---
name: digital-product-creator
description: |
  Complete guide to creating and selling digital products including ebooks, templates, printables, Notion templates, Figma kits, and code snippets with platform setup, pricing strategies, launch tactics, and passive income calculations. Use when the user asks about digital product creator or needs help with related topics. Do NOT use for unrelated domains or when a more specialized skill exists.
license: Apache-2.0
metadata:
  author: foundry-skills
  version: "1.0.0"
  tags: "entrepreneurship marketing content-marketing"
  category: "marketing-sales"
  subcategory: "seo-growth"
  depends: ""
  disclaimer: "none"
  difficulty: "intermediate"
---

# Digital Product Creator

## When to Use


## Process

1. **Gather requirements.** Ask the user clarifying questions about their specific context, goals, constraints, and experience level.

2. **Analyze the situation.** Review the information provided and identify key factors, challenges, and opportunities relevant to digital product creator.

3. **Develop the framework.** Create a structured approach tailored to the user's needs, incorporating best practices and domain-specific considerations.

4. **Deliver actionable output.** Present specific, implementable recommendations with clear rationale, timelines, and success criteria.

5. **Address edge cases.** Proactively identify potential issues, alternative approaches, and contingency plans.

**Use this skill when:**
- User needs guidance on digital product creator
- User asks about digital product creator best practices or techniques
- User wants a structured approach to digital product creator

**Do NOT use this skill when:**
- A more specialized skill exists for the specific subtopic
- The request is outside the scope of digital product creator
## Questions to Ask First

Before creating any digital product, work through these:

1. What specific problem does your product solve? Can you state it in one sentence?
2. Who is the buyer? What is their skill level, budget, and urgency?
3. Have you validated demand? Do people ask you about this? Are competitors selling similar products?
4. What format best delivers the solution? (Template, ebook, course, toolkit, printable)
5. What is your time budget for creating version 1? (5 hours, 20 hours, 100 hours)
6. Do you have an audience to launch to? (Email list, social following)
7. What price point makes sense for the value delivered? ($5, $29, $99, $199+)
8. How will you deliver and fulfill the product? (Gumroad, Lemon Squeezy, own site)
9. Can this product be updated and improved over time?
10. Is this a one-off product or the first in a product ecosystem?

## Product Type Deep Dives

### Ebooks and Guides

**Best for**: Teaching a process, sharing expertise, compiling knowledge
**Typical price**: $9-49
**Creation time**: 20-80 hours
**Tools**: Google Docs, Notion, Canva, Adobe InDesign

**Ebook Structure Template:**
```
Cover Page
  Title, subtitle, author, visual
Table of Contents
  Linked to sections for digital navigation
Introduction (5-10% of book)
  Why this topic matters
  Who this book is for
  What they'll learn
  How to use this book
Chapters 1-8 (80% of book)
  Each chapter follows:
    - Opening hook (story or problem statement)
    - Core teaching (concepts, frameworks)
    - Examples (real-world applications)
    - Action steps (what to do now)
    - Chapter summary
Conclusion (5-10% of book)
  Key takeaways summary
  Next steps
  Resources
  About the author
  CTA (other products, newsletter, community)
Appendix
  Templates, checklists, reference materials
```

**Ebook Production Checklist:**
- [ ] Draft complete manuscript
- [ ] Professional editing (at minimum, use Grammarly + beta reader)
- [ ] Design cover (Canva or hire designer, $50-200)
- [ ] Format interior (consistent fonts, headers, spacing)
- [ ] Export as PDF (primary), EPUB (optional for Kindle)
- [ ] Create product mockup images (Canva or Placeit)
- [ ] Write sales page copy
- [ ] Set up delivery platform

### Templates (Notion, Google Sheets, Airtable)

**Best for**: Saving people time on recurring tasks
**Typical price**: $5-79
**Creation time**: 5-30 hours
**Tools**: Notion, Google Workspace, Airtable, Microsoft Excel

**Popular Notion Template Categories:**
- Project management dashboards
- Content calendars
- Finance trackers (personal and business)
- Habit trackers
- CRM systems
- Student planners
- Reading/book tracking
- Travel planners
- Freelancer business hubs
- Goal setting and OKR frameworks

**Notion Template Best Practices:**
1. Start with a real problem you've solved for yourself
2. Make the template visually appealing (icons, covers, color coding)
3. Include a setup guide or video walkthrough
4. Pre-fill with example data (don't ship empty)
5. Design for both desktop and mobile
6. Test with 5 people before selling
7. Create compelling preview screenshots showing the template in use

