merchandizing
post # 518 — March 16, 2008 — a Client Relations post
I just received a complementary copy of a new book(let) by David Cottrell called “Leadership Energy (E=m x c squared).”
It’s a 100-page large-type (very clever) packaging of some key management lessons, using Einstein’s famous equation. In this case, the energy is the organization’s output, the m is the mass of the people and the c is the leader’s impact on energy.
What caught my attention was this sentence: “To help you facilitate teaching these concepts to your team, a Powerpoint slide presentation is available at www.CornerstoneLeadership.com
What you discover when you click is that the slide presentation sells for $99.95, compared to $14.95 for the booklet. And I bet it generates training and consulting opportunities.
Very clever! Are any of you merchandizing yourself (or your business) this way? What’s been your experience?
I wonder what would have happened if, starting 25 years ago, I had been charging for slide presentation versions of my material?
Charles H. Green said:
I believe Tom Peters has for some years now offered up his own set of powerpoint slides gratis; in fact, he regularly uploads the most recent versions of them.
And you yourself David have offered prodigious amounts of content for free over the years.
I’m not sure how to think about what to offer for free and what to charge for. It’s not a moral issue, I’m sure there’s more than one answer, and I’m sure part of the answer is “it depends,” but– what does one charge for, and what not?
posted on March 16, 2008