When I sold my very first digital product, I had NO idea what I was doing. Honestly? I was winging it with Google searches, late-night trial-and-error, and way too much second-guessing. I knew what I was teaching inside and out, but the actual process of turning my data analytics knowledge into a business? Yeah… had zero clue.
Now, after building a six-figure digital side hustle, there are a few things I wish I’d known from the start—things that would’ve saved me time, stress, and a whole lot of Diet Dr Pepper. 😉
Here are the top 5 lessons I wish someone had handed me on day one:
#1: You Don’t Need a Huge Audience to Make Sales
Back then, I thought I had to wait until I had thousands of followers before I could even begin selling digital products. I figured no one would take me seriously until I had a massive audience.
Turns out? Wrong. What actually matters is having the right people in your audience—not the biggest audience. When your message connects with someone who’s actively searching for a solution, that’s where the magic happens.
✨ Even a small, engaged list of 100 subscribers can generate sales if you’re solving a real problem for them.
👉 This is something we focus on inside GRIT Collective—how to build connection and trust, not just vanity numbers. Because likes and followers don’t pay the bills, but loyal customers absolutely do.
#2: Simple > Fancy (Every Time)
I wasted so much energy stressing over my brand colors, logos, and building a website that looked like a million-dollar company. Spoiler: my first sales didn’t come from a polished brand or custom-coded website.
They came from a single, simple checkout page. No bells, no whistles. Just me, a product, and a way for people to pay.
✨ Here’s the truth: your people don’t care how fancy it looks. They care if it solves their problem.
So if you’re hesitating because your branding isn’t “perfect” yet, let this be your sign—you can start selling with the basics and build the rest as you grow.
#3: Feedback Beats Guesswork
I used to lock myself in “creation mode” for weeks (okay, months 🙈), building products based on what I thought people needed. Sometimes they sold. Sometimes they flopped.
The shortcut I wish I’d used to selling digital products? Ask first, create second.
✨ Instead of guessing, I could’ve run a poll, posted a survey, or even sent a quick email to my audience to ask what they actually wanted. Feedback doesn’t just save you time—it gives you confidence that your product will actually sell before you invest hours making it.
Inside GRIT Collective, I show members exactly how to test an idea quickly, so they never waste time on a product that’s going to collect digital dust.
#4: Automation is a Lifesaver
In the early days, I was manually sending every email, delivering every file, and trying to keep up with posting everywhere, all the time. It was exhausting, and honestly, it wasn’t sustainable.
✨ The turning point came when I learned how to set up automated systems—things like welcome sequences that deliver products instantly, or scheduling tools that keep content flowing while I sleep.
👉 With simple automation, you free up your brain (and your time) to focus on what really matters: creating, connecting, and growing. And inside GRIT Collective, I hand you the exact Playbooks + swipe files to get those systems set up without wanting to throw your laptop out the window.
#5: Community Makes the Journey Lighter
When I started, I didn’t have anyone to bounce ideas off of, celebrate with, or ask those “silly” questions. And honestly? It almost made me quit more than once. Doing it alone is hard—and it doesn’t have to be.
✨ Having a supportive community changes everything. It gives you motivation on the tough days, accountability when you’re tempted to slack, and encouragement when you hit even the tiniest win.
That’s why I built GRIT Collective—to be the place where you don’t have to do this solo. You’ll always have a crew who gets it and cheers you on.
The Bottom Line
Selling digital products doesn’t require perfection, a huge audience, or years of experience. It requires GRIT, consistency, and the willingness to learn as you go.
And the good news? You don’t have to figure it out the way I did—alone and guessing. You can skip the stress, grab proven resources, and build smarter from day one.
Ready to Skip the Guesswork?
- Grab my free 500 Digital Product Ideas to Sell for inspiration across every niche.
- Check out the Digital Course Creation Starter Kit to nail down your perfect course idea.
- Or join GRIT Collective—your hub for Playbooks, support, and community so you don’t have to figure it out the hard way.
If I could go back and hand myself this list, I would. Since I can’t, I’m handing it to YOU—so you can build smarter, faster, and with way less stress.
Always in your corner,
