Create and Sell Digital Products
Review

A practical guide to launching and selling digital products for creators seeking multiple income streams

Easy
  • Last updated 25/09/2025
by April Bowles-Olin

What you'll learn ? Overview

Create Digital Products That Sell While You Sleep is a comprehensive workshop designed by April Bowles-Olin, a creative business consultant featured on platforms like U.S. News and World Report, Etsy, and Design*Sponge. We found this course targets creative entrepreneurs, bloggers, and freelancers who want to generate passive income through digital products like ebooks, printables, patterns, or online guides.

The course walks students through 23 detailed lessons covering the entire product creation journey. You'll start with brainstorming profitable ideas and validating them with your target market (we appreciate this emphasis on validation before creation). The curriculum then guides you through designing products with customer experience in mind, creating compelling sales pages, and implementing marketing strategies that continue working after launch.

What sets this course apart is its focus on building genuine relationships with customers. Bowles-Olin emphasizes storytelling and emotional connections as key drivers of sales, rather than pushy tactics. Students learn practical systems for managing online sales and receive frameworks for planning, launching, and marketing products that can generate income while they sleep.

However, we must note a significant caveat: this course was recorded in 2015. While the fundamental principles of product creation remain valuable, specific tools, platforms, and marketing tactics mentioned may be outdated. The course doesn't clearly disclose its age on the main sales page (something we find problematic for transparency).

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Is this course for you?

👉

Prior experience needed

Beginner (No Prior Experience Needed)

👉

Time commitment

light Light (1–5 Hours/Week)

👉

Learning style

Self-Paced (Work On Your Own Schedule)

👉

Goal

Learn A New Skill

Best suited for:

Complete beginners seeking affordable introduction to digital product concepts, creative professionals wanting to understand passive income basics before investing in current training, those comfortable supplementing outdated tactics with independent research

Instructor

April Bowles-Olin

Creative Business Consultant and Marketing Strategist Legitimacy Score: 9/10
April Bowles-Olin is a multifaceted professional who has made a significant impact in the creative business world. As a writer, creative business consultant, and marketing strategist, she has dedicated her career to empowering artists and makers. Her expertise lies in helping creative entrepreneurs build successful businesses while maintaining the lifestyle they desire. April's approach combines practical business strategies with a deep understanding of the unique challenges faced by creative professionals.
April's career trajectory showcases her versatility and expertise in the creative business sector. She transitioned from a background in social work to become a prominent figure in the online creative business community. Her experience includes one-on-one consulting, group coaching, and developing online courses. April has worked with hundreds of creatives, helping them refine their business strategies, improve their blogging skills, and increase their online presence. Her work has been recognized by major platforms and publications, solidifying her position as a thought leader in the creative entrepreneurship space.
  • Featured on U.S. News and World Report, Etsy, Design*Sponge, and Where Women Create
  • Interviewed on The Unmistakable Creative podcast
  • Developed successful online courses for CreativeLive, including 'Build a Successful Creative Blog'
  • Tripled her email list in two weeks after a significant blog feature
  • Achieved eight major milestones in five years of her online business
  • Successfully doubled her social media followers through creative marketing strategies
  • Instructor for CreativeLive courses on blogging and creative business
  • Guest on The Suitcase Entrepreneur podcast
  • Speaker at various online summits and webinars for creative entrepreneurs
  • April cultivates a vibrant digital footprint across multiple platforms. She regularly shares insights on creative business strategies, marketing tips, and personal development on her blog and social media channels. Her content focuses on empowering creative entrepreneurs with practical advice and motivational content.

