You’re posting consistently, building a decent following, and now want to turn that attention into profit.

Wondering how to make it happen?

Selling digital products is a super effective way to monetize your social media presence and make your first $100, and we’ll show you exactly how to do it.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through the 5-step playbook of creating, selling, and marketing a digital product that resonates with your audience so you can make your social media hustle pay off.

Let’s jump right in!

Step 1: Find Your Niche & Your Audience

The first step toward making your first $100 comes before you even start creating digital products.

Why? Because the success of this hinges on knowing exactly who you’re serving and what they need.

Start by exploring your unique strengths:

• What are you deeply passionate about?

• What lived experience or skills do you bring to the table?

• What solutions would have transformed your life a few years ago?

To find your specific audience, analyze your current followers. Check your social media insights to see who engages most—age, gender, location, or interests. Join online communities, such as Reddit threads or Facebook groups, related to your niche to observe common questions or pain points.

The sweet spot lies where your passion, expertise, and audience needs intersect. If your digital product speaks to all three of these, you’ll build real trust, and trust leads to sales.

For example, let’s say you have a passion for fitness. Instead of a broad “fitness guide”, be more specific. Maybe your audience is “busy moms who want 10-minute home workouts”. This level of specificity builds trust, fosters loyalty, and makes your product stand out.

Step 2: Build Trust Through Value-Driven Content

Before you start selling digital products online, your audience needs to believe in you and your expertise. The best way to achieve this is through value-driven social media content that proves you understand their challenges and can deliver solutions.

Here are a few effective value-driven content creation tips for TikTok and Instagram.

Address common pain points

The best way to build trust and credibility is through content that helps your target audience overcome their specific challenges.

To identify pain points, engage with your audience actively. Use Instagram Stories to ask questions like, “What’s holding you back from your fitness goals?” or comment on TikTok videos in your niche to spot recurring complaints.

For example, if you’re a skincare expert targeting young adults, you might notice frequent concerns about acne or affordable routines. Create a short video showcasing your budget-friendly morning skincare routine, explaining why each step works.

If you’re a finance coach, post a 30-second clip breaking down one common budgeting mistake, like overspending on membership sites, and offer a quick fix.

Use “The Rule of Three”

“The Rule of Three” is one of the simplest yet most effective social media marketing strategies. It refers to taking one topic idea and turning it into three different types of content:

• Long-form video (20-90 seconds): Share personal stories or key lessons in talking-head videos.

• Short-form B-Roll (8-30 seconds): Use behind-the-scenes footage and progress shots with text overlay for quick insights.

• Trend-based videos: Add your spin to trending audio or challenges to boost visibility.

This approach allows you to multiply great ideas by three and maximize your output with minimal effort!

TikTok & Instagram content best practices

To build trust and engagement on TikTok and Instagram, your content must grab attention and feel authentic.

These platforms thrive on quick, impactful posts, so follow these best practices to connect with your audience and establish credibility:

• Aim to hook viewers within the first two seconds of a video.

• Use clear visuals and good lighting.

• Stay consistent and post every day, even if your content doesn’t go viral.

• Respond to comments and DMs to foster a community.

Step 3: Turn Your Expertise Into a Digital Product

Once you’ve gained trust and attention, it’s time to create and sell your digital products.

To create a high-demand product, consider what would best help your audience solve their most pressing problems.

But you don’t need to reinvent the wheel. Start with a proven format that aligns with your strengths.

Here are some digital product ideas:

• eBooks or guides: Break down a process step-by-step (e.g. “How to Use Canva for Graphic Design”).

• Templates: Offer plug-and-play solutions like resume templates, content calendars, or budget trackers.

• 1:1 coaching sessions: Provide direct guidance in your field of expertise.

• Workshops: Host online video lessons focused on a specific pain point.

• Digital courses: Create downloadable modules full of in-depth educational content (e.g. “How to Optimize for Google Search as a Small Business Owner”).

Pro tip: Use Instagram polls or story questions to validate demand before you build out your product.

Step 4: Set Up Your Stan Store

You’ve got an audience, you’ve built trust, and you’ve created a digital product. Now you need a seamless way for your potential customers to buy it.

Built specifically for Creators like you, Stan Store is an all-in-one digital storefront that becomes your link-in-bio hub, allowing followers to browse and buy your products in one easily accesible place.

The best part?

You don’t need to create your own website or storefront on an ecommerce platform. Stan simplifies the process, letting you launch in minutes.

This is all you need to do:

1. Sign up and set up your Stan Store.

2. Customize your storefront.

3. Upload your digital products.

4. Add your link to your TikTok and Instagram bios.

Visitors can then discover, purchase, and check out entirely within your Stan Store.

Stan removes all the tech hurdles that hold Creators back, so you can launch your product in minutes, not weeks.

Sign up for your 14-day free trial and start your journey to making passive income.

Step 5: Launch & Market Like a Pro

When it comes to selling digital products on social media, launching and marketing are key to getting your offerings in front of your audience.

The idea is to get your followers excited, curious, and ready to buy.

Here’s how to do it:

Digital product launch timeline

• 2 weeks before launch: Start teasing the idea in your content by sharing sneak peeks and behind-the-scenes clips.

• 1 week before launch: Reveal your product, who it’s for, and the specific problem it solves. Always focus on the transformation it offers (e.g. “Learn how to land your dream job in 30 days”).

• 1 day before launch: Drop a countdown sticker or reminder post.

• Launch day: Boldly announce your product launch with a clear CTA directing users to your Stan Store link in bio. We also recommend offering a time-sensitive bonus or discount to create urgency.

Bonus: How to Grow Beyond Your First $100

Your first $100 is just the beginning. Now, it’s all about turning that momentum into sustainable revenue that helps you scale your Creator business. This means reviewing your social media content on a weekly basis so you can improve and refine it. Let’s take a look at how to do that.

Analyze your content

Review your recent content and work out which formats, hooks, and topics drove the most traffic. You should also assess which social media platforms performed best and which messaging received the most engagement.

Double down on what works

Focus on the formats, hooks, and topics that are working. Replicate the most high-performing offers or create similar ones to turn one-time buyers into loyal customers.

Add new offers

To keep your audience interested and engaged, come up with new offers, such as:

• Bundled packages (e.g. an eBook plus a workshop)

• Premium coaching or group sessions

• Exclusive discounts for email subscribers

This is a great way to transform your initial success into a steady income stream.

Your First $100 is Closer Than You Think

You don’t need a huge social media following to make money online. All you need is a clearly defined niche, valuable content, and a digital product that solves a real problem.

With the right strategy and a Stan Store to streamline the monetization process, your first $100 is well within reach, likely closer than you realize.

FAQs

Can email marketing help me make my first $100 faster?

Yes, pairing email marketing with your social media strategy can help you make your first $100 more quickly. Email is a great marketing channel for staying in touch with followers, building trust, and promoting your own digital products to an audience who’s already interested in them.

How do I price my first digital product?

You should start with a price that reflects the value you’re offering. Typically, around $10-$30 is a good starting point for first-time products, like an online course. However, if you’ve built up enough trust among your audience, you should be able to charge more to reflect your expertise and the demand.

Are there free tools I can use to create my digital product?

There are plenty of free tools you can use to create your digital products, like Canva, Google Docs, Notion, Loom, and so on.