Low-content products can be a game-changer for your business, providing an efficient and cost-effective way to attract potential customers, increase revenue, and build strong client relationships.
Essentially, a low-content product is something you offer to your audience with minimal or no content included, such as workbooks, planners, or templates.
In fact, they’re often digital, as the low-cost margin makes them an attractive option for many businesses. With easy-to-use software programs like Canva, creating low-content products has never been easier.
One of the main advantages of low-content products is that they take little time and resources to create. By offering these items alongside your other merchandise, you can provide more value to your audience while also diversifying your offerings and creating new revenue streams.
In fact, statistics show that businesses offering low-content products are more likely to increase their customer base and overall sales.
So, what are some common types of low-content products that businesses offer?
The possibilities are endless, but some popular options include printable worksheets, calendars, planners, journals, and checklists.
And keep in mind, these items can be tailored to a specific niche or topic, making them a great way to target your audience and stand out from the competition.
Let’s take a look at some of the most common, and popular, low content products you can offer.
Streamline Your Business (And Profits) with These Top Low-Content Products
Journals and Notebooks
Journals and notebooks are not only popular, but also highly effective low-content products. The demand for journals and notebooks has surged in recent years, with the global notebook market expected to reach $29.9 billion by 2027, according to a report by Grand View Research.
The beauty of offering a customized journal or notebook is that you can tailor it to the specific needs and preferences of your target market. For example, if your audience is interested in wellness and mindfulness, you could create a guided journal with prompts for daily meditation and gratitude practice. Or, if your target market is writers, you could offer a notebook with writing prompts and exercises to help them hone their craft.
Studies show that personalized products can be a powerful marketing tool. In fact, research by Deloitte found that 36% of consumers are interested in purchasing personalized products, with 48% willing to wait longer for delivery in exchange for personalization. By offering customized journals and notebooks, you’re not only providing a valuable product, but also catering to the individual needs and preferences of your customers.
Moreover, by adding a low-content product like a customized journal or notebook to your product lineup, you can tap into a new revenue stream.
The sales of journals and notebooks have seen a significant increase, with the global notebook market size expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.2% from 2020 to 2027, according to the same report by Grand View Research.
Journal ideas include:
- Gratitude Journal. Gratitude journals are used to write down things you’re grateful for to bring positivity into your life.
- Goals Journal. This could be a notebook where you write down your goals and chart your progress toward reaching them.
- Positivity Journal. A notebook designed for self-reflection where you write about your thoughts and feelings to shift to a more positive mindset.
- Free Writing Notebook. A place for you to write freely and let ideas come and flow onto the page. You could use this for brainstorming.
- Dream Journal. Keep this journal by your bedside, and write down your dreams when you wake up.
- Success Journal. You can create a journal for recording each success as you build a business.
- New Things Learned Journal. One common success habit is to learn something new each day. Use this journal to reflect on each new thing you learn.
A good way to make your journal unique is to see what competitors offer. You can then provide more value. For example, make it higher-quality, more targeted to your audience, or full of extra elements like writing prompts or inspirational quotes.
Essentially, track down what’s selling, and do something similar, but much better. Add value!
With the notebook market projected to grow in the coming years, now is the perfect time to start creating and promoting your own customized journals and notebooks.
Workbooks
Workbooks are a highly effective low-content product for educators and trainers looking to provide students with an interactive and engaging learning experience.
According to a recent survey by the Association of American Publishers, sales of workbooks and study guides in the US have increased by 16% in recent years, indicating a growing demand for supplementary learning materials.
One of the key advantages of offering a workbook as a low-content product is that it allows students to work through problems and exercises independently, which can help them to retain the material more effectively.
By including quizzes and activities, you can also provide opportunities for students to test their knowledge and reinforce their learning.
When creating a workbook, it’s important to consider whether it will be standalone or accompany a course you’re offering.
If it’s the latter, designing the workbook and course together can help to ensure a seamless and cohesive learning experience for students.
Alternatively, if you’re creating a standalone workbook, it’s important to choose a topic or subject that your target audience wants to learn and break it down into manageable chapters with learning activities.
In the course chapters, your focus should be on providing users with everything they need to complete each activity successfully and learn the material effectively. This might include step-by-step instructions, examples, and additional resources to support their learning.
Additionally, you could consider offering interactive elements such as videos, quizzes, and discussion forums to enhance engagement and foster a sense of community among learners.
Workbooks are an excellent low-content product idea for educators and trainers looking to provide students with a more interactive and engaging learning experience.
By focusing on creating bite-sized chapters with learning activities and providing users with all the resources they need to complete each activity successfully, you can help to ensure that students retain the material and achieve their learning goals.
With the growing demand for supplementary learning materials, now is the perfect time to start creating and promoting your own customized workbook.
Planners
Planners have become a must-have tool for busy individuals looking to stay organized and productive. In fact, according to a report by The NPD Group, sales of planners and appointment books in the US have increased by 10% in recent years, with consumers spending more on premium, customizable options.
One of the great things about offering a planner as a low-content product is that you can tailor it to a specific niche or area. For example, you could create a planner specifically for entrepreneurs, with sections for tracking business expenses, scheduling client meetings, and setting goals. Or, you could create a planner geared towards students, with space for tracking assignments, exams, and extracurricular activities.
While traditional planners are usually printed documents, the rise of digital technology has opened up new opportunities for offering a planner as a low-content product. Digital planners, often in the form of editable PDFs, have become increasingly popular as they offer more flexibility and convenience for users. Additionally, digital planners offer a cost-effective option for businesses, as they can be sold and distributed without the need for physical printing and shipping.
