In the last few months I have been in contact with numerous people that want to help in promoting my new book- Knowledge and Nonsense: the science of nutrition and exercise. The more people I speak with the more I realize how ridiculous this industry had become. Most of these people have the same ideas for advertising which includes ad copies 20 pages long, 500 dollars worth of free gifts with purchase, promises of magic formula, limited time offers that really never end, comic book appearance, 90-100 dollar book price and so on. Some of these could be good ideas if used appropriately. When you say limited time offer it should really be a limited time offer. Offering a free product or bonus with purchase not a bad idea but when you give readers the impression they will receive 500 dollars worth of free gifts for purchasing a 50 dollar product come one.
There is nothing wrong with trying to maximize product sales, but I think it can be done in a different manner that what seems to be so popular at this time. If you feel like you need to create and illusion with what your product (or products including free materials) actually offers consumers to sale it maybe you should not release that product.