How to Start Building Digital Products (A Step-by-Step Guide)

Let's kick us off with some basics & some AI prompts that can help

Hi all,

First of all, thank you so much for showing up and supporting my new publication. I am still not sure about the name, so bear with me while it’s a work in progress.

I decided to write this newsletter because I see a huge opportunity for all of us.

And because entrepreneurship is actually my background.

While I built a name for myself on Substack around writing and growth on Substack (which I will continue to do at

Wander Wealth

), I wanted to bring more of my passion and experience into this new publication.

For those of you, who don’t know me yet:

I’m Nina Claudia (yes, Claudia is actually my second name), but you can call me either, and I’m from Germany, traveling the world as a digital nomad.

Right after high-school I tried the corporate world at one of the big four consulting companies and BOY, DID I HATE IT. It was clear for me to say no to corporates from the get go.

Since then I have been working in start-ups and scale-ups, always as first person to join, and they all got acquired. Yeii. In-between I did my bachelors in economics and masters of science in digital health - mostly working with AI on electronic health care records and genetic data at Mount Sinai, New York. Oh and I also have a few degrees in design thinking and “designing your life” - my secret passion topic.

And 3 years ago, I started my own start-up for the very first time (in healthcare - a digital therapy tool for people with Alzheimer's’). And while I somehow enjoyed the creation part of my company and the focus we had (helping people with dementia), all the rest I did not. Late-night sessions without stop, VCs, money-chasing, pressure, and investor talks ALL the time.

I finally realized that that’s not the life I want to live. At all.

So, I started creating and mostly writing online which has been such an amazing journey.

Finally, I am making the connection between my old life and my new life with this newsletter: where I want to help you to become an online entrepreneur.

➡️ From newsletter writer to online solopreneur. That’s what I want to help you become.

So, thank you for being here and reading what I have to offer.

I am planning to write one newsletter a week here (on Wednesdays), plus going LIVE with guests and sharing all my experience on the go.

Here is what you can expect

• Digital Products & Monetization

• Leveraging AI & Automation

• Marketing & Promotion

• Success stories & Access to successful entrepreneurs

• So much more that will be defined by your interests & needs

Fun fact, I am also planning to bring on some of my friends, who are serial offline entrepreneurs and we can show them what the online world has in store for them ;).

In this first article, I want to briefly jump into how to get ideas on your first digital product.

After all, if you are here, you probably have a newsletter, so let’s get you started with those digital products.

We kick things off with a great exercise: turning your best content into a digital product.

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Brainstorming Your First Digital Product Idea & Potentially Turning It into a Digital Product

Step 1: Analyze Your Top Post

• Review Engagement:

  • Identify your most-read or most-discussed post, whether it's the narrative, a practical guide, or an insightful analysis.

  • Note what resonated with your audience—was it the storytelling, actionable insights, unique perspective, or writing style.

• Extract Key Themes:

  • Write down the central idea or technique that made this post a hit.

  • For fiction writers, it might be a compelling character arc or vivid world-building.

  • For non-fiction writers, it could be an insight or a practical strategy.

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Step 2: Brainstorm Digital Product Ideas

• Expand on Success:

  • Think about how you can build on the strengths of your top post.

  • Fiction: Consider a character development guide, a mini-anthology, or an interactive writing prompt series.

  • Non-Fiction: Think about an in-depth e-book, a step-by-step mini-course, or a toolkit that dives deeper into the topic.

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Step 3: Use an AI Prompt to Generate Concrete Ideas
Try this prompt in your favorite AI tool to create tailored digital product ideas:

I have a top-performing Substack post titled '[Enter Your Post Title Here],' where my audience loved the actionable insights on [Enter Key Aspect, e.g., guidance, actionable advice, or design and storytelling]. Please provide one exact, detailed digital product idea.

For example, one of my most popular posts is this one:

Transform Your Substack Posts With Two Simple Fixes

This is what I entered into ChatGTP:

I have a top-performing Substack post titled 'Transform Your Substack Posts With Two Simple Fixes,' where my audience loved the actionable insights on [guidance, actionable advice]. Please provide one exact, detailed digital product idea.

And the outcome is a pretty good starting point.

Digital Product Idea: The “Substack Transformation Toolkit”

Overview:
A comprehensive, interactive digital toolkit designed specifically for Substack writers looking to elevate their posts with actionable fixes. This product bundles together a guided digital workbook, video tutorials, templates, and checklists that directly expand on the two simple fixes from your top-performing post.

What's Inside:

• Interactive Workbook:
A downloadable PDF (or fillable digital format) that walks users through each fix with detailed exercises. It includes:

  • Step-by-step worksheets that prompt users to analyze their current posts.

  • Reflection questions to identify content gaps.

  • Action plans to implement improvements immediately.

• Video Tutorials:
Short, high-quality screencasts and presentations that visually demonstrate each fix in action. These videos include:

  • Real examples from successful Substack posts.

  • Best practices for incorporating guidance and actionable advice.

  • Practical demonstrations on editing and enhancing readability.

• Customizable Templates:
Ready-to-use templates for common post structures, headlines, and call-to-actions that incorporate the two fixes. Templates can be easily adapted, ensuring:

  • Consistency in style and tone.

  • Efficiency in post-creation.

  • Better reader engagement through proven formats.

• Checklists & Cheat Sheets:
Quick-reference guides and checklists that users can print out or keep digitally. These include:

  • A “Before You Publish” checklist ensures every post is optimized.

  • Cheat sheets summarizing key steps for rapid review and implementation.

• Community Access (Optional Add-On):
A private online community or forum where users can:

  • Share their progress.

  • Get feedback from peers.

  • Participate in monthly live Q&A sessions focused on advanced post-transformation techniques.

Value Proposition:
By integrating actionable guidance with practical tools, the “Substack Transformation Toolkit” empowers writers to:

• Instantly apply expert fixes to enhance content quality.

• Save time with ready-to-use resources.

• Increase engagement and subscription rates by aligning posts with proven strategies.

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So, what are you waiting for?

You already have your content: What if you could double your engagement, build a thriving business, and step into your role as a successful online solopreneur?

Next week, we will take a look at different tools to use for digital product creation.

If you thought this was helpful, leave a comment - that would help me so much.

And feel free to share it if you think others might enjoy it too.