You’ve probably seen or heard someone talking about how selling online products and digital courses is as easy as 1, 2, 3 and you’re making $10,000 in your sleep overnight.

Well, I hate to be the one to break it to you, but they’re only half right.

The part they are right about is that yes, you actually can create something you love that helps people and, with the right systems in place, you can make money in your sleep!

The concept of making money at any given moment of the day on autopilot was enough to send me down the rabbit hole of learning how to create online products for one simple reason: to no longer trade time for money, which gives me all the time in the world to do more of what I love—creating.

What they don’t tell you is all the things that go into creating something online so it actually works. So, I’m here to spill the tea on why I agree that you should learn how to create products because it does create time and financial freedom!

But not until you know the six misconceptions to avoid when creating an online store and digital products.

Misconception #1: All You Need is a Product

This is the most common misconception.

Not only do you need a product, but you need a product that offers immense value to your customers!

If you don’t know how to create a product that people actually want, everything else is completely uphill.

Trust me, I’ve created many products that didn’t sell because I thought they were brilliant, but they weren’t what my audience needed. So, they flopped.

Misconception #2: All You Need is Tons of Followers

When working with my influencer client who has 1.1 million followers, I, like many others, assumed that because she had so many followers, all we had to do was create a store, a product, launch it and we’d be swimming in champagne.

Not quite.

It was actually much more difficult than even my smaller creator clients. Why? Back to misconception #1: We didn’t know what her audience wanted from her or what they’d buy.

Here’s the good news: this means you don’t need a million followers to get started.

Misconception #3: Creating a Digital Product is Quick & Easy

Here’s what ChatGPT told me about why that doesn’t work:

“Crafting high-quality digital products takes time, from ideation to testing, and rushing the process often leads to subpar results.” – ChatGPT

Straight from the horse’s mouth.

Taking my time to get feedback from my ideal customers, testing colors, prices, and branding strategies has been the difference between a successful product and a flop.

Does it take longer? Yep. Is it more successful in the long run? Totally.

Misconception #4: I Need to Be a “Creative“

Let me tell you about my client Teresa.

Teresa is an expert in diversity and inclusion. She’s worked with fancy government agencies, training them on how to create inclusive work environments.

Not your traditional singer, writer, dancer creative type, right? But like I always say, we’re all creatives—especially educators!

Teresa came to me yearning for more. We realized all the PowerPoint presentations, resources, and toolkits she’d developed over the years were perfect digital products!

Maybe you’re thinking, “Well, I’m not a traditional creative. How can I apply this to what I do?”

If you’ve poured yourself into something—whether it’s business, education, automotives, or woodworking—you have a digital product waiting to be created. 

Hell, if you’re a plumber you have a digital product!

Focus on your expertise. What do you love and do well that you could teach others? That’s your digital product.

Misconception #5: Having a Brilliant Idea is Enough

Having a brilliant, magnetic, creative idea is cool, but it’s not enough.

Why? Because while you think it’s a great idea, it’s not about what you think. It’s about what other people need.

Before you dive into spending hours on a product nobody needs, do some market research.

In 2021, I bought a program from someone who had made $20 million online with her course about…creating courses. While her program had great information, it lacked one crucial piece: teaching how to create a course that your audience wants.

This will be the difference between a successful product and one that’s only good for you and your dog.

Misconception #6: You Can Learn Everything on YouTube

This is the most underrated misconception to avoid.

There are three main reasons learning only on YouTube doesn’t work:

1. Time-Wasting: You’ll spend countless hours sifting through clickbait videos that teach you nothing. Unfortunately, there’s a lot of misinformation out there.
2. Lack of Customization: Your creative magic is yours for a reason. While you might find useful information on YouTube, it’s not tailored to your unique expertise, experiences, and needs.
3. Mindset Shifts: YouTube can’t teach you how to break through limiting beliefs that block your success. Shifting your mindset is vital to taking your creative magic to the next level.

Invest in yourself. A one on one mentor is your best option to get REAL results, but if that’s a little outside of your budget at least invest in a program that gives you the step by step of it so you can shave off valuable time you might otherwise spend on doom scrolling just to find something that works.

The Truth

The opportunity to make passive income online by creating something you love that serves others is the trifecta of happiness and success!

Take your time, do it right, invest in yourself, and play the long game. One day, you’ll wake up to a $2,000 deposit, an impact on countless lives, and a full day ahead to create whatever you’re dreaming of.