Most creators think they need to launch a full-blown course to make money online. That idea is keeping too many brilliant creators stuck in perfectionism, procrastination, and overwhelm.
The truth is, you don’t need a complicated funnel or 10 modules of content to start earning from your expertise. You just need a small product that solves a real problem and a system that sells it while you grow.
In this episode, I'm demystifying digital products and revealing a low-pressure path to monetization that anyone can follow.
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[00:00:00] If you've ever thought about selling something digital, but instantly felt overwhelmed by all the options, this episode's for you, creating a project doesn't have to be complicated, and it definitely doesn't have to be a full blown course. You can start small and start earning sooner than you think. In fact, you don't even have to feel like you're selling it.
[00:00:20] And I'll tell you how. Welcome to the Thrive Podcast, where we believe creators deserve more, more money, more freedom, and even more love for what they do. I'm Brie P, your coach for content creators. And I know the struggle, the long hours, the endless ideas, the feeling that success is just out of reach.
[00:00:43] But here's the truth. You've got what it takes. And this podcast, it's your shortcut to getting there from strategies that actually work to behind the scenes insights. We are unlocking your potential one episode at a time. So if you're ready to turn your creative hustle into a thriving business. Let's get started.
[00:01:06] This is episode four, our final episode of the series, all about monetizing your content inspired by our monetization growth plans inside of bold fluence. So if you have listened to any of the episodes in this series. Or the one prior to this, all about your audience growth plan, then you know that all of these have a full deep dive inside of Bold Fluence, and we've built a combination of over 25 growth paths that you can choose from to do the growth and make money and grow your audience exactly how you want.
[00:01:45] When you join Bold Fluence, we'll walk you through those options and help you choose the audience growth and the monetization path that feels. Best for your goals and most aligned with who you are. This episode is a behind the scenes peak at what that looks like, and our final one in this monetization series.
[00:02:03] So your first digital product. It doesn't have to be a course, it doesn't have to be this massive thing. It just needs to solve one small problem for your audience. Digital products are a smart first step because as long as you are growing an email list, which all of you are, right, we've had this talk.
[00:02:26] We're good. Great. Then this is an easy first step to monetizing. It's low cost, low risk, and a really fun way to monetize your expertise. You create it once and it sells over and over and over again. This is also great for any niche, no matter who you are. If you are into DIY, parenting, food wellness, lifestyle, productivity.
[00:02:53] No matter what it is, anyone can sell and make money with digital products. So what makes a product sell? It solves a clear problem or creates a nice shortcut for your audience. It. Make it specific, so you don't want this to be everything I know about this topic in one product. We want to keep this specific and small and make it like an easy win for your audience and make sure it has a clear result, even if it's small, even if the end result is that they can learn how to make the perfect donut, or if they can figure out what color to paint their wall.
[00:03:34] That's a wonderful win that we all could use. I wanna give you some examples of some high converting products real quick to get those ideas going. It could be a checklist, a guide, a template, a spreadsheet. Notice I didn't say a full-blown course. It could be a mini workshop. I'm talking something that you could even teach live if you wanted to, or a bite-sized video training.
[00:04:01] It could be an upgrade for an existing freebie or blog post that you have. This is my favorite way to get somebody started with a digital product and trip wires or low ticket offers. Okay. Ooh, this is my favorite, favorite thing, and it is the first way that I will teach you how to make money with digital products.
[00:04:25] Because it is a way to make money without selling and without pushing somebody to buy something. It is something that you set up on the backend, and all you have to do is promote your freebie. So what are some common roadblocks and how are we gonna work through those? The first one is thinking that you're not an expert enough to create a product.
[00:04:47] You haven't learned enough, you don't know how to master this. You, there's somebody that can do it better than you, and that's simply not true. Well, okay, sure, there may be other people out there that can do X, Y, Z better than you, but I can guarantee you for all of those people, there are hundreds more that can't do what you can do.
