Skill or Product — Which Should You Sell?

The Honest Conversation Nobody Really Has With Creators

Let’s have a real talk.

If you’re a creative, freelancer, or digital entrepreneur, you’ve probably asked yourself this question at some point:

“Should I sell my skill… or should I sell a product?”

On paper, both look like good options.
Both can make money.
Both can build your brand.
Both can change your life.

But the truth?
They don’t work the same way at all.

And understanding the difference early can save you stress, burnout, and months of running around in circles.

So let’s break it down in the simplest, most relatable way.

Selling a Skill: You Earn When You Show Up

A skill is anything you do with your hands, your brain, or your expertise:

• Designing

• Editing

• Writing

• Coaching

• Photography

• Programming

• Consulting

The thing with skills is: they are good, but they need you.

When you stop, the money stops.

Think of a graphic designer:
They might be talented, fast, and in demand. But for every ₦60k, ₦120k, or even ₦300k they earn, they have to sit down, open their laptop, work, revise, correct, re-export, send files, reply emails…

If life happens — maybe you fall sick, or PHCN decides to disgrace you for two days, or your laptop suddenly behaves like it has malaria — guess what?

No work = no income.

It’s like a generator: the moment the fuel finishes, everything goes dark.

A Nigerian Example You’ll Relate With

Let’s say “Tunde” is a photographer in Lagos.
He earns good money shooting birthdays, pre-wedding shoots, fashion portfolios.

But every job requires him to move.
If he stays home for a week, income pauses.
If he travels without gear, income pauses.
If he just wants to rest — well, unfortunately, rest isn’t profitable.

Skills provide active income — payment that depends on your energy, your availability, and your time.

Selling a Product: You Build Once, It Sells Many Times

Now this is where the game changes.

A product is something that doesn’t need your daily presence to make money:

• A digital course

• A preset pack

• A template

• An ebook

• A Notion/Canva kit

• A software

• A guide

• Even physical products like merch

Here’s the magic:
You create the product ONCE.
Then it keeps selling on its own.

Even while you’re sleeping.
Even while you’re offline.
Even while you’re busy with something else.

Think of the same Tunde (the photographer). If he turns his knowledge into:

• A smartphone photography class

• A Lightroom preset pack

• A posing guide

• A beginner-friendly ebook

Those products don’t care whether Tunde is awake or not.
They don’t care whether he’s in Lagos traffic or eating suya.

They keep selling.

That’s leveraged income — income you can multiply without using extra time.

Let’s Make It More Real: A Quick Story

Imagine two friends:

Friend 1 — Chika the Designer

Chika works hard.
Clients love her.
But to earn ₦150k this week, she must work.
If she doesn’t touch her laptop, nothing moves.

Friend 2 — Ada the Designer

Ada also works with clients, yes.
But she has also created:

• A brand identity template

• A social media kit

• A mini-course on how beginners can start designing

• A pack of Canva templates

Now Ada earns from clients and from people she never meets.

One month, even if Ada doesn’t take many clients, her product sales still bring her money.

Who do you think sleeps better?
Who do you think has more time?
Who do you think has more freedom?

Exactly.

So Which Should You Sell?

Here’s the truth most people won’t tell you:

You don’t have to choose one.

But you DO have to choose which one leads.

If you want fast money → Sell your skill.

Because skills pay immediately.

If you want scalable, stable, stress-free money → Sell a product.

Because products pay continuously.

But if you want the perfect combination → Do both, in this order:

1. Master a skill

2. Use that skill to understand the real problems people have

3. Turn your solution into a product

4. Sell your skill and your product

5. Gradually shift into product-led income

That's the formula.

Final Thoughts: What Kind of Life Do You Want?

Selling a skill will give you money.
Selling a product will give you freedom.

A skill feeds you today.
A product feeds you tomorrow, next week, next month, and maybe next year.

The real question is:

Do you want to keep trading your time for income…
or do you want income that grows even without your time?

Once you answer that, you’ll know exactly what to build next.