What I'd Do Differently This Time Around
If you're staring at a blank screen trying to figure out which platform to use, which niche to pick, or which product to make first — take a breath.
You don't need any of that figured out to get started.
I know because I didn't have it figured out either.
Back in 2020, I opened my first digital shop with more excitement than strategy. I was brand new to Canva, full of ideas, and convinced that more products meant more sales. My shop turned into a bit of a digital dollar store — wedding templates, planners, affirmation cards, checklists, all at once.
I also overspent on fancy business tools before I even had an offer or an audience, thinking software and platforms would magically create momentum.
It took a lot of trial and error (and a few expensive mistakes) to find a path that actually worked.
If I were starting today, here's exactly where I'd begin — and what I'd skip entirely.
Step 1: Pick ONE simple product idea
In my early days, creating digital products felt overwhelming because I tried to do everything at once. I said yes to every product idea instead of committing to one.
It felt productive, but it actually slowed me down.
If I were starting from scratch, I'd pick a single problem I understood well and solve just that. One focused digital product beats ten scattered ones — every single time.
The best digital products to sell solve a specific problem for a specific audience. Whether you're creating templates, ebooks, or online courses, start with your first digital product and build from there.
Step 2: Use tools you probably already have
I also learned the hard way not to overspend on business tools before I even had an offer or an audience. Fancy platforms and software felt like progress, but they drained my budget and my confidence faster than they built momentum.
You don't need any of that to start.
Canva, Notion, Google Sheets, or a simple checkout link are more than enough to create and sell digital products. Action creates momentum — tools don't.
Many digital product businesses fail because business owners spend more time shopping for tools than actually creating products. Save time by using what you already have and focus on launching your business instead.
Step 3: Keep your first offer small and low-pressure
Once I got specific about who I was actually serving, everything got easier — the product creation, the marketing, the sales. That specificity is worth chasing from day one.
So keep your first offer small, simple, and low-priced.
The goal isn't a perfect launch. The goal is momentum and your first sale.
Start selling digital products with a single digital asset that provides real value, and you'll build confidence to create more profitable digital products later.
Step 4: Set up one simple way to sell it
You don't need a complex system to start. Etsy, Shopify, Thrivecart, or even a basic checkout link will get you moving.
Pick whichever feels easiest to set up this week, and don't overthink it.
The beauty of selling digital products online is that once you create your product, you can sell it forever. Unlike physical products, digital files don't require inventory, shipping, or storage. This makes digital products a great source of passive income for small business owners.
Step 5: Start your email list from day one
If I could hand my 2020 self one shortcut, it would be this: start building your email list right away. This single decision would have saved me years of spinning my wheels.
That's exactly why I created the Aesthetic CEO Starter Kit — it's not just about templates and hooks. It's a simple way to get your first digital product idea, tools, and email list moving without the guesswork I went through.
This free digital bundle includes:
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20 premium reels to help you show up confidently on Instagram
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30 days of viral hooks to make content creation easier
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A ready-to-use lead magnet template to start building your email list today
👉 Grab the free Aesthetic CEO Starter Kit here
Quick Recap: 5 Steps to Start Your Digital Product Business
Here's your quick recap for how to start a digital product business that works:
1. Pick one simple product idea
2. Use tools you already have (like Canva)
3. Keep your first offer small
4. Set up one simple way to sell it
5. Start your email list from day one
Types of Digital Products You Can Start Selling
If you're wondering what types of digital products to create, here are some of the most profitable digital products to sell:
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Digital templates (planners, social media templates, business templates)
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Ebooks (guides, workbooks, how-to manuals)
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Online courses (teaching your expertise step-by-step)
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Digital design assets (fonts, graphics, stock photos)
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Software or online tools (apps, plugins, calculators)
The key is choosing products you can create once and sell across multiple platforms to generate passive income online.
Ready to Start a Digital Product Business the Right Way?
Here's the truth nobody tells you when you're starting out: most people fail at selling digital products not because their ideas are bad, but because they're trying to figure out everything alone.
I made expensive mistakes that could have been avoided if I'd had the right foundation from the start. I wasted money on tools I didn't need. I created products nobody asked for. I built my entire business without an email list, which meant starting from zero every single time I launched something new.
Here's what I know now that I didn't know in 2020: you don't need to figure out everything before you start. You just need to take the first step.
The mistakes I made — spreading myself too thin, overspending on tools, launching without an email list — taught me what actually matters. And what matters is starting simple, staying focused, and building momentum one product at a time.
The biggest lesson? You don't need to reinvent the wheel. You need a proven framework that shows you exactly what to do next.
That's why I created the Aesthetic CEO Starter Kit — so you can skip the trial-and-error phase and start with what actually works.
Inside, you'll get:
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20 premium reels to help you show up confidently on Instagram
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30 days of viral hooks to make content creation easier
-
A ready-to-use lead magnet template to start building your email list today
This isn't just another freebie. It's the exact foundation I wish I'd had when I started — the templates, the strategy, and the clarity to move forward with confidence.
If I were starting today, I'd skip the years of trial and error and go straight to what works. I'd pick one product idea, use the tools I already have, and build my email list from day one. Most importantly, I'd give myself permission to start small and learn as I go.
You don't have to spend years figuring this out on your own. Take the shortcut, trust the process, and remember: your first product doesn't have to be perfect. It just has to exist.
You've got this — and your journey is just beginning.
