Nothing is worse than spending MONTHS creating an online product that NO ONE buys!

Ugh! I get it. Because it’s happened to me.

After creating, developing and producing dozens of online courses and lead magnets for clients, I’ve learned a few things about what it takes to succeed in the online product market.

Whether you’re thinking of creating an online course, an interactive coaching program or a paid challenge, there are some things you’ll want to do before you create your product. So you get a return on your investment in time, energy and money.

These 5 key steps help you build an audience before you create your online product. So you know it will sell.

 

5 key steps to take before you create your digital product

 

1.   Do Your Research!

One of the biggest mistakes people make is they start by creating content for a course without first exploring if there’s a captive, eager audience.

You’ll want to see who is already doing what you want to do.  Finding others doing what you want to do is NOT a sign you shouldn’t create your online product. But, it does mean you have understand what makes your product unique, different or better.

As you do your research, take note of how your competitors are doing it? What are they missing? How can you provide your knowledge or skill set in a way that blows the competition away?

Spending just a few hours searching the web gives you tremendous insight about what’s already out there and what’s not but needs to be.

And if after searching you can’t find ANYTHING close to what you want to create… make sure there is an audience who wants this. Do a little investigative work in groups and with potential buyers to get more intel.

 

2.   Know Your Value.

The one thing I know for sure is people are NOT looking to learn necessarily. They are looking to change, improve or experience something different in their lives. It’s not enough to know what you teach. You have to know the value of what you teach in who you want to offer it to.

Here are some questions to consider to get clear on your value:

How is what you offer unique, more valuable or needed in the online world?

Who would most benefit from what you have to teach? 

The key to a successful (and profitable) online product is moving people from where they are to where they want to be (or at the very least, closer to where they want to be). So get crystal clear about what benefits your online product offers first. 

 

3.   Grow Your Virtual Audience.

Before you even think about creating an online product, create an audience who is interested in you and what you plan to share. You can start by using social media platforms to engage and inspire your target audience. Creating compelling images and content related to your online product as teasers is a great way to begin “testing” your online product ideas.

Share, share, share. This is one of the best ways to learn more about your target audience – and it’s free!

Some people worry that they’ll share all of their golden nuggets so they hold back. Don’t make this mistake. Show your audience what you know so they’ll be eager to follow and buy from you! 

 

4.   Promote Yourself!

Whether online or in person, share what you offer with others. Talk about what you’re planning to create. Ask questions.

Poll your audience so you know what they really want. You can even host a free webinar or host a free 1-hour workshop (libraries are great for this) to interact with people who are interested in what you’re sharing. When you “test” your content, you’ll learn quickly what people really want.

This is an invaluable step to creating and developing irresistible content for your online product.

 

5.   Get Connected.

Who compliments your skills and knowledge? Who would be willing to share what you know with their followers?

Just connecting personally with people in-person or online can open up a lot of untapped opportunities — and you’ll make some new professional friends!

You can also create blog articles or short videos for social media and share with online publishers who are in alignment with you. This is another great way to grow your audience. 

 

The bottom line is you can save yourself a lot of time, money and frustration by taking these 5 key steps before developing your online product. And, you’re more likely to create a product that sells.

If you’ve got an idea for an online course, but not clear on how to pull it all together, schedule a free 30 minute strategy call today.