digital products

How to Sell Digital Information Products: A Guide

David Sharpe bio

Do people always ask you for advice about a topic? Is there one question you get over and over from people in your life or online? Consider if you can turn that into a digital information product.

If you know how to sell digital information products, you can charge a lot for your expertise. You can make the product once and sell it to 10 people or 10,000 people.

Keep reading to learn how to create and sell a digital information product.

Research Product Ideas

Before you can become a digital product creator, you should consider different products you can sell. Not all digital products are information products, but you still have many ways to sell your expertise. Here's a list of information products:

  • eBooks
  • Online courses
  • Workshops
  • Guides
  • Membership site
  • Mobile app

Consider which ideas work best for your business. If you want to create a product about photography tips, a course or guide can help you show different steps for lighting and other factors.

But if you want to sell a recipe book or meal plan, an eBook might be better.

You should also consider the price point of each type of product. Online courses are more work than eBooks, but they can sell for a lot more. A membership site will also need ongoing work, so you can charge a lot for one of those.

Start With One Product

You may already have a ton of ideas for digital products to sell. But start with one idea for now so that you don't overwhelm yourself. You can always create more products later.

Choose a product that you know you can create. If you're good at writing, start with an eBook or guide. And if you're comfortable on camera, you can do an online course or workshop.

Of course, the format should be good for the content you're including. However, you also want to make sure you can create a high-quality information product for your first one.

Decide Where to Sell

Next, you need to decide where you'll sell your information product. You can sell your product on your website. If you use WordPress, you can install a plugin that handles digital downloads or courses.

Other website platforms also have integrations for this. But you can use a separate course platform to host your course or workshop. If you're selling an eBook or guide, you can also release it through Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP).

Many online platforms can manage your product for you, so it can be easy once you create and upload everything. That way, you can focus on your next info product to keep growing your business.

Set a Launch Date

You also want to decide when to launch your product. Some ideas lend themselves to specific release dates. For example, you may want to launch a summer recipe book in May, not September.

Either way, settling a launch date can help you plan for the launch. You can start marketing your product ahead of time to build interest. Depending on the platform you use to sell the product, you may even be able to take pre-orders.

Pre-orders can help you validate your idea as you create it. That way, you don't spend hours creating something that no one will buy.

Develop a Production Schedule

Now that you have a date when you want to launch the product, you should outline what you will do and when. You can create a detailed schedule, and you can set goals along the way.

Your production schedule should include when you'll complete the product outline, the first draft, and final edits. If you're working with video, you'll need to schedule time to record and upload the file.

Make sure you set a realistic schedule and that you follow it as best as you can. You may have hiccups that can affect production, but having a schedule can keep you on track.

Market Your Product

As you create and release your info product, you need to market it. You can promote your creation on social media and to your email list.

Marketing your product can feel awkward if you've never done much marketing. You might feel like you're annoying your audience. However, if you're passionate about your product, you'll want to talk about it more.

And since it can be hard for business posts to show up on social media, your followers might not see every post. Don't be afraid to share your product multiple times to help get more sales.

Why Sell Digital Products

If you're still not set on selling digital products, consider that they can be easy to create. Odds are you already know the topic well and don't need to spend time on research.

You will need to spend time on your product, but you only need to create it once. Since it's digital, you can sell your information product to anyone who wants to buy it.

An information product business model can also be very lucrative. You can charge a premium for products like courses and workshops, and you can scale that income with even more products.

Get Around the Risks

Before you learn how to sell digital products, you should consider the risks. In general, an information product business is a great option, and the risks shouldn't deter you.

However, you may have to work a bit harder to make your product stand out. You can face a lot of competition from other digital product creators. If possible, add an extra bonus or include something unique to you.

You'll also need to compete with the free information in blogs and YouTube videos. If you haven't already, start sharing some information for free.

Then, you can prove to people you know your stuff. Start a blog or YouTube channel and include bits from your information product. Give people a teaser of what they can expect, and they won't have a problem paying for more.

How to Sell Digital Information Products

Knowing how to sell digital information products is essential if you want to create a profitable, scalable online business. You can sell your knowledge to as many people as possible, and you only have to put in the work once.

Whether you're struggling with a business or want to start one, you should create information products. That way, you can focus on your skills and make money at the same time.

Would you like to find a profitable business you can do from home so you can bring in much more substantial income? If so, I recommend you watch this free video which will walk you through our #1 recommended way to earn money online from home.