[00:05:09] So you are an expert to your audience, okay? And I don't care what the thing is. It doesn't matter if it's, you are an expert at gathering all the materials for my toddler to make this craft, and you're gonna provide me with everything that I need to print out. You are the expert. Thank you, ma'am. Or if you are teaching me how to perfect a Macron amazing.
[00:05:33] I don't know how to do that. And I am raising my hand that I'm scared to try. So it doesn't matter what it is. It could be something that is super easy to you, but it could also be something that, because you've mastered it, that's great, but it is challenging for people in your audience. The other roadblock would be getting stuck trying to make it perfect.
[00:05:55] I see this all the time, whether it's editing something to death or having to reshoot or wait for the perfect lighting or the perfect this, the perfect that. It doesn't have to be perfect. It just has to be done. Another roadblock would be not knowing how to price or launch. We help you with that inside of bold fluence, and then skipping the audience building step that can really make sales easier, and that's where that trip wire really comes into play.
[00:06:20] So inside Bold, fluence, Brie, what is a 90 day growth plan look like if I join, and that's the growth path that I want to focus on. Great. Thank you for asking. In month one, we're going to focus on a plan and creating a starter product. So you're gonna pick one problem that you can solve, outline something super simple, maybe a template or checklist or a mini guide, and create it in probably Canva, but maybe it's Notion or Google Doc.
[00:06:50] And then in month two, we're going to set up your sales system. So that looks like writing a really simple landing page, adding a payment processor, maybe something even like flow desk checkouts to keep it simple and creating one or two promo posts or emails. Then in month three we're gonna promote and test.
[00:07:10] So we're gonna share your product regularly. This also, you get the points for sharing if you're sharing your freebies. And we have it set up as a trip wire, okay? And we're gonna test pricing and messaging to improve conversions. Your product does not have to be fancy, you guys, it just needs to be helpful.
[00:07:30] That's what people are going to pay for. If you can save me time, save me money, solve a problem, solve a pain point, gimme something fun, then I'm gonna give you my money. Okay? So some mistakes that I want you to avoid. Number one is creating product before knowing what your audience wants. That doesn't mean, while I'm saying this is simple, that doesn't mean you can just go off and start creating something.
[00:07:55] Just because you have this random idea, you've gotta still do some research. You gotta talk to your audience and make sure you know what they want. Mistake number two, I want you to avoid is trying to make a 10 module course right out of the gate. I don't know how many people I have seen try to do something and just make it this big, huge thing, and I'm like, no, no, just make one little tiny video.
[00:08:16] Teaches them how to do it in 10 minutes because that's all we have time for anyways, right? Like how many of us has purchased courses that it's like hours and hours of video and have watched one hour of it and it was like, Ooh, that was a waste of money 'cause I didn't finish it. Right? That's why I don't recommend anyone do that, especially right out the gate, unless you have a really big audience and they're already asking you for this.
[00:08:39] Paying you in advance or something, right? Um, that's why we keep bold, fluence super affordable, and we've created these plans so you can go right where you need to and just focus on the bite size information that you need because we are all very limited on time. Third mistake I want to avoid is pricing too low or too high without any strategy, and the fourth one is launching once, then never mentioning it again.
[00:09:06] Which, how often do we do that with everything we're creating, right? So how is Bold Fluence going to help you start making money with digital products? Well, I talked to you about the 90 day plan above, but let me just reiterate some of those things. So we're gonna give you training to help you brainstorm pre.
[00:09:21] Plan, price and launch some templates and product ideas, coaching to give you feedback on your offer and messaging, and of course, peer support and weekly check-ins to keep you accountable. You don't have to have a huge audience or a complicated funnel or a mega course to sell digital products. Instead, inside Bold fluence, we're gonna help you launch something simple, valuable and profitable.
[00:09:47] I know numerous people that are selling digital products under $10 and making thousands of dollars a month doing it, one that I've even helped her do it. So it's amazing and incredible and really exciting and a really fun way to make some money. Without overwhelm. So if you're ready to start earning from your expertise, head to Thrive together, blog slash bold fluence, and let's build your first or next digital product together.
