Build What Sells: A No-BS Guide to Validating Your Digital Product Ideas
Most solopreneurs build before testing only to face silence on launch day. Learn how validation saves time, money, and energy by confirming real demand before you build.
Access your FREE Solopreneur Success Hub - your subscribers-only comprehensive command center for building and scaling a successful one-person business.
I created this all-in-one toolkit for building a profitable one-person business, something I wish existed when I first started, and it saves me 20+ hours a week.
Now, it’s yours… FREE!
More information about the Hub here.
Solopreneurs often learn this the hard way: building something “cool” doesn’t mean people will pay for it.
In this post, we unpack why validating your digital product idea is non-negotiable, how to do it fast, and how to spot real demand before wasting months.
Here’s what I will cover:
The Painful Lesson Most Solopreneurs Learn Too Late
If you’ve ever spent weeks or worse, months crafting a course, designing a template, or building a product you thought was genius, only to launch it and get… crickets, then you’re not alone.
This is the trap:
“I have an idea. I’ll just build it and then figure out how to sell it.”
Reality?
Most solopreneurs end up frustrated, burned out, and broke.
Why does this happen?
Because building something is not the same as solving a problem people care about.
Let’s break it down:
You invest time creating your dream solution.
You invest money into tools, branding, and assets.
You invest emotional energy, hoping this will be the one.
Then launch day arrives and… nothing.
No sales. No sign-ups. No momentum.
Wasted:
3 months of work
$500+ in tools
Your motivation to keep going
Validation is the antidote. It protects your:
Time: by focusing only on ideas with real traction
Money: by skipping the build-until-it’s-perfect trap
Energy: by giving you fast wins that build momentum
Bottom Line:
Validate first so you don’t become another solo builder with a product nobody asked for.
What Validation Means (In Plain English)
“Validate your idea” gets thrown around a lot… but most people have no idea what it actually means.
So let’s clear that up:
✅ Validation means:
Confirming real demand before building
Confirming people care enough to pay
Confirming the problem exists at scale, not just in your head
Think of validation as a reality check for your assumptions.
It answers the question:
“Will strangers pay for this idea, even if it’s not perfect?”
❌ Validation is not:
Asking your friends what they think
Asking ChatGPT “is this a good idea?”
Running a Twitter poll that says “Would you buy this?”
Those are opinions, not validation.
Validation happens when strangers commit, not when friends say “cool idea.”
Why Validation Matters Especially for Digital Products
If you’re creating digital products like:
Mini-courses
Notion or Airtable templates
Resource libraries
Prompt packs or automation bundles
Guides, checklists, or playbooks
...then validation is absolutely essential.
Why?
Because these products can feel easy to build so you build fast, launch fast, and expect results fast.
But digital products are also:
Low-touch: You don’t get real-time feedback from buyers
Low-cost: A $29 product won’t force people to be honest with you
Low-friction: So people say “that sounds cool” but never actually buy
Without validation, here’s what happens:
You build a $49 PDF guide.
It solves a problem you think people have.
You launch it.
You get likes, maybe even some DMs.
But nobody hits “buy.”
And then you’re stuck wondering:
Was it the product? The audience? The price? The landing page?
You don’t know.
Because you skipped the most important step: validation.
What “Validated” Actually Looks Like
Let’s make this crystal clear.
Here are the signs that your idea is truly validated:
✅ Strong signals of real demand:
People pay you (yes, money exchanged)
People pre-order even if the product isn’t finished
People book a sales or discovery call
People ask about pricing proactively
People refer others who need what you offer
People join a waitlist with real intent to buy
These actions = commitment.
Not curiosity. Not compliments.
Cash, time, and referrals are the real signals.
❌ Weak signals that feel good but mean nothing:
“This sounds amazing!”
Likes and comments on your announcement post
Friends and peers saying “I would totally buy this!”
AI saying your idea sounds promising
These are feel-good traps.
