The Pressure to Pick the "Right" Model
Most people get stuck here.
Not because they don't know what to make. But because they're trying to choose the path that sounds most legitimate, most scalable, or most like what someone else is doing.
They see courses everywhere, so they think they need a course.
They see coaches charging premium rates, so they think they need to offer coaching.
They see creators with membership sites, so they assume that's the endgame.
But none of that matters if it doesn't fit how you actually want to work.
This lesson exists to give you permission to choose the model that fits your life, not the one that fits someone else's highlight reel.
There Is No Single "Right" Way to Monetize
Let's be clear about something up front.
You do not need to build the most impressive thing. You do not need to copy what's working for someone else. You do not need to future-proof your business model before you've made your first dollar.
What you need is a path you can actually follow without resenting it three months in.
Because the best monetization model is the one you'll actually execute.
Not the one that scales the fastest.
Not the one that sounds the most passive.
Not the one that makes you look like you have it all figured out.
The one that fits your energy, your time, and your goals right now.
What This Course Does NOT Cover
Before we go further, let's name what's not included here.
This course does not cover:
Paid communities or membership platforms like Patreon
Sponsorships or brand deals
Building an influencer-style business that relies on audience size and platform algorithms
Not because those paths don't work. They do, for some people.
But they require different strategies, different energy, and often different timelines than what this course is built around.
This course is about selling what you know directly, through owned assets, without depending on audience scale or third-party approval.
If you want to build a business around content, services, or tools that you control, this is the right place.
If you're trying to monetize attention itself, this isn't the framework for that.
Three Clear Options (And What Each One Actually Requires)
Here are the three most common paths. Not ranked. Not in order of importance. Just laid out clearly so you can choose.
Option 1: Sell Content (Ebooks, Courses, Subscriptions)
This is what most people think of when they hear "digital product."
You create something once. You sell it multiple times. You don't trade time for money directly.
What this includes:
Ebooks or guides
Video courses
Audio lessons
Membership sites with ongoing content
Subscription-based access to templates, frameworks, or resources
What this requires:
Ability to organize information clearly
Comfort creating without immediate feedback
Willingness to market and sell repeatedly
Patience while the product finds its audience
When this works:
You've already explained the same thing multiple times
You don't want to be on calls regularly
You're okay with lower per-transaction revenue but higher volume potential
You want something that can sell while you're doing other things
When this doesn't work:
You hate creating in isolation
You need immediate feedback to feel confident
You thrive on live interaction and personalization
You want higher revenue per person served
Read: Should You Start with a Course or Something Else?
Option 2: Sell Services (1:1, Group Coaching, Done-for-You)
This is the direct model.
Someone pays you. You help them. The transaction is personal and immediate.
What this includes:
One-on-one coaching or consulting
Group coaching programs
Done-for-you services (you do the work for them)
Intensives or VIP days
Office hours or ongoing support
What this requires:
Comfort with live interaction
Ability to adapt in real time
Clear boundaries around time and availability
Confidence in your ability to help someone right now
When this works:
You learn by doing, not by planning
You like real-time feedback and conversation
You want higher revenue per client
You're still figuring out your exact process and want to refine it through repetition
You don't mind trading time for money in the short term
When this doesn't work:
You burn out easily from back-to-back calls
You want to step away without income stopping
You hate repeating yourself
You need structure and predictability more than flexibility
Read: Why Coaching Might Be Your Best First Offer (Even If You Think You're Not Ready)
Option 3: Tools and Templates (Optional, Usually Later)
This is the least common starting point, but it's worth mentioning.
You're not teaching. You're not coaching. You're providing something people use.
What this includes:
Spreadsheets or calculators
Notion templates
Canva templates
Swipe files
Frameworks or checklists
What this requires:
Understanding of what people need to do, not just learn
Ability to package process into something usable
Comfort with lower price points and higher volume
Willingness to support questions about how to use the tool
When this works:
You've built something for yourself that others keep asking for
You don't want to teach or explain, just provide
You're solving a specific, repeatable task
You want something simple to maintain
When this doesn't work:
You haven't used the tool yourself extensively
You're just guessing at what people need
You want to build deeper relationships with buyers
You prefer explaining over delivering finished assets
Read: When Tools and Templates Actually Sell (And When They Don't)
How to Choose Without Overthinking
Here's a simple filter.
Ask yourself:
Do I want to create once and sell many times?
Lean toward content (ebooks, courses, memberships).
Do I want to work directly with people and adapt as I go?
Lean toward services (coaching, consulting, done-for-you).
Do I want to provide something people use, not something I teach?
Lean toward tools and templates.
You're not locked in forever. But you do need to pick one to start.
Trying to do all three at once is how people burn out before they make a single sale.
Read: The Monetization Decision Tree: Which Path Fits Your Life Right Now?
What Happens After You Choose
Once you pick a path, everything gets simpler.
You know what to build.
You know what to talk about.
You know what your landing page needs to say.
You know what your email list is leading toward.
The confusion isn't coming from a lack of options. It's coming from trying to keep all the options open at once.
Close the others. Pick one. Build it.
You can always expand later.
Bottom Line
There is no universal best path.
Content scales but requires patience.
Services pay faster but require presence.
Tools fill gaps but require clarity on what people actually need.
The right path is the one that fits your energy, your time, and your goals right now.
Not the one that sounds most impressive.
Not the one that worked for someone else.
Not the one you think you're "supposed" to choose.
The one you'll actually follow through on.
Pick it. Build it. Adjust later if needed.
But stop waiting for permission to choose.
Read: Why the "Best" Monetization Model Doesn't Exist (And What to Do Instead)