Right now, there are a whopping 10.7 million job seekers in the United States alone. Yes, you read it correctly: ten million plus, all searching for their next jobs. So, what does this massive number mean for you as a resume writer?
Well, it means one thing for sure—countless opportunities.
With this many job seekers, the competition is fierce, and most people need the resources to help them cut through and land those all-important interviews. And where do they turn for these much-needed resources? The good ol' internet, of course.
That is precisely what I noticed back in 2018. With my background in HR and recruiting, I decided to transform my experience into a collection of digital products, specifically—resume templates. Since then, these products have been used by over 8,000 job seekers worldwide. (That's 8,000+ careers changed and powered by tools I created. This number still blows my mind!)
And here's the thing—you can do it too!
There's a world of digital products you, as a resume writer, can choose to create. The best part is that it's not just a service to job seekers. It's a real game-changer for your income and business growth, as it will help you attract and serve new clients 24/7, WITHOUT constantly trading your time for money for 1:1 resume writing services.
Ready to discover more about these opportunities? Let's dive in.
How Selling Digital Products Benefits Resume Writers
As a resume writer, creating digital products will help you grow and scale your business, add a new income stream that works on auto-pilot, and grow your earnings.
The best part? Unlike with services, earning more in this case doesn't mean you'll be more busy. You'll have more time for life outside your work, all while continuing to serve your clients effectively.
Picture this: It’s Tuesday morning. You wake up without an alarm, roll over to the side of your bed, and grab your mobile phone to check your calendar. The moment you unlock it, they pop up: sales notifications. Ten people purchased your products while you were sleeping (read: $$$). You just had a profitable night! Again! And you don't have to do anything afterward. You created these products in advance and now it's up to your clients to use them on their own.
That's exactly what selling digital products looks like.
Curious? Let's look into the biggest advantages of selling digital products:
Diversify Your Income Streams
When you sell digital products, such as e-books, templates, or courses, you create an additional source of revenue that is not tied to the number of hours you work. This means that you can make money even when you're not writing resumes, and you can scale your business without burning out.
Reach a Wider Audience
Digital products can be easily distributed and accessed by anyone with an internet connection. They're also more affordable and ideal for people who prefer DIY solutions to pricey 1:1 services.
That's why adding digital products to your offers means that you can attract clients who wouldn't necessarily hire you for your resume-writing services. Also, if your digital products are high-quality and valuable, your customers might recommend them to their friends and colleagues, increasing your visibility and credibility.
Establish Yourself as an Expert
Creating digital products allows you to demonstrate your knowledge and skills in a particular area and position yourself as an authority in your niche. This can enhance brand recognition and attract more clients who trust your expertise.
Provide Value to Your Clients
The benefits of selling digital products go beyond just making money. Sure, in that sense, they're beneficial for you. But they also represent your dedication to delivering real value to your clients in different formats.
When you offer products designed to solve specific client issues, you demonstrate sincere care for their successes. And, when your digital products actively contribute to clients' achievements, it not only encourages their loyalty but also increases the likelihood of them returning for more products or recommending you to others.
Top 6 Digital Products to Sell for Resume Writers
Here are some of the best digital products you can incorporate into your offering to achieve the above benefits and equip your clients with exceptional resources to excel in their next career step.
#1 Resume Templates
As a resume writer, you're perfectly aware of the importance of a professional resume. So, why not take it a step further by offering customizable resume templates?
Think about launching a resume shop that offers exactly that. You can create so many options encompassing diverse styles, formats, and designs for clients to select from and personalize as per their unique requirements.
Here are just a few ideas:
professional resume templates strategically structured and designed for your niche, e.g., specific industry, seniority level, or career path
pre-filled resume templates for specific roles, e.g., marketing, finance, or HR jobs
resume templates with a specific aesthetic, e.g., classic, minimalist, or creative
resume templates in a specific format, e.g., Canva, Word, Pages, or Google Docs
And guess what? You don't have to start from scratch. You can get a collection of ready-to-sell resume templates, brand them as yours, upload them to your site, and launch your resume shop in less than five days. Here's how.
Example: ByRecruiters Resume Templates
#2 Resume Writing Guides
Resume writing guides are essential for clients who need guidance on creating an effective resume. Offering comprehensive guides that cover everything from formatting to content ensures that your clients have all the information they need to create a top-notch resume.
