
What Every Creator Should Know Before Launching A Digital Product
Man podcaster influencer blogger smiling while broadcasting his live audio podcast in studio using ... More headphones, laptop and headphones. Male radio host making podcast or interview
The creator economy is entering its next major phase, not one defined by followers or viral content, but by real product ownership and long-term equity. From digital memberships to full-fledged software ventures, creators are unlocking serious revenue streams and reshaping what it means to build an audience online.
Miles Sellyn, VP of Creator Partnerships at Rare Days, has helped some of the biggest names in the industry, from Colin and Samir to Ryan Trahan, launch products that now generate millions. I spoke to him to unpack what's working, what's not and how creators can move from content to commerce with intention.
'What the market is telling me is the biggest opportunity right now are memberships and subscriptions,' Sellyn explained. 'It's a bit of an evolution from courses or communities. You might have a course within a membership. You might have a community within a membership. You might have AI chatbots. It's a flexible container for delivering content.'
Still, Sellyn's eyes are on a more ambitious horizon: creators building software. 'The cost of developing software is dropping dramatically. That opens the door for creators to own the product rather than just being the face of it,' he said. 'It creates long-term enterprise equity value.'
'The eye-popping ones: we work with a creator who is making more than $15 million a year through their digital products,' Sellyn shared. 'Another did $300,000 within 30 days of launching. We have creators who have sold $15 million plus of courses.'
But big numbers aren't the only metric. 'Even $60,000–$70,000 a month in digital product sales can change the game for creators relying on brand deals. It's great for mental health and strategic freedom.'
So what makes a creator product-ready?
'A ruthless standard for quality,' Sellyn emphasized. 'That stems from a deep respect for the audience. The top creators care about the person on the other end of the screen. They're not just selling—they're delivering outsized value.'
He also urges creators to go beyond intuition and mine their DMs and comments. 'That's where the product ideas are hiding.'
Rare Days uses 'feature vignettes' to validate product ideas. These are low-fidelity mockups that gauge audience interest. 'We'll create 10 to 20 of these and test them directly with the creator's audience. That feedback is gold.'
When creators don't have a product idea, that's not a deal-breaker. 'They're filmmakers, creatives, educators, not necessarily product strategists. But if they know their audience, we can find the opportunity together.'
The timeline depends on complexity. A course or membership might take three to four months. Custom software can take up to a year.
One warning: 'Creators almost always underestimate the content burden. They're already making a YouTube video every week. Creating a product is another layer entirely.'
Pricing is both art and science. Sellyn recommends Jay Clouse's four-question pricing framework, based on the Van Westendorp Model:
Then, price toward the lower end. 'You want customers to feel like they're getting 10 times the value for every dollar they spend.'
'One of the biggest mistakes? The creator launches and goes dark,' Sellyn warned. 'You need to talk about it constantly. Algorithms don't guarantee reach, so act like you're inviting your audience to a party. They need to know it exists.'
Sellyn recommends a two-week pre-launch window, followed by strategic post-launch engagement. 'It's not 'Field of Dreams.' You can't just build it and expect people to come. You have to market it.'
Entertainment creators can still sell, but it's tougher. 'If your content is a vitamin, not a painkiller, the product needs a lot more thought. But if your content solves problems, the audience is already primed.'
One standout example is Hannah Williams of Salary Transparent Street. Instead of launching a course, she built a salary database and a job board. 'It fits her mission and audience. Not everything has to be an educational product.'
Sellyn sees a wave of creator-led SaaS products on the horizon. 'Creators used to partner with software tools. Now they're building their own. We're seeing creators in 3D modeling, for example, realize they can build plugins for $20,000 and keep the upside, rather than just taking affiliate fees.'
It's not just about products. It's about ownership.
If you're a creator thinking about launching a product?
'Spend time in your DMs,' Sellyn said. 'Read every comment. Look for pain points. Then build solutions around those. That's your roadmap.'
And when you're ready to scale? 'Your audience is your edge. But your product is your future.'
