Quick disclaimer, ladies: From now on, when I talk about creating your digital product, I’m going to focus on writing. Why? Because there are so many types of digital products, and I can’t possibly cover them all.
But listen—if you’re creating something else, like a planner, a design, a podcast, or even an online course, just tweak my tips to fit your thing. Many principles are going to be exactly the same.
I am by no means saying e-books are the ultimate product or that writing is the only way to go. It just happens to be the easiest to start with (no tech skills needed), and where I have the most experience. So, that’s what I’m sharing with you.
Are we good?
Come up with a plan
Okay, girl, it’s time to simply shape your idea into reality. Just open your Word Doc and start writing.
Wait, it’s not so easy, is it?
Everything is so clear in your head. It all makes sense, it’s all there… but the second you try to write that first sentence? Nothing. Yeah, I’ve been there. Staring at the screen, waiting for words that just won’t come. Writing the very first sentence is always the hardest. That’s why I don’t start like this.
Now, before you open a blank doc, stare at it for five minutes, and question all your life choices… how about we come up with a plan?
We’re going to break it down step by step so your digital product is easy for you to create and also makes sense for your audience. First up? Figuring out the structure.
Figure out the structure
Your book will probably start with an introduction—a quick rundown of what it’s about or maybe a fun story about how it came to life. So far, so good. That’s your first chapter.
It’ll likely end with a short summary, wrapping up what your reader learned and maybe giving them some next steps. Here goes your last chapter.
Now, what about everything in between?
Here’s your task for today: Write down the main parts and chapters of your book. Just the chapter titles—no need to stress about the details yet.
Follow the logic
Your structure doesn’t need to be anything groundbreaking. Seriously, keep it simple. The easier it is to follow, the better. Your goal is to guide your readers on a logical path—from start to finish, from the easiest step to the most challenging.
Look at what I did in these posts—I walked you through creating a digital product step by step. Here’s how I planned it out:
I wanted to take you from idea to publishing. But before you can get an idea, you need to know where to look. And before that, you need to understand what makes a good idea so you’re searching in the right places. Oh, and just to make sure we’re all on the same page? A quick chapter on what passive income even is.
Then, once you have your idea, it’s time to write. But before writing, I always start with a structure—so, of course, I walk you through that. After that, I give you tips to make writing easier… and so on. Step by step, in a logical order.
That’s exactly how you should think about your structure too.
If you’re writing about a skill, start from the very basics and work your way up. If it’s about an experience, take your readers through it step by step—what was the first thing you did, then what came next?
Writing about gardening? Follow the seasons. Writing about an experiment? Start with how you came up with it, then break down the science, and finally, walk your readers through your results.
See? No need to overthink it.
Check the competition
Once you’ve got your rough structure down, it’s time to check if you’ve missed anything important—and get some feedback.
Head over to Amazon (or Etsy or whatever marketplace works for you) and search for books on the same topic—your direct competitors. If you click on the book preview, you’ll usually be able to see the table of contents.
Compare theirs with yours and see if there’s anything crucial that you missed. BUT—don’t just copy what they have. Your book needs to stand out. If it’s the same as everyone else’s, it won’t sell. You’ve got to offer something unique to your readers.
It’s also okay if your book doesn’t cover everything on a given topic. In fact, that’s even impossible to do. So don’t be afraid to leave out some information.
Maybe you’re writing a photography guide and you see a competitor that talks about picking the right camera bag and tripod. That doesn’t mean you need to include that! Maybe your book is geared toward beginners on a budget, and those chapters would not only be irrelevant, they could even scare them away.
You get me? It’s fine to get inspired, but your product needs to stay unique. You are the expert here.
Read the feedback
An even more important thing to do when checking out the competition? Get to know the feedback. It’s sitting right there, waiting for you, and it’s pure gold.
I’m talking about the reviews—read them all. Yes, every single one. This is where you’ll find the weak spots in your competitors’ products and figure out how to fill in the gaps. Your potential customers are literally telling you what they want.
For example, if you check the reviews on most books about passive income, you’ll see a recurring complaint: The ideas require an investment capital. Which is precisely what people in biggest need for extra income don’t have! Maybe the authors already forgot how difficult it was to start out? Well, I remember. And that’s why I’m sharing that knowledge with you.
Here’s another example—remember our book idea on huskies? The first book that pops up on Amazon has a few comments saying it’s too general and doesn’t go deep enough into husky-specific info. There’s your gap to fill in.
Make it unique
When I say make it unique, I’m not just talking about the content—it’s about how you present it too. You can experiment with formats to make your book stand out even more. For example, maybe you add helpful checklists, worksheets, or templates for your readers to fill out as they go along. These little extras can really set you apart from the competition, and provide additional value to the readers.
For example, I’ve decided to add a “homework” section after each chapter in my book. I believe it makes the book way more actionable. You get a clear task and a deadline to work with, so there’s no room for doubt or distractions. And hopefully, this way, you’re more likely to actually achieve your goal.
You could also mix in personal stories, interviews, or case studies to give your book more personality and make it feel like more than just information on a page. Think about adding a Q&A section or a “Behind the Scenes” look at your own journey to really engage readers. Get creative with how you present the info, and you’ll give your readers something special that they can’t get anywhere else.
Make it good enough
It’s okay if you didn’t come up with as many chapters as you planned. Or if you still have some doubts about the structure. It’s going to change as you go, that’s just how it is. Don’t overthink it, just trust the process.
Accept the fact that you will not satisfy every single reader, and that’s okay. Just do your best, stay true to your idea, focus on your niche, and don’t get caught up in perfection. Good enough is good enough.
Love,
The Business B.
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