7 Remarkable Gains From My Digital Product (All Writers Can Create One)
A digital product is easy to do & can build your creator business
I slumped into my chair.
Relief pulsating through my veins. I let out a deep sigh. I’d actually done it. I’d created and launched a 5-day email course. My first digital product has been released into the world.
I ignored all the advice that said you need to build a huge audience first. I admit it. I’m impatient. I’ve only been creating online for 6 months. But I wanted to see what would happen if I produced something.
And I couldn’t believe the impact.
There used to be giant obstacles between you and a created product. Publishing a book, creating a course or selling a guide would cost a fortune. And you’d need others to support the idea too. These barriers have all gone. You can build something in a weekend, for $0 and without permission.
This inspired me to give it a go.
I was going to try a low-cost, low-risk experiment. Where I had nothing to lose and everything to gain.
My digital product
I’ll share what I created and why.
Then I’ll reveal the 7 business gains that came from it.
I built an email course analysing my 10 most popular tweets. I dissected why each worked and pulled out the key lessons. This gave practical tactics my customers could use to grow their audience.
The course was delivered as 5 emails over 5 days. A digital product can be videos, a template, a pdf or an ebook. But people often don’t read or watch these. 5 emails gave me 5 opportunities to remind users to access my content. I could also track who had opened it.
Use your own content to build your authority
You can create a product about someone else’s framework or key lessons. This seems a good idea because you use their name to grab attention. But this is a bad idea. It builds their authority not yours.
No one is going to follow you because you explained Tim Denning or Nicolas Cole’s money-making method. You are directing people to their content.
My course showcased my best 10 tweets. The goal was to cement in my customer’s mind my ability to write compelling content.
The product was given away on Twitter (X) for 48 hours. I sold it via Gumroad. And used Beehiiv to automate the delivery of the emails.
As I sank into my chair. Trying to take it all in. I savoured the 7 valuable gifts my creator business has received.
7 business gains from my first digital product
1. Credibility with bigger creators
Creators who have made a product are seen differently.
Creating online is like playing a video game. You upgrade to the next level by completing key tasks. You enter the next level when you have your product.
To progress further you need the support of creators who are ahead. Building a digital product is an effective way to get on their radar.
I received positive comments from those who are bigger than me (some who haven’t produced a product yet).
Upgrading your credibility has massive benefits for your business.
2. Stronger connections with your peers
I was startled by how intrigued others were by my product launch.
Loads of people shared it and sent me messages of support. This has strengthened my relationship with other creators. Humans are made for relationships and creating online is a tough road. Finding sources of support is invaluable if you want to last.
These relationships help my business too. I’ve got more people to turn to for advice and who will promote my future products.
3. Learned how to create a product
I learned so much from this process:
- The technical aspects of email courses
- What other products people want
- How to build a landing page
- How to use copywriting
The truth is I made loads of mistakes too. But it’s better to make these on a small launch rather than waiting until you are big!
You learn by doing. You can read all the advice about launching a product. But you only really learn by doing.
I now have other creators asking me for advice on how to create a course and launch a product. I think I am a beginner (& I am). But I am one step ahead of someone who hasn’t built a product.
If the only outcome is raising your skill levels — it’s worth doing.
4. Future asset to sell or giveaway
It took a lot of effort to write my email course.
But now it’s done it gives me so many possibilities.
- I can leave it on Gumroad for sale
- I can add it as a bonus to future products
- I can send it free to coaching clients as a special gift
- I can offer it as an incentive to sign up for my newsletter
Create once reuse many times.
5. Self-belief boost
I kept putting off creating this product.
I lacked confidence and was unsure I could do it. But now my self-belief is sky-high. Action always has this effect.
I’ve written 100 articles on Medium in 6 months. That’s 80,000 words. My brain is now exploding with ideas about how to transform this content. Ebooks, courses and notion frameworks are all possible.
Self-belief has opened the idea floodgates.
Every step of progress fuels your confidence.
6. Newsletter subscribers
Building a strong email list is central if creators want to make money.
I recently started my newsletter to help other writers craft compelling content. By signing up for this product people were added to my email list. Hey presto. 35 new subs & 50% growth in 1 day.
More importantly they’ve all stayed.
This is a huge gain.
7. X growth
I launched my product on X to generate traffic and gain followers. It was a very popular post. Giving me an extra 50 followers, a 10% gain.
You don’t need to wait to create your first digital product.
You can start now.
If you’ve made any progress online you have knowledge that can be turned into a digital product. If this is your 2nd day writing online. You can help people on day 1.
A digital product will build your business and:
- increase your subscribers/followers
- provide an asset for future use
- strengthen your self-belief
- deepen your authority
- boost your credibility
- give you new skills
Give it a go and good things will happen.
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