I Created 8 Digital Products in 6 Months: Here's What I Learned About What Actually Sells
The Simple Truth About Creating Digital Products That Generate Sales While You Sleep (Hint: It's Not What You Think)
The notification sound hit different that morning.
I'd just woken up to see that my latest digital product—the one I'd spent weeks perfecting—had made exactly $27 overnight.
One sale.
After dozens of posts, countless hours of content creation, and a launch sequence I thought was bulletproof.
Meanwhile, my Instagram feed showed creators celebrating their "six-figure launches" and "passive income machines" while I sat there wondering what I was missing.
Maybe this sounds familiar?
You've built the audience. You've put in the work. You've created something you genuinely believe will help people. But when launch day comes...crickets.
That was me six months ago. Today, I've generated over $40K in digital product sales, mostly from low-ticket offers that people actually want to buy.
I’ve learned a lot of what works (and what doesn’t) over the last few months.
The journey from frustration to consistent sales wasn't about working harder or creating more. It was about finally understanding what people actually pull out their credit cards for versus what we think they want.
Here’s a quick “secret” …it’s all about psychology.
Over the last six months, I've created and launched 8 different digital products: Some absolutely crushed it. Others bombed so hard I wanted to crawl under my desk.
Here's what surprised me: The products I poured the most time and energy into weren't always the winners.
My LinkedIn-Substack Flywheel Masterclass—which I was convinced would be my breakout hit—barely made a ripple, while my "quickly created" Remote Dream Job Masterclass consistently brings in sales every single day.
The most valuable insight wasn't just which products sold well, but why they sold well—and the patterns behind them were nothing like what most digital product "experts" teach.
I've spent the last six months documenting every insight, testing every variable, and tracking what actually moves the needle. Not theories or best practices, but real results from actual buyers.
What I discovered challenged everything I thought I knew about creating products that sell.
In this post, I'll break down the exact lessons I learned from my $40K experiment—including the uncomfortable truths about what people really want (and what they say they want but never buy).
No fluff. No guru tactics. Just the honest lessons from someone who's been in the trenches, made the mistakes, and found what actually works.
Let's get into it.
The 8 Products: What Worked and What Didn't
Let me walk you through what I created and what I learned along the way. The contrast between my expectations and reality was eye-opening.
The Winners
Remote Dream Job Masterclass ($47) - My accidental best-seller. A simple 90-minute masterclass that consistently brings me sales almost daily without promotion. I thought it would be a modest performer, but it's my bread & butter.
Substack Growth Masterclass ($47-$97) - I shared a simple system for finding your niche growing your newsletter everyday across multiple methods. It’s been a favorite so far (based on testimonials)
Digital Product Masterclass ($47) - Created after experiencing success with my other products. This one sold the most in the shortest amount of time, making me realize how interested people are in digital products. Transparency about my own journey was key here.
The Solid Performers
Resume & Cover Letter Kit ($27) - Simple templates that complement the Remote Job Masterclass. Most people buy this as an add-on from the Remote Job Masterclass.
LinkedIn Opportunity Magnet Workbook ($27) - Fill-in-the-blank workbooks for LinkedIn optimization. Consistent low-ticket seller, especially as an upsell from related content.
Notes Growth Workshop ($37) - Specific workshop on Substack Notes growth. Performs well as an add-on to the Substack Masterclass but modest as a standalone.
The Disappointments
LinkedIn Flywheel Masterclass ($47) - My most comprehensive product with the most robust content. I was convinced this would be my breakthrough hit, but sales were mediocre despite heavy promotion. It was a little too niche.
The Remote Dream Job Cohort ($497) - My premium offering with live calls and personalized feedback. Complete flop with only three sign-ups, forcing me to cancel. An expensive lesson in audience readiness. I ended up working with each of these clients 1on1 instead of as a group.
Looking at these products side by side, clear patterns emerged about what actually sells versus what I thought would sell. And these patterns contradicted almost everything I'd been taught about creating digital products.
Let me break down exactly what I discovered...
What Actually Sells: The Hard Truths
After watching some products take off while others fell flat, patterns started emerging. These weren't just random successes and failures—there were clear principles behind what people actually bought versus what they merely showed interest in.
Here's what I learned about what actually sells:
1 // People want transformations and solutions, not information
We live in a world of information overload. Between AI and Google, your audience can find answers to almost any question in seconds.
My biggest realization? People aren't paying for information—they're paying for transformation.
The Remote Dream Job Masterclass wasn't successful because it contained secret information unavailable elsewhere. It succeeded because it presented a clear path from point A (wanting a remote job) to point B (landing one).
