Turning Your Content Into Products: Online Courses, Books, Audiobooks and More

Turning Your Content Into Products: Online Courses, Books, Audiobooks and More

Introduction

The high-value content you create like articles, videos, and webinars have immense potential for repurposing into paid digital products. By packaging your expertise into online courses, ebooks, downloadable toolkits, and more, you can multiply your profit while expanding reach.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore proven strategies for:

Selecting the right product formats

Certain product types best fit specific content. We’ll examine pairing options optimally.

Repurposing content efficiently

Reusing existing materials saves effort. We’ll look at repurposing processes.

Structuring products for engagement

Thoughtful organization and delivery taps into learning styles. We’ll detail interactivity best practices.

Choosing the ideal sales platforms

Some platforms fit certain products better. We’ll compare the pros and cons of ecommerce tools.

Pricing products profitably

Pricing impacts profit margins and perceived value. We’ll analyze pricing approaches.

Promoting products effectively

Visibility drives sales. We’ll explore organic and paid product launch tactics.

Let’s dive into how to turn the content you’re already creating into new income streams.

Select the Right Product Formats

Certain types of content lend themselves better to specific digital product formats. Consider:

Online Courses

Webinars and videos containing tutorials, frameworks, and actionable advice are ideal foundations for online courses.

Written Reports and eBooks

In-depth articles, whitepapers, and long-form written content have natural ebook potential ready for download.

Toolkits and Templates

Collections of your data-backed spreadsheets, checklists, worksheets, and design resources make for high-value toolkits.

Audiobooks

Podcast episodes and videos packed with stories, interviews, and conversational teaching transform into audiobooks nicely.

Membership Sites

Series-based content published regularly like courses, podcasts, or mastermind lessons can be gated for members only.

Mobile Apps

Assessments, calculators, trackers, and other interactive content lend themselves to conversion into simple mobile apps.

Evaluate the depth and format of your inventory and align content into the product types offering maximum customer value.

Repurpose Content Efficiently

Reusing existing, proven content in new product formats is efficient. Best practices include:

Conduct a Content Audit

Review old blog posts, reports, infographics, podcasts, and videos with repurposing potential. Flag outdated assets requiring refresh.

Adapt Lessons Into Courses

Curate written posts and videos focused on certain skills into the structured lessons and modules of online courses.

Compile Articles Into eBooks

Combine articles around related themes along with introductions and bonuses into coherent ebook manuscripts ready for publishing.

Extract Audio Excerpts

Excerpt engaging audio sections of podcasts, lectures, and speeches into audiobook sample content to promote the full version.

Update Old Material

Improve outdated posts and videos with new facts, examples, trends, and research to resurrect evergreen content.

Unify Design and Branding

Clean up logos, colors, fonts, formatting, images, and layouts in repurposed content for a consistent look.

Record Audio Versions

Produce audio narrations of written articles and blog posts to add the listening option. Outsource if needed.

Evaluating your inventory for potential product source material avoids starting from scratch unnecessarily.

Structure Products for Engagement

Thoughtful delivery formats tapping into different learning styles amplify engagement. Useful tactics include:

Combine Learning Techniques

Blend videos, text articles, quizzes, live discussions, and worksheets to accommodate visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learners.

Make It Interactive

Add self-assessments, live chats, comment streams, and exercises so customers engage rather than passively consume.

Guide With Coaching Videos

Short personalized videos welcoming users, introducing concepts, and wrapping up lessons provide a human touch.

Structure Content Into Short Bursts

Chop lengthy content into quick 5-7 minute lessons that feel digestible. Achievable microlearning.

Build in Feedback Loops

Seeking open feedback, comments, and suggestions via surveys reinforces that products evolve based on real user input.

Layer In Gamification

Add points, rewards, Easter eggs, surveys, live leaderboards and other game elements to maintain interest in consuming lessons.

Make Products Self-Paced

On-demand access fosters convenience while allowing customers to absorb at their own pace and revisit materials easily.

While leveraging existing content is efficient, product delivery should be overhauled with interactive elements, multimedia, and new structures that amplify resonance.

Choose the Ideal Sales Platforms

Certain product types lend themselves better to specific sales platforms. Considerations include:

All-In-One Course Marketplaces

Platforms like Udemy and Teachable suit multi-lesson online courses with built-in hosting, marketing, and varied revenue model options.

Simple eCommerce

Shopify, Gumroad, and PayHip allow you to quickly sell straightforward digital downloads like ebooks with minimal extra features needed.

Publisher Partnerships

Leverage publishing partners like Audible and Findaway Voices for producing and distributing audiobooks across major retail channels.

Mobile App Stores

Publish mobile apps via app store platforms like the iOS App Store and Google Play for structured distribution, reviews, and support.

Website Plugins and Widgets

For one-off products like calculators and trackers, simple website app plugins may suffice vs. fuller platforms.

Membership and Community Sites

Tools like Mighty Networks facilitate combined membership access to exclusive content, community, and coaching.

Carefully weigh product type, features needed, audience reach, control, customization options, and revenue models when picking sales platforms.

