If you’re like most 50+ professionals you are discounting the power of your expertise.
You’ve spent decades solving complex problems, managing crises, building systems, and navigating corporate politics. You’ve seen trends come and go. You’ve learned what works, what doesn’t, and – most importantly – why.
However, you’ve convinced yourself that this deep, hard-earned knowledge isn’t “marketable.”
You think: “Who would pay for what I know? It’s just common sense.” Or: “Everyone in my industry already knows this stuff.” Or: “I’m not some guru or thought leader – I’m just a working professional.”
Meanwhile, 25-year-olds with impressive LinkedIn headlines and very little real-world experience are packaging basic concepts into profitable courses and selling them faster than they can create them.
You’re suffering from what I call “expertise blindness.”
When you’ve been excellent at something for 20+ years, that excellence becomes invisible to you. What feels “obvious” to you is actually the result of thousands of hours of pattern recognition, countless mistakes overcome, and refined judgment that only comes with time.
You’re discounting your expertise because you’re too close to it.
Your decades of battle-tested expertise could generate income within 30-60 days – if you stop believing your expertise isn’t valuable enough, too niche, or “everyone already knows this stuff.”
Your expertise isn’t just valuable – it’s your unfair advantage in a world obsessed with quick fixes and surface-level solutions.
My $3,000 Mistake (And What It Taught Me About Selling Expertise)
Six months after being laid off from my corporate role, I was convinced I needed to create something “comprehensive” to prove my value. After all, I had 20+ years of learning and development leadership, expertise in SAP implementations, and a doctorate in education.
Surely, I could create something amazing. So I spent three months building what I called “The Complete Enterprise Change Management System” – a 200-page guide with templates, assessments, communication plans, and detailed methodologies.
I poured everything I knew into it. Every framework I’d developed. Every lesson from managing million-dollar transformations at Fortune 500 companies.
I priced it at $297 because, I believed, it was worth that to any company implementing major change.
Then I launched it to... crickets.
Over two months, I sold exactly three copies. All to former colleagues who bought it out of sympathy.
I was devastated. But I realized, the problem wasn’t my expertise.
I just made a lot of mistakes
Mistake #1: I created a product for “everyone” My target market was “companies doing change management.” That’s like targeting “people who eat food.” Too broad, too vague.
Mistake #2: I built it in isolation I spent months perfecting the product without talking to a single potential customer. I was solving problems I assumed existed instead of problems people actually had.
Mistake #3: I had no audience I launched to my LinkedIn connections and expected them to become customers. Most didn’t even know I was selling anything.
Mistake #4: I buried the value 200 pages of “comprehensive” content actually scared people away. They wanted solutions, not homework.
Here’s what I learned: The best expertise products solve one specific problem for one specific type of person.
So I went back to the drawing board.
Instead of “The Complete Enterprise Change Management System,” I created “The ERP Change Communications Playbook with 15 high-quality templates” – specifically for change consultants working in global ERP implementations.
45 pages. $197. Sold 23 copies in the first month.
Same expertise. Different packaging. Completely different results.
The lesson? Your expertise is valuable, but value alone doesn’t sell. You need the right problem, the right audience, and the right approach.
That’s why this list includes specific, focused products instead of “comprehensive systems.” That’s why each one targets a particular pain point. And that’s why the selling strategy focuses on professional networks instead of hoping strangers will find your brilliance.
Don’t make my $3,000 mistake.
Start focused, start simple, and start with people who already know your work.
Why Digital Products Are Your Fast Track to Income
Three reasons:
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Scalability: Create once, sell repeatedly
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Speed: Most can be built in 1-4 weeks
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Leverage: They work while you sleep, travel, or pursue other opportunities
Now, let’s get to the products that can start generating income fast.
Below are 10 types of digital products that are perfect for the 50+. You can create and start selling these within weeks, not months.
You don’t need deep tech skills or a massive social media following.
Just your expertise, packaged the right way.