[00:10:21] If this episode helped you, help us grow, leave a review, share it with a friend, and tag us on social media. We can't wait to cheer you on.
Why “Start Small” Is the Smartest Strategy for Creators
Most creators make one big mistake when they think about monetizing their content: they go too big, too fast. They assume that making money online means building a massive course, filming hours of content, and setting up a complex funnel before they’re allowed to earn a single dollar.
Here’s the truth: the smartest way to start earning? It’s small, simple, and strategic.
Your First Digital Product Should Be Specific, Not Scary
You don’t need a course. You need a product that solves one small, clear problem.
That could look like a printable checklist, a 10-minute video tutorial, a one-page guide, or a plug-and-play template. These are the kinds of offers that don’t take months to create—but they do deliver real value to your audience.
Small digital products sell because they’re easy to understand and even easier to use. Your audience doesn’t want more information—they want results. And if you can give them a shortcut to solving a problem, they’ll happily pay for it.
What If You Don’t Feel Like an Expert?
Let’s address one of the biggest mindset blocks up front: “But I’m not expert enough to sell anything.” Yes, you are.
You don’t need to be the best in the world, you just need to be a few steps ahead of your audience. If you’ve figured something out that they’re still struggling with, you’re perfectly positioned to help them.
Whether it’s how to get a toddler to nap longer, organize a pantry, create content faster, or make perfect macrons, you are the expert to someone. Don’t underestimate what feels “easy” to you. That might be the very thing someone else is desperately trying to figure out.
Tripwires: The Easiest Way to Sell Without Selling
If you want to make money without doing a hard sell, tripwires are your best friend.
Here’s how it works:
- You make money while growing your list—without needing to launch anything.
- You promote your freebie like you normally would.
- After someone signs up, they’re immediately shown a low-ticket offer (think $7–$27) as an upgrade.
Because it’s timely and relevant, this small “upgrade” converts really well. And once it’s set up, it runs in the background while you keep growing your list. That’s passive income at its simplest.
The 90-Day Plan to Launch Your First Product
Inside Boldfluence, I walk creators through a step-by-step 90-day plan. Here’s the overview:
Month 1: Build a Simple Starter Product
- Identify a small, clear problem you can solve.
- Create a template, guide, checklist, or mini training to solve it.
- Use Canva, Notion, or Google Docs—whatever’s easy.
Month 2: Set Up Your Sales System
- Write a short landing page with a clear benefit.
- Set up a simple checkout (think: Flodesk Checkout, Stan Store, PayHip).
- Add a thank-you page and delivery email.
Month 3: Promote and Test
- Set it up as a tripwire behind your freebie.
- Share your product regularly on social and email.
- Experiment with pricing and messaging.
The Biggest Mistakes New Creators Make
If you want to avoid frustration, here are a few mistakes to sidestep:
- Creating without research. Don’t build something just because you think it’s a good idea—ask your audience what they want.
- Trying to do too much. A huge, all-encompassing course is overwhelming for both you and your customer. Start small.
- Pricing randomly. Don’t just guess. Test your pricing and see what actually converts.
- Launching once and disappearing. Mention your product often. People need to hear about it more than once before they buy.
You Don’t Need Fancy. You Need Helpful.
The goal isn’t to impress people with how much content you can deliver. The goal is to help them solve a problem—quickly, clearly, and confidently.
Your first product won’t be perfect. That’s okay. But it can be powerful.
I've seen creators earn thousands from products priced under $10—not because they went viral, but because they solved one clear problem and stayed consistent.
You don’t need more content. You need a strategy.
How Boldfluence Can Help
Here’s what I want you to hear: You don’t need to be the best. You just need to be helpful.
If you’ve solved a problem in your life or business—big or small—there’s someone out there waiting for you to show them how. And the best part? You can build something simple, valuable, and profitable without burnout.
Inside Boldfluence, we help creators like you go from “I don’t know what to sell” to “I just made my first sale!”—all within 90 days.
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