    Course Details

    • ⏱ Duration10
    • 📶 DifficultyEasy
    • ⌛ Access Lifetime
    • ⏰ Time investmentLight (1–5 Hours/Week)

    🧠 Prerequisites

    None stated, designed for complete beginners


    💻 Requirements

    Computer with internet connection, basic computer literacy


    💸 Hidden Costs

    Email marketing platform ($20-50/month), website hosting ($10-30/month), design tools like Canva Pro ($12.99/month), potential ad spend for marketing


    🙋‍♂️ Support Options

    No live support, no active community, Q&A only available from recorded 2015 sessions

    Course content

    • Module 1: Foundation Introduction, Finding Your Niche, Finding Your Profitable Product Idea
    • Module 2: Product Development Pricing Your Product, Outlining Your Product, Creating Your Product
    • Module 3: Sales & Marketing Building Your Sales Page, Email Marketing 101
    • Module 4: Launch Strategy Launching Your Product, Promoting Your Product, Post-Launch Plan
    • Module 5: Interactive Elements Multiple Q&A sessions addressing fears, pricing, content creation, and tools
    • Additional Content: 25-page downloadable workbook with exercises and templates

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    Feedbacks

    Overall sentiment

    Reviews reveal a split perspective, newcomers to digital products find value in the foundational concepts, while experienced creators and recent purchasers consistently mention the outdated nature of the content. The sentiment shifts from highly positive in earlier years to increasingly critical as the digital landscape has evolved.

    Praised points

    • Excellent for absolute beginners: Users consistently praise the step-by-step breakdown that makes digital product creation accessible
    • Clear and engaging instructor: April Bowles-Olin receives high marks for her relatable teaching style and ability to break down complex topics
    • Actionable framework: Students appreciate the practical roadmap from idea generation through launch

    Criticisms

    • Severely outdated content: Multiple 2020+ reviews explicitly state the 2015 content feels like stepping back in time
    • Lacks technical depth: The course focuses on concepts rather than hands-on technical implementation
    • Missing modern strategies: No coverage of current social media algorithms, modern sales funnels, or contemporary marketing tools

    Testimonials

    "Clear and actionable, perfect for total beginners." — CreativeLive user

    "Helped me understand what digital products fit my brand." — Course reviewer

    "Great information, but it is VERY outdated." — 2021 student

    "I felt like I was back in 2010." — March 2022 review

    "Wish there was more on building an email list before launch." — Recent purchaser

    Social insights

    We found minimal discussion about this specific course on Reddit or Quora. April Bowles-Olin's "Blacksburg Belle" brand presence has been dormant since approximately 2019, meaning there's no active community or ongoing support. Most feedback exists directly on the CreativeLive platform, where over 700 reviews provide a long-term perspective on the course's evolution in relevance.

    Marketing Analysis

    Claim Verification

    The course promises to teach "creating digital products that sell while you sleep." Technically accurate, it provides the foundational knowledge for passive income products. However, the 2015 strategies won't generate significant results in today's market without major updates.

    Price History

    Consistently priced at $34-39, frequently included in CreativeLive's Creator Pass promotions. No evidence of inflated original pricing or fake discounts.

    Upsell Practices

    No aggressive upsells within the course. CreativeLive promotes their Creator Pass as an alternative purchase option.

    Student Success

    We couldn't verify specific income claims or notable success stories directly attributable to this course. Most positive reviews focus on newfound clarity and confidence rather than concrete financial results.

    Platform & Delivery

    Learning Platform

    CreativeLive's platform excels with clean design, reliable streaming, and intuitive navigation. We tested across devices without issues.

    Content Accessibility

    Lifetime streaming access included. Videos stream smoothly, downloadable workbook provided. Offline access available through CreativeLive's iPhone and iPad apps.

    Mobile Compatibility

    Full functionality on iOS and Android apps, responsive web design works well on all devices we tested.

    Technical Requirements

    Standard broadband sufficient, no special software needed beyond web browser or mobile app.

    Red flags check

    😬

    Complaints

    The primary complaint isn't about deception but relevance. Recent reviews consistently highlight that 2015 strategies don't translate to 2024's digital marketplace. One reviewer noted feeling misled by the lack of clear dating on the course page.

    😬

    Refund policy issues

    CreativeLive offers a standard 30-day money-back guarantee. We found no widespread refund issues specific to this course.

