How to Create Something Once... and Get Paid for Years

Ever fantasized about waking up, checking your phone, and seeing you made money… while drooling on your pillow?

That’s the magic people talk about when they mention “passive income”.

And digital products are one of the fastest ways to get there without buying a warehouse, shipping boxes, or storing 500 coffee mugs in your garage.

But here’s something no one likes to say out loud: Passive income isn’t actually passive in the beginning.

If you’re starting from scratch, the first phase will feel very active. You’re going to roll up your sleeves, learn some stuff, and put in the work.

But you build once, sell forever.

Let’s talk about how.

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Step 1: Understand What Digital Products Actually Are

If you can deliver it through Wi-Fi, it’s a digital product.

• Ebooks & Guides - PDFs teaching something you know.

• Printables - planners, trackers, coloring pages (yes, adults buy these).

• Templates - for resumes, social media, or business tools.

• Courses & Workshops - recorded video or live sessions.

• Stock Assets - graphics, photos, music.

• Memberships - exclusive content on platforms like Patreon or Substack.

These don’t require shipping. No packaging. No “sorry, we’re out of stock.” And because they’re infinitely replicable, each sale costs you nothing to deliver.

Step 2: Pick ONE Niche

This is where most beginners trip over their own enthusiasm. They try to be the Etsy shop for everyone.

Please don’t. You will cry.

Instead:

• Pick one audience you want to serve.

• Solve one problem for them.

• Do it better than anyone else in that corner of the internet.

Example: Instead of “Printables for everyone,” niche into “Printable party games for bachelorette parties.” That is easier marketing, easier design choices, easier sales.

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Step 3: Choose a Platform You Actually Like

Here’s where I’m going to sound like the friend who tells you your haircut doesn’t work for your face, lovingly, but bluntly.

You will not stick with a platform you hate.

Etsy, Shopify, Gumroad, Payhip, Creative Market, Substack… all have success stories. None is objectively “best”. The better platform is the one you enjoy enough to learn inside-out.

If you love design, Etsy might feel fun. If you love community and writing, Substack or Patreon might be your jam. If you’re a tech tinkerer, Shopify will let you go wild.

Master one platform before hopping around.

Focus = mastery. Mastery = sales.

Step 4: Create Your First Product

You don’t need a 300-page ebook or a 40-hour video course to start. You need a minimum viable product that solves a problem right now.

For example:

• A 10-page guide for new plant parents (“7 Days to Stop Killing Your Plants”)

• A Canva template pack for real estate agents who don’t have time to design flyers

• A budget spreadsheet for newlyweds merging finances

Make it good. Make it simple. Make it something people can use today.

Step 5: Price It

Pricing is emotional. Too low and people think it’s junk. Too high and your inner imposter syndrome starts yelling.

A simple starting point:

• Small, quick-use products: $5–$15

• Mid-tier templates or printables: $15–$50

• Courses or bundles: $50–$200+

Remember, you can always raise prices as your audience grows. Your first goal isn’t max profit, it’s proof of concept.

Step 6: Build Your Audience

This is the part that separates the “I made $10” crew from the “I made $10K” crew.

Your digital product business runs on attention. No audience = no sales.

Pick one main channel for growth:

• Social Media (Instagram, TikTok, Pinterest)

• Email List (my personal favorite — you own it)

• Content Platforms (YouTube, Medium, Substack)

The three rules of audience building:

1. Show up consistently.

2. Give away free, useful content related to your paid product.

3. Talk to your audience like a friend, not a billboard.

Step 7: Sell Without Being Sleazy

Selling doesn’t mean shouting “BUY MY THING” in all caps every day.

It means weaving your product naturally into your content:

• Show behind-the-scenes of you making it.

• Share testimonials or reviews.

• Create free mini-tips that tie into the bigger solution your product offers.

Think of it as inviting someone to a dinner you’re proud to host, not banging on their door with a plate of cold spaghetti.

Step 8: Automate for “Pillow Money”

Once you have a product and some audience, automation turns your effort into something close to passive income.

Ideas:

• Automated email welcome sequences that pitch your product.

• Bundles or upsells after someone buys one item.

• Using platforms like Etsy or Gumroad that handle delivery instantly.

The dream is to set up systems so every new follower, reader, or subscriber eventually sees your offer without you manually DMing them at midnight.

Step 9: Iterate & Expand

Your first product won’t be your last. It’s your first pancake, maybe a little lumpy, but it gets you cooking.

Watch what sells. Ask customers what they want next. Create bundles, premium versions, or spin-offs.

Example: If your “Bachelorette Party Game” pack sells, add “Baby Shower Games” or “Birthday Party Games.”

Expansion is easier when you’ve already proven one product works.

Step 10: Remember Why You Started

Yes, the money is nice. Yes, building something once and selling it forever feels magical.

But the real win?

• Freedom to work from anywhere.

• Creative control.

• Serving a niche you actually care about.

And if you keep showing up (imperfectly but consistently) the pillow money will come.

You can do this.

And a year from now, you’ll be glad you started today instead of reading another article about “someday.”

Have a wonderful day,

Miroslav from The Design Nexus

TOOLS YOU SHOULD TRY

Even if you sell products other than mugs or t-shirts, it doesn't mean it will cost you more.

There are tools that can help you with the tasks, and most of them have free versions.

• Research: ProfitTree

• Graphic Designs: Creative Fabrica

• Design Editing: Canva, Kittl

• Vectorizing: Vectorizer AI

• POD Fulfillment: Printful, Printify

Disclaimer: Within the article, you will find affiliate links. If you decide to purchase through these links, I want to sincerely assure you that I will receive a commission at no extra cost to you.