You Don’t Need More Followers: You Need a Product

Apr 1

3 min read

And the sooner you shift from chasing attention to building assets, the sooner you’ll start seeing income that doesn’t rely on algorithms.

When you’re trying to grow online, it’s easy to believe the problem is visibility.

“If I just had more followers...”

“If I could go viral...”

“If I post more consistently, then I’ll start making money...”

But here’s the truth: most freelance designers don’t need more followers. They need a clear, sellable product.

And the sooner you shift from chasing attention to building assets, the sooner you’ll start seeing income that doesn’t rely on algorithms.

The Follower Trap

Social media is a powerful tool, but it’s not a business model.

You can spend months posting your work, sharing carousels, and building engagement, but if you don’t have something to sell, all that energy has nowhere to go.

That’s the trap.

Designers pour time into content creation, hoping it will “lead to something,” but without a product in place, there’s nothing for your audience to actually buy.

You’re building visibility without direction.

Visibility Is Only Half the Equation

Visibility matters.

But what happens after someone finds you is what creates income.

If someone discovers you on Instagram or finds your portfolio… what can they do next?

Can they download something from you?
Can they buy a small product that solves a quick problem?
Can they get on your email list and hear about your offers?

Without a next step, you lose the opportunity.

This is why having a product — even a simple one — matters more than your follower count.

A Small Product Is Better Than a Big Audience

You don’t need a course, a massive template bundle, or a six-month launch.

You need one clear, useful product that solves a specific problem for a specific type of person.

This could be:

A $19 template that saves someone hours
A $29 guide that walks them through your design process
A $49 Notion system for new freelancers

Your first product doesn’t need to be fancy. It just needs to be done.

Once that’s in place, every piece of content, every post, and every DM becomes more meaningful because you’re no longer just sharing ideas; you’re inviting people into something valuable.

Build Assets, Not Just Audience

Instead of spending all your time trying to grow your audience, ask:

What’s a problem I can solve today with what I already know?
What do people ask me for help with the most?
What’s one thing I’ve already created that I can repurpose or sell?

This shift takes you from content creator to business owner.

You're not just showing up online, you're building something that works even when you're not posting.

Start Here

If you don’t have a product yet, start small. Grab our free 1-Page Digital Product Planner. It will help you shape your idea, define who it’s for, and figure out the fastest path to creating it.

You don’t need a bigger audience. You need something worth selling. Once you have that, everything changes.

Love, Ivy 🖤