This article is based on an interview from my podcast, The Business of Creators.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Forbes
25 minutes ago
- Forbes
Anduril Cofounder Trae Stephens Is Now A Billionaire
Trae Stephens, also a partner at Founders Fund, ranked 19 on the 2025 Forbes Midas List. Last week, Anduril announced that it had raised a mega funding round led by Founders Fund, valuing the company at more than $30 billion, doubling its valuation in less than a year. The deal also minted a new defense tech billionaire: company chairman Trae Stephens. The Forbes Midas List alum, who is also a partner at Founders Fund — which led the round with a $1 billion investment, its largest ever — owns more than 3% of Anduril, according to Forbes' estimates, pushing his net worth beyond $1 billion. Stephens and Anduril declined to comment. Booming investor appetite for military startups has helped make Stephens the latest entrant to a group of billionaires who have built fortunes selling weapons systems to the government. His Anduril cofounder Palmer Luckey is worth $3.6 billion, Forbes estimates, while Alex Karp, the cofounder and CEO of military software firm Palantir is worth $11.9 billion. Since launching in 2017, Anduril has been at the forefront of a new generation of venture-backed startups making weapons, drones and software for the military — an ecosystem that is increasingly being embraced by the Trump administration. Last month, Anduril emerged as a frontrunner alongside SpaceX and Palantir to develop a weapons system for Trump's proposed $175 billion Golden Dome for America plan, which aims to combat missile threats. Stephens has taken an atypical route to becoming a Silicon Valley billionaire. After stints in multiple political offices and the intelligence community, he was an early employee at Palantir, which was cofounded by Peter Thiel. The famed investor convinced him to join Founders Fund in 2014 as a partner. There, he met Luckey during a retreat hosted by the investment firm, and the two developed the idea behind Anduril: applying a Silicon Valley strategy to a military-facing business. At Founders Fund, Stephens has also backed other defense tech companies, including Gecko Robotics (valued over $600 million), which makes hardware and software to protect defense infrastructure, and Varda Space Industries (valued more than $500 million), which tests drugs and manufactures things like fiber optic cables in space. He also led the series A funding round into supply chain logistics startup Flexport (most recently publicly valued at $8 billion). That 'check that I wrote was maybe the best one, aside from' Anduril, he previously told Forbes. Beyond Anduril and Founders Fund, Stephens, who ranked No. 19 on the 2025 Midas List, also is the cofounder of Sol, a startup making eyeglasses with Kindle-style lenses for "immersive reading' that last raised a seed funding round led by YC Combinator chief Garry Tan in 2023. Stephens, who previously worked on President Donald Trump's transition team during his first term, was also considered for a senior Defense Department role this year, but it didn't materialize (citing one source, Semafor previously reported that some administration officials were concerned about Stephens' investments; Stephens declined to comment at the time). At Anduril, which generated $1 billion in revenue last year, Stephens is aiming to scale up production of its suite of military products. The company, which sells drones, augmented reality helmets, sensors and software to connect them, raised $1.5 billion last year to build a factory in Ohio, called Arsenal-1, to rapidly scale up its production of aerial and maritime drones. And last month, Anduril announced it was partnering with Meta to make an AI-powered headset for the military. The fresh $2.5 billion in funding, a series G round, will also be used to acquire new companies, and expand operations in Australia and Europe, spokesperson Shannon Prior told Forbes last week.