Example: ByRecruiters Resume Writing Guide (included in the resume package)
#3 Resume Writing Workbooks
Resume writing workbooks are another excellent tool for clients who want to improve their resume writing skills. In these workbooks, you can provide step-by-step guidance on how to create a strong resume, as well as exercises and activities to help clients put their newfound knowledge into practice.
#4 Cover Letter Templates
Cover letters are crucial components of numerous job applications, and granting clients access to a diverse range of cover letter templates can greatly simplify the process. Consider offering templates that are not only professional and proven but also customizable and user-friendly, allowing clients to start with a solid foundation while having the flexibility to tailor them to specific job applications.
Example: ByRecruiters Cover Letter Templates (included in the resume package)
#5 Job Search Guides and Planners
Job search guides and planners can provide clients with valuable information on navigating the job search process. Outline tips and advice on everything from researching potential employers to following up after an interview. This way, you gather all the necessary information in one place, saving your clients time and helping them increase their chances of success.
Example: ByRecruiters Job Search Planner
#6 Job Application Trackers
Job application trackers are practical tools that help your clients manage and organize their job applications. You can create these trackers as printable pages or digital sheets, providing a streamlined and efficient way for your clients to track their job-hunting progress and stay organized throughout the process while keeping all their information on job applications, interviews, and networking in one place.
Example: Job Search Trackers by MoreThanCareers
How to Choose the Right Digital Product to Sell: 5 key steps
It's essential to choose a digital product that caters to your target audience while showcasing your skills and expertise. The following are the steps you need to take to ensure that you create the perfect digital product for your resume-writing business.
1. Identify Your Target Audience
The first step in creating the right digital product is identifying your target audience. Whose problem are you solving? And who are you selling to? Is it recent graduates, mid-career professionals, or executives? Focus on understanding your target audience's needs, pain points, and preferences.
2. Understand Your Skills and Expertise
Once you've identified your target audience, the next step is to understand your skills and expertise. What makes you stand out from the competition? What unique skills do you bring to the table? Identifying your strengths will help you create a digital product that differentiates you from your competitors.
3. Research Your Competitors
Researching your competitors is essential in creating a digital product that stands out. So, in this step, you should inquire about your competitors' offerings, identifying their strengths and weaknesses. Explore the gaps in the market that you can effectively fill. The primary objective here is to pinpoint what makes your product unique and sets you apart from others.
4. Create Digital Products
With the information you've gathered from identifying your target audience, understanding your skills and expertise, and researching your competitors, you can now create a digital product that caters to your target audience's needs. Whether it's an e-book, online course, or digital template, ensure that your digital product is high-quality, easy to understand, and solves your target audience's pain points.
5. Sell Digital Products
Now that you've created the perfect digital product, it's time to start selling. You can sell your digital product on your website, social media, or online marketplaces like Amazon or Etsy. Ensure your digital product is appropriately priced and marketed to your target audience to increase sales.
Want to sell resume templates? Follow these 5 key steps to get started.
Key Takeaways
As a resume writer, creating and selling digital products can expand your reach to attract and serve potential clients from all over the world. Also, it can be a rapid means to substantially increase your income and accelerate the growth of your business.
And the best part? You achieve all this while having more free time because digital products require a one-time effort but deliver long-term benefits.
Here are key things to remember:
There's a rising need for tools and resources that make the job-seeking process easier. As a resume writer, you can tap into this demand with digital products that help your audience stand out and land interviews.
Selling digital products allows you to diversify your income streams, reduce reliance on billable hours, and scale your business without burning out.
To create the perfect digital product, identify your target audience, understand your unique skills, research your competitors, and create solutions that cater to your audience's needs.
Some of the most popular digital products for resume writers include resume templates, resume writing guides, workbooks, and cover letter templates.
Now is the perfect time to create and sell digital products to take your resume writing business to new levels. Start here.
What's Next?
Learn more about the Resume Shop Starter Kit, a one-of-a-kind toolkit that helps launch your resume shop in 5 days.
Curious about my journey? Read how I started selling resume templates in 2018.
Bookmark this article to have it at hand anytime you need some biz inspiration.
Know someone in the online space who wants to start an online business? (Bonus points if they're in HR, career coaching, or resume writing field.) Share this article with them.
Ana Colak-Fustin
Hi there—I'm Ana, an ex-recruiter, HR consultant, and founder of ByRecruiters.com. My career advice and resume templates have been featured in Yahoo Finance, Jobscan, A Better HR Business, Starter Story, The Muse, and other global media. Since 2018, over 8,000 professionals worldwide have used my templates to land new jobs. I'm on a mission to help 80,000 more!