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Digital products – or infoproducts – are mostly educational materials produced in digital format and distributed online. They can take the form of an E-book or a video course for example.
In this article, we will explain what a digital product is and how to start living from your passions!
The market for digital products has become a hit in the world of digital entrepreneurship, it is no longer difficult to find cases of people who started from scratch and achieved success that they never thought possible.
In this article, we will teach you everything that permeates this universe.
Let’s go?
What is a digital product?
A few years ago, the market for digital products emerged, appealing to lovers of IT and entrepreneurship. Thanks to this new business opportunity, many people have embarked on the production of a digital product in order to sell it on the internet.
At DoCatch, we support these people on a daily basis who have decided to launch their own online business. With this experience, we will teach you all the basics you need to master before embarking on the creation of your product. Today we are going to explain to you what a product is and how to make money from it with this type of business. Let’s go? – Digital products -or infoproducts- are mostly educational materials produced in digital format and distributed online.
They have become popular in the world of internet entrepreneurship – or digital entrepreneurship – because this type of product can be distributed all over the world. For people who get into creating this type of content, the digital product they create becomes a source of income. For the user, the consumption of digital content is also very advantageous, as it promotes the transmission of knowledge and allows access to very specific courses at home.
Who can become a Digital Producer?
Becoming a Digital Producer is quite simple, anyone can work in this market, but the difference between those who will succeed and those who will fail lies in the perseverance and daily improvement of your product. If you want to be a producer, know that: having the will to improve is as important as success itself.
The digital producer is one who has knowledge that can be shared on the Internet and creates a digital product (such as an online course or an ebook) to teach other people the subject in which he is an expert.
If you are passionate about gastronomy, for example, you can create an online course with video recipes for beginners who want to learn how to venture into the kitchen.
Or, if you’re an expert in event planning, how about creating an ebook with tips for brides? There are millions of ideas in the digital market, and the best thing is that they are available to everyone.
- Being older than 18;
- Have an idea that adds value to a group of people;
- Take the first step after structuring this idea (like recording videos or writing about this topic);
- Research your skills and see how you can best convey them digitally. The best product format is the one that will convey the content most clearly;
- Perceive the opportunities of the digital market by identifying the needs of others (even if, at the start, the Producer does not have a precise idea of what to do). For this, it is possible to draw inspiration from what other Producers have created or to use information from Google Trends, for example, to find out what people have been looking for;
- Test the product before putting it on the market to understand its real value;
- Disclose the product;
How can a digital product impact people?
Now that you know a little more about what a digital product is, the question remains: how can it impact the audience?
Trust me, there’s always someone out there looking for a solution that you’re already an expert on. So we can say that your future audience is worried
learn something new
When we acquire a new product, we are open and ready to learn something new. And that may be the goal of those who chose to receive the digital product.
Lack of time, however, can be a hindrance, especially when we’re talking about being in person. And this is another point where digital products stand out: you can access them from any mobile device with internet.
Solve a problem with experts
Digital products can present the answer to problems in a simplified and didactic way.
Through e-books, videos and texts, you can quickly reach a resolution with someone who really understands the subject.
Do you want an example? Let’s say you want to start practising yoga. With a digital product aimed at the segment, it will be possible to know which are the best positions, indications and also all the advantages.
Solve various questions
Digital products also give 10-0 to hard-to-view and practice manuals.
There are many that have a more general approach, in which you can resolve all doubts from start to finish.
For example: the product “how to assemble a wooden table from scratch?” it is essential for those who want to improve their manual skills, assembling furniture from start to finish.
Is it possible to create a product with other people?
The answer is simple: yes!
You can create your product with third parties by becoming a Co-producer. So you will have someone to help you run your business.
Let’s say you teach English, but you don’t know how to produce videos. You can work with videographers or marketers to produce your courses, while focusing on the content.
Even today, there are launch agencies focused on digital product strategies that can help you a lot in this process.
Producer or Affiliate?
Currently, there are two ways to work in the digital marketplace: as a Producer or as an Affiliate.
We have already explained who the Digital Producers are. Now let’s talk about Affiliates, which are people who advertise third-party products in exchange for a commission for each sale.
The best option depends a lot on your profile. If you love creating new things, being in action and showcasing your business, Producer might be the best option for you.
But, if you like to venture into sales techniques, online advertising and prefer not to appear, maybe you should try Affiliate.
Either way, both opportunities are great for those who want to have their own business and make money online.
What are the main digital product formats?
There are several types of products and the best format is the one that will convey the content in the most appropriate way for your customer.
For some companies, an ebook is sufficient and convenient because it allows easy access. For more complex materials, video lessons are more appropriate, since the student also has the audiovisual resource to help understanding.
In general, there are the following formats of digital products:
- E-books
- Course
- Manuals
- Subscription Services
- Member sites
- Contest documents
- songs
- Ringtones
- Reports, market studies
- Software and online services (including SaaS)
- Application mobile
- Screenshot
- Video lessons
- Speech
- Films
- Models
- Codes sources, Scripts
- Images
- Photos
- Icons
- CD keys (and any other type of serial code)
- Digitised magazines
- Books and Articles
Ebooks and online courses are the most successful formats on the web.
