Digital products have become an integral part of our everyday lives from the streaming services on our TV to digital assistants like Amazon’s Alexa. When we think about it in this context, the concept of a digital product seems self-explanatory – yet the term “digital product” is so vague. In this post, I’m going to answer the question of, “What is a digital product?” and dive into five tips to build a successful digital product.

What is a digital product?

As the name suggests, these are offerings that exist in the digital world. Digital products exist in many forms, but this post will stick to the software side of things.

Mobile apps are the most obvious example, but a software digital product is any product that is delivered and used in a digital format, specifically computer software. This type of digital product is delivered over the internet, making it accessible to customers from anywhere in the world with an internet connection.

Five tips to build a digital product

In today's digital age, creating a digital product is easier than ever before. With a plethora of online tools and resources available, almost anyone can build and sell software products online. However, building a successful digital product requires careful planning and execution. Below are five tips that can help you build a digital product that meets the needs of your target audience and drives business growth.

1. Conduct market research

When building a digital product, you have to make some assumptions about the people who will ultimately use that product. If you don’t work to validate or invalidate your assumptions as you go, you will (almost always) fail. To design and develop a successful digital product, conduct market research to identify your target audience’s pain points, preferences, and expectations.

2. Practice human-centered design

Use the insights gathered from market research to design a product that meets the needs of your target audience. Practice human-centered design, which focuses on creating solutions that address the needs of the user, not just the needs of the business.

3. Build a minimum viable product (MVP)

Building a minimum viable product (MVP) is another important tip for developing a successful digital product. An MVP is a basic version of your product that includes only the essential features. Testing the MVP with your target audience can provide valuable feedback and insights that can help improve the product before its official launch.

4. Test and iterate

Use the feedback gathered from testing the MVP to iterate and improve the product. Continuously test and gather feedback throughout the development process to ensure that your digital product meets the needs of your target audience.

5. Launch and market

Once you've developed a digital product that meets the needs of your target audience, launch and market it to reach potential customers. Use marketing techniques such as partnerships, digital advertising, and SEO to increase visibility and attract customers.

Build your next great digital product

As mentioned, it's crucial that you build something that people want to buy. You can read our post on human-centered design to get a better understanding on how to do just that.

Furthermore, software and digital products require technical knowledge and people that can build quality systems for you. If you do not have access to such people, read our guide on how to choose a software development company.

Software and digital products are a growing market, offering a lot of benefits to entrepreneurs, small businesses, and individuals. Start dreaming about what digital can do for you.