1. The “Mistake Prevention” Checklist
What it is: A comprehensive checklist that helps others avoid the costly mistakes you’ve already made (and learned from).
Why it sells: People will pay premium prices to avoid expensive errors.
Example: If you’re a former IT director, create “The $50K Software Implementation Checklist: 47 Critical Steps Most Companies Skip (And Pay For Later)”
Time to create: 1-2 weeks Price range: $47-$197 Why it works: Your decades of “what not to do” experience is gold.
2. The “Decision Framework” Template
What it is: A step-by-step decision-making process you’ve refined through years of experience.
Why it sells: Decision-making is painful. People crave proven frameworks.
Example: “The 5-Factor Executive Hiring Framework: How I Reduced Bad Hires by 78% in 15 Years of Leadership”
Time to create: 2-3 weeks Price range: $97-$297 Why it works: You’ve made thousands of decisions. Package that wisdom.
3. The “Transition Playbook”
What it is: A detailed guide for navigating a major change you’ve successfully managed.
Why it sells: Change is universal and terrifying. Your roadmap provides comfort.
Example: “From Corporate to Consultant: The 90-Day Transition Playbook That Preserved My Six-Figure Income”
Time to create: 3-4 weeks Price range: $197-$497 Why it works: You’ve survived transitions others are facing now.
4. The “Efficiency System”
What it is: A productivity or process system you’ve developed and refined over years.
Why it sells: Everyone wants to work smarter, not harder.
Example: “The 15-Minute Daily Review: How I Managed 47 Direct Reports Without Working Weekends”
Time to create: 2-3 weeks Price range: $67-$197 Why it works: Your systems have been battle-tested in the real world.
5. The “Industry Insider’s Guide”
What it is: Behind-the-scenes knowledge about how your industry really works.
Why it sells: Insider knowledge is inherently valuable and hard to find elsewhere.
Example: “What Pharmaceutical Companies Don’t Tell You: An Insider’s Guide to Drug Development Timelines and Investment Risks”
Time to create: 2-4 weeks Price range: $97-$397 Why it works: You have access and insights that outsiders don’t.
6. The “Troubleshooting Guide”
What it is: Solutions to common problems you’ve solved hundreds of times.
Why it sells: Problem-solution fit is automatic – people know they need fixes.
Example: “The Manufacturing Manager’s Crisis Handbook: 23 Production Emergencies and Exactly How to Fix Them”
Time to create: 3-4 weeks Price range: $147-$497 Why it works: Your problem-solving experience is incredibly valuable.
7. The “Negotiation Scripts”
What it is: Word-for-word scripts for negotiations you’ve mastered over decades.
Why it sells: Most people hate negotiating and will pay for proven language.
Example: “The Executive’s Salary Negotiation Scripts: 12 Conversations That Added $340K to My Career”
Time to create: 1-2 weeks Price range: $67-$197 Why it works: You’ve had thousands of difficult conversations. Package the best ones.
8. The “Vendor/Supplier Database”
What it is: A curated list of trusted vendors, suppliers, or service providers you’ve vetted over years.
Why it sells: Finding reliable partners is time-consuming and risky.
Example: “The Fortune 500 CISO’s Cybersecurity Vendor Directory: 47 Pre-Vetted Companies That Actually Deliver”
Time to create: 2-3 weeks Price range: $97-$397 Why it works: Your network and vetting experience saves others time and money.
9. The “Assessment Tool”
What it is: A diagnostic tool that helps others evaluate their situation in your area of expertise.
Why it sells: People need to understand where they stand before they can improve.
Example: “The Change Readiness Assessment: Score Your Organization’s Ability to Execute Major Transformations”
Time to create: 3-4 weeks Price range: $47-$197 Why it works: Your diagnostic skills help others gain clarity.
10. The “Templates & Swipe Files”
What it is: Proven templates, documents, or communications you’ve created and refined.
Why it sells: Templates save time and provide structure for complex tasks.
