How to Get Paid Before You Launch: The Pre-Sell Strategy That Works in 2025

How to Create a Pre-Sell Strategy That Gets You Paid Before You Launch

“Don’t build a product. Build a hungry audience first — then sell them exactly what they asked for.”
— Adapted from Lean Startup principles

Build It First? Or Sell It First?

Let’s be honest. How many people build the perfect product, pour in months of work, launch it with high hopes — and then… crickets?

It happens all the time.

But what if you could flip that around? What if you could get paid before you even build — turning strangers into early customers, and validation into actual cash?

That’s the power of a pre-sell strategy — and in today’s lean, creator-driven economy, it’s not just smart.

It’s essential.

In this guide, you’ll learn exactly how to pre-sell your product, course, service, or digital offer so that when launch day arrives, you’re not hoping for buyers — you’re already serving them.

What Is a Pre-Sell Strategy?

A pre-sell strategy is when you offer a product before it’s fully created — to validate interest, collect payments, and fund the final build or launch.

You’re not scamming. You’re being upfront:
“This is launching on X date. Buy now and be the first to access it.”

It’s used by:

• Course creators
• SaaS startups
• Digital product sellers
• Consultants and freelancers
• Even physical product brands (Kickstarter, anyone?)

Think of it as a proof-of-concept that pays you.

Why You Should Pre-Sell Before You Build

1. Validate Demand With Real Money

Likes and survey responses don’t pay the bills. Sales do.

Pre-selling forces your audience to vote with their wallet, giving you clear signals about what works — before wasting time on the wrong thing.

2. Fund Your Creation Without Loans or Investors

Instead of bootstrapping from your pocket, let customers fund your idea upfront.

Example:
A creator pre-sold their digital course for $79 and had 140 buyers before recording a single lesson. That’s $11,000+ in validation capital.

3. Build Buzz and Scarcity

You’re offering limited early access. That creates:

• Urgency (limited spots or bonuses)
• Scarcity (only X people can pre-order)
• Excitement (behind-the-scenes peeks)

4. Get Real Feedback Before You Launch

Early adopters will tell you what’s working, what’s missing, and what to improve. You’ll build with your audience, not for them.

️ The Pre-Sell Strategy Framework (Step-by-Step)

Here’s the exact framework successful creators, startups, and solopreneurs use:

Step 1: Validate Your Audience’s Pain Point

Don’t assume what they want. Ask.

Use these tools to research:

• Reddit (r/Entrepreneur, r/Freelance, etc.)
• Quora and niche forums
• Keyword tools (Google Trends, Ubersuggest)
• Instagram/Twitter polls
• Typeform/Google Forms surveys

Ask:

• “What’s your biggest struggle with [topic]?”
• “If I created [X solution], would you be interested?”
• “What’s one thing you wish existed for [topic]?”

Pro Tip: Offer a small freebie in exchange for feedback (e.g., checklist, worksheet, preview).

Step 2: Create a One-Page Pre-Sell Offer

No need to build a full sales funnel.

Just create a landing page with:

• A clear problem you solve
• What they get (benefits > features)
• Who it’s for
• What they’ll achieve
• Launch date
• Pre-order button with pricing
• Money-back guarantee (optional but trust-building)

Use tools like:

• Carrd – minimalist, fast
• ConvertKit Commerce – ideal for creators
• Gumroad – great for digital downloads
• LemonSqueezy – modern and creator-friendly

Step 3: Warm Up Your Audience via Email or Social

Start sharing:

• Behind-the-scenes building progress
• Polls on what people want included
• Mini wins or testimonials
• A countdown to launch

You’re not just selling — you’re building trust + excitement.

Use a simple email funnel like:

1. “Here’s what I’m building”
2. “Do you want early access?”
3. “Doors open Friday!”
4. “Only 24 hours left to pre-order”
5. “Thank you + what’s next”

Use tools like:

• MailerLite (free & simple)
• ConvertKit
• Flodesk

Step 4: Accept Pre-Orders (Even If It’s Just a Google Form)

You can start collecting money using:

• Gumroad or LemonSqueezy
• Stripe + Notion
• ConvertKit’s built-in payment pages
• Or even Paystack/Flutterwave (for Nigeria + Africa)

Set a pre-order deadline and offer bonuses for early birds:

• Discounted pricing
• 1-on-1 call
• Bonus module
• Access to a community

Step 5: Deliver on Your Promise (Without Killing Yourself)

You don’t need to finish everything first.

You can:

• Drip out course modules weekly
• Release beta versions to your buyers
• Host live training, then turn it into evergreen content
• Ship physical products in batches (like Kickstarter does)

Be honest. Over-communicate. Turn pre-buyers into brand evangelists.

Real-World Examples of Pre-Sell Success

1. Gumroad Creators Selling Notion Templates

Hundreds of creators pre-sell digital templates by showing mockups and use cases — no product built yet.

Result: $500–$5,000 in sales before the final file is uploaded.

2. Online Course Creators on Teachable

Many creators offer a “founding cohort”:

“Join the first round of this course and help shape the content. Get lifetime access + direct feedback.

Result: 20–100 buyers upfront, plus strong testimonials.

3. Physical Products on Kickstarter

Pebble Watch, Fidget Cube, Peak Design — all were pre-sold before they existed.
It’s the OG version of this strategy. You sell a story first — then build the product with funds raised.

Tools You Can Use for Pre-Selling

Tool	Use Case	Link
Carrd	Landing pages	carrd.co
Gumroad	Digital product sales	gumroad.com
ConvertKit	Emails + commerce	convertkit.com
LemonSqueezy	Selling + collecting VAT	lemonsqueezy.com
Stripe	Payment processor	stripe.com
Paystack	Nigeria/Africa-friendly payments	paystack.com

Common Pre-Selling Mistakes to Avoid

Overpromising, Underdelivering

Only promise what you know you can complete in time.

Being Vague

Clarity sells. “An epic course” won’t work. “A 4-week masterclass that helps creators launch their first paid product” will.

Waiting Too Long to Launch

Perfection = procrastination. Ship early, get feedback, improve.

BONUS: Sample Email for Your Pre-Sell

Subject: Early Access Opens Tomorrow — Are You In?

Body:

Hey [Name],

I’ve been quietly building [PRODUCT NAME] — a [X-week course/digital product/toolkit] that helps [audience] solve [specific problem].

Early access opens tomorrow. Only [X] spots. You’ll get:

• Exclusive bonus
• Founding member pricing
• Behind-the-scenes updates

Hit reply if you want in. You’ll be the first to know.

— [Your Name]

Don’t Wait for “Perfect.” Sell the Idea, Then Build It.

Pre-selling isn’t a trick. It’s a signal.

• It tells you:
• Is this worth building?
• Will people actually pay for this?
• Can I fund it without going broke?

So before you spend weeks building the perfect thing, build the page. Send the email. Sell the idea.

And if they buy it? Now you’re not guessing.

You’re launching with momentum.