Let's talk about one of my favorite ways to make money in my business.

Pre-selling.

Making sales before the product even exists.

And I know what you're thinking - "Lindsay, isn't that risky? What if I don't finish it? What if people get mad?"

Here's the thing: pre-selling is one of the smartest things you can do as a coach.

You get paid upfront. You validate your idea before spending weeks creating it. And you commit yourself to actually finishing what you started.

Today I'm breaking down exactly how to do this - step by step.

Why Pre-Selling Works

So first, let me tell you why pre-selling is so powerful.

Most coaches do it backwards. They spend weeks or months creating a course or program. Then they launch it. And then... crickets.

Nobody buys. Or maybe a few people buy. But not enough to justify all that time you spent creating it.

Pre-selling flips this around.

You sell it first. THEN you create it.

And here's what happens:

You make money immediately. Before you've done any of the work. That's motivating.

You validate your idea. If people buy it, you know it's something they actually want. If they don't? You just saved yourself weeks of work.

You commit yourself to finishing. When people have already paid you, you're going to create that thing. No more "I'll finish it someday."

I did this for the first time in 2022. And it blew my mind how easy and motivating it was.

So let me show you exactly how to do it.

Step 1: Decide What You're Creating

First, you need to decide what you're going to pre-sell.

Is it an ebook? A course? A template? A workshop? Whatever it is, decide.

And then decide what's inside of it.

You don't need to create it yet. You just need to know what it's going to be.

Here's what you need to figure out:

The product: What is it? (Course, ebook, template, etc.)

The transformation: What result will they get from this?

The bullets: What's included? (3-5 main things they're getting)

The delivery date: When will they actually receive it?

That last one is key. You need to pick a date. And you need to commit to it.

Maybe it's 2 weeks from now. Maybe it's a month. Whatever feels doable for you.

But you HAVE to pick a date. Because that's what makes this a pre-sale.

Step 2: Create Simple Branding

Next, you need something visual to share on social media.

I'm not talking about a full sales page. I'm talking about one image.

Go into Canva. Pick a background. Add your product name. Make it look nice.

That's it.

You'll use this image when you start talking about the pre-sale on Instagram, in emails, wherever.

Later, once the product is done, you can make it fancier with mockups on laptops or iPads. But for now? Just a simple branded image is fine.

Step 3: Start Teasing It on Social Media

Now you start talking about it.

Post on Instagram stories. Post on your feed. Email your list.

Say things like:

"I'm working on something really exciting for you."

"I designed a way to help you with [problem] and I can't wait to share it."

"Coming soon: [Product name]. Stay tuned."

You're building anticipation. You're getting people curious.

Do this for a few days. Maybe a week.

Then when you're ready, you're going to send them to buy it.

Step 4: Create a Simple Checkout Page

Here's where people actually buy.

And listen - you do NOT need a long sales page for a pre-sale.

You need a simple checkout page with:

A headline (What is this?)

A tagline (What's the transformation?)

The bullets (What's included?)

The delivery date (When will they get it?)

The price**

That's it.

No 8-mile-long sales page. No testimonials yet (because the product doesn't exist). Just the basics.

I usThriveCart for this. It's super simple. You can use whatever checkout system you have.

And don't forget your thank you page. Thank them for buying and let them know they'll receive it on [date].

Test the whole thing before you launch. Make sure it works.

Step 5: Launch It

Now you're ready to sell.

Post on Instagram. "DM me for the link."

I don't do "link in bio" anymore. I make people DM me. Why? Because it creates a conversation. And conversations lead to relationships. And relationships lead to more sales.

Email your list. Tell them about the pre-sale. Tell them why they need it NOW.

And here's the key: create urgency.

There are three types of urgency you can use:

Time: "This price is only available until [date]."

Money: "Early bird price - it's going up after launch."

Results: "You need these results NOW so you're ready for [whatever's next]."

Pick one. Use it.

And then email your list 1-3 times that week. Don't be scared to email them. If your list isn't 100% buyers, they need to hear from you multiple times.

Step 6: Keep Selling Daily

While you're waiting for the delivery date, keep talking about it.

Post on your stories at least once a day.

"Have you grabbed [product name] yet? Comment or "DM me [keyword]."

Keep it top of mind. Keep making sales.

The more you talk about it, the more you'll sell.

Step 7: Create the Product

Okay, now you actually have to create the thing.

But here's what's different: you've already been paid. People are waiting for it. You're motivated to finish.

This is SO much easier than creating something with no sales and hoping people buy it later.

You have a deadline. You have buyers. You're committed.

So create it. Get it done. Deliver it on the date you promised.

Step 8: Switch from Pre-Sale to Live

Once the product is delivered, you're no longer pre-selling. You're selling.

So you need to update a few things:

Your checkout page: Remove any mention of "pre-sale" or delivery dates. It should say "instant access" or "delivered immediately."

Your thank you page: Make sure it delivers the product right away.

Your emails: Update any copy that talks about the pre-sale or future delivery.

Your social media: Change your posts and stories to reflect that it's live now.

Go through everything and make sure it's updated. Jot it down as you go so you don't forget anything.

Step 9: Sell Again

Once the product is live, sell it again.

Email your list. But this time, segment out the people who already bought it. You don't want to email them about something they already have.

Email the people who didn't buy during the pre-sale. Tell them it's live now. Tell them they can get instant access.

Do this at least once or twice after launch.

You'll get more sales. And now those sales are automatic - no more waiting for a delivery date.

The Bottom Line

Pre-selling is one of the smartest things you can do as a coach.

You make money before you create anything.

You validate your idea before you waste time on it.

You commit yourself to finishing what you started.

And it's way more motivating to create something when people have already paid you for it.

So if you have an idea for a course, a template, an ebook, whatever - pre-sell it.

Pick a delivery date. Create a simple checkout page. Start talking about it. Make sales. Then create it.

It's that simple.

Want the complete step-by-step system for pre-selling? Pre-Sale Profit walks you through every detail - planning, branding, checkout pages, email campaigns, social media strategy, and post-launch transitions. It's the exact process I use every time I pre-sell an offer.