However, it’s worth noting that printable versions of planners are still a popular option, with many users preferring the tactile experience of writing things down on paper. In fact, a survey by MNI Targeted Media found that 72% of consumers still prefer to read print materials, indicating that there is still a significant demand for physical versions of low-content products like planners.
Ideas for planners include:
- Daily Planner. A planner that helps people keep track of their daily to-do list. You can also offer weekly or monthly planners.
- Fitness Planner. This content helps you keep track of workouts, diet, and fitness goal-setting.
- Budget Planner. Help your customers keep track of their income and expenses and set financial goals.
- Meal Planner. Meal planners are helpful for people trying to stick to a diet. It can include calorie counters, recipe suggestions, and meal-planning templates.
- Travel Planner. You can use a travel planner to keep track of your itinerary, flight and hotel information, and expenses.
- Event Planners. A great deal goes into planning events like weddings, concerts, or webinars. Keep all information in one place.
- Academic Planner. Create a planner to help students stay organized. A similar idea is a parenting planner that helps keep track of kids’ activities.
- Self-Care Planner. This planner can help to keep your mental health and self-care routine in order.
Checklists
Checklists are a highly effective low-content product that can help individuals stay organized and focused on specific tasks.
According to a recent study by the Content Marketing Institute, checklists are one of the most popular types of content used by marketers, with 63% of respondents reporting that they use them as part of their marketing strategy.
One of the key advantages of offering a checklist as a low-content product is that it can help to simplify complex processes and make them more manageable for users.
By breaking down a task into a series of smaller steps, users can focus on completing each step in turn, which can help to reduce overwhelm and improve productivity.
When creating a checklist, it’s important to choose a task or process that your target audience needs help with and break it down into simple, actionable steps.
The best checklists are those that take something complex and make it simple, such as building a website, creating a content management plan, or house cleaning.
A well-designed checklist should include all the necessary steps for completing the task, along with checkboxes next to each step that users can mark off as they go. This can help users to track their progress and stay motivated as they work through the task.
Learning Logs
Learning logs are a powerful low-content tool that can help students track their learning progress and reflect on their growth over time.
According to a study by the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, learning logs can be especially effective in promoting self-reflection and critical thinking skills in students.
Unlike workbooks, which are designed to help students master specific material, learning logs are more personal and subjective, offering students a space to record their thoughts, insights, and questions as they learn new things. Students can use learning logs to reflect on what they’ve learned, write down questions for further study, or record feedback from others.
One of the key benefits of using learning logs as a low-content product is that they allow students to take ownership of their learning process and to see their progress over time.
By regularly reviewing their learning logs, students can identify areas of strength and weakness, set goals for future learning, and gain a deeper understanding of their own learning style.
When creating a learning log, it’s important to choose a format that works well for your target audience. Some students may prefer a digital format that they can access on their computer or mobile device, while others may prefer a paper-based format that they can keep in a notebook.
Whatever format you choose, be sure to provide clear instructions on how to use the learning log effectively and encourage students to use it regularly as part of their learning process.
Toolkits
Toolkits are a versatile and valuable low-content product that can provide your audience with a comprehensive set of resources and tools related to a specific task or topic.
According to a recent survey by Content Marketing Institute, 61% of marketers say they use toolkits to educate their audience and build their brand.
Toolkits can take many forms, from digital marketing toolkits that include templates and worksheets to writing toolkits that offer prompts and organizational tools.
The key is to provide a mix of low-content products that are relevant and valuable to your target audience.
One of the benefits of offering a toolkit as a low-content product is that it allows you to showcase your expertise and authority in a specific area. By curating a set of resources and tools that are tailored to your audience’s needs, you can position yourself as a trusted source of information and support.
Another advantage of offering a toolkit is that it can be a powerful lead magnet for your business.
By offering a free or low-cost toolkit in exchange for an email address or other contact information, you can build your email list and nurture relationships with potential customers over time.
When creating a toolkit, it’s important to choose a theme that resonates with your audience and to provide high-quality, actionable content that they can use to achieve their goals. You should also include clear instructions on how to use each tool and provide guidance on how to integrate the tools into their daily routine.
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Low Content Doesn't Mean Low Value
The number one mistake businesses make with low-content products is thinking that it means low value.
Even though there isn’t much material for you to create, it needs to offer as much value as any regular content.
After all, the value itself should be extremely obvious to your audience. Your product will streamline their experience, reduce their overwhelm, free up their time, simplify their process, etc.
Does that sound like it’s not worth much?!
Start with your customers’ needs and develop an idea for something they can use to solve their problems. Then, create a low-content item that offers a solution.
Conclusion & Review
In conclusion, low-content products are an effective and efficient way to attract potential customers, increase revenue, and quickly build client relationships.
These products, such as journals, planners, workbooks, checklists, learning logs, and toolkits, offer a diverse set of resources and tools that can help your audience achieve their goals and improve their lives.
Statistics and facts show that low-content products are popular and effective in marketing, education, and personal development.
For example, Content Marketing Institute reports that 61% of marketers use toolkits to educate their audience and build their brand.
The advantages of low-content products are many, including their low cost, quick turnaround time, and ability to diversify your offerings and create new revenue streams.
Additionally, these products allow you to showcase your expertise and authority, position yourself as a trusted source of information, and build strong relationships with potential customers.
Whether you’re creating a customized journal, a digital planner, a course workbook, a simple checklist, a learning log, or a comprehensive toolkit, it’s important to choose a theme that resonates with your audience and to provide high-quality, actionable content that they can use to achieve their goals.
By doing so, you can provide your audience with the support they need to succeed and establish yourself as a valuable resource in your field.
In short, low-content products are a valuable tool for any business or individual looking to educate, engage, and connect with their audience.