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How to Choose the Right Online Business Model for You

David Sharpe bio

You have passion and creative energy. You know that you want to channel your energy into a successful online business. But how can you know what online business model is right for you?

The internet has opened up a world of opportunities that didn't exist fifteen years ago. I know from experience that there are ways to seize these opportunities and turn your dreams into reality. I went from working construction to internet marketing.

It wasn't easy, but I went from an absolute beginner to a seasoned marketing professional. When you find the right online business model that works for you, you'll be able to something that you enjoy and earn money doing it.

Here are some ideas to get you started.

Advertising or Product Sponsorship

This business model depends a lot on personality and your ability to capture people and drive them to your content. Ultimately, you want enough followers or a large enough audience that you are paid to advertise or sponsor products for other companies.

You could start with a blog or podcast and try to gain followers. If you have a hobby or niche interest, this might be a good fit for you. Your revenue can include advertising that is part of your website or from a sponsorship that you do as part of your content.

Instagram influencers and TikTok can also be huge drivers for paid content. Companies like the idea of less “obvious” paid content and use these social media outlets to pay influencers to do the marketing for them.

Digital Products and Courses

If you have knowledge to share, you can make money doing so. You can write an e-book or create an online course. People are willing to pay money to access information, particularly when the person is an expert in the field.

To share an e-book, you can start with a simple web page that includes a download. For online courses, you can use existing platforms like courses on Udemy or teaching on Outschool. The best thing about using other platforms is that feedback from your students will drive more sales.

Software or App

You may have an idea for a product or service that no one has yet thought of. Software and apps can be a way to bring your idea to life. Whether you have some skills as a software developer or would partner with someone, the main goal of software or an app is to create something that people will use.

With this business model, there are different ways that you can make money.

  • You can start with a free version that requires an upgrade to a paid (better) version
  • You can offer a free trial to let users try it out and then charge them after the trial is over
  • You offer a free app or software and then make your money from advertising revenue

While this business model has a potential upfront cost for the development of your software or app, it can be sustainable for a long period of time. It is also something that you could sell in the future to another company.

Web Development

If you have skills in website development, there are always people looking for help. Other entrepreneurs may have the same drive but no skills to create or manage a website.

Your web development services could range from one-time setup to ongoing maintenance and support. As you get clients, you can let your portfolio speak for itself. You would also have an edge in getting started because you would be able to set up your own website easily.

Affiliate Marketing

With affiliate marketing, you sell products for another company and earn a commission for the effort. Your commission is typically 5-10% of the cost of the product. This benefits the seller because you're doing the work for them.

Amazon Associates is one of the most popular programs. If you are able to generate a solid following, particularly in a niche industry, you can earn passive income when people buy products from your affiliate link.

Consulting or Coaching

If you have expertise on a particular topic, you can sell your experience to others. Consulting or coaching have low startup costs. You need to rely on personal relationships and referrals so that you can become known as the go-to person for your audience.

To build a consulting or coaching business, in addition to your website, you'll want to consistently produce content that establishes you as an authority. This could be a combination of blog articles, guest posts, podcasts, email subscriptions, and more. Share just enough knowledge to entice people to contact you for services.

Next Steps for Your Online Business

Once you have decided which online business model works for you, it is time to get set up! The next steps will involve some planning so that you are ready to launch.

1. Choose the Target Audience

Whatever you offer, you likely won't appeal to the entire universe. Decide who your customers are and how you will find them. This will drive your website and also your presence on social media platforms and amid other online channels.

2. Create Your Website

Your audience needs to be able to find you. 88% of consumers do research online before making a purchase. No matter what your revenue stream will be, the odds are that your potential customers will take a look at you before making a decision.

3. Engage Your Audience

In almost every instance, you'll need to have regular engagement with your audience. This can range from email newsletters to social media posts to blog content. You'll want to watch your engagement from different channels, so you know where to focus your efforts.

4. Bring Business to You

By optimizing your website through SEO and PPC, you can let search engines do the work of bringing traffic to you. Pay-per-click has an associated cost, whereas organic traffic through search engine optimization is free. Both will boost your overall audience.

Making the Most of Your Online Business Model

If you are ready to take the next step, start planning today! Once you have selected an online business model that makes sense for you, you can get to work on building your dream.

At Legendary Marketer, we offer online courses to help you learn the skills you need to jump right in. You can start by taking the 15 Day Online Business Builder Challenge for an action-oriented experience. Click here to sign up today.

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