The $37 Product Framework: How I made $5,800 from a Simple Product
A Step-by-Step Guide to Creating Digital Products Your Audience Actually Wants to Buy
Ever spent hours staring at your screen, wondering what digital product you should create?
I get it. I spent an entire month in 2023 creating what I thought was the perfect course about LinkedIn content creation. Modules planned. Content scripted. Half the videos recorded.
The launch? Complete crickets.
That stings, doesn't it? Watching other creators launch successful templates, guides, and mini-courses while you're still trying to figure out what you could possibly sell.
Fastforward to 2024 and I had multiple sold-out launches from digital products and closed out December with nearly $6K in low-ticket sales. How? I’ll share my strategy with you in this post.
The Hidden Pain of Failed Product Launches
Here's what makes this especially frustrating: You've built an audience. People engage with your content. They seem to value your insights.
But turning that into something people will actually pay for? That's where everything falls apart.
You're stuck wondering:
"What should I even create?"
"Will anyone actually buy this?"
"Am I just wasting my time?"
And the worst part? You're watching others in your space launch product after product while you're still on the sidelines.
Listen, there’s a reason why some products do well and some fail. Most of it comes down to doing your research and getting inside the head of your audience first.
Why Create Digital Products?
You might be asking, “why would I even want to create a digital product?” So many reasons.
Digital products gives you leverage. If you’ve been working in the 1on1 services or coaching space for any length of time, you know it’s easy to get burnt out. Quick.
That was me early 2024: burnt out. I’d been running me 1on1 resume writing and coaching business for a decade. My income was directly tied to my time and output. Once I started working digital products into my business, it freed up my time tremendously.
As creators or coaches, most of us truly want to help people in some way. When we create digital products, it allows us to help more people within less time. It also gives people an option to get help from us, even if they can’t afford 1on1 premium services.
Why Most Digital Products Fail
The harsh truth? Most creators are following a broken playbook. They think success looks like this:
Come up with an idea they think is great. Spend weeks creating the perfect product. Build a fancy sales page. Launch to... crickets.
I know because I've been there. That LinkedIn course I mentioned? I did everything backward. Result? Barely any sales and weeks of wasted time.
A Proven System for Success
But what if there was a way to know your product would sell before you spent time creating it?
After that initial failure, I developed a system that has helped me launch four successful products in the past year, each starting with a simple $37 offer that leads into a natural upgrade path.
Let me show you how it works.
Step 1: Finding Hidden Product Opportunities
Stop staring at a blank page trying to brainstorm ideas. Your next profitable product is already hiding in your content.
Go through your last 10-15 posts or notes. What questions keep coming up in the comments? What topics get people most excited?
When I did this, I noticed people constantly asking about my newsletter growth strategy. Every time I posted about subscriber growth, my comments would explode. That became my Substack Growth Masterclass - which then naturally led into my more comprehensive systems and templates.
Step 2: Choosing the Right Format
You've got options here. Let me break down what works best for different situations.
Entry Products ($27-47):
Simple templates, checklists, or quick-start guides. These are easy to create and easy to sell. Perfect for getting people into your ecosystem.
Core Products ($47-97):
More comprehensive templates, in-depth guides, or focused trainings. These solve specific problems and provide clear value.
Premium Products ($97+):
Complete systems, coaching programs, or done-with-you services. These are for people who want more support and guidance.
Notice how these offers can stack. You’re giving a low-ticket, low-risk upfront offer under $50. It’s an easy buy. But, for anyone that wants more help, they can get your order bumps and backend premium products, too. It’s a natural progression.
Plus, when you offer these low-ticket products, you’re qualifying potential clients for your higher-ticket products. You have a group of people you know aren’t just looking for perpetually free content.
Product Stack Examples That Work
Let me show you some real examples of how to stack your offers:
The Newsletter Bundle:
$27 Newsletter Launch Templates
$47 Upsell: 90-Day Content Calendar
$97 Upsell: Newsletter Monetization System
The LinkedIn Bundle:
$27 LinkedIn Bio & Content Templates
$47 Upsell: Engagement Growth System
$97 Upsell: Lead Generation Framework
The key is starting small and stacking value. Give people an easy way to say yes, then offer them natural next steps.
