How To Decide What Digital Product To Make

Hmmm, what digital product to make? I used to jump straight into creating. 

I’d get an idea for a digital product, feel that rush of excitement, and immediately start outlining course modules or sketching out a workbook. The problem was that I’d get a few hours deep into it and then realize I wasn’t sure who it was for or whether anyone needed or wanted it. 

That’s a lot of energy spent going in circles to entertain my shiny object syndrome. 

So I started doing something different. Before I commit to creating anything now, I sit down for one focused hour and work through a clarity exercise that helps me decide what digital product to make, and whether this idea deserves my time. It’s not complicated. But it has saved me from creating things nobody asked for.

What Is a Product Clarity Exercise and How Does It Help You Decide What Digital Product to Make?

A product clarity exercise is a short, structured thinking session where you “pressure-test” your digital product idea before you start creating it. It’s the step between “I have an idea!” and “I’m going into Canva.” The goal is to move from your initial excitement about your idea into being more grounded about the purpose behind it, or to discover that your idea needs a little more shaping before it’s ready.

I think of it as giving yourself permission to slow down. Not to start working on it forever and not more time for you to overthink it. Just long enough to get clear on what digital product you’re making, who it’s for, and what format makes the most sense. 

When you know how to decide what digital product to make with intention instead of relying on impulse, you’ll avoid the frustration of scrapping all of your half-finished projects a few weeks or even days later.

An idea can feel exciting and still be fuzzy. And fuzzy ideas lead to digital products that are confusing, that don’t land with the people you’re trying to help (it may confuse them more than help them), or that stall halfway through because you lost the purpose behind what you were making.

So, just taking one hour before you start creating your digital product won’t slow down your momentum. Instead, you’ll be pointing your momentum in the right direction. 

You still get to feel excited and move quickly, but you’ll be moving with a plan (and you’ll eliminate that shiny object feeling).

How to Decide What Digital Product to Make

It’s all about the clarity exercise.

Here’s what I do, and I’d encourage you to try it the next time an idea grabs you.

Set a timer for 60 minutes.

Grab a notebook (my fave) or open a blank document. Make sure you don’t have any distractions, no tabs open, no “let me check Pinterest for inspiration first.” This hour is for thinking and getting clarity, not researching. (I find that researching gets me even more ideas – ugh – and for the clarity session, that’s what we want to avoid)

You’re going to work through four questions in one hour. Each one builds on the one before it, and by the time you’re done, you’ll either feel clear and ready to move forward, or you’ll know what you still need to figure out to make your product idea the best it can be. Both of those outcomes are valuable.❤️

Ok, here we go…ask yourself:

1. What Problem Does This Digital Product Solve, and Who Specifically Has That Problem?

This is the question that might trip you up the most, and I get it. I know you want to help “everyone.” But “everyone” is a sign that you haven’t gotten specific enough yet. Spend 15 minutes on this one. Write down the exact problem your digital product addresses. Not a category of problems, not a broad topic. Hone in on the specific frustration or gap that someone is dealing with right now.

Then write down who has that problem. What stage of life or career are they in? What have they already tried? What’s stopping them from solving it on their own? The more specific you get here, the easier every other decision becomes. If you can’t describe the person and the problem in two clear sentences, that’s your signal to keep digging before you jump into Canva or Google Docs.

2. What Do You Know About This Topic That Makes You the Right Person to Create This Digital Product?

Now I’m not talking about credentials or certifications (though those count if you have them). It’s more about your experience. What have you lived through, worked through, or figured out that gives you a perspective worth sharing? 

I spend about 10 minutes here, and honestly, this is the part of the exercise that feels the best. Because when you start writing down what you know, you realize just how much you’ve accumulated over the years.

Your knowledge is what makes this product yours. Someone else might make an ebook or course on the same topic, but they won’t bring your experience, your examples, your way of explaining things. That’s an advantage for you when you’re deciding what digital product to make, because it tells you which of your ideas are grounded in real depth and which ones are high-level interests you might have (🐿️).

3. What Digital Product Format Fits This Idea Best?

Not every idea needs to be a course. Not every idea works as a workbook. Spend about 15 minutes thinking about what format actually serves the content. 

• If the transformation you’re offering is about mindset or reflection, a guided workbook or journal might be the right fit. 
• If you’re teaching a step-by-step process, a short course with video walkthroughs could work well. 
• If you’re solving a narrow, tactical problem, maybe a template bundle or checklist pack is the answer.

I find this is where people get stuck in loops, wanting to jump into creating the trendiest format before they’ve even confirmed that the idea is valid. It’s OK to pick the simplest format that delivers the result you’re promising. You can always expand later. The first version doesn’t have to be the final version. It needs to be the useful version.

4. Can You Describe the Finished Digital Product in One Sentence?

This is the last question, and it takes about 10 minutes (with the remaining time to review everything you’ve written). Try to write a single sentence that captures what your digital product is, who it’s for, and what result it delivers. Something like: 

“A 5-day email course that helps new retirees figure out what kind of digital product to create based on what they already know.” 

If you can write that sentence clearly, you’re probably ready to start creating your digital product.

If you can’t get it into one sentence yet, don’t worry. It means there’s still a piece of the puzzle that you need to figure out: the audience, the format, or maybe the overall purpose of the product. So, just go back to whichever question feels unfinished and spend more time there. 

I’ve gone through this exercise plenty of times and realized an idea I had wasn’t ready yet. Better to know that now than after 20 hours of Canva work! 

Funny story: I had a conversation with a guy in the Skoolers community who said he’s made so many things that NO ONE asked for, and I had to say “me too.” (hello to my Building Blocks Card Deck – it’s coming sooner or later) I don’t always follow my own advice, because some things just NEED to be created right? (No, the answer is no.)

After You Decide What Digital Product to Make…

You’ve got clarity, you’ve got direction. And direction is everything when you’re creating something new. Your next step doesn’t have to be dramatic, you can do a few things like outline your product, draft your intro and write a few sections. The beautiful thing about doing the thinking first is that the creating part moves so much faster when you’re not second-guessing yourself at every turn.

There are many moving parts when you create a digital product to sell online. I’ve seen people skip this thinking step and then wonder why they feel stuck three weeks into their digital product project. The clarity exercise is what keeps you from spinning. It’s a small investment of time (60 minutes) that protects a much larger investment – your energy.

FAQs: How To Decide What Digital Product To Make