Are you dreaming of building a digital product business but feel overwhelmed because you’re starting from zero? No email list, no Instagram following, no tech background? I’ve been there—and I decided to test it for real.
In this post, I’ll show you how I made my first digital product sale within 14 days of starting a brand-new Instagram account. I’m walking you through the exact 5-step process I used to successfully sell digital products online with no prior audience.
Step 1: Create a Simple, Low-Ticket Digital Product
The first step is to choose a niche and create a digital product that helps solve a specific problem. In my test business, I created a PDF guide on how to find clean gluten-free snacks for families. I used Canva to design it—it was simple, practical, and based on my own experience.
You don’t have to be an expert to create a helpful product. Just focus on what you know and how you can package it in a way that provides value.
Step 2: Build a Funnel That Sells
A funnel is simply the path people take to become paying customers. I used Flodesk to set up both my sales page and email list (yes, you can do both on Flodesk!). My funnel had two options:
- A direct sales page for my $14 product
- A freebie (a gluten-free bread guide) that led to a limited-time offer on the full product
This setup made it super easy for people to find value and purchase quickly!
Step 3: Set Up Your Instagram for Sales
I created a brand-new Instagram account with zero followers and optimized it for my niche. Here’s how:
- Used a clear profile photo (of me with my son)
- Wrote an “I help” statement in my bio
- Added a call-to-action (CTA) to download my free guide
- Linked my freebie page using Flodesk Forms
Even with no followers at the beginning, I gained over 5,000 new followers thanks to consistent, targeted content and viral Reels.
Step 4: Automate DMs with ManyChat
To make it easy for followers to get my freebies and offers, I used ManyChat to set up keyword-triggered automations. When someone commented “bread” or “snack” on my Reels, they got an automatic DM with a link to download the guide or visit the sales page.
You can start manually if you’re just getting started—but automation makes things so much easier as you grow.
Step 5: Create Reels That Sell
Instagram Reels are powerful! I made quick, engaging videos showing gluten-free snack ideas and clean eating tips. Each Reel included a strong CTA like “Comment ‘snack’ to get my free guide,” which led people straight into my funnel.
Some of my Reels even went viral, helping me gain thousands of followers and grow my email list fast!
You don’t need a huge following or fancy tools to start making sales online. With a simple product, a smart funnel, and a little Instagram strategy, you can sell digital products even from scratch.
Want to learn how to create your own digital product and start selling fast? Click here for my Free Digital Product Training.
