Update: What stuck from my semi-passive digital template experiment after finals
A few months ago I asked whether a tiny digital template shop could actually be semi-passive or if I was kidding myself. Finals just ended, so I finally had a little time to test it without turning it into a second job.
What I changed
- I stopped trying to build a big, catch-all planner and went niche around my life: college and gaming habits.
- I made four simple templates and only kept the two people actually used without asking for custom help.
Results so far (past eight weeks)
- Low but real sales. Not life changing, but it is the first thing I made that earned money while I was in class.
- Support was the biggest surprise. Not a ton of messages, but enough that it is not truly passive. Most questions were basically 'how do I duplicate this' and 'where do I edit X'.
What helped make it more passive
- I added a one-page setup guide with screenshots. That cut questions a lot.
- I standardized everything: same colors, same naming, same file structure. Updates now take minutes.
- I stopped customizing for individuals. It was tempting, but that killed the whole point.
What did not work
- Social posting. I thought I could casually post clips like I do for cozy game stuff, but it became a time sink and did not convert much.
Next step I'm considering: bundle the two winners and raise the price slightly to make the support time worth it.
For anyone making digital products, how do you decide when to raise prices versus when to make a cheaper version with lower support expectations?