One of the biggest mistakes I’ve made online is creating something before knowing whether anyone actually wanted it.
It sounds obvious when I say it out loud, but it’s surprisingly easy to do.
You get excited about an idea. You spend hours creating a product, designing graphics, writing descriptions, and planning social media posts. Then you launch it and wait for sales.
And nothing happens.
I’ve done it. Many business owners have done it. In fact, I think it’s one of the most common reasons people become frustrated with online business.
The problem isn’t always the product.
Sometimes the problem is that we never confirmed whether people wanted it in the first place.
What Most Beginners Get Wrong
Many of us start with a solution.
We create a product and then go looking for a problem.
The better approach is the opposite.
Start with a problem and then create a solution.
Think about it this way. People rarely wake up wanting to buy a planner, template, ebook, course, or checklist.
They wake up wanting to solve a problem.
They want more sales, more leads, save money or find a job.
Or maybe they just want to make their first online sale.
The product is simply the vehicle that helps them get there.
What Changed My Thinking
Over the past several weeks, I’ve spent more time paying attention to what people are actually asking.
Not what influencers are selling, or what marketing gurus claim is trending.
Not what marketing gurus claim is trending.
Real questions from real people.
A pattern started appearing.
Most people weren’t asking how to create a digital product.
They were asking things like:
- How do I get my product in front of the right people?
- Why am I not making sales?
- How do I get leads?
- Why is nobody buying?
- How do I market my business?
Those questions reveal the actual problem.
And once you understand the problem, creating useful content and products becomes much easier.
How I Find Ideas Now
Instead of brainstorming products first, I pay attention to conversations.
I look at comments.
I read questions in Facebook groups.
I pay attention to recurring themes on social media.
I review my own frustrations.
I look for patterns and which videos or posts gets the most responses and why.
When the same question appears repeatedly, that’s usually a sign that people are actively searching for a solution.
That’s valuable information.
A Simple Test
Before creating anything, ask yourself:
“Can I clearly explain the problem this solves in one sentence?”
If the answer is no, keep researching.
If the answer is yes, ask another question:
“Have I seen multiple people asking about this problem?”
If the answer is still yes, you may have found something worth creating.
What I’m Doing Differently
For this 90-day experiment, I’m trying to spend less time guessing and more time listening.
Instead of creating products because they seem like a good idea, I’m focusing on problems people consistently mention.
Will every idea work?
Probably not.
But I’d rather build solutions around real problems than create products and hope someone eventually wants them.
That’s the approach I’m testing.
And as always, I’ll share the results honestly along the way.
If you’d like help generating content ideas, validating product ideas, or discovering what your audience is actually looking for, subscribe to receive future resources, templates, and guides as they’re released.
No hype. No shortcuts. Just honest tests, practical solutions, and proof whenever possible.
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