Price Products Profitably

Pricing impacts both revenue potential and perceived value. When assessing pricing, consider:

Production Investment

Account for costs related to planning, creation, optimization, talent, and platform fees. Base pricing must cover expenses.

Competitor Product Pricing

Research current rate ranges for similar product types and bundles in your niche. Gives a reasonable starting point.

Audience Willingness to Pay

Any price should align with the value offering and investment level your audience segment views as justified and within reach.

Potential for Ongoing Revenue

Recurring subscription pricing models allow for higher overall customer lifetime value than one-time purchases.

Bundling and Package Deals

Combining multiple products together at an attractive bundled price earns more revenue per customer.

Promotional Discounts

Offer discounts around launches and holidays to generate initial purchases, which may convert into repeat business later at full price.

Continuously test price points with subsets of your audience to find the optimal balance earning revenue while delivering extreme value.

Promote Products Effectively

Visibility during launch is critical to boost product sales. Be sure to:

Plan Strategic Timing

Time launches to holidays, annual industry events, seasonal needs, or current news events related to your product theme. Timing drives urgency.

Seed Early Access

Offer influencers, loyal customers, and affiliates sneak peak access in exchange for reviews, testimonials, and referrals. Word-of-mouth buzz builds credibility.

Pitch to Media Outlets

Outreach to niche publications, podcasts, radio shows, and news programs with trend stories relevant to your product launch for earned media visibility.

Promote Via Experts and Influencers

Recruit credible experts and influencers to help share and endorse your product launch across their platforms through guest posts, social media takeovers, sponsorships etc. Expand reach.

Run Paid Ads

Use paid social media and search ads to target promotions to your ideal buyer demographics where they’re most active online. Amplifies launch awareness.

Host a Launch Webinar or Event

Generate excitement by hosting live virtual gatherings presenting the product overview, features, and benefits through an experiential lens. Humanize the launch.

Maximize launch visibility through strategic media relations, influencers, advertising, and live events saturating awareness across all buyer touchpoints.

Conclusion

Repurposing existing content into online courses, downloadable toolkits, membership sites, ebooks, audiobooks, and apps is an extremely effective way to maximize value from proven material while diversifying your revenue mix.

With the right product match, optimized delivery formats, tailored sales platforms, strategic pricing, and omnichannel promotion – you can attract new customers while also strengthening loyalty and purchase frequency among existing audiences.

Ready to get more mileage from your content? The foundations are already in place. Now build products that propel your brand and bottom line to the next level. You’ve got this!

FAQ for Turning Your Content Into Products: Online Courses, Books, Audiobooks and More

Q1: Why should I consider turning my content into digital products?

A1: Turning your content into digital products allows you to monetize your expertise, expand your revenue streams, reach new audiences, and provide additional value to your existing audience.

Q2: How do I select the right product formats for my content?

A2: The right product formats depend on the type of content you have. For example, tutorials and frameworks are suitable for online courses, while in-depth articles can be repurposed into ebooks. Assess your content inventory and match it with product types that offer maximum customer value.

Q3: What are some efficient ways to repurpose content into new product formats?

A3: Efficient ways to repurpose content include conducting a content audit, adapting lessons into courses, compiling articles into ebooks, extracting audio excerpts, updating old material, unifying design and branding, and recording audio versions of written content.

Q4: How can I structure my products to enhance engagement?

A4: To enhance engagement, combine learning techniques, make products interactive, guide with coaching videos, structure content into short bursts, build in feedback loops, layer in gamification, and make products self-paced to accommodate different learning styles and preferences.

Q5: What are some considerations when choosing sales platforms for digital products?

A5: Considerations when choosing sales platforms include the type of product you’re selling, features needed, audience reach, control, customization options, and revenue models. Each platform has its strengths and limitations, so choose one that aligns with your goals and audience preferences.

Q6: How should I price my digital products profitably?

A6: Pricing should consider production investment, competitor product pricing, audience willingness to pay, potential for ongoing revenue, bundling and package deals, and promotional discounts. Continuously test price points to find the optimal balance between revenue and value.

Q7: What are some effective strategies for promoting digital products?

A7: Effective strategies for promoting digital products include planning strategic timing for launches, offering early access to influencers and loyal customers, pitching to media outlets, leveraging experts and influencers for endorsements, running paid ads, and hosting launch webinars or events.

Q8: How can I maximize visibility and sales during a product launch?

A8: To maximize visibility and sales during a product launch, strategically time the launch, offer early access to influencers, pitch to media outlets, leverage experts and influencers for promotion, run paid ads targeting your ideal audience, and host a launch webinar or event to generate excitement and engagement.

Q9: What are the benefits of repurposing content into digital products?

A9: Repurposing content into digital products allows you to maximize the value of your existing material, diversify your revenue streams, reach new audiences, strengthen customer loyalty, and provide additional value to your audience in convenient, accessible formats.

Q10: How can I get started with turning my content into digital products?

A10: To get started, assess your existing content inventory, identify suitable product formats, repurpose content efficiently, choose appropriate sales platforms, price your products strategically, and promote your products effectively to attract customers and drive sales. Start with a clear plan and gradually implement your strategies to see results.