Nothing prevents you from offering several formats associated with the same product.
Your ebook can also have an audio and video version. Your online course may provide additional guidance on other channels, such as Facebook.
You determine the best way to approach, always based on your audience.
Booming niches
Digital products are increasingly in demand and some specific niches stand out in the market. Here are the main ones:
- Business and Career;
- Personal development;
- Education;
- Culinary and Gastronomy;
- Health and Sports;
- Spirituality;
- Fashion and Beauty;
- Digital marketing.
The most famous infoproducts on the market
There are thousands of highly successful digital products on the internet. But here, we’ll show you three success stories from our Digital Makers series. These are infoproducts that have a veritable legion of fans and have changed the lives of many people.
The first example is Conlasalud, by Priscila Heimer who, in one month, managed to have 6,000 emails on her list. Its theme is healthy and sustainable food.
The second is the case of Martin Giacchetta, a personal trainer known for training Spanish celebrities, who launched Method G, an online fitness and nutrition course that became a fever in his country.
Top myths about digital products
The market for digital products, despite the fact that it has been around for a few years, is still new to many people. Therefore, there are several myths around him that we need to deconstruct.
The first is that it is very easy to make money selling digital products. And, despite the fact that it is a market with many possibilities for success, it is a job like any other where you have to put in the effort to obtain good results.
Many people also believe that digital producers and affiliates work less than other professionals or don’t need to study. But this is not true.
The great market specialists are always up to date, taking courses and participating in events to discover the best sales strategies, in addition to devoting themselves to producing, optimising and distributing their digital products.
Another well-known myth is that it takes a lot of money to get started in the infoproduct market. But the truth is that you can even create free courses.
How to create a business plan to sell infoproducts?
Now that you understand the main concepts related to digital products, we will explain how to create a business plan. This document allows you to organise your ideas and guide you, in addition to being useful in attracting resources from potential investors.
For this reason, before you start working on your project, we recommend that you do some strategic planning and record everything. In your business plan, you should include:
- business analysis;
- Market analysis;
- Analysis of competitors;
- Analyse client;
- Plan The marketing;
- plan of operations;
- Financial plan.
How to create your first digital product?
Now we come to the part you’ve been waiting for! got it right? 🙂
As you already know, there are a multitude of digital product formats that can be created and marketed on the internet, but in this post we will focus on the two main ones: online courses and ebooks.
With all the years of experience we have here at DoCatch, creating tools to sell digital products and advising entrepreneurs from around the world, we have come up with the best strategies to create successful infoproducts.
Come on?
How to know what content to create?
As you know, there are many formats of digital products, but in this article, we will focus on the two main ones: online courses and ebooks. Keep reading!
- ” I have an idea! »
You don’t have to wait for something incredible and totally innovative to call it “the good idea”. If you have an idea that will resonate with a group of people, you’re ready to start. The first step is a fairly simple step. If your plan is to make a course in ebook format, start writing it. If you have opted for the production of a video training, record your first video. Even if the result is not what you imagined, you will already have a model of what your online business can be.
- ” I have no idea. »
If you don’t have a concrete idea yet, but you see great opportunities in the infoproduct market, don’t worry! Valuable advice: pay more attention to the environment in which you live and try to identify the needs of the people close to you. New requests and doubts appear every day, you just have to discover them. Websites such as Quora (in English), Reddit and Yahoo Questions/Answers can help you in this search.
Start from your passions and hobbies! Also look for other infoproducts and get inspired by innovative businesses.
If you are not an expert, have the thirst to learn! You can create an infoproduct without being a specialist. Only to start. But if your idea becomes a reference in a certain subject, it is essential that you dominate all spheres of the subject in question, if this were not the case, how could you pass credibility to your customers?
Take part in events about infopreneurship and the digital market. So, you have the opportunity to hire incredible and already experienced people, who might not have the chance to talk to you on a daily basis. Follow some of the events in the infopreneurship market: The Infopreneurs Congress, for example, can be a good source of learning!
Validate your market niche
After thinking about your business ideas and your skills, you must validate the market niche in which you will act.
Research using keyword tools to understand demand for your niche, such as Google Keyword Planner and SemRush.
Understand trends using tools like Google Trends.
Study your competitors and assess their rate of sale.
If you already have an audience, conduct questionnaires and surveys to understand their demands.
Create a basic version of your digital product and test its reception in the market
How to create an online course
To create an online course, the first thing is to know that you must divide your work into three steps:
- pre-production,
- the production
- and post-production.
Also, don’t forget to define your buyer persona because it will represent your ideal client and guide your entire strategy.
Define the structure of your course. In other words, put together a skeleton with all the modules and the video classes that will be part of each of them.
Create your script to accompany you during the recording of lessons and ensure that your content is relevant, educational and meets the objectives of the course.