Example: “The Senior Executive’s Communication Templates: 31 Proven Emails, Presentations, and Memos for Every Leadership Situation”
Time to create: 2-4 weeks Price range: $97-$297 Why it works: Your communication skills and documents are refined through experience.
Where and How to Sell These Digital Products
Here’s the part most “make money online” gurus skip: the actual selling.
You don’t need a massive email list or 100K followers to start generating income from these products. You need the right platforms and a strategic approach that leverages your existing professional network.
Start Here: Direct Professional Networks
LinkedIn (Your Secret Weapon)
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Post valuable content that demonstrates your expertise
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Use LinkedIn articles to preview your knowledge
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Direct message former colleagues and industry contacts
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Share case studies and results from your career
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Why it works: Your network already knows your credibility
Industry Forums and Communities
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Participate in industry-specific Facebook groups
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Contribute to Reddit communities in your field
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Join Slack workspaces for your profession
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Answer questions on Quora with your expertise
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Why it works: You’re solving problems for people actively seeking solutions
Email to Your Existing Network
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Send a “career transition” email to former colleagues
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Share your new digital product as a resource
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Offer early-bird pricing to people who know your work
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Why it works: Warm audiences convert 5-10x better than cold traffic
Scale With These Platforms
Gumroad (Beginner-Friendly)
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Upload and sell immediately
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Built-in payment processing
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No monthly fees (just per-transaction)
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Perfect for testing product demand
Teachable or Thinkific (For Course-Style Products)
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Professional-looking course platform
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Built-in marketing tools
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Student progress tracking
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Great for multi-module products
Your Own Website (Long-term)
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WordPress with WooCommerce
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Squarespace with Commerce
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ConvertKit for email marketing
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Gives you full control and higher margins
The “Expertise First” Selling Strategy
Forget complicated funnels. Use what already works for professionals:
1. Problem-Solution Demonstration
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Share a real problem you solved in your career
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Explain your thought process and framework
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Offer the complete solution as your product
2. Case Study Marketing
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Document a specific result you achieved
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Break down exactly how you did it
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Package that methodology as your product
3. “Behind the Scenes” Content
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Show how decisions are really made in your industry
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Reveal the frameworks you actually used
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Position your product as the complete system
4. Authority-First Approach
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Write detailed LinkedIn articles about industry challenges
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Speak at industry events (virtual or in-person)
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Contribute to trade publications
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Guest on industry podcasts
Pricing Strategy for Professional Audiences
Your audience isn’t price-shopping on Groupon. They’re looking for results.
Price based on outcome value, not time invested:
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A checklist that prevents a $50K mistake can sell for $497
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A negotiation script that adds $20K to a salary can sell for $297
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A decision framework that saves 6 months can sell for $997
Start higher than feels comfortable:
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Your decades of experience command premium pricing
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Professional audiences expect to pay for serious solutions
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You can always lower prices; it’s harder to raise them
The 30-Day Launch Plan
Week 1: Create your product and upload to Gumroad
Week 2: Write 3 LinkedIn articles demonstrating your expertise
Week 3: Email your network and post in 5 relevant industry groups
Week 4: Analyze results and create your next product
No complicated marketing sequences. No social media dancing. Just professional-to-professional value exchange.
Start With ONE
Here’s where most people go wrong: They try to create too many products to fast.
Don’t.
Pick ONE product that aligns with:
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Your strongest area of expertise
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A problem you solved repeatedly in your career
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Something you could create in the next 30 days
You’re not creating a masterpiece. You’re creating a valuable solution that generates income while you build your next product.
Your Next Step
Look at this list again. Which ONE product could you create this month using knowledge you already have? That’s your starting point.
Your decades of expertise aren’t just valuable – they’re sitting income streams waiting to be packaged and sold.
The question isn’t whether you have valuable expertise. You do. But will you profit from it?
If you’re ready to own your expertise and build profitable digital products along with other products and services, download the first two chapters of my forthcoming book:
Expert to $100k+ How Professionals Over 50 Own Their Expertise and Earn $100k+ Without a 9 to 5