**Spreadsheet Template Tips:**
- Use data validation for dropdowns and input constraints
- Include a "How to Use" tab with instructions
- Lock formulas but leave input cells editable
- Use conditional formatting to make data visual
- Include example data that's easy to replace
- Test across Google Sheets AND Excel if selling for both

### Printables

**Best for**: Planners, wall art, educational worksheets, party supplies, organizational tools
**Typical price**: $2-15 per item, $15-49 for bundles
**Creation time**: 2-10 hours per item
**Tools**: Canva, Adobe Illustrator, Procreate

**High-Demand Printable Categories:**
- Planners (daily, weekly, monthly, yearly)
- Budget trackers and financial planners
- Kids' activity sheets and educational materials
- Wedding planning kits
- Wall art and quotes
- Holiday/seasonal decorations
- Meal planning sheets
- Business planning templates
- Habit tracking sheets
- Journaling prompts and guided journals

**Printable Design Standards:**
- Design at 300 DPI for print quality
- Standard sizes: US Letter (8.5x11"), A4, A5
- Include multiple sizes in one purchase
- Use CMYK color mode for print accuracy
- Provide both PDF and PNG formats
- Leave margins for printer bleed (0.25" minimum)
- Test print before selling

### Figma and Design Kits

**Best for**: UI kits, icon sets, design systems, website templates
**Typical price**: $19-199
**Creation time**: 20-100+ hours
**Tools**: Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD

**What Sells Well:**
- UI component libraries
- Website wireframe kits
- Mobile app templates
- Icon sets (line, solid, duotone)
- Design system starter kits
- Social media template packs
- Presentation templates
- Email template designs

**Quality Standards:**
- Organized layers with clear naming conventions
- Auto-layout and responsive components (Figma)
- Well-documented usage instructions
- Example pages showing components in context
- Regular updates for new components
- Compatible with latest Figma/tool version

### Code Snippets and Developer Tools

**Best for**: Boilerplate code, starter kits, plugins, CLI tools
**Typical price**: $9-199
**Creation time**: 10-100+ hours
**Tools**: VS Code, GitHub, your preferred IDE

**Popular Developer Products:**
- Next.js/React starter templates
- API boilerplate with authentication
- Admin dashboard templates
- Chrome extensions
- VS Code extensions or themes
- CLI tools for specific workflows
- Tailwind component libraries
- WordPress themes/plugins
- Email template code
- Automation scripts

**Code Product Requirements:**
- Clean, well-commented code
- README with setup instructions
- License file (define usage rights clearly)
- Demo or preview site
- Version control and changelog
- Support channel (email or Discord)
- Regular updates for dependency changes

## Platform Setup and Comparison

### Selling Platform Comparison

| Platform | Best For | Fees | Features |
|----------|---------|------|----------|
| Gumroad | All digital products | 10% flat | Simple, email, analytics |
| Lemon Squeezy | SaaS + digital | 5% + processing | Tax handling, subscriptions |
| Etsy | Printables, templates | 6.5% + listing fee | Marketplace traffic |
| Creative Market | Design assets | 50% commission | Large design audience |
| Payhip | Ebooks, courses | 5% (free plan) | No monthly fee option |
| Shopify | Established brands | $29/mo + 2.9% | Full ecommerce |
| Stan Store | Creators | $29/mo | Link-in-bio + store |
| Ko-fi | Simple digital goods | 0% (Gold: $6/mo) | Tip jar + shop |
| WooCommerce | WordPress users | Free + hosting | Full control |
| Notion Marketplace | Notion templates | 0% (official marketplace) | Built-in audience |

### Platform Selection Decision Tree
```
Are you selling primarily Notion templates?
  YES --> Notion Marketplace + Gumroad (dual distribution)
  NO -->
    Are you selling design assets?
      YES --> Creative Market + Gumroad
      NO -->
        Do you want simplicity?
          YES --> Gumroad (start here, always)
          NO -->
            Do you need subscription billing?
              YES --> Lemon Squeezy
              NO -->
                Do you sell physical + digital?
                  YES --> Shopify
                  NO --> Gumroad or Payhip
```

### Gumroad Setup Checklist
```
[ ] Create account and verify email
[ ] Set up Stripe for payments
[ ] Add profile photo and bio
[ ] Create product listing:
    [ ] Product name (clear, benefit-focused)
    [ ] Description (what they get, who it's for)
    [ ] Cover image (professional mockup)
    [ ] Price (or "pay what you want" minimum)
    [ ] Product files (uploaded or linked)
    [ ] Thumbnail gallery (screenshots, previews)
[ ] Set up email receipt customization
[ ] Create a discount code for launch
[ ] Configure email integration (ConvertKit, Mailchimp)
[ ] Test purchase flow yourself
```

