Here’s the number one question I hear—not only from new digital product creators, but even from seasoned business owners: “How do I find a good idea?”
What they really mean, of course, is “How do I find an idea that will sell?” No one wants to spend days or weeks or more planning, developing and launching a course only to hear crickets on the big day. You want to know you’ll have at least some measure of success.
But don’t overthink it. The answer is simple. Just give your audience what they are asking for.
9 Ways to Find Ideas for your next Digital Product
- Ask
- Check out the competition
- Pay attention to your ideal client
- Check the best sellers list
- Read the FAQs
- Review the available resources
- Check your email
- Check your search terms and keyword research
- Ask again
Ask
Not sure what your dream client is looking for? Ask her. Create a survey or a simple email and ask her to tell you what she struggles with, what keeps her from realizing her success, and even what she’s tried before in an effort to solve her issues.
Check out the competition
What are they creating? If you serve a similar audience, then what sells for them will very likely sell for you. Now, before you break out the “But it’s already been done!” line, keep this in mind: No two coaches are alike. You may create a product targeting a similar problem, but your voice, your experience, your teaching style, and your personality are all very different. No one else is you, and for some customers, YOU are the only one who will resonate with them.
pay attention to your ideal client
What questions does she ask in private groups, in your help desk, and elsewhere? What posts are she reading on your blog (check your Google Analytic stats)? These are all valuable sources of intel about exactly what she needs and wants from you.
check the bestseller lists
Which books in your niche are outperforming others? These are the ones that offer answers your clients are seeking. Flip through the table of contents and read the online reviews to dig deep into the topics that really resonate with your audience.
read comments
Check blog post comments and Facebook groups for questions which are asked regularly. Start to identify common questions and concerns. Your products can address these problems.
review the available resources
Stay on top of trends in tools and technology or best practices in your area. Which new resources could be useful to your ideal customer? There are often questions surrounding the use of software, apps and other tools, and these can be great ideas for ecourses and other digital products.
check your email
If you’ve been in business for more than a few months, chances are you receive questions from friends, clients and even strangers on a daily basis. What are they asking about? Look for common themes and trends.
check your search terms and keywords
Review the terms and phrases that your community most frequently searches on, and use them as a basis for your own research.
Google Webmaster Tools allows you to check which terms are sending visitors to your website. Since people often search on questions (“how to design a logo” or “how to start a business”) this can also be a rich source of ideas.
ask again
No research will ever beat asking your customers what problems they are struggling with and how you can help them solve those problems. Ask them often what is on their mind and be aware of trends, patterns and commonly asked questions. Keep your mind open, since the questions from your community may be different than what you expect!
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