← Back to All Guides
A free guide by Lauren Dallas Instagram
6 Things That Make Your Digital Product Sell For $10K Instead Of $0
Before you spend hours creating an ebook, course, template or guide, check these 6 things first. Because the difference between a digital product that makes nothing and one people actually want to buy usually isn't how pretty it is. It's the problem it solves. Who it's for. How badly they want the result. And how clearly you communicate that.
More pages, more slides and prettier Canva templates were never the thing separating $0 products from $10K ones.
Run your product idea through these six checks before you build anything, and you'll know within minutes whether it's worth your time.
Check 1
It Solves One Specific Problem
$0 version: "I made a cute Canva ebook and hope someone buys it."
$10K version: "I created something that solves one specific problem my audience already wants fixed."
People don't buy digital products because they look nice - they buy them because they want help with something. Instead of asking "what e-book should I make?", ask "what problem could I help someone solve?" The more specific that problem is, the easier your product is to sell.
$10K version: "I created something that solves one specific problem my audience already wants fixed."
People don't buy digital products because they look nice - they buy them because they want help with something. Instead of asking "what e-book should I make?", ask "what problem could I help someone solve?" The more specific that problem is, the easier your product is to sell.
Callout
Complete this sentence: "My customer is struggling with _ and this product helps them _." If you can't explain the problem and result simply, your product probably needs to be more specific.
Check 2
It Gives Them A Shortcut
$0 version: "Here are 98 pages of everything I know."
$10K version: "Here's the shortcut to the result you actually want."
More pages does not automatically mean more value - your customer already has Google, YouTube, TikTok, podcasts and AI. What they often want is someone to organise the information and make the process easier: less time, less confusion, fewer mistakes, a faster result. Instead of "the complete guide to Instagram," try "30 Reel ideas you can film this month without showing your face." The product is valuable because it makes something easier.
$10K version: "Here's the shortcut to the result you actually want."
More pages does not automatically mean more value - your customer already has Google, YouTube, TikTok, podcasts and AI. What they often want is someone to organise the information and make the process easier: less time, less confusion, fewer mistakes, a faster result. Instead of "the complete guide to Instagram," try "30 Reel ideas you can film this month without showing your face." The product is valuable because it makes something easier.
Callout
Ask yourself: what time, effort or confusion does my product remove?
Check 3
People Already Want It
$0 version: "I picked this product because it was trending."
$10K version: "I picked this because people are already asking for help with it."
You don't need to invent a brand-new problem - a much better starting point is finding something people are already trying to solve. Look at your DMs, comments, Facebook groups, Reddit threads, TikTok comments, Google searches and the questions friends constantly ask you. Demand leaves clues everywhere.
$10K version: "I picked this because people are already asking for help with it."
You don't need to invent a brand-new problem - a much better starting point is finding something people are already trying to solve. Look at your DMs, comments, Facebook groups, Reddit threads, TikTok comments, Google searches and the questions friends constantly ask you. Demand leaves clues everywhere.
Callout
Quick exercise: write down 5 questions people in your niche are already asking. One of those could become your next digital product.
Check 4
It Is Made For Someone Specific
$0 version: "Anyone could use this."
$10K version: "This was made for one specific person with one specific problem."
Compare "a social media planner for business owners" with "a 30-day content planner for hairstylists who want more bookings from Instagram." The second one immediately tells you who it's for, what they want, and why they should care. Being specific doesn't mean fewer sales - it makes it easier for the right person to see the product and think "that is literally for me."
$10K version: "This was made for one specific person with one specific problem."
Compare "a social media planner for business owners" with "a 30-day content planner for hairstylists who want more bookings from Instagram." The second one immediately tells you who it's for, what they want, and why they should care. Being specific doesn't mean fewer sales - it makes it easier for the right person to see the product and think "that is literally for me."
Callout
Complete this: "This product is for _ who want to _." If the answer is "everyone," go more specific.
Check 5
You Sell The Result, Not The File
$0 version: "Here's what's inside."
$10K version: "Here's what changes after you use it."
Listing 40 pages, 20 templates or 12 videos describes features - your customer is usually buying the outcome those things create. Instead of "includes 50 Canva templates," try "create a full month of content without staring at a blank Canva screen." People don't really want the PDF. They want what the PDF helps them do.
$10K version: "Here's what changes after you use it."
Listing 40 pages, 20 templates or 12 videos describes features - your customer is usually buying the outcome those things create. Instead of "includes 50 Canva templates," try "create a full month of content without staring at a blank Canva screen." People don't really want the PDF. They want what the PDF helps them do.
Callout
Ask yourself: what will be easier, faster or better for someone after using this? That's what you should be selling.
Check 6
Your Marketing Leads With What They Want
$0 version: "Click the link in my bio."
$10K version: "If you want [specific result], comment [keyword] and I'll send it to you."
"Buy my ebook" is rarely enough - your audience needs a reason to stop scrolling. The strongest marketing connects directly to a problem they recognise or a result they want, so the call to action makes the next step feel obvious, not random.
$10K version: "If you want [specific result], comment [keyword] and I'll send it to you."
"Buy my ebook" is rarely enough - your audience needs a reason to stop scrolling. The strongest marketing connects directly to a problem they recognise or a result they want, so the call to action makes the next step feel obvious, not random.
The $0 vs $10K checklist
- Does it solve ONE specific problem?
- Is there already demand for it?
- Is it made for one clear type of person?
- Does it give them a shortcut?
- Can you explain the result in one sentence?
- Are you marketing the result instead of just the contents?
$0
version
98
pages of everything I know
$10K
version
30
Reel ideas you can film this month
Real Talk
Don't start with the product. Start with the result.
Use this formula to shape your idea: "I help [specific person] go from [problem] to [result] with [product]." For example - "I help new freelancers go from not knowing what to charge to confidently sending their first proposal with a plug-and-play pricing and proposal kit." None of the strongest examples are really selling an ebook, a workbook or a template. They're selling the outcome. The format - guide, template, spreadsheet, prompt pack, mini course, checklist - comes second. The problem comes first.
That is part of what I teach in my training on how I made $10.5K in 4 days from a brand new Instagram account and you can watch it for free below. 👇
That is part of what I teach in my training on how I made $10.5K in 4 days from a brand new Instagram account and you can watch it for free below. 👇
Free Training
Learn How I Made $10.5K In 4 Days From A Brand New Instagram Account
The exact system you can copy to make daily sales with a digital product. A free live training revealing the steps that have helped complete beginners make $3.5K in 2 days, $18K in a first launch, and $185K in 6 months — without a big following, paid ads, or hours of daily content.
You'll walk away with:
✔ The 4-step ZAPO process to find a profitable niche people are already paying for, even in a crowded market
✔ How to create your digital product and sales page in minutes using AI, no tech skills or big budget needed
✔ The 4-step launch strategy to make your first sales online, even with no audience
✔ The exact Pre-Launch → Launch → Scale system to go from your first sale to consistent $10K+ months
Real Results ★
You don't need a big following to get big results
