Oscilloscope Basics eBook series

[JackP]

Hi guys,

I haven't been contributing for a while, as I've been working on the first instalment in a new series I'm writing. Entitled "Oscilloscope Basics: Understanding the specifications", it is intended for complete beginners to understand four key terms you hear when studying oscilloscopes: bandwidth, sample rate, memory depth and update rate.

If anyone is interested, then you can sign up here. I'm looking for proof readers, so if you sign up you might get a free copy, and you'll definitely receive updates and exclusive content. Thanks a lot for your time!

[Shock]

If anyone is interested, then you can sign up here. I'm looking for proof readers, so if you sign up you might get a free copy, and you'll definitely receive updates and exclusive content. Thanks a lot for your time!

Do you mean might or absolutely will get a free copy? Because might in marketing terms normally means we will spam you once we have your email.

[tggzzz]

If anyone is interested, then you can sign up here. I'm looking for proof readers, so if you sign up you might get a free copy, and you'll definitely receive updates and exclusive content. Thanks a lot for your time!

Do you mean might or absolutely will get a free copy? Because might in marketing terms normally means we will spam you once we have your email.

Quite. But that's why disposable email addresses exist and are so popular.

Would you bother to go in a shop that prevented you seeing what they had inside until you had given them your address?

[Shock]

Quite. But that's why disposable email addresses exist and are so popular.
Would you bother to go in a shop that prevented you seeing what they had inside until you had given them your address?

Good point on the disposable email. I was actually going to suggest a short excerpt from the ebook would be nice.

[rdl]

I went to a company's website looking for information on a product. I wanted to download the user manual.

They expected me to either register an account and log in, or provide name, address, e-mail, etc.

I'm too lazy to enter fake info or register. I decided it was much easier to just forget about buying from that company.

[fivefish]

Oscilloscope basics? Here's one from a member here, w2aew. Alan's an excelllent teacher too.  And no need for that signup email shit.



And here's official publication from Tektronix. XYZs of oscilloscopes.

https://courses.physics.illinois.edu/phys193/Labs/XYZs_of_Oscilloscopes.pdf

-- you're welcome!

[tggzzz]

I went to a company's website looking for information on a product. I wanted to download the user manual.
They expected me to either register an account and log in, or provide name, address, e-mail, etc.
I'm too lazy to enter fake info or register. I decided it was much easier to just forget about buying from that company.

Yes. I've done that many many times.

A company that it misguided in that way is probably misguided in other ways, so it is best to avoid them.

[JackP]

Well this was a great idea. On the email address, that is from my blog, TextGear, which I took down as I didn't have time to write such detailed pieces whilst embarking on my GCSEs. I am merely trying to impart a little of the knowledge I have gained, and yes, it would be great to make a little money to spend on my hobby. The bulk of the book is composed of a blog post I wrote, so by pressing that small button on my profile you could have seen the majority of it. Why take it down and slap a price tag on it I hear you ask? Mainly, because I see myself as fairly enterprising, and wanted to see some tangible benefit. Unlike some, I don't have all day to compose articles, so I wanted to share my knowledge in the easiest way, to the largest audience, possible. Considering how I am using a wix.com address, 'intellectuals' like yourselves might put two-and-two together and realise that this is not some large corporation trying to scam you for your email address.

Alan is a great guy, and his work is amazing. However, I've watched his videos and still couldn't find what I am providing: an insight into the four key terms you hear about when buying a 'scope. It isn't the be-all and end-all of oscilloscope books, just a short guide focusing on one small part of the niche. Again, the Tek publication, very detailed and useful, just not what I'm targeting.

I know I'm coming across as a bit of a tool, but I am sick of the guys on the internet always thinking the worst.

[tggzzz]

Personally I don't think you are a "bit of a tool". The problem is that those of us that have been round since the Internet's beginning have seen many many attempts to blindside us in many many different ways - and consequently we have become wary.

I doubt that you have been around long enough (GCSE => pre university) to have wearied of such things!

There are many models for converting experience into money, with varying advantages and disadvantages. Selling something directly is only one. You may like to consider open publication as a loss leading advertisement that will help convince a client that you have skills they need to buy (I.e. consultancy) or a company that you have skills that will benefit them (I.e. an employee)  or even a university admissions officer that you will enhance the universities reputation.

[fivefish]

Jack

Here's the truth. You don't have a monopoly on this information. There's lots of info on Google and oscilloscope manufacturers offering the same thing you're offering.

Ask yourself
1. Does the visitor have sufficient motivation to do what you're asking them to do?
From the answers above, you can see the answer is no.

2. Is what you're asking the user "easy" to do? For some people, surrendering their email address is easy. For others, guarding their privacy is high on their priority list and what you're asking them to do, is hard. They give up their privacy for some PDF on how to use an oscilloscope (something they probably already know, or something they can get the info somewhere else?)

So all your "user triggers" are failing, you ain't catching any "bites."

I'd suggest you lower the hurdles for people to get to your product, or give them enough motivation to do what you're asking them to do. Right now, you're failing on both counts.

As to how you should fix that, that's up to you. That's a business decision you should make.

Some ideas:
1. You can give them a free oscilloscope, or enter into a raflle for an oscilloscope giveaway. I bet you'll get thousands of signups and thousands downloding your PDF.  That's a high enough motivation for people to signup, and giving up their email address (fake or real) for a chance to win a scope... some will bite.

2. You can just get rid of your "paywall" or "signup-wall" and just give the PDF for free. If what you offer is truly compelling and high enough quality from the rest out there, then you'll slowly build a following... and maybe who knows, when you publish your big compilation of really good articles, then people will see value in that and buy it.

[Shock]

"Be the first in line to receive the latest installment of the 'Oscilloscope basics' series. Regular updates, exclusive content and a chance to get a free copy before the rest, sign up now to reap all of the rewards!"

All I want to know is do we get a free copy or not for singing up? It says sign up now to reap all of the rewards.
You're not the first person to try to entice people by pretending to give away stuff. How many copies are you actually giving away?

It says in your signature, "Want to know more about 'scopes? Click here to check out my Oscilloscope Basics eBook series." firstly it's not a series till you have written it, secondly if you can't buy it or read it for free right now why waste peoples time?