They keep you busy, not paid.
The Fast Validation Process
Now the juicy part.
Here’s a 4-step validation framework designed for solopreneurs.
Step 1: Define the Problem
Before you pitch anything, understand the pain:
Who has the problem? (Freelancers? Coaches? Designers?)
How often do they feel it? (Daily frustration or rare annoyance?)
What do they do today to deal with it? (Are they DIY-ing a solution?)
Example:
“Busy solopreneurs spend 3-4 hours a week planning content. Most do it manually or inconsistently. They wish it was systemized and repeatable.”
Boom!
That’s the seed of a validated problem.
Step 2: Talk to Real People
Yes, actual conversations.
Get on 5–15 short calls. Or DMs. Or async voice notes. Whatever works.
Ask them:
What’s your current process for X?
What’s frustrating about it?
How much time/money does it cost you now?
If you could wave a magic wand, what would this look like instead?
Do NOT pitch. Just listen.
You’re not selling. You’re studying.
Step 3: Run a Simple Offer Test
Build a basic landing page:
Headline with clear pain + promise
Short 2–3 bullet value props
One call to action: pre-order, book a call, apply, or join a waitlist
Show price if you’re testing willingness to pay
Tools you can use:
Gumroad
Substack, ConvertKit or Beehiiv for waitlists
Tally or Typeform for gated beta access
Then post it. Share it. DM people.
See who takes action.
Step 4: Ship a Small Version First
No need to build a 20-video course.
Start with a tiny asset that delivers a win.
Ideas:
A 10-page guide
A 1-hour workshop
A Notion template
A checklist
A swipe file or resource vault
A live Zoom consult with a worksheet
Keep it fast to build.
If nobody wants the small thing, why would they pay for a big one?
Practical Validation Messages You Can Post Today
So, you’ve defined your problem.
You’ve had a few convos.
You’ve seen some signals.
Now what?
Time to put your idea in the wild… fast.
But don’t overthink it.
You don’t need polished copy, pro design, or an ad budget.
You just need real words that spark real replies.
Here are copy-paste validation messages you can use today across Twitter, LinkedIn, Discord, or email:
Validation Message Templates:
🧰 Offer a tool or asset:
“I’m building a Notion system to help solopreneurs plan weekly growth in 30 mins or less. Want early access?”
🧠 Validate a consulting-based MVP:
“Thinking of offering a 60-minute 1:1 session to help solo creators build a repeatable content system with AI. DM me ‘Content’ if interested.”
📄 Test a template idea:
“Creating a plug-and-play lead magnet funnel inside Notion for busy solo founders. Want access to the beta version?”
📦 Try a product + pricing ask:
“Would you pay $29 for a toolkit that helps you go from audience insight to validated digital product in 7 days? If so, DM me ‘Toolkit’.”
💬 Use a poll with intent:
“Which one would you pay for right now?
A. Client Offboarding Template
B. AI-Powered Content Calendar
C. $99/yr Creator Systems Vault”
Pro Tip:
Post these 3x/week and note the responses, DMs, and opt-ins.
If nobody bites, tweak.
If people reply, you’re on to something.
Common Mistakes That Kill Your Validation Efforts
Validation is all about getting real-world feedback that guides your next step.
And that means avoiding these all-too-common mistakes:
❌ Trying to Look “Perfect” Before You Validate
You don’t need:
A logo
A polished landing page
A brand voice doc
A content calendar
You need one messy post and a link to a Stripe checkout or waitlist form.
Speed trumps polish.
❌ Asking for Feedback Instead of Commitment
“Thoughts?”
“Would love your opinion!”
“Open to feedback…”
These signal that you’re still in idea mode, not action mode.
Instead, ask:
“Want access?”
“Would you pay for this?”
“Here’s the pre-order link.”
❌ Selling to Everyone Instead of a Clear Niche
“Solopreneurs” isn’t a niche.
