How to market your Stan Store & increase your sales like a pro

You’ve got a product. Now it’s time to get that first "cha-ching." Here’s a step-by-step guide to making your first sale (and celebrating the heck out of it) 🎉

Here's what we'll cover👇

1. Validate your product (Zero Dollar Spend method)

2. Build trust (Give, give, ask)

3. Launch strategy (Tease, announce, sell)

4. Bonus tips: Stanley, social proof, and more

🎥 Prefer a step-by-step video tutorial?

Learn how to sell digital anything with this in-depth tutorial:

In this video, you’ll see exactly how you can go from idea to published product inside Stan Store—perfect for visual learners or anyone eager to hit the ground running 🚀✨🎬

💡 1. The Zero Dollar Spend method: Validate your idea for free

Before you spend hours building something, test your idea to see if your audience actually wants it. We call this the Zero Dollar Spend method. Here's how it works:

❓ Step 1: Poll your audience

Use stories, polls, or comments to ask your audience questions like:

• If I made a [Product idea], would you be interested?
• What would this be worth to you?
• Would you rather have a guide, a video, or a 1:1 session?

🎣  Step 2: Create a free sample

Make a short, value-packed version of your product. See how many people grab it and the feedback they share. For example, you could create:

• A checklist or a one-page sample of a bigger guide
• A 10-minute preview video from a course
• A free coaching audit or intro call

⌛ Step 3: Build a waitlist or soft launch

• Use a Lead Magnet to start collecting emails from people who might be interested in your product
• Share announcements that tease the full version of your product is coming soon
• See how many people sign up—if demand is strong, you’re ready to build!

Ready to maximize your results? Learn more about how to pre-sell or create a waitlist for a digital product.

🙏 2. Give, Give, Ask: Build trust and drive sales

If you’ve ever felt awkward about selling, this method is for you! The Give, Give, Ask strategy is a powerful—and natural—way to promote your product without feeling pushy. The idea is simple: give value before you ask for anything in return. This builds trust, loyalty, and makes your audience want to support you! Here’s how it works:

🆓 Step 1: Give valuable free content

Start by offering genuine value for free. This positions you as a helpful expert and gives your audience a taste of what they can expect from your paid offers. For instance, you can give value in the form of:

• How-to videos or tutorials
• Free cheat sheets, guides, or PDFs
• Mini-lessons shared on Reels, TikTok, or via email

And so much more.

💝 Step 2: Give engagement

Once you’ve shared something helpful, deepen the relationship by engaging with your audience. Think of this as the second “give.” Here are a few ways to build meaningful connections with your audience:

• Reply to DMs and comments
• Answer questions on Stories or polls
• Offer personalized feedback or tips in response to your content

This step helps you create real connections that make your audience feel seen and supported—without asking for anything in return.

💬 Step 3: Ask—the right way

At this point, you've built trust. You've shown up consistently. Now, you can confidently ask for a sale without it feeling pushy or salesy. Here's how to sell organically:

• Share a free tip or lesson and mention your product
• Add a soft CTA like: Want to go deeper? Grab my [product]
• Use a Story reply sticker or link in bio drop after sharing value

The “ask” works best when it feels like a natural next step—not a cold pitch. Why? Because people love to reciprocate. When you start by genuinely helping someone and showing them you care, they’re more likely to support you in return—buying your product will feel like a no-brainer 🧠

🎙️ 3. Tease, Announce, Sell: Build momentum

Want to build hype before you even launch? The Tease, Announce, Sell strategy is a tried-and-true approach that warms up your audience and makes them excited to buy from you. Here’s how to use it:

👀 Step 1: Tease your product

Before you've even finished your product, start giving your followers behind-the-scenes sneak peeks. This doesn't just build intrigue—it makes your audience feel like insiders who are part of the process.

Here are a few ways to tease your product:

• Share a BTS Reel of you working on your product: “Cooking something up for you 👀”
• Post a screenshot of your product in draft: “Can’t wait to share this with you soon!”
• Ask questions like: "Would you buy [product idea] if I dropped it next week?”

📣 Step 2: Announce the product

Once your audience is curious and paying attention, it's time to announce what's coming officially. This is your moment to clearly show people why your product matters—and explain exactly how it will help them.

For example:

• Drop a Reel or carousel: “Introducing [Product name]—designed to help you [solve pain point]”
• Highlight who it’s for: “This is perfect for you if you’re struggling with [problem]”
• Promote your launch date and add a waitlist to your link in bio

At this stage, you’re not selling just yet—you’re positioning your product as the solution they've been waiting for.

🛍️ Step 3: Sell with intention (and a bonus!)

You've laid the groundwork, and now it's time to confidently launch your offer. Here are a few strategies to keep in mind as you start selling:

• Continue to remind your audience what problems your product can solve for them
• Add your product link to your social bio and make sure it's easy to access
• Consistently go live, post, and email your list to keep the momentum going

🧠 Pro tips to keep the sales rolling in

Use these bonus strategies to take your store to the next level—and keep that “cha-ching” sound coming 💸

🤖 Use Stanley to generate your launch post

Ready to launch? Stanley already knows what content is performing well, your tone of voice, and the unique perspective you can offer—so let him do the heavy lifting for your launch posts. Here's how:

• Ask Stanley: Can you write a product launch post for [product name]?
• Use his suggestions to post on IG, TikTok, or create an email
• Don’t be afraid to repeat yourself—it often takes 3–5 reminders before someone buys!

🎉 Celebrate every single win

Your first sale is everything. It’s proof that your idea works—and people are willing to pay for it. Don’t let it slip by unnoticed.

• Screenshot it. Share it. Thank your community.
• Build momentum by posting: OMG! My first sale!
• Use it as social proof to show others your product is worth buying 🙌

Looking for more ways to build trust with future customers? You can collect and share social proof by:

• Asking early buyers for a quick review or testimonial
• Sharing screenshots of reviews on your Stories and saving them to a “Reviews” highlight
• Adding customer testimonials directly to your product description

The more social proof you can show, the more confidence your audience will have when it’s time to buy!

📣 Keep showing up (Even when it feels quiet)

You don’t need to go viral to be successful—you just need to stay consistent and visible by:

• Posting regularly about your product (Stanley can help!)
• Sharing real results, reviews, and answers to customer FAQs
• Adding your product link in comments and replies when it’s helpful

🎯 You’re closer than you think. You don’t need a million followers. You don’t need a massive budget. You just need one good idea, the right digital product, and the courage to put it out there. With Stan, everything you need to build and sell your offer is in one place. You’ve already taken the hardest step—starting.

Now it’s time to launch, learn, and grow. Your first (or next!) sale is just around the corner—and we’re cheering you on every step of the way 💜 

Head to your Stan Store and make that first sale happen today 💪