## Pricing Strategy

### Price Anchoring Framework

| Product Complexity | Creation Time | Suggested Price Range | Comparable Value |
|-------------------|--------------|----------------------|-----------------|
| Simple (1 template, 1 printable) | 2-5 hours | $3-15 | Cup of coffee |
| Standard (template pack, short ebook) | 10-20 hours | $15-49 | Business lunch |
| Premium (comprehensive kit, full ebook) | 30-60 hours | $49-99 | Professional book |
| Professional (system, toolkit, course) | 60-150+ hours | $99-299 | Workshop admission |

### Pricing Psychology Tactics

1. **Charm pricing**: $27 instead of $30, $47 instead of $50
2. **Bundle pricing**: 3 products individually worth $75 sold as bundle for $49
3. **Tiered pricing**: Basic ($19), Standard ($39), Complete ($69)
4. **Pay-what-you-want with minimum**: Set floor at your real minimum
5. **Launch pricing**: 40-50% off for first 48-72 hours
6. **Grandfathered pricing**: Early buyers get lifetime updates at original price
7. **Price increase over time**: Raise price as you add features and testimonials

### The Value-Based Pricing Method
```
Step 1: What problem does this solve?
Step 2: How much time does it save the buyer? (X hours)
Step 3: What is the buyer's time worth? ($Y/hour)
Step 4: Time saved x hourly rate = value created
Step 5: Price at 10-30% of value created
```

## Launch Strategy

### The Digital Product Launch Playbook

**Pre-Launch (2-4 weeks before):**
```
Week -4: Announce you're building the product
  - Share the problem it solves
  - Ask audience what they'd want included
  - Start collecting emails on a waitlist

Week -3: Build in public
  - Share screenshots, process, decisions
  - Tease specific features
  - Let people claim early-bird pricing

Week -2: Generate anticipation
  - Reveal the product name and branding
  - Share testimonials from beta testers
  - Finalize product and sales page

Week -1: Final preparation
  - Email waitlist with launch date
  - Prepare social content for launch week
  - Create launch discount code
  - Brief any affiliates or partners
```

**Launch Week:**
```
Day 1 (Launch):
  - Email: "It's here" to full list
  - Social: Announcement posts on all platforms
  - Story/thread: Show the product in action

Day 2:
  - Social: Share the "why" behind the product
  - Email: Send to people who opened but didn't buy

Day 3:
  - Social: Customer testimonial or review
  - Engage with all comments and DMs

Day 4:
  - Social: Tutorial or walkthrough video
  - Email: FAQ and objection handling

Day 5:
  - Social: Behind-the-scenes of creation
  - Highlight community response

Day 6:
  - Social: "Last chance for launch pricing"
  - Email: Urgency-focused with deadline

Day 7:
  - Launch pricing expires
  - Email: Final cart message
  - Social: Thank you + recap of results
```

**Post-Launch (Evergreen):**
```
- Set up automated sales funnel
- Create SEO content that drives to product
- Build affiliate program
- Collect and showcase reviews
- Plan product updates and V2
```

### Sales Page Template
```
HEADLINE
  [Benefit-focused statement that speaks to the buyer's desired outcome]
SUBHEADLINE
  [Who it's for and what transformation it delivers]
PROBLEM SECTION
  - Paint the pain of NOT having this solution
  - List 3-5 specific frustrations the buyer experiences
  - "Sound familiar?" bridge
SOLUTION SECTION
  - Introduce the product as the answer
  - Show what's included (feature list with benefits)
  - Screenshots and mockups
SOCIAL PROOF
  - Testimonials from beta users
  - Number of buyers (when available)
  - Relevant credentials
PRICING
  - Value stack (show what everything is worth)
  - Reveal the actual price
  - Payment options
GUARANTEE
  - 30-day money-back guarantee (reduces risk)
FAQ
  - Address 5-7 common questions and objections
FINAL CTA
  - Restate the transformation
  - Clear buy button
```

## Passive Income Math

### Revenue Projections
```
Scenario A: Single product, organic traffic
  Product price:                $29
  Monthly site visitors:        2,000
  Conversion rate:              2%
  Monthly sales:                40
  Monthly revenue:              $1,160
  Annual revenue:               $13,920
  Platform fees (10%):          -$1,392
  Net annual:                   $12,528

Scenario B: Product bundle, email list
  Bundle price:                 $49
  Email list size:              5,000
  Launch conversion:            3%
  Launch sales:                 150
  Launch revenue:               $7,350
  Evergreen monthly sales:      20
  Evergreen monthly:            $980
  Total Year 1:                 $19,110

Scenario C: Product ecosystem
  Products: 5 items at $19-99
  Average order value:          $45
  Monthly sales (combined):     80
  Monthly revenue:              $3,600
  Annual revenue:               $43,200
  Platform fees:                -$4,320
  Net annual:                   $38,880
```