“Overwhelmed freelance designers juggling client work and content” is.
Get painfully specific:
What’s their role?
What’s the job they’re trying to do?
What’s stopping them from doing it?
When you narrow the who, you raise the chance of validation.
❌ Building Too Big Before Selling Something Small
If your first version has:
20+ videos
Custom design
Community integration
Bonus bundles...
You’re already in the weeds.
Sell a slice of the cake, NOT the cake.
❌ Confusing Enthusiasm with Demand
Likes ≠ Sales
Comments ≠ Pre-orders
Followers ≠ Customers
You’re not in the attention game.
You’re in the conversion game.
Metrics That Actually Matter
Not everything that can be measured matters.
So let’s simplify things.
If you’re validating a digital product idea, these are the real metrics to watch:
🟢 Green-light metrics:
5 paid users: early buyers = real demand
10 pre-orders: especially with limited info
20 qualified waitlist signups: from your niche, not randoms
5 booked calls: if you’re testing a service or high-ticket offer
1 repeat buyer: someone comes back for more = gold
🔴 Vanity metrics that don’t count:
Likes, shares, retweets
Generic compliments from friends
“Would love this!” but no action
1,000 views on your sales page with zero opt-ins
Remember:
You’re not here for compliments.
You’re here for conversion.
Before You Build: Your New Mindset
If you take one thing from this post, make it this:
You need real conversation and real commitment.
Most creators stay stuck in idea land for months.
They tinker, tweak, and talk… but never test.
The ones who win?
They ship small, validate fast, and iterate in public.
Ready To Start?
Start with one offer test this week.
Just one:
One message
One page
One product slice
See who raises their hand.
Then build for them, not for “everyone.”
Here’s Something For Solopreneurs Who Want to Validate + Launch in Days
Now, if you’re serious about making validation your unfair advantage...
If you want to turn internet complaints into $10k/month in digital product income...
Then this is where we go deeper.
Introducing:
🤖 5-DAY VALIDATION ACTION PLAN - SOLOPRENEUR MODE
Validate your digital product idea fast.
You’re being guided by a battle-tested solo digital creator who’s turned raw internet complaints into multiple 5-figure digital product launches using nothing but Reddit, X (Twitter), and quick validation loops.
You need a plan that shows you exactly what to test, post, and track daily, so you can stop guessing and start selling.
This mega prompt will help you validate any digital product idea in 5 days or less using real conversations, fast offer tests, and concrete market signals from your target audience.
Here’s what this 5-Day Validation Plan includes:
Day-by-Day Market Test Framework
Each day walks you through one high-leverage action to find, test, and validate a profitable idea.
No filler. No jargon. Just straight-up execution.
Validation Scripts & Templates
Includes plug-and-play messages for:
Cold DMs
Offer test posts
Waitlist callouts
Pricing asks
...so you never blank on what to say.
Tools You Already Know
Run the whole process using tools you’re probably already using:
Notion,
Gumroad,
Tally,
X, and
Reddit, all free or under $20/mo.
Launch-Ready in < 7 Days
By the end, you’ll either:
Have a validated product with early buyers/waitlist
Or know exactly why it didn’t land and what to tweak
Either way, you’ll save weeks of wasted time.
Who This Is For:
Indie creators launching without an audience
Freelancers looking to productize services
Coaches, consultants, or course creators testing new offers
Anyone tired of “hope marketing” and products that don’t sell
You’ll walk away with:
A clear, proven idea validation system
A pre-launch waitlist or buyers list
The confidence to build what people actually want
Here’s A Sample Result
Ready to Run Your Validation Sprint?
Skip the guesswork.
Test the right idea the right way.
Make validation your unfair advantage.
Not a paid member yet?
Upgrade to paid access now to unlock the Premium Vault, join monthly live trainings, and get access to the AI Toolbox and Action Lab.
Want to read more about the FULL benefits of being a Paid Subscriber?
