How to Pick Your First Starter Offer (Without Overthinking It)
If you’ve ever thought, “I’d love to turn my hobby into a little side income, but I have no idea where to start…” this post is for you.
The truth is, you don’t need a huge course or a complicated launch plan to start selling digital products. You just need one small offer, something simple, valuable, and quick to create, to test the waters and build momentum.
At HobbyScool, we help creative hobbyists turn their passions into digital products they can sell online. In this post, I’m going to show you how to create your first starter offer — without second-guessing every little detail or spending months in creation mode.
What Is a Starter Offer?
A starter offer is a small, low-risk digital product that’s designed to be:
Quick to create
Easy to sell
Packed with value for your audience
It’s the kind of product that helps you gain confidence, build your audience, and make your first few sales, without the pressure of “getting it perfect.”
These are perfect for anyone wondering how to create a digital offer from a hobby or looking for beginner-friendly digital product ideas.
The 3-Part Starter Offer Checklist
If you’re stuck on what to create, here’s a simple 3-part framework I teach inside the Part-Time Passion Club to help you brainstorm your first product idea.
1. Quick to Create
Start with something you can make in a weekend or less.
This could be:
A digital sticker bundle
A themed printable (like a planner, labels, or gift tags)
A set of journaling pages
A mini scrapbook kit
You want something you can finish and publish without getting stuck in perfection mode. Remember, done is better than perfect.
2. Specific Use Case
Great digital products solve a small, specific problem or help someone do something.
Here are a few examples:
A mom wants printable planner stickers to decorate her week
A scrapbooker needs background pages for her fall-themed album
A crafter wants to organize her supplies with custom labels
The more specific your product’s use case, the easier it is to market and sell — especially on platforms like Etsy, Shopify, or your own website.
3. Low Price, High Perceived Value
Most starter digital products sell best in the $7 to $49 range. They’re affordable enough for someone to buy without overthinking it, but still packed with value.
Here’s how to increase perceived value:
Use beautiful design (even Canva works!)
Bundle several related items together
Choose a theme that your audience is already excited about (seasonal, vintage, floral, etc.)
Real Examples from the HobbyScool Shop
If you're still unsure what to create, check out some of our best-selling digital products for crafters — all perfect examples of starter offers:
🎨 Digital Stickers & Clip Art
These are great for planner lovers, journaling, and digital scrapbooking. You can even use them to create mockups for your own digital products or sell in small bundles.
→ Browse the Sticker & Clip Art Collection
📓 Junk Journal Pages
If you’re a member of our Craft & Create Club, you know we’re focused on junk journals this month. These templates are easy to personalize and can become a signature product line.
✂️ Printable Kits & Themed Bundles
Think: seasonal home organization, gift tags, or craft supply labels. These solve a specific need and are quick to make with tools you already use.
Not Sure Where to Start? Ask Yourself:
What have I made for myself that others might want too?
What helped me get organized or inspired in my own creative practice?
What would’ve saved me time when I was just starting out?
These questions often unlock ideas that are more valuable than you realize.
Want Help Creating Your First Offer?
If you're ready to take action, I have a workshop inside the Part-Time Passion Club called:
🎉 “Create Your Perfect Starter Offer”
We’ll walk through:
How to brainstorm your first product
How to price it confidently
How to write a simple sales page that makes people want to buy
Plus: You’ll get a done-for-you Canva sales page template to customize and launch faster
If you’ve been thinking about selling printables or digital downloads, this is the perfect starting point.
→ Join the Club & Access Your Workshop - or if you'd rather just grab the workshop on its own, you can get it here.
Final Thoughts
Your first product doesn’t have to be perfect. It just has to exist.
Start small. Think about what’s easy for you to create. Package it up in a way that solves a real problem — and then put it out there.
This is how creative side hustles begin — with one simple offer.
And I can’t wait to see what you build.