Also, to create your online course, you will need some basic equipment, such as a camera, which can even be that of your smartphone, and a microphone. You also have to think about the lighting. You can opt for natural light or make homemade artificial lighting.
Don’t forget to prepare the scene where you are going to record your video lessons, as this can help your audience connect with you, convey professionalism and credibility.
It’s also important that you take care of the sound isolation from the environment, so that your audio doesn’t end up with too much noise distracting your students.
When it’s time to shine on camera, some affordable extra gear like a teleprompter and tripod can make all the difference. When your recording is ready, you can edit the content using an editing program.
And finally, when your content is already edited, you just need to host the lessons on a platform, like Doc Club, so that your students can access the videos.
How to create an ebook
The first thing you need to do to create an ebook is to study the subject you are going to cover to make sure that your content is as complete as possible and that you will “cure the pain” of whoever reads it.
Find out what your competitors are saying, find books, documentaries and YouTube channels specializing in your niche.
The next step is to understand how you are going to solve your buyer’s problem and how you can organize the chapters to provide the information in the best possible way. You can make a list of the topics you will cover and the subtopics you will include in each.
Then, put all your knowledge on the subject on paper in a didactic way, to capture the attention of whoever reads. At this stage, it is essential to write well.
Also, you should keep in mind that the design of an ebook is as important as its content. So make sure to take care of the visual part. To do this, you can use our free PowerPoint templates.
Before disclosing your product, review it to make sure everything is correct. If necessary, ask someone to help you or hire a professional freelancer.
And ultimately, to automatically deliver the information product to buyers and get paid, you need to find a trusted digital platform like DoCatch.
How to determine the price
There are a few things you need to take into consideration before setting the price for your infoproduct, here are a few: production costs, prices offered by the competition, the profile of your audience and the value your customer is willing to pay to acquire the lesson. This last point is important because it indicates its value and how useful the content may be for your customer. The higher this value, the higher you can set a price.
How to validate your product
The best way to test your product is by trying it! It may sound obvious, but many people think of making something perfect from the start without even understanding how the product works in the market. There we have the concept minimum viable Product (MVP), or minimum viable product. If you want to produce a complete Coaching course, for example, you can shoot a few videos and make them available to a small sample of the market, with a profile close to your target clientele. Check with other professionals who are already in the digital business, ask them if they were doing things differently, and think about how you can improve your product. Edit your product as many times as necessary. With your approved MVP,
Where to sell your infoproduct
To gain visibility, it is strongly advised to have a website. It will be part of your entire online promotion strategy. What’s more, there are platforms, like DoCatch, that provide all the necessary infrastructure to make online sales. DoCatch offers sales tracking, members’ space, numerous payment methods and other useful features for any digital producer.
What tools are used to promote your product
There are many product promotion channels. The important thing is to be in the same circles as your audience. We have listed below the main channels used by the majority of infopreneurs:
- Email marketing: Email is a powerful tool and you can consider it a great ally from now on. If someone gives you their email, it means you have permission to speak to them directly. There are several email marketing tools where you can send personalised emails and analyse indicators such as sending messages. MailChimp, for example, is a tool that you can use for free to start your business.
- Social networks: The great advantage of social networks is the opportunity to speak in a language closer to your reader. But beware: each social network has its particularity. Creating an account on each can cause you to lose the objective. You can use the Buzzsumo tool to evaluate the performance of your action on the most diverse social networks.
- Blogging: Blogging is one of the great Content Marketing strategies because it offers to create value for those who read the material. Keep your blog active with relevant content that educates your market. With a good strategy, your audience will naturally come to your product.
- Affiliate Program: When you enter an affiliate program, you are put in touch with people wishing to promote your own product. They receive, for each sale, a commission corresponding to a percentage of the price of the product. The great advantage is that your product gains more visibility and sales opportunities increase!
What are the main digital product formats?
There are several types of products and the best format is the one that will convey the content in the most appropriate way for your customer.
For some companies, an ebook is sufficient and convenient because it allows easy access. For more complex materials, video lessons are more appropriate, since the student also has the audiovisual resource to help understanding.
In general, there are the following formats of digital products:
- E-books
- Course
- Manuals
- Subscription Services
- Member sites
- Contest documents
- songs
- Ringtones
- Reports, market studies
- Software and online services (including SaaS)
- Application mobile
- Screenshot
- Video lessons
- Speech
- Films
- Models
- Codes sources, Scripts
- Images
- Photos
- Icons
- CD keys (and any other type of serial code)
- Digitised magazines
- Books and Articles
Golden tip: keep up to date with what’s new!
The advice is valid for those who really see the potential of the digital market. If you want to be a great infopreneur and become a reference on your chosen subject, now is the time to produce rich materials that really create value for the public. What does that mean? Always be aware of market news, interact with your audience and discover new needs to satisfy them. Research content from major references and update your strategies. Count on us for several tips on the digital market.
You are now ready to create your info product! If you liked our content, click “Learn More” to receive more information directly to your email.