When I started writing online, I didn’t know how to monetize my work. I wrote over 100 articles without earning a single penny. Then, I got into freelance writing, taking a few clients and earning a decent income from them. Some months were great; others were ghost towns. I was always chasing the next project, the next invoice, and the next “yes.”
Then I stumbled into the world of digital products. I saw so many writers and creators earning “passive” income by selling courses, e-books, guides, checklists, etc.
At first, I didn’t think it was possible, and it felt like a scam. But I kept seeing creators, regular people, talking about selling $20 templates, $49 e-books, or $200 courses — all on autopilot.
So, I wanted to give it a shot.
I wasn’t very confident in the beginning, so I repurposed one of my popular articles into an e-book. I also kept it free, with an additional option to pay what you want. It means that when downloading the e-book, people can either obtain it for $0 or purchase it at any price they choose.
I didn’t think it would work, so I kept my hopes low. I promoted my e-book through articles and social media platforms. Additionally, I wrote guest blog posts on other websites, which generated over 500 downloads. Most of them got it for free. But surprisingly, some also bought it for $1, $2, or $5.
I understood the game.
Since then, I’ve created multiple digital products and sold them each month, making thousands in recurring income. I generate these earnings from work I did months or years ago.
Here’s what I’ve learned about building once and selling forever.
Start With What You Know (and What People Ask You About)
The first product doesn’t need to be groundbreaking. It just needs to solve a problem people already have.
Ask yourself:
- What do people always ask me for help with?
- What’s something I’ve figured out that others struggle with?
- What problem did I solve for myself that I could teach?
For me, it was online writing and passive income. I kept explaining the same frameworks to most of my readers who asked me about improving their writing and generating online income. So, I packed it into a guide. That was it.
Start with what’s already in your head and what people already trust you for.
Keep It Small and Useful
Your first digital product doesn’t have to be a 10-module filmed course. That’s a recipe for burnout, including waste of time, energy, and money.
Instead, build something small:
- A Notion template
- A checklist or guide
- A short e-book
- A swipe file or toolkit
People don’t buy size; they buy usefulness.
My best-selling product was a 20-page PDF. No fluff. Just a puncy, tactical workthrough. People love it because they can read it in 30 minutes and get immediate value.
Sell Before You Build (If You Can)
One of the biggest mistakes I made early on was building in a vacuum. I’d spend weeks creating something, only to realize no one really wanted it.
Now, I test “demand” first.
Here’s how:
- Write a post about the problem on X, LinkedIn, Facebook, or Instagram, and see who engages
- Offer a pre-order at a discounted price
- Run a live workshop, then turn the replay into a product
This way, you validate the idea before investing hours into making it.
Something I do often is to give a sneak peek of my new product’s cover page or build a landing page for early access (with a discount). It’s also a great way to grow your audience.
Automate the Sales
You don’t need a complex sales funnel. You don’t need to buy a domain or hosting to build a website for your product page. You just need a way for people to:
- Learn what your product is
- Buy it easily
- Get it delivered automatically
Use tools like Gumroad or Payhip (affiliate link). Create a simple landing page with the following details.
- Who’s it for
- What problem does it solve
- What they’ll get
Then, post about it regularly.
Let Your Content Do the Heavy Lifting
Your best marketing tool is your free content.
Every blog post, tweet, email, video, or podcast episode can point people to your product. Over time, your audience builds trust. When they see you’ve got something to sell, they’re far more likely to buy.
I’ve had people buy products from me six months after first discovering me. That’s because I kept showing up, sharing value, and building credibility.
Stack Your Products
Once you’ve made one digital product, you’re in the game. Now you can:
- Bundle products together
- Create a product ladder (small offer → big offer)
- Turn repeated questions into new guides
Each product becomes another asset in your income ecosystem. And they keep selling, even while you sleep.
Conclusion
Selling digital products isn’t magic. It’s also not passive (at least not initially). But once it exists, it starts to work for you.
You don’t need a massive audience. You don’t need a perfect funnel. You just need to solve one real problem for one specific person.
Build it once. Sell it forever.
Here are some of my tips:
- Create content for free.
- Experiment with ideas.
- See what works — something people resonate with most
- Build a product based on that idea. It should solve a common problem.
- Promote intensively on social media, through blog posts, and on other relevant websites.
Pro tip:
Use the “pay what you want” feature. Tools like Gumroad and Payhip enable creators to price their products in a way that allows buyers to set their own prices. For example, I’ve priced my AI Toolkit at $4.99+. It means the minimum amount a buyer must pay is 4.99. But they can pay any amount more than that if they want. The maximum threshold is unlimited.
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