The products that flopped focused on delivering comprehensive information rather than solving a specific problem.
2 // Simplicity wins over complexity every time
My most complex product—the Remote Dream Job Cohort—was my biggest failure. It was too big of a commitment. Meanwhile, my straightforward masterclasses consistently sold well.
People need to be able to consume your product in one afternoon if they want to. Complex isn't better...simple is better.
Think about it—if you have a broken foot, do you want a 3-day course on foot anatomy, or do you want someone to fix it as quickly as possible? Your audience feels the same way about their problems.
When I simplified my offers and spoke directly to people's problems with clear solutions, sales increased dramatically.
PS - Also, solve one problem at a time. If your audience has multiple problems, create a simple digital product for each one.
3 // Low-ticket products build trust faster than high-ticket ones
I discovered that my sub-$100 products weren't just generating immediate revenue—they were building trust for future offers.
With my Remote Dream Job Masterclass and Substack Growth Masterclass, many students later reach out for 1:1 coaching. I don’t have to "sell" my coaching because they already knew I can help solve their problems.
Low-ticket products give people an affordable way to experience your teaching style and approach. If they get results, they're far more likely to invest in your higher-ticket offers down the road.
4 // Your checkout process needs to be frictionless
I noticed a direct correlation between checkout simplicity and conversion rates.
When I switched to Stan Store with the embedded checkout on my sales pages, conversions jumped noticeably. Every extra click in the purchasing process was costing me sales.
Around 3-5% of people visiting your sales page should be buying. Most of my products are more around 7-8% using Stan Store.
Make it extremely easy to buy. Remove friction points, offer multiple payment methods, and simplify the decision-making process whenever possible.
5 // Email is still the most powerful selling tool
The more I built my email list and properly launched products (instead of just announcing them), the better my results.
I typically spend 2 weeks building up to a product launch—talking about my audience's problems and potential solutions before ever mentioning that I have a product coming. Building relationships and demonstrating understanding before selling made a massive difference.
When I rushed launches or skipped the proper setup, sales always suffered—even for otherwise solid products.
6 // Pre-sell before you spend weeks creating
One of my costliest mistakes was creating products nobody wanted. With my LinkedIn Flywheel Masterclass, I spent nearly three weeks building content before realizing there wasn't strong demand.
Now, I pre-sell everything.
For my Digital Product Masterclass, I created a simple sales page with the promise to deliver the product by a certain date. I launched it to my email list with an early-bird discount, and when 20+ people bought within 48 hours, I knew it was worth creating.
This approach eliminates the gut-wrenching feeling of pouring weeks into something nobody wants. It also creates urgency and accountability—having paying customers waiting for your product is powerful motivation to deliver something excellent.
If pre-sales are weak, you can refund the few buyers and pivot to something with more potential. It's the ultimate validation tool.
7 // Create a portfolio of products, not just one perfect offer
I used to believe I needed to create the "perfect" flagship product. This mindset kept me stuck for months, endlessly refining something that never launched.
The reality? You never truly know what will sell until you put it out there.
My best approach has been creating multiple smaller products rather than betting everything on one big launch. Some will fail, some will succeed modestly, and a few might become runaway hits.
The LinkedIn Workbooks weren't a massive success, but they provided valuable data about what my audience wanted. The Remote Job Masterclass surprised me with its performance. I would have never discovered these insights if I'd remained focused on creating just one "perfect" product.
Don't be afraid to take risks across multiple smaller offers. The market will tell you what it wants, but only if you give it options.
These principles might seem straightforward, but they contradicted much of what I'd been taught about creating "comprehensive" and "high-value" digital products. The market doesn't always want what experts tell you to create.
But there were also some surprising factors that separated my best-sellers from everything else...
The Hidden Success Factors Nobody Talks About
Beyond the core principles, I discovered subtle factors that dramatically influenced which products succeeded and which failed. These aren't tactical tips—they're fundamental truths about human psychology and buying behavior.
Specific outcomes sell better than general knowledge
My best-selling Remote Dream Job Masterclass didn't just teach about remote work—it promised a specific outcome: landing a remote job. The products with vague outcomes like "learn LinkedIn" performed worse than those promising specific results like "become a LinkedIn Opportunity Magnet."
People don't buy courses, templates, or masterclasses. They buy outcomes. The more specific and desirable the outcome, the easier the sale.
When I repositioned my LinkedIn content from "mastering LinkedIn" to "generating inbound opportunities without cold outreach," sales immediately improved—even though the actual content barely changed.
