Identifying your expertise

We always have something that we do better than others, do we?

Whether you’re a designer, programmer, or accountant, you still know something 10x times better than the rest of us.

Your first task is to try to understand how you can automate something by using your knowledge and skills.

For instance, I’m a senior UI/UX designer, and I know how hard it can be to start a new project from scratch. And I also know how it can be solved or automated.

By identifying the problem and using my expertise, I can now create a simple UI kit that people will use to increase the efficiency of their workflow.

This framework of thinking helps to truly understand what can be done, what hasn’t been done before, or what can be done better.

The next step would be to identify the main audience.

In my example, I’ve been focusing on other junior designers and helping them improve their workflow.

However, I can also focus on entrepreneurs who want to build a website in a matter of hours without all this complex sh*t.

In other words, I can create an easy-to-modify website template on **Framer** which would save tons of time for everyone who wants to launch their website quickly.

Easy to use, easy to build.

The crucial part — it saves someone’s time and solves specific problems.

So, you’ve spent 10–15 minutes analyzing your expertise, what can be automated, and your main audience.

Now you’re able to start developing the product itself.

Planning & time management

You don’t need more than 2 hours a day to build a profitable digital product.

I’ve created most of my digital products while working a full-time job and writing on Medium.

Yeah, it wasn’t easy, but I never spent more than 2 hours a day creating any of my templates. In fact, even an hour would be enough.

Here’s how:

Divide all of your tasks into those that require 30 minutes or less.

Then just choose up to 2–4 tasks each day and accomplish them no matter what.

Such as:

• Working on the ‘X’ section of my template (30 minutes)

• Creating a unique name for my product (10 minutes)

• Writing a good copy on Gumroad (15 minutes)

• Creating an eye-catching thumbnail (30 minutes)

• Write a compelling bio (10 minutes)

A good practice would be to take one day out of the week, such as Sunday, and write off literally everything that should be done by the last minute within that day.

It should be like a to-do list out of 100 different tasks, each of which is a small step in creating and publishing your product on the market.

With that, you’ll be able to not spend any time throughout the work week and get to these tasks without hesitation.

It’s especially good if you’re experiencing some kind of chaos in life and work.

Just get all of the things out of your mind and get to each of them one by one.

Spending 30 minutes for an additional several hours a week. Sounds like a win-win.

Building your digital product

It’s dead f*cking simple. I’m serious.

Building one product shouldn’t take more than a month, especially if you’re just beginning.

As always, here’s an easy-to-use framework for you to start without wasting any minutes.

• Buy someone else’s template/product

• Define what can be done better

• Make one major change and several smaller ones (aka. Make it better)

• That’s it

Remember, even if you have some unique idea for a product, there are still tons of similar products that you can take something from.

Before creating my first Framer template, I downloaded several free ones and bought one as well.

Never underestimate this process, it would save you tons of time and effort. And the only thing that you need to do is spend less than $50 on the template in your niche.

Let me give you an example.

You’ve decided to go with the Notion templates. Great choice.

The first step is to purchase some of the most popular templates out there.

Now it’s your time to use your expertise.

If you’re good at project management, then you’ll immediately see what’s missing and what can be done better in a project management template, right?

I’m good at designing websites, so when I see some other template for a landing, I want to add some new features right away.

And the best part is that you don’t have to do anything from scratch. Only to edit it and make several adjustments.

Now, give it away for free

Yeah, sounds nuts, I know.

You’ve worked on this product for so long and made so much effort, and just giving it away for free seems like a robbery.

But trust me, that’s the only way to get some attention and start seeing sales.

It was also hard for me to understand in the beginning.

But I wouldn’t get over 200 sales on my templates without this strategy.

Everyone wants something for free, whether it’s a Notion template, Framer template, eBook, course, or anything else.

But to constantly sell your paid products, you need to build an audience first.

You don’t have a large email list yet, you don’t have an established X account, and you have nothing that would make it possible for you to get some attention.

People don’t know you; you’re nobody to them.

If you don’t have an established audience that you’re engaging with, then there’s no better way to promote your personal brand than by giving away as much free stuff as possible.

And the better product you give away for free, the more engagement you’ll see at the end.