Step 3: The Pre-Launch Content Week
This is where most people mess up. They just announce their product and hope for sales. That’s why my first launch that I mentioned flopped. When I started warming my audience up with “pre-launch content,” it slowly introduced people to my coming offer.
Here's exactly what to post:
Monday: Share your origin story
"I used to struggle with [problem] until I discovered [solution]..."
Tuesday: Talk about a problem
“Most creators deal with this big issue…”
Wednesday: Give a quick win
"Here's one simple template that changed everything..."
Thursday: Hit an emotional pain point
“Creators are frustrated because they can’t do this…”
Friday: Share results
"How this system helped me [achieve specific result]..."
This is just an example of a week of content that could help prep your audience for a coming offer. This could be through email, newsletter posts, or social media posts.
On Saturday & Sunday, you would mention that you’ve finally decided to create your offer and it’ll be open to join on Monday.
Step 4: The 5-Day Launch Sprint
Now we test if people will actually buy. Use Gumroad or Stan Store and pre-sell before creating anything.
Launch to your audience. Share success stories. Create urgency with a deadline.
Set a minimum sales threshold. I need at least 15 sales before I'll create anything. No sales? No wasted time creating a product nobody wants.
You simply let people know that this is a “beta launch” product. You’re gauging interest through actual sales upfront and will then create the product and deliver on a specific date.
The Simple Tech Stack You Need
Don't overcomplicate this. You only need:
Gumroad or Stan Store for selling (I love using Stan)
Google Docs for creating (super simple)
Canva for simple graphics (optional)
Email service provider (I use Flo Desk)
That's it. Don't get caught up in fancy tools or complicated systems.
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
Creating Without Validating
The biggest mistake by far is building before testing. That LinkedIn course I mentioned? I could have saved weeks of work by validating first.
Pricing Too High Initially
Start with something easy to say yes to. A $27 entry product that solves one specific problem is much easier to sell than a $497 comprehensive course.
Making It Too Comprehensive
Don't try to solve every problem in one product. My most successful launches? They solve one specific problem really well.
Perfectionism Paralysis
Your first product won't be perfect. That's okay. Launch it anyway. You can always improve it based on customer feedback.
Common Questions People Ask Me
"What if nobody buys?"
That's actually valuable information. If your audience isn't buying, something's off about your offer. Better to learn that before creating the whole product.
"How should I price my first product?"
Start at $27-47 for your first product. Make it an easy yes. Then provide natural upgrade paths for people who want more.
"What if I'm not an expert?"
You don't need to be the world's leading expert. You just need to be a few steps ahead of your audience.
"Do I need a huge audience?"
Not at all. I've seen successful launches with just 1,000 followers. It's about having the right audience, not a huge one.
Your Quick Win: Test Your Product Idea Today
Here's something you can do in the next 30 minutes:
Go to your LinkedIn (or any social media) profile right now. Look at your last 5-10 posts. Which ones got the most comments? What questions keep coming up?
Write down the top 3 questions you see. Each one is a potential product idea.
Then, write a social media post about one of those topics tomorrow. Don't promote anything - just provide value. Watch the comments closely.
If people are asking follow-up questions or saying "I need help with this," you've found your product idea.
That's exactly how I found my first successful product idea. One post turned into a simple $27 template that sold 200+ copies in its first week.
📌 Need help getting started? Six-Figure Digital Product Masterclass (Reopened)
If you’re like “this is all great, but how do I really get started?” I get it and I got you. I’ve reopened my Digital Product Masterclass for a few more days. This is the class where I share with you exactly how to validate your product idea, set it up to sell, and launch it to your audience.
Inside the masterclass, you’ll get:
How to validate your product idea so it’s guaranteed to sell
List of the most profitable digital product ideas for 2025
Blueprint for how to warm up your audience & have a sold-out launch
Satisfaction from knowing you’re finally taking action on your product
Plus, a private community to network, ask questions, and collaborate
Simple, low-ticket digital products are one of THE best business models for 2025. If you’d like to join the masterclass before it closes, just click the button below:
The truth is, creating digital products doesn't have to be complicated. Start small, validate your idea, and let your audience guide you. You might be surprised how many people are waiting for exactly what you can offer.
I had a few flops over the years and it was for the reasons you've given. I made courses that were too complicated and ones I wanted to make and not what my audience wanted. - You're right, take baby steps and test before you give it your time and effort.
I’d like to think the man in this picture is me with hair.