Guitar · Lessons, app, books
JustinGuitar
Justin Sandercoe
Free, structured guitar lessons that grew into an app, songbooks and paid courses.
justinguitar.com ↗SELL YOUR KNOWLEDGE ONLINE
How to sell your knowledge online.
You don’t need a tech team. Today’s tools handle the storefront, the payments and the delivery, so you can focus on what you know.
Find your thing →free · about 5 minutes
THE SHORT ANSWER
To sell your knowledge online, choose one digital format that fits how you explain things, such as a downloadable guide, a live workshop, coaching sessions, a course or a paid newsletter. Use a platform that handles checkout and delivery, collect emails from day one, and sell first to the people who already follow your free work.
WHY YOUR EXPERIENCE COUNTS
The internet made knowledge easy to sell.
Twenty years ago, sharing your expertise widely meant a publisher, a studio or a speaking agent. Now you can sell a guide, run a class or start a paid newsletter from your kitchen table.
The tools are built for non-technical people. Storefronts, payments, video hosting and email lists come ready to use, often for a small monthly fee or a share of sales.
What the tools can’t supply is the knowledge itself, and the trust that comes from having lived it. That part is yours.
IDEAS THAT FIT
Digital products and services you can sell
| Idea | Format | Effort to start | How it earns |
|---|---|---|---|
| Downloadable guides and templates | Low | One-time sales | |
| Live online workshops | Video call | Low | Tickets |
| Coaching and consulting sessions | Video call | Low | Per session |
| A self-paced course | Recorded lessons | Medium | Course sales |
| A paid newsletter | Low | Subscriptions | |
| A membership community | Private group | Medium | Monthly fees |
| Video lessons on a platform | On-demand video | Medium | Sales or subscriptions |
| Ebooks and short books | Digital or print | Medium | Book sales |
PEOPLE WHO DID IT
Real people, real knowledge, real second acts.
Parenting · Podcast, books, courses
Janet Lansbury
Janet Lansbury
A popular podcast and books, with an online course for parents who want more.
janetlansbury.com ↗
Publishing · Newsletter & classes
Jane Friedman
Jane Friedman
A paid newsletter for authors, plus online classes and consulting.
janefriedman.com ↗
Electrical trade · Training
Mike Holt Enterprises
Mike Holt
Books, videos and exam prep that made him the go-to teacher of the electrical code.
mikeholt.com ↗HOW TO START
Five steps, one at a time.
- 01
Know
Pick the specific result people get from your knowledge.
- 02
Find
Gather an email list of people interested in that result, even a small one.
- 03
Tell
Choose one digital format that fits how you like to explain.
- 04
Build
Set up a simple storefront with checkout and delivery handled for you.
- 05
Grow
Sell to your list first, then improve the product from their feedback.
FIND YOUR THING
Get a plan made for what you know.
Answer six quick questions and the free Know + Tell Business Builder suggests your best first thing, who it’s for and which tools to use. Your first answer is already filled in.
TOOLS FOR YOUR FIRST STEP
Start with these.
Teachable ↗Host and sell an online course with checkout built in.Podia ↗Sell guides, workshops and memberships from one storefront.beehiiv ↗Build the email list you’ll sell to, with paid subscriptions when you’re ready.
Know + Tell is free. Some tool links pay us a commission; here’s how we choose.
QUESTIONS PEOPLE ASK
Questions people ask.
What’s the easiest knowledge product to sell online?
A short downloadable guide or a live workshop. Both are quick to make, easy to price and teach you what people want next.
Do I need my own website?
Not at first. Course and storefront platforms give you a page to sell from, and you can add a website later.
How do people find my products?
Usually through your free content and your email list. Search, social media and word of mouth all feed into that list.
How much do the platforms cost?
Many offer free or low-cost starter plans, with paid plans or transaction fees as you grow. Compare a few before you choose.
Can I sell knowledge from my old job?
Usually, but check any confidentiality, non-compete or intellectual-property agreements you signed, and don’t share an employer’s private information.
KEEP GOING