How to choose the right digital product idea to create

If you’re anything like me, you don’t have a shortage of ideas.

You probably have a running list in your Notes app, a few scribbled in a notebook or 10, and probably an idea that won’t leave you alone no matter how much you try to ignore it.

But just because an idea is good doesn’t mean it’s right for right now.

And learning how to tell the difference will keep you from wasting time and launching something that won’t sell.

So here’s how I decide what idea to focus on when I want to create something new.

My million-dollar idea (that I never launched)

A while back, I had what felt like an amazing idea for a hybrid digital course and in-person retreat experience, complete with in-person co-working, detailed video modules, tech tutorials, my personal support… the whole thing.

It wasn’t just a fun idea. It had the potential to make real impact and real money.

But I sat on it for over a year.

When I finally shared it with my old business coach, she agreed that it was an amazing idea… and then she asked a simple question that saved me from a big potential mistake: “Does creating and running this actually fit into your life?”

Hmm.

I live in a small town in Mexico. Internet’s pretty slow (we only have DSL in our particular neighborhood). Video uploads take hours. Live Zoom calls aren’t realistic.

I was also actively trying to simplify my business – not build something that would tie me down.

And when I really sat and thought about it, I realized I’d been dragging my feet on the offer for awhile. Not because I couldn’t finish it, but because I knew (deep down) it actually didn’t fit within my niche, my audience, or my life.

And that single aha moment alone was worth the thousands of dollars I paid her for coaching.

Why good ideas don’t always deserve your energy

Another example: a biz friend of mine was excited about offering high-ticket VIP days. She could easily charge thousands and deliver a highly valuable service.

The only issue? Her audience wasn’t actually looking for (or able to afford) that kind of service. To sell it, she’d need to build a whole new audience and attract a totally different type of buyer.

It wasn’t the way her people wanted to work with her, and it didn’t fit her priorities so she reluctantly let it go.

So how do you figure out if your idea is actually worth the energy?

I use something I came up with called the TABLE Framework™.

The TABLE Framework™ for deciding whether to launch a new product idea

Whenever a new idea pops into your head, run it through this easy filter:

T - Time

Do you realistically have the time to create and launch this? If not now, could you make time soon?

A - Audience

Is this something your current audience wants? Would they pay money to solve the problem that it solves?

B - Brand

Does it align with your current offers and messaging? Or would it feel random or out of place?

L - Lifestyle

Does it fit the life you want? (time zones, family needs, travel, mental bandwidth.)

E - Excitement

Does it genuinely excite you? Or are you chasing it just because it looks profitable?

If you can confidently say YES to all five? Go for it.

If you hit more than one NO… table it. (See what I did there?)

That doesn’t mean the idea’s dead, it just means it’s not the right fit right now.

What happens when you let an idea go?

You make room for something better.

You free up mental space. And you give yourself permission to focus on what actually moves the needle in your business.

So before you commit to your next great idea, pause and run it through the TABLE Framework™.

Not every idea will pass (most won’t) and you have to feel ok with letting it go. Toss it back to the Universe to give to someone who will give your great idea a new life.

Ready to figure out what launch ideas make sense for you?

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Want more? Read: how to plan your first digital product (without ghosting halfway through)