Backstory

In December 2019, I ventured into selling digital products on Gumroad, but my initial efforts were a complete flop. A few months later, I pivoted and decided to give my products away for free, which turned out to be a smart move. This strategy allowed me to build an email list of nearly 2,000 subscribers and generated $200 through free offerings.

Section 1.1: The Power of Choice

Gumroad provides an interesting feature that allows customers to pay whatever they wish for a product. They can choose to download for free or contribute any amount they feel is appropriate.

With my initial offering—several iOS icon packs—I earned $150. It might not seem significant, but it’s a start. After that, I introduced two additional free products, and within just a few weeks, those alone netted me another $50—surpassing my earnings from my first six months combined and accounting for a quarter of my total revenue over 15 months.

The bottom line

Achieving online success is within everyone’s reach, but quick profits are seldom easy to find. It’s essential to pursue long-term goals rather than seeking fast cash. Starting with free offerings, you can cultivate an email list, promote both your content and yourself, and watch your prospects expand.

I plan to introduce more paid products to my Gumroad store, targeting my growing customer base. All of this began with free products. When I tally my various income streams, my earnings have surpassed my monthly salary from my 9-to-5 job at Google.

Start small, but always think big!

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