CNN
40 minutes ago
- CNN
Lululemon's We Made Too Much Section has tons of Father's Day gifting inspo
Let Lululemon outfit all your summer fitness goals. Overflowing with tons of activewear essentials, the brand's We Made Too Much section has you covered for every type of workout, so you don't have to pay full price for your favorites. Hundreds of Lululemon scores are a lot to sift through, so as someone who covers fashion deals and sales, I rounded up the section's best workout clothes for women and men ahead, especially if you're shopping around for Father's Day gift ideas. Lululemon 2-Inch Align High-Rise Short Give yourself more range of motion with these Align shorts. They're made from the brand's popular smooth fabric to provide added comfort during workouts. Its high waistband does more than compress, it also features a hidden pocket. Lululemon Align V-Neck Bra Light Support, A/B Cup This plunging, scoop-back workout bra infuses your workout ensembles with style. Lightly padded, it offers light support as you head into downward dog or child's pose. Pair the bra with your collection of Align bottoms. Lululemon Lightweight Split-Back Training T-Shirt Complete with an open-slit in the back, this flowy tee gives you more flexibility as you power through workouts. It can also be tied up when sets get particularly sweaty. Lululemon Stretch Woven Ruffle-Waist Midi Skirt A midi skirt can effortlessly dress up your summer outfits while keeping things light and breezy. This Lululemon skirt adopts an adorable ruffled waistband, and it has a soft, crinkly texture that brings an airy touch. Lululemon Everywhere Belt Bag 1L This belt bag never goes out of style. Grab this summer-ready lavender color for your collection while it's $29. Keep valuables safely stashed inside during your summer vacation travels. Lululemon Pace Breaker Pant Wash Don't be fooled by these pants: They offer ample stretch and breathability with mesh paneling at the back. Their tapered fit also lends it a more stylish, streamlined look you can wear outside of the gym. Lululemon Logo Sport Polo Short Sleeve Updated Fit If golfing is on the agenda this summer, reach for this new-and-improved polo top from Lululemon that's less boxy than its earlier iteration. It also features minimal seams to help prevent chafing. Lululemon Balancer Woven Relaxed-Fit Shorts Add a pop of color to your wardrobe and a new activewear go-to with these Balancer shorts. It's made with a lightweight woven fabric to give more stretch as you transition into different movements. Lululemon BeCalm Relaxed-Fit Sleeveless Shirt Whether you're practicing yoga or heading to the beach, this muscle tank uses the brand's BeCalm fabric for a smooth, brushed exterior that drapes nicely. Lululemon Men's Restfeel Slides Never tread around gym locker rooms sans shower shoes. These recovery slides are easy to clean and slip right on as you head to and from rooms. It also features a rubber outsole to prevent slipping. Lululemon typically has a plethora of workout apparel in the site's We Made Too Much section, which features overstocked styles at a reduced cost. It allows you to shop attire for every type of exercise, from Pilates to running, without breaking the bank. The deals editors at CNN Underscored look out for your wallet daily, scouring sales at the top of every morning. We determine if a deal is worthy of coverage by doing price history checks, searching for available coupon codes and comparing against competitor pricing. Our team, consisting of senior editor Rikka Altland, editor Jacqueline Saguin and associate editor Elena Matarazzo, is passionate about unearthing deals we would be tempted to shop. We enjoy finding a great deal on a coveted item, especially one that's a best-tested pick by our experts, because it means we're helping our readers make savvy buying decisions.


CNET
40 minutes ago
- CNET
Is ChatGPT Down for You, Too? Widespread Outage Continues to Grow
Have you noticed that ChatGPT is a little less chatty this morning? OpenAI is experiencing a widespread outage Tuesday morning that's affecting its ChatGPT AI chatbot service, as well as its Sora tool for AI-generated videos. The number of reported outages has continued to increase throughout the morning. An OpenAI representative responded via email, directing us to its post on X and its status page. Both stated that OpenAI is experiencing "elevated errors and latency" and that it has identified the root cause and is working to mitigate the underlying issue. The technical issues are also affecting OpenAI's APIs, which allow developers to tap into the company's AI models. The troubles been ongoing for seven hours, OpenAI noted, meaning they likely started around midnight PT. The Downdetector service also shows outage reports starting around that time and then spiking several hours later. (Downdetector is owned by Ziff Davis, which is also the parent company of CNET.) Launched in 2022, ChatGPT has become the most popular AI application ever released, with 400 million weekly users. A barrage of generative AI competitors have followed, including Meta AI, Google's Gemini and Microsoft's Copilot, but ChatGPT remains the leader largely because it's easy to use. At its Worldwide Developers Conference 2025, Apple even touted an expansion of its ChatGPT integration. The AI chatbot uses learning algorithms and large language models to process massive amounts of data from books and the internet, which it uses to deliver human-like responses to prompts from users. (Ziff Davis in April filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.) This is a developing story. What can you do while OpenAI is down? Although OpenAI's ChatGPT may be among the most popular options, there are plenty of alternatives while it's down -- and many of them are free to use. Chat Claude is our current favorite chatbot we've tested, and Claude even knew all the details about ChatGPT's outage, according to my colleague Jon Reed, CNET senior editor who covers AI. Images If you rely on ChatGPT's Dall-E 3 as your image generator, we'd recommend trying for really creative work and Canva for free, beginner-friendly work. Video If you're looking for an alternative to Sora tool for AI-generated videos, we just checked out Microsoft's Bing Video Creator, which is super easy to use and live on mobile now.