Should You Worry About Buyers Sharing Your Ebook When You Sell Information Online?
One challenge when you sell information online is how easy it can be shared. Utilizing Clickbank is one way you can limit this. The payment processor is designed to limit unauthorized access at the point of payment.
How does it limit access? After creating a sales page to describe the product you link to Clickbank. There is a buy it now button that you can add through Clickbank that will capture the credit card information that the customer puts in. Upon entering valid information and having the necessary funds available, the link to download the product is provided to the customer. This is the only way the download link can be accessed. This provides some protection for you.
However, once a customer has that link, he or she can download your product and share it with everyone. How do you protect yourself even after payment has been received?
If you are looking for a way to protect your products when you sell information online, one way to do so is by using a membership website with a password. What you do is place the information you want to offer on a webpage instead of in ebook format. For example, on my website, they have to use their user name and password and their account is linked to their payment information. When you sell a $700 course with a $97 per month membership subscription, protecting your information is important. You do not want that type of information being shared. I do not care as much if I am selling a $27 ebook.
With most products, especially in niches where the buyer tends to be more honest, sharing is not a major issue. One technique to limit sharing is to use the honor system by reminding your readers at the beginning of the ebook that it is not free and giving them a way to report violators who choose to share the ebook without permission. Many people who read such a statement will abide by it. They do not want to be considered thieves and will abide by your request.
The bottom line is that unless you keep your information on a password protected membership website or use PDF protection software, there is not much you can do to stop sharing when you sell information online.
