logo
What Every Creator Should Know Before Launching A Digital Product

What Every Creator Should Know Before Launching A Digital Product

Forbesa day ago

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.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Our Favorite Solar Wireless Outdoor Camera Drops on Amazon, Now Cheaper Than Black Friday and Prime Day
Our Favorite Solar Wireless Outdoor Camera Drops on Amazon, Now Cheaper Than Black Friday and Prime Day

Gizmodo

time20 minutes ago

  • Gizmodo

Our Favorite Solar Wireless Outdoor Camera Drops on Amazon, Now Cheaper Than Black Friday and Prime Day

This is the easiest outdoor security camera to use on the market. Outdoor security cameras have transformed home safety and offer peace of mind and a sense of control – except for those nagging issues of battery life and the hassle of running cables. That's where the eufy Security SoloCam S340 steps in, breaks those barriers and sets a new standard for wireless surveillance. Today only, this top-rated product can be had for an all-time low of $159 on Amazon, a 20% discount from its regular $199 list price. See at Amazon Our Favorite Brand for Home Security eufy is a subsidiary of Anker and it has gained a reputation for greatness in the field of smart home. The SoloCam S340 is one product among many that showcases their innovation in terms of design and user experience. This camera is designed to address the two main frustrations with outdoor security cameras: 1) change batteries too often or 2) use a wired setup which may be limited in any direction. With its wireless connectivity and solar-powered battery, you can position the camera anywhere outside your home far inside your garden, front of your side house, or even at the back end of your home. It's easy to install: no extensive wiring is required, and you don't even need to hire a professional. In only five minutes, you'll have an operational and high-tech guard for your home. One of the major attractions that this SoloCam S340 has is an improved dual-camera system that allows for ultra-sharp 3K resolution as far away as 50 feet. This way, you will be able to see all that's happening outside your home whatever time of day it is. The 8× zoom with this camera lets you capture a close-up shot of anyone approaching your house so nothing escapes you. While the maximum resolution drops to 2K when using AI Tracking or Dual Views, the quality remains sharp and reliable for most home security needs. The SoloCam S340 also eliminates blind spots: Thanks to its 360° pan and tilt capabilities, you can monitor every corner of your property from a single, strategically placed camera. Whether you want to keep an eye on your front porch, backyard or driveway, this camera covers it all. The vertical installation option further enhances its versatility, allowing you to customize the viewing angle for maximum coverage. A second major advantage is the camera's solar operation: The easily removable built-in solar panel lets you install the camera and then forget it. No need to reach a ladder to replace batteries or to disconnect cables. The camera remains always powered and ready to protect your home and powered by clean energy. The eufy Security SoloCam S340 is a home security game-changer. Make sure you grab yours before it runs out of stock. See at Amazon

Posted Jun 10, 2025 at 8:51 AM EDT 0 Comments
Posted Jun 10, 2025 at 8:51 AM EDT 0 Comments

The Verge

time24 minutes ago

  • The Verge

Posted Jun 10, 2025 at 8:51 AM EDT 0 Comments

Ayaneo's next modernized Nintendo DS has a larger second screen. Although the original dual-screen Ayaneo Flip was a flop, the company confirmed it was committed to the line and today announced its new Flip 1S DS. The most obvious upgrade is a 7-inch 1080P OLED main screen with a larger 4.5-inch secondary LCD touchscreen with a 1620×1080 pixel resolution. It will be powered by an AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 processor, run Windows 11, and feature TMR joysticks, but pricing and availability isn't known yet.

Liquid Glass, Spotlight, and the rest of WWDC 2025
Liquid Glass, Spotlight, and the rest of WWDC 2025

The Verge

time24 minutes ago

  • The Verge

Liquid Glass, Spotlight, and the rest of WWDC 2025

The tech world is full of cycles. Things are always bundling and unbundling, going from minimalist to maximalist, embracing nostalgia before diving head-first into the future. And right now, it appears, we're doing glassy again. On this episode of The Vergecast, Nilay and David are joined by The Verge's Allison Johnson and Victoria Song to talk about all the news from Apple's annual WWDC software extravaganza. There's no place to start, of course, other than with Liquid Glass, the new design system that Apple is rolling out across all of its platforms. We talk about why Apple made the change, what it looks like so far, and whether this is the right way to approach the future of on- and off-screen digital design. After that, we do a spin through all of the big platform news. MacOS 26 will come with a huge upgrade to Spotlight, the iPad's multitasking might actually work, your group chats are about to become either more or less chaotic, your workout buddy has a pep talk ready for you, and there are new things coming to CarPlay, AirPods, and even Photos. Through it all, we spend a lot of time talking through Apple's ongoing approach to AI. The supposedly Siri-centric future of everything remains basically on hold, as Apple tries to make the tech work, but Apple Intelligence figures into a lot of the company's new software. It seems Apple has gotten back to what it does best: making the tech just work for people. But there's simply no way to watch this year's WWDC without thinking of Apple's 2024 pitch for a completely new way to think about and use our devices — and the comparatively straightforward stuff it's shipping a year later. How you feel about the next era of Apple software will depend entirely on how you feel about what might have been, and what might still be. If you want to know more about everything we discuss in this episode, here are some links to get you started:

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store