    😬

    Marketing practices

    While CreativeLive's marketing isn't deceptive, we find the failure to prominently display the 2015 recording date problematic. Potential students must dig through reviews to discover this crucial information.

    😬

    Community feedback

    The instructor's absence from online platforms since 2019 means zero ongoing support or community engagement. Students are essentially purchasing archived content.

    Is this course legit?

    Value For Money

    At $34, you're essentially buying a well-structured textbook on digital product fundamentals. The concepts remain sound (understanding customer needs, creating value, basic marketing principles), but the specific implementation details require significant updating. We'd compare it to buying a 2015 iPhone, it still makes calls, but you're missing years of innovation.

    Conclusion

    Create Digital Products That Sell While You Sleep occupies an awkward position in 2024's course marketplace. We found it delivers exactly what it promises, a comprehensive introduction to digital product creation, but from a 2015 perspective that feels increasingly disconnected from current reality.

    April Bowles-Olin's teaching remains clear and encouraging, making complex concepts accessible to beginners. The CreativeLive platform provides excellent delivery and lifetime access. However, we can't ignore that recommending specific tools and strategies from 2015 does students a disservice.

    For $34, absolute beginners gain valuable conceptual understanding and confidence. Yet anyone serious about launching successful digital products today must view this as merely a starting point, requiring substantial supplementation with current resources. The lack of transparency about the course's age remains our biggest concern.

    We recommend this course only for those seeking the most affordable possible introduction to digital product concepts, with full awareness they're learning historical context rather than current best practices.

    FAQs about this course

    Only as an ultra-budget conceptual introduction. The strategies and tools are from 2015, making most tactical advice obsolete. Consider it a $34 primer on timeless principles, not a modern implementation guide.

    The course mentions 2015-era tools that may no longer exist or have changed significantly. You'll need to research current alternatives for email marketing, sales pages, and payment processing.

    The 23 lessons total approximately 10 hours and 40 minutes of video content. Most students complete it within 1-2 weeks at a casual pace.

    No. The instructor has been inactive online since 2019. You're purchasing archived content with no community or instructor interaction.

    The concept of passive income through digital products is valid, but success requires modern marketing strategies not covered in this 2015 course. Consider this course for foundational understanding only.

    Newer courses cover current social media algorithms, modern sales funnel software, up-to-date email marketing regulations, and contemporary customer behavior patterns, all absent from this 2015 content.

    If you have absolutely zero knowledge about digital products and only $34 to spend, this provides basic conceptual understanding. Otherwise, we recommend saving for updated training that includes current tools and strategies.

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    Create and Sell Digital Products Review
    $ 34
    Total score: 7,0/10 ⭐
    • Duration10
    • DifficultyEasy
    • Release Date01/2015
    • Format Self-Paced or Workshop
    • AccessLifetime
    • Time InvestmentLight (1–5 Hours/Week)
    • Payment Options One-Time
    • LanguageEnglish
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    Our Methodology

    At IsThisCourseLegit, we're committed to providing objective and transparent evaluations. Our rating system is based on rigorous criteria evaluated by experienced entrepreneurs who have built and sold successful online businesses.

    Our Rating System

    Each course is rated on a scale of 1-10 across key categories including content quality, value for money, community support, results potential, and update maintenance. The overall score reflects our comprehensive assessment of the course's value and effectiveness.

    Our Process

    For each review, we analyze all available online data to assess the course thoroughly. Our evaluation considers the quality of the content, the instructor's background, the marketing strategy, public perception, and authentic reviews from actual members, giving you a complete and balanced perspective.

    Are You a Course Creator?

    If you're the creator of a course we've reviewed and believe there are any inaccuracies or outdated information in our review, we want to hear from you.

    How We Ensure Quality

    Thorough Testing:

    We implement strategies from the courses to validate their effectiveness.

    Long-term Monitoring:

    We track course updates and community development over time.

    Create and Sell Digital Products Review