Is Selling Digital Products Worth It? I'm About to Find Out..
I’ve recently been deep diving into the world of digital products. The course I’m taking said that everyone is an expert in something and that your target audience is whoever you were 6-24 months ago. With the help of AI, you can now create low-content digital products that help someone overcome a roadblock. Selling stuff always felt scammy to me which is why I gravitated towards content marketing because you’re sharing content and Google is doing the aggregating on your behalf. But I actually love when I’m targeted on Insta for a product or course that can improve my life - so why should I be shy about sharing my knowledge?
I’m also from the content marketing camp whose motto used to be “If you build it (and give it away for free for a few years), they will come”. I’ve been telling clients this for years and though I still stand behind the fact that if you keep showing up consistently and share valuable content on your favorite social platform or on your blog you will build a following but it’s 1. not easy to commit to a content calendar and 2. it is not quick. It can take years to build a faithful following and that’s if you’re consistent.
So now I’m looking for ways to build digital products, sell them for a low price point, and then upsell to a higher priced item (like one on one coaching for example) if the customer finds the info helpful.
But oh how I was struggling to come up with a product to create. The course said I should also pick a topic that is very interesting to me and that I have a lot to say about. I wanted to somehow tie it to Squarespace or content marketing so I could upsell these services but if I’m being honest - neither of these things exactly light me up.
So that’s when I thought about what I was dealing with 6-24 months ago.
And that’s when I remembered how hard it was for me to sleep and all the steps I took to get a good night’s rest. I wouldn’t say I’m cured because, well, insomnia isn’t linear but I feel confident that if I ever had another bout I’d be able to nip it in the bud immediately because now I have a toolkit that addresses the biological factors and the psychological.
So my first digital product is going o be either an e-book or a mini course that delivers 8 solutions to conquer your sleeplessness.
I’m still not sure how to upsell this but maybe it’s not necessary. I’m just happy to share the knowledge I have.
Why not give the e-book away for free?
Because unless you already have credibility in a space or credentials people likely won’t value your knowledge. To put it bluntly - in the church of capitalism, people value things that they spend money on.
You can still use an ebook as a way to grow your newsletter list and I might end up doing that as well, but first I will try charging a reasonable amount like $7, and then go from there.
Stay tuned for more updates on my venture into selling digital products.
If you’re interested in creating and selling digital products for your business get in touch, I’d love to share what I’ve learned so far.
What Would This Look Like If It Was Easy?
I was recently listening to a podcast interview with Tim Ferriss when he shared a question he asks himself in his journal often to help him overcome challenges - and it stuck with me. I’ll admit that when I first heard him say it, it seemed too good to be true. How could asking this question miraculously help me make sounder decisions, reduce suffering, and reach greater insights?
I can’t really explain the science behind it, but what I can say is that it works.
Here’s the question to pose the next time you are facing a challenge whether it be at work, home, or in a relationship.
What would this look like if it was easy?
Ferriss says that by asking this question, we open up the possibility of “solving” the problem simply by reframing it.
Here’s how it looks in action:
I recently went through the process of buying a van in Germany. Though I have been living here for over 8 years, I am still not super confident speaking German. I admit that I relied a little too much on my former German partner to help me with bureaucratic issues but now that we are no longer together, I am forced to navigate such challenges solo. Needless to say, I was frustrated. I couldn’t make up my mind about whether or not I should purchase a vehicle I had recently test driven.
But then I remembered to ask myself a question:
What would this look like if it was easy?
I landed on the fact that I couldn’t make a sound decision because I didn’t know enough about cars and what qualifies as a good value. I was fearful that I would end up purchasing a lemon that would eventually drain my savings. This would, however, be an easy decision if I had a friend or family member who knew about cars and could tell me what to watch out for.
I reached out to a few friends who had cars and asked their opinion. Honestly, their answers didn’t do much to help alleviate my indecision, mostly because they weren’t actually looking at the vehicle in person, only reading the same description I had.
And then, as I was walking to the train one day, I passed by a car mechanic. I followed my impulse and walked in and explained my situation (in German) to an employee there. That’s when she told me that they offer a 35-euro inspection for people looking to purchase a used vehicle. After the inspection, they would inform me of any pertinent issues the car may have so that I could make a solid decision.
I felt a huge wave of relief wash over me. Upon leaving the office I texted the guy selling the car and asked if he would be willing to meet me the following day. He agreed.
The inspection came back and everything was overall ok, but I found out that the car does need some important work done before taking it on a major trip. But the good news is that I was able to negotiate the price based on the findings. Not only do I now know what needs to be repaired immediately (as well as how much it will cost) but I am also now aware of what needs to be taken care of in the following months, which gives me a better understanding of upcoming costs associated with owning the vehicle. I was able to purchase the car with a more settled feeling instead of wasting more time weighing the pros and cons of whether or not to buy it.
The next time you find yourself facing a problem or wanting to achieve a goal, ask yourself what it would look like if the decision or solution was easy. Asking yourself this question trains your mind to look for solutions, not just hone in on all the things that could go wrong. It’s likely you just need more information on the topic, which might mean you have to seek out the help of a more knowledgeable person, pay an expert for an evaluation or audit, or find someone who has had a similar challenge and ask for their advice.
There you go - I hope that helps you alleviate your next decision paralysis so that you can spend less time worrying and more time achieving your wildest dreams!