4 Steps to hit your first $10k selling digital products

Selling digital products can change your life financially. Millions of people look for products that solve a specific problem everyday - A well-designed planner, a 7-day meal plan, or a Canva template that takes away the guesswork and gives instant structure.

The tricky part with this business isn’t whether there are buyers out there (there are and always will). The real question is: how do you make your first $10K without burning out or wasting months on the wrong path? That’s exactly what i'm breaking down today.

These four steps are simple, actionable, and can get you to your first $10K in digital product sales.

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Step 1: Find your niche product and Confirm People Want It (KeySearch is Your Best Friend)

One of the biggest mistakes people make is creating products nobody is looking for. Before you design anything, go to KeySearch and type in a phrase related to your idea.

If you’re planning to sell a budgeting planner, search “budget planner printable.” If you want to make a fitness tracker, type in “fitness journal PDF.” KeySearch will show you how many people are searching for it each month.

This step saves you from wasting time. It ensures there’s real demand before you put in the work.

Step 2: Design a Simple Product (Not 10 Versions)

When you’re starting out, you don’t need 12 designs, 5 bundles, and endless add-ons. That only creates decision fatigue for your customer—and burnout for you.

Instead, create one clean version of your product. For example:

• A single, well-designed meal planner for moms

• A simple ebook of 30 TikTok ideas for small businesses

• A one-page habit tracker for busy students

You can always expand later. But at the beginning, the less complicated you make it, the easier it is to get your first sale.

Step 3: Promote Consistently (Where Your Audience Actually Hangs Out)

You can have the best product in the world, but if nobody sees it… it won’t sell.

The fastest way to build momentum is by showing up consistently. This means posting 5 times a week in the place where your audience already is.

For example:

• If you sell home printables (like planners, checklists, or wall art), Pinterest is your goldmine. Moms and homemakers are actively searching for solutions there.

• If you sell creative tools (like Canva templates, business ebooks, or social media planners), Instagram is where small business owners and creators spend their time.

Pick one platform. Post consistently. Don’t overthink it.

4. Package it in a way That Sells

Mock ups that sell

A plain screenshot of your product isn’t enough. People need to see themselves using it. That’s where mockups do the heavy lifting.

Instead of showing a flat PDF of your planner, place it in a styled workspace with a laptop, coffee cup, and fresh flowers. Selling wall art? Show it framed above a cozy sofa or in a neutral nursery. Offering Canva templates? Drop them into a phone mockup so they instantly look Instagram-ready.

The right mockup shifts your product from “just a file” to “this is how my life will look once I have it.” And that’s when people hit “add to cart.”

Pricing

Pricing can make or break your sales. Go too low, and your product feels disposable. Go too high, and people will scroll past without a second thought.

The sweet spot? Price for the value you deliver—but also anchor it in reality. A $3 printable looks cheap, but a $47 PDF meal plan might feel overpriced if every other seller on Etsy is charging $12–15.

The best solution: do quick competitive research. Head to Etsy, type in your product (like “meal planner printable” or “social media templates”), and check the range. Ask yourself:

• What are the bestsellers charging?

• Where can I sit in that range while still reflecting the transformation I provide?

Descriptive language

You've created a product, put a price on it and created fantastic mockups, now it time to write a title and description that’s about making people feel why they need it.

A plain title like “Weekly Meal Plan” won’t grab attention. But a descriptive one like “7-Day Family Meal Plan | Simple, Healthy, Kid-Approved” immediately paints a picture of the result.

Here’s a simple formula you can use for every product:

Title: [Keyword] + [3 Adjectives/Results]

Description: [Problem → Sensory/Visual → Solution → Easy Action]

Examples:

Daily planner

• Title: Daily Planner Printable | Clean, Focused, Stress-Free

• Description: Scattered mornings, endless to-dos, and no direction? This one-page planner keeps your day calm and clear with space for priorities, meals, and notes. Print today and reset tomorrow.

Social media templates

• Title: Instagram Story Templates | Bold, Clickable, Effortless

• Description: Tired of posting stories that don’t stand out? These Canva templates are swipe-stopping, branded, and easy to edit in minutes. Save time, look professional, and start posting today.

Meal plan

• Title: 7-Day GLP-1 Meal Plan | Balanced, Satisfying, Weight-Loss Friendly

• Description: On a GLP-1 journey and not sure what to eat? This plan is built with high-protein, fiber-rich meals that keep you fuller for longer—think veggie-packed omelets and one-pan dinners. Comes with a grocery list so you can shop once and stay on track all week.

Wall Art Prints

• Title: Vintage Animal Prints | Whimsical, Nursery-Ready, Timeless

• Description: Bare nursery walls feel unfinished? These soft, vintage-inspired animal prints add warmth and storybook charm. Print today, frame, and your baby’s room feels complete.

  
  

Family Meal Plan

• Title: 7-Day Family Meal Plan | Simple, Healthy, Kid-Approved

• Description: Tired of asking “what’s for dinner?” and juggling picky eaters? This ready-to-use 7-day plan takes the stress out of mealtimes with balanced recipes, a printable shopping list, and kid-friendly swaps. Download instantly and make family dinners feel easy again.

  
  

This approach makes your product instantly feel more valuable and relatable. It turns a basic listing into something that solves a real problem and gives customers a reason to click “buy now

The Realistic Timeline

If you start today, you might not hit your $10K in the first month—and that’s okay. Realistically, it can take 5–6 months of posting, tweaking, and growing your audience before the sales snowball effect kicks in.

But once you get momentum and build an email list of buyers, everything changes. Your products keep selling while you sleep, and your income can scale far beyond $10K.

✨Feeling overwhelmed with the idea of starting an online business? I created a minimalist side hustle guide with the exact workflow I use that you can read today. Download here

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