Urgency matters more than comprehensiveness
Products that solve urgent problems consistently outperform those addressing "someday" issues.
My Resume Kit sells consistently because people need it when they're actively job hunting—a moment of high urgency. My Substack Growth Masterclass took off because writers were actively trying to figure out the platform.
Meanwhile, my comprehensive LinkedIn course struggled because improving your LinkedIn presence feels like something you can "get to later."
Ask yourself: Does my audience need this solution right now, or is it something they think might be useful someday? Urgency beats importance almost every time.
People buy from people, not brands
The products where I shared my personal journey and transformation story converted at nearly double the rate of those where I just positioned myself as an expert.
My Digital Product Masterclass sold well not because I'm the world's foremost expert on digital products, but because people watched me build and sell these products in real time. They saw my journey, including the failures.
Vulnerability and relatability sell better than perfect expertise. People want to buy from someone they feel connected to, not just someone who knows more than them.
Social proof is non-negotiable
My best sellers all had early testimonials from beta testers or previous clients. Even just 2-3 genuine success stories significantly increased conversion rates.
For new products, I now always run a beta at a reduced price to gather testimonials before the full launch. These early success stories create the social proof necessary for others to feel confident buying.
When launching my Substack Masterclass, I included screenshots of messages from people who'd implemented my advice with success. These weren't formal testimonials, just authentic messages showing real results.
Product stacking generates more profit than complex offerings
One of my most surprising discoveries was how "product stacking" outperformed single comprehensive products in total revenue.
Instead of creating one massive course on remote work for $397, I created several targeted products (the Masterclass, Resume Kit, and LinkedIn Workbooks) that individually sell for $27-$57. When someone buys one, they're offered relevant upsells or bundles at checkout.
The results were interesting: the average customer value from my "stacked" approach reached $100+ —higher than if I'd just sold one mid-priced product, with significantly better conversion rates.
This approach works because it reduces initial buying friction while creating multiple opportunities to add value. A customer who might hesitate at a $197 product will happily start with a $47 purchase and then add complementary products that enhance their results.
My most profitable funnel isn't my most expensive product—it's my entry-level Remote Dream Job Masterclass with strategic upsells and follow-up offers.
What I Wish Someone Had Told Me Six Months Ago
Looking back at my journey from zero to $40K in digital product sales, there was a lot of conventional wisdom I had to unlearn.
I started out believing the myths:
That I needed a massive audience before launching products.
That more comprehensive equals more valuable.
That high prices signal quality.
That product creation had to be complicated and time-consuming.
If I could go back and give myself advice when I was staring at that first failed product launch, here's what I'd say:
Start simpler than you think you should. My quickest creations often outperformed the ones I agonized over for weeks.
Focus relentlessly on the transformation, not the information. People buy outcomes, not content.
Don't wait to launch until everything's perfect. Pre-sell, validate, and iterate based on real feedback.
Build products that complement each other rather than trying to create one "ultimate" solution.
Trust that solving small problems well creates more loyalty than partially solving big ones.
The most powerful realization was this: creating digital products isn't primarily about passive income (though that's a nice benefit). It's about scaling your ability to help people transform their lives.
When I shifted from "How can I make money while I sleep?" to "How can I help more people with what I know?", everything changed. The sales followed naturally.
Today, my digital products generate consistent income while connecting me with ideal clients for my higher-ticket offerings. They work while I sleep, yes—but more importantly, they work while I focus on creating even more value.
📌 Introducing the “Low-Ticket Digital Product Bootcamp” (Open to Join Now)
For those of you ready to dive deeper into creating digital products that actually sell, I've packaged everything I've learned into my Low-Ticket Digital Product Bootcamp.
It's the step-by-step system I wish I'd had six months ago—one that would have saved me countless hours and thousands in lost revenue. In this bootcamp, I’ll walk you through:
Exactly how I generated $40K+ from digital products in 6 months
How to identify what your audience actually wants to buy (not what you think they want)
My proven templates for creating products that sell while you sleep
Step-by-step implementation plans to launch your first (or next) product in 14 days
Plus, you’ll get personalized feedback (from me) on your product idea and your finished product itself.
If you’re ready to start creating digital products your audience wants, join us in the bootcamp below:
Remember: Each product you create—whether it succeeds or fails—teaches you something invaluable about your audience and what they truly need. The key is to start, learn, and adjust.
The products you haven't created yet are solutions someone desperately needs. Don't keep them waiting.
Great deep dive into digital products:) and also confirming my feelings, without trust people don't by high tickets solutions...
These are interesting insights, which are valuable and perfect.