The best product ideas don't start with a product. They start with a problem.

One question I hear all the time is, "What should I create?"

And I understand why people get stuck there. You know you want to make money selling digital products, but then you sit down and try to think of the perfect idea. Before long, you're overthinking everything and nothing gets created.

I want to help you approach this differently.

Don't start by asking, "What product can I make?" Start by asking, "What problem can I solve?"

That's where some of the best digital product ideas are hiding.

1. Pay Attention to What People Ask You

One of the easiest places to find a product idea is in the questions people already ask you.

What do your friends call you about? What do coworkers ask you to explain? What do people send you messages asking for help with?

If people repeatedly come to you about the same subject, pay attention.

Maybe people ask you about starting a business, creating flyers, cooking, repairing something, buying real estate, managing money, exercising, parenting, ministry, fashion, or using a particular piece of software.

Those questions are clues.

If one person needs that information, there's a good chance other people need it too.

2. Look for Problems You've Already Solved

Some of your best product ideas can come from problems you've personally experienced.

Think about something that once frustrated you but that you've now figured out.

Ask yourself:

• What took me months to learn?

• What mistakes did I make along the way?

• What do I wish someone had explained to me when I started?

• What system or process do I now use that makes things easier?

Your mistakes can actually become valuable information because you can help the next person avoid them.

I've learned a lot of things in business through trial and error. If I can take something that took me years to understand and explain it to someone in an afternoon, that's value.

3. Make Sure People Actually Want the Solution

Knowing something doesn't automatically mean there's a market for it.

Before spending weeks creating a product, do a little research. Look at what people are searching for, talking about, buying, and asking questions about.

Check social media. Look through online communities. Read comments underneath videos in your industry. Look at other products being sold in the marketplace.

You're not looking to copy anyone.

You're looking for evidence that people are trying to solve this problem.

Competition isn't always bad. Sometimes competition is proof that customers are already spending money in that market.

4. Find the Intersection Between Knowledge and Demand

A strong digital product idea usually sits somewhere between three things:

• Something you understand

• Something people need

• Something people are willing to pay for

That's the sweet spot.

You may be passionate about a subject, but if nobody needs the information, selling it could be difficult. On the other hand, you may discover a profitable market that you know absolutely nothing about.

Look for the intersection between your knowledge and someone else's need.

5. Test the Idea Before Building Everything

You don't always have to create the entire product before finding out whether people are interested.

Talk about the subject first.

Create a social media post. Make a short video. Write a blog article. Ask your audience a question. Share a few tips and watch how people respond.

If people start asking for more information, you've learned something.

You can even ask directly:

"If I created a step-by-step guide showing you how to do this, would that be helpful?"

Sometimes your audience will tell you exactly what product they want.

6. Keep the First Product Simple

Once you identify an opportunity, don't immediately turn it into a massive project.

Solve one problem first.

Your idea might become:

• A short eBook

• A checklist

• A workbook

• A template

• A resource guide

• A mini-course

• An audio training

You can always expand later. A successful $10 or $20 product can eventually become a larger course, bundle, membership, or entire collection.

Stop Looking for the Perfect Idea

I want you to remember something: your first idea doesn't have to become your million-dollar product.

It simply needs to get you started.

Creating your first product teaches you things that thinking about creating a product never will. You'll learn what customers respond to, what questions they ask, what they value, and what they want next.

Then you use that information to create your second product.

And your third.

That's how a digital product business begins to grow.

Your Next Product Idea May Already Be Around You

Look at your life differently this week.

Pay attention to the questions people ask you. Think about problems you've solved. Look at the skills you've developed and the lessons you've learned.

Somewhere inside that experience could be your next digital product.

That's something I want us to continue building at Resell Circle—a community of people who recognize the value of what they know and learn how to turn that knowledge into products that help other people.

Find a problem. Create a solution. Deliver value. Then let the marketplace tell you where to go next.

— Bishop Al
Founder, Resell Circle