8 ms·

You're asking me to pay $5 for a one-page PDF that's the first chapter of what sounds, in the absence of any information about it other than "I'm writing a book

You're asking me to pay $5 for a one-page PDF that's the first chapter of what sounds, in the absence of any information about it other than "I'm writing a book about my startup", suspiciously like an advertisement. After spending a few minutes clicking on links I was finally able to figure out what it is that Gumroad actually does, but neither your blog post or the purchase page gave the barest bit of information about the startup you're writing about. I'm interested in what you're doing and would love to hear what you have to say, but it doesn't seem to me like you're doing a good job selling the book concept to someone who isn't already familiar with you or your work.

sahillavingia 15y ago
True, I've changed it to $1. I think this is a better price, especially for those (most people) that don't know me. I'll also release a Chapter 0 all about pre-2012 in the next week or two. Thanks!
- shantanubala 15y ago
  I know this might sound a bit harsh (I really like your idea!), but what advice, experiences, or knowledge will you be talking about that justify the price? What is unique about your experience that separates you from thousands of people blogging for free? Even beyond just the $1, I have to pull out my credit card and make a purchase (there's some transaction cost), which is a mental barrier. I know this might just be something you're working on as a side project, but is there a particular reason why you want to sell it? I feel like you're in a position where it's more beneficial to you (and others) if you engage in conversations about your experience with Gumroad rather than publish something. A conversation is usually much more engaging than a story, unless there's something very unique about the story.
  - sahillavingia 15y ago
    Not harsh at all! I appreciate any and all feedback. I want to test the model, and doing it myself is a great way of doing so. (so far it's working!) I agree about the conversation, but I think the great thing about the web is that the line that separates a 'story' and a 'conversation' is blurring. I think this experiment will lead to a very compelling version of both. Wish me luck!

sahillavingia 15y ago

True, I've changed it to $1. I think this is a better price, especially for those (most people) that don't know me. I'll also release a Chapter 0 all about pre-2012 in the next week or two. Thanks!

shantanubala 15y ago
I know this might sound a bit harsh (I really like your idea!), but what advice, experiences, or knowledge will you be talking about that justify the price? What is unique about your experience that separates you from thousands of people blogging for free? Even beyond just the $1, I have to pull out my credit card and make a purchase (there's some transaction cost), which is a mental barrier. I know this might just be something you're working on as a side project, but is there a particular reason why you want to sell it? I feel like you're in a position where it's more beneficial to you (and others) if you engage in conversations about your experience with Gumroad rather than publish something. A conversation is usually much more engaging than a story, unless there's something very unique about the story.
- sahillavingia 15y ago
  Not harsh at all! I appreciate any and all feedback. I want to test the model, and doing it myself is a great way of doing so. (so far it's working!) I agree about the conversation, but I think the great thing about the web is that the line that separates a 'story' and a 'conversation' is blurring. I think this experiment will lead to a very compelling version of both. Wish me luck!