### Scaling Digital Product Revenue
```
Year 1: Launch 2-3 products, build audience, refine what sells
  Target: $500-2,000/month

Year 2: Expand product line to 5-10 products, build email funnel
  Target: $2,000-5,000/month

Year 3: Premium products, bundles, affiliate program, SEO-driven sales
  Target: $5,000-15,000/month

Year 4+: Product ecosystem, team support, licensing, white-labeling
  Target: $15,000+/month
```

### The Passive Income Reality Check

"Passive" income requires significant upfront work:
- **Creation time**: 20-100+ hours per product
- **Marketing time**: Ongoing content creation to drive traffic
- **Maintenance time**: Updates, customer support, platform changes
- **Iteration time**: Improving based on feedback

True passivity comes from:
- SEO-driven traffic (content that ranks)
- Automated email funnels
- Affiliate partners promoting for you
- Marketplace discovery (Etsy, Creative Market, Notion Marketplace)

Expect to invest 3-6 months of active work before seeing meaningful passive returns.

## Product Ecosystem Strategy

### Building a Product Ladder
```
Freebie ($0) --> Entry product ($5-15) --> Core product ($29-79) --> Premium ($99-299)
```

### Cross-Selling and Upselling

- After purchase email: "You might also like [complementary product]"
- Bundle discounts: "Complete the collection and save 30%"
- Product page recommendations: "Pairs well with [related product]"
- Seasonal bundles: Holiday collections, back-to-school packs, new year bundles

## Customer Support for Digital Products

### Support Expectations by Price Point

| Price | Expected Support Level |
|-------|----------------------|
| $1-10 | FAQ page, automated email |
| $10-50 | FAQ + email support (24-48h response) |
| $50-100 | Email support (24h response) + setup guide/video |
| $100+ | Priority email + video walkthrough + optional call |

### Common Support Requests and Solutions

| Request | Prevention | Solution |
|---------|-----------|---------|
| "Can't download" | Clear delivery instructions | Re-send link, check spam |
| "Doesn't work as expected" | Detailed product description | Video walkthrough, troubleshoot |
| "Want a refund" | Money-back guarantee policy | Process quickly, ask for feedback |
| "How do I use this?" | Include setup guide with product | Link to tutorial content |
| "Can I get an update?" | Communicate update policy upfront | Send update email to past buyers |

### Refund Policy Template
```
We offer a 30-day money-back guarantee on all digital products.

within 30 days of purchase with your order number and the reason
for your refund request. We'll process your refund within 5
business days.

Please note:
- Refunds are per-product, not per-bundle
- We may ask for feedback to improve the product
- Refund abuse may result in being blocked from future purchases
```

## Common Mistakes

1. **Building before validating**: Ask your audience what they need before spending 100 hours creating
2. **Overcomplicating V1**: Ship a simple, focused product. Add features in V2 based on feedback.
3. **Underpricing**: Most creators price too low. Test higher prices; conversion rates often stay the same.
4. **No sales page**: Uploading a product with a one-paragraph description is not a launch strategy.
5. **Ignoring marketing**: The best product with no audience makes $0. Spend as much time on marketing as creation.
6. **One product and done**: Build a product ecosystem. Each product markets the others.
7. **No email collection**: Gumroad and Etsy buyers should enter your email funnel for future products.
8. **Skipping customer feedback**: Reviews and testimonials are your most powerful sales tools.
9. **Not updating products**: Stale products get negative reviews. Update annually at minimum.
10. **skipping mobile**: Test templates and digital products on mobile devices, not just desktop.


## Output Format

Deliver the response as a structured document with clear headings and actionable content. Use tables for comparisons, numbered lists for sequential steps, and bullet points for options. Include specific examples where applicable.

```
[Digital Product Creator deliverable]
1. Context and objectives
2. Analysis or framework
3. Specific recommendations with rationale
4. Action items with timeline
```


## Example

**Input:** "Help me with digital product creator for a mid-size project."

**Output:** A complete digital product creator framework tailored to the specific context, with actionable steps, relevant considerations, and measurable outcomes.


## Edge Cases

- **Incomplete information:** Ask clarifying questions before proceeding rather than making assumptions
- **Conflicting requirements:** Identify trade-offs explicitly and present options with pros and cons
- **Scale mismatch:** Adapt recommendations to match the user's context (individual vs. team vs. organization)
- **Domain crossover:** When the request overlaps with other skill domains, address what falls within scope and reference specialized skills for the rest
