- Curious Jay
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- From idea → paid in 7 days
From idea → paid in 7 days
What I've learned from $4,546 in course sales
Read time: 3 min
Today, I'm going to walk you through the simple 7-step process that helped me go from idea → $4,546 in 7 days...
...and get notifications like these blowing up my inbox:
Ya ready? Lezz do this...
First, when should you build a course?
When you've either:
1) Done something people want to do too2) Can help people get a desired result faster
Step 1: Listen For Signal
If you build your audience the right way…
People will tell you what they want.
I’ve had countless questions, comments & DMs asking me about my content creation process:
In fact, I showed my content system to a client of mine and they said:
"Dude, how is this not a product already?"
If that isn't a sign, I don't know what is.
Okay, let's keep moving...
Step 2: Validate Your Idea
Once I had the idea of turning my content system into a product - I wanted to see if people would actually buy it.
2 weeks ago I wrote a newsletter revealing parts of my content system.
At the end, I took a poll:
That, combined with all the questions I was getting was enough to get me to start building...
Step 3: Build A Minimum Viable Product (MVP)
Then I got to work turning my system into a product.
I removed personal things, made it as universal as possible, and templatized it into 1 Notion hub.
Next?
Step 4: Get Feedback
I sent my system to my inner circle and got my 1st round of feedback.
When asking for feedback, use the ABC editing method:
Awesome - What was good?Boring - What didn't add any value?Confusing - What was unclear?
Step 5: Collect Testimonials
When people are unclear - they look to see what other people are doing.
That's why social proof is huge when launching an offer.
Use this simple template when you ask:
Hey [name], got a quick favor to ask:
I'm working on a new offer. Would you be able to help me with a testimonial? It'll only take around 60 seconds of your time.
Just a quick sentence or two about me as a creator or any thoughts you have about me.
That sound cool?
But, the most important part isn't what you say when you ask...
It's what you do BEFORE you ask.
I built rapport with every person before I asked for a testimonial from them.
More importantly, I developed friendships with them.
Friends > Acquaintances
Step 6: Write Your Sales Page
Your sales page is a digital salesman that works for you 24/7.
You write once, but thousands of people will see it.
I already wrote an in-depth guide on how I wrote my sales page, so I'll just link it below:
Step 7: Build Hype
Throughout this entire process, you should be building in public.
What does that mean?
It means involving your audience in the process.
• Take polls• Ask questions• Share progress• Give sneak peeks• Spark excitement
You may think, "Why would anyone want to know what I'm building?"
But trust me - people are hungry for authentic stories in action.
You don't need to be perfect. You need to be honest.
✅ Build in Public update:
Got the video course scripted out.
Now I just gotta set aside a few hours and record.
Estimated launch date: this Sunday.
— Jay Yang 🟣 (@Jayyanginspires)
1:35 PM • Jan 27, 2023
And after that?
It's launch time!! 😤
(There's a ton of nuance that I decided to cut because I didn't want to overload you with the nitty gritty).
The important point is this:
If you build an audience the right way, monetization becomes easy.
Pick a goal. Solve your own problems. Turn your solutions into products.
Happy Building! :)
Jay
P.S. It wouldn't be right for me to write a whole newsletter about my digital product and not share the link to it... so steal my proven system for content creation and audience growth
P.P.S. Next week, I got a big one. I'll be revealing the career path I'm choosing... stay tuned 👀
JAY'S PICKS: 🔥
🧵 Twitter Thread: How to build a $100/day digital side hustle by Jon Brosio
🎙️ Podcast: Derek Sivers on the Danny Miranda Podcast (this was good)
🎥 Video: How Jay Clouse made $300k/yr without a big audience
📝 Article: On the importance of differentiation by Packy McCormick
New here? Wanna build a profitable solo writing business? Absolutely demolish that big button below to join us:
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