The Abigail Pugh Podcast: Episode 67 Summary Title: My First $35 Digital Product Sale and How it Changed Everything (FBF) Release Date: July 29, 2025

Introduction to Abigail Pugh and Her Journey

In Episode 67 of The Abigail Pugh Podcast, host Abigail Pugh shares a pivotal moment in her entrepreneurial journey—the day she made her first $35 sale from a digital product. Abigail, an introverted mother of a three-year-old, transformed her online business from scratch to a seven-figure enterprise within 15 months, all while managing motherhood and personal challenges. This episode delves into the early struggles, breakthroughs, and the realistic hustle behind building a successful online business.

The Road to the First $35 Sale

A Turning Point with a Business Coach

Abigail recounts the summer of 2022, particularly June, when she decided to take a crucial step toward entrepreneurship. She shares,

“I got on a free introductory call with a business coach and basically had a come to Jesus moment, if you will” (04:30), emphasizing the significance of this conversation in reshaping her career path.

During this call, her coach, Ashley, introduced her to the concept of User Generated Content (UGC) and encouraged her to leverage TikTok to build a personal brand around teaching others how to become UGC creators. Initially hesitant due to her unfamiliarity with TikTok, Abigail took the plunge, leading to transformative outcomes.

Embracing TikTok and Content Creation

Despite feeling "mortified" about her first TikTok video—where she was still in PJs and holding her daughter's monitor—Abigail adopted a consistent posting strategy. She explained,

“I probably posted, I want to say, like two to three times a day for 30 days” (05:20), which helped her understand TikTok’s algorithm and audience preferences. This relentless effort allowed her to create content that resonated, blending educational material with trending topics and personal stories.

Developing the First Digital Product

As her TikTok following grew, Abigail noticed a recurring question from her audience: “How do we get started as a UGC creator?” Recognizing the lack of entry-level resources, she decided to create a low-ticket digital product tailored to her audience's needs. She detailed her product development process:

“I started Writing down everything I wanted to teach inside of the digital product on sticky notes... after about two weeks” (06:10), illustrating her methodical approach to organizing and structuring her content.

Her first digital product was a comprehensive PDF guide, roughly 60 pages, designed in an encyclopedia style. She iterated based on community feedback, ensuring the product addressed her audience's specific pain points.

Launch and Initial Sales

On August 2nd, 2022, Abigail launched her first digital product. With an email list of 1,139 subscribers and nearly 12,000 TikTok followers, she made her first sale:

“I had 1,139 people on my email list and just under 12,000 followers on TikTok... I ended up making 23 sales that first day total” (09:50), emphasizing the immediate validation and excitement that followed.

This initial success was a game-changer, proving to Abigail that her approach was viable and encouraging her to continue scaling her business.

Debunking Misconceptions About Digital Products

Not Passive Income

A significant portion of the episode addresses the common misconception that digital products equate to passive income. Abigail clarifies,

“Digital products are not passive income. For example, sometimes I make sales when I'm sleeping or when I'm at the store with my kid, but I put the work in for those sales the day before” (10:50).

She stresses that while digital products can generate income with less active involvement over time, they still require consistent effort, strategy, and maintenance to succeed.

Real Work Behind the Scenes

Abigail dismantles the myth perpetuated on social media that digital products can make you wealthy with minimal effort. She candidly shares,

“Digital products are not passive income... you're still actively selling and working” (11:00), highlighting the dedication needed to create, market, and update digital offerings.

This honesty serves to set realistic expectations for aspiring entrepreneurs, encouraging them to embrace the grind rather than seek overnight success.

Flexibility and Lifestyle Benefits

Balancing Business and Personal Life

One of the key advantages Abigail highlights is the flexibility that comes with selling digital products. She explains how this model allows her to manage her business alongside motherhood and personal health challenges:

“No other job would allow me to work from bed during my migraine days or push tasks off when my kid needs me a little bit extra that day” (12:00).

This flexibility is portrayed as a crucial factor in her falling in love with digital products, providing her the ability to control her schedule and prioritize what matters most.

Autonomy Over Time and Effort

Owning an online business grants Abigail control over her work pace. She reflects,

“You can push when you want to and kind of slow down when you want to as well” (12:10), contrasting it with the rigid timelines of traditional employment.

This autonomy not only enhances her productivity but also contributes to her overall well-being and work-life balance.

Embracing the Learning Process

Trial and Error

Abigail emphasizes the importance of experimentation and learning from failures. She candidly shares her struggles with initial content creation and the challenges of launching her first product:

“Much of what I did back then wasn't necessarily strategy... just trying new things and trial and erring and learning from things” (13:00).

This approach underscores the necessity of resilience and adaptability in entrepreneurship.

Encouragement for New Entrepreneurs

Drawing from her experiences, Abigail offers motivational advice to listeners embarking on their entrepreneurial journeys:

“Nothing changes if nothing changes” (15:00).

She encourages embracing discomfort, putting in the necessary effort, and viewing failures as opportunities to gain valuable experience rather than setbacks.

Conclusion

Episode 67 of The Abigail Pugh Podcast serves as an inspiring testament to the realities of building a digital product-based business. Abigail Pugh’s honest recounting of her first $35 sale and the subsequent growth of her business provides listeners with both motivation and a realistic perspective on entrepreneurship. By debunking myths around passive income and highlighting the importance of consistent effort, Abigail empowers her audience to pursue their business aspirations with clarity and determination.

Notable Quotes:

• Abigail Pugh (04:30): “I got on a free introductory call with a business coach and basically had a come to Jesus moment, if you will.”

• Abigail Pugh (05:20): “I probably posted, I want to say, like two to three times a day for 30 days.”

• Abigail Pugh (06:10): “I started Writing down everything I wanted to teach inside of the digital product on sticky notes... after about two weeks.”

• Abigail Pugh (09:50): “I had 1,139 people on my email list and just under 12,000 followers on TikTok... I ended up making 23 sales that first day total.”

• Abigail Pugh (10:50): “Digital products are not passive income. For example, sometimes I make sales when I'm sleeping or when I'm at the store with my kid, but I put the work in for those sales the day before.”

• Abigail Pugh (11:00): “Digital products are not passive income... you're still actively selling and working.”

• Abigail Pugh (12:00): “No other job would allow me to work from bed during my migraine days or push tasks off when my kid needs me a little bit extra that day.”

• Abigail Pugh (12:10): “You can push when you want to and kind of slow down when you want to as well.”

• Abigail Pugh (13:00): “Much of what I did back then wasn't necessarily strategy... just trying new things and trial and erring and learning from things.”

• Abigail Pugh (15:00): “Nothing changes if nothing changes.”

This episode is a must-listen for aspiring online entrepreneurs seeking realistic insights and actionable advice on building a sustainable digital product business. Abigail’s transparency and authenticity make her journey relatable and inspiring, offering a blueprint for others to follow and adapt to their unique circumstances.