How to Sell Ads as Digital Products

Hey, thanks for joining for another week of New Venture Weekly.

Last week we discussed using AI UGC for ads and selling it as a service or SaaS.

This week, I want to explore how you can sell ad templates as digital products.

You can sell these as standalone products or combine them with a newsletter, agency and/or consulting.

Why does this business work?

Creative is the biggest lever advertisers can use when running paid social ads.

Gone are the days of shitty dropshipping static images and detailed targeting.

Every business running ads needs high-performing creatives, but not everyone can afford an agency.

Let’s jump in!

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⭐️ Examples/Tools:

• CreativeOS - Ad templates in Figma or Canva via a monthly subscription.

• Adcreative.ai - SaaS for mass-building ads using AI

• Foreplay.co - Create ad inspiration boards

• Atira - Similar to the above but with Ai features and analytics

• Nice Ads - Free newsletter breaking down ads for e-commerce brands

• Adfolio - Database and newsletter of ads for B2B advertisers

📈 Stats:

• Global social media advertising spending is projected to reach $247.3 billion in 2024, up 14.3% year-on-year. (source)

• Social media is forecast to be the largest media channel worldwide by advertising investment in 2024. (source)

• Meta (Facebook/Instagram) is expected to earn $155.6 billion in ad revenue in 2024, representing a 63.0% share of global social spend. (source)

🧐 Opportunities:

Opportunity #1 - Sell Ad Templates

This approach is perfect for solopreneurs or creators looking for a low-maintenance, high-margin product.

How It Works:

• Create a library of ad templates designed for Facebook/Instagram. Think carousel ads, video templates, static image ads, and Story/Reel formats.

• Use both Canva & Figma for the templates and expand based on demand.

• Offer niche-specific packs (I have a list at the end of this email) to tailor solutions for different industries.

• Sell these packs on LemonSqueezy, Gumroad, Etsy, and/or your own website.

Key Benefits:

• Low overhead: Once the templates are built, you’re only managing the sales and marketing.

• Scalability: No 1:1 work, so you can focus on generating traffic and scaling sales.

• Recurring revenue potential: Upsell customers with new template packs, updates, or annual memberships for exclusive designs.

Challenges to Consider:

• Competition: Many players in the template space, so standing out with quality and niche focus is crucial.

• Customer education: Templates need clear instructions, especially for beginners. A video walkthrough or guide can help reduce friction.

Opportunity #2 - Newsletter + Digital Product + Service

If you want to go all out this approach combines products, services, and community to generate revenue across multiple streams.

How It Works:

1. Free Newsletter: Create a free newsletter breaking down high-performing ads for your chosen niche (list below)

2. Paid Newsletter: Create a paid version with more breakdowns and templates of the ads featured in that week’s newsletter.

3. Ad Templates: Sell packs of templates to your newsletter subs and via paid ads as digital products like the above opportunity.

4. Agency / Consulting Offer: Create a high-ticket offer for ad design, creative agency, pad ads management, etc.

Key Benefits:

• Deeper customer relationships: The newsletter builds trust and positions you as an authority in paid social.

• Upsell opportunities: Clients who start with templates can be nurtured into consulting or agency clients.

• Recurring revenue: The newsletter becomes a predictable income stream while consulting/agency work adds high-ticket sales.

Challenges to Consider:

• Time-intensive: Managing multiple offers (newsletter + templates + consulting) requires a well-structured workflow.

• Higher entry barrier: Consulting and agency work demand expertise and time, which might not suit those looking for passive income.

🔎 Niches

• E-commerce

  • Apparel 7 Fashion

  • Beauty & Skincare

  • Pets

  • Health & Fitness

  • Home Décor

  • Electronics & Gadgets

  • Food & Beverages

  • Baby & Kids

  • Outdoor

• SaaS

• Info-Products

• Hospitality

• Local Services

• Fitness/Gyms

• Events

• Finance

• B2B

• Newsletters

• Communities

🛠 Useful Tools

• Canva

• Figma

• Foreplay or Atria

• Beehiiv or Kit

• Lemonsqueezy

• Gumroad

• Stripe

• Shopify

• Meta Ads Library

• LinkedIn Ads Library

🔥 Cool Stuff

(Bookmark these)

• Find problems that need business solutions - Access the Problems & Pain Points Database.

• Want to grow your business? Here’s a database of tools that can help.

• Want to promote your startup for free? Here’s a database of free places to promote your startup.

• Want to turn your idea into a business? Check out this business idea checklist.

• Want to differentiate from your competitors? Check out this Differentiation Strategy Guide

• Want to run ads for your business? Use these proven psychological ad positioning strategies.

• Like the newsletter and want to show your support? You can buy me a coffee here.

🤯 Recommendations

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