You know when you look at someone’s business and think, Wow, they’ve got it all figured out? That was me when I first started my small business, looking around at other foundeers with their polished, fully automated online skill based business. 

It did not matter what they sold, somehow they had figured out how to turn their passion into profit, their knowledge into income and grow an online  business.

And even though when you look on, it feels like they have all the answers, let’s be honest.

 No one starts as  a Ms.-Know-It-All. 

At least, I didn’t.  

I started taking a look at my knowledge base and turning  my talent for content marketing into a digital product that I could offer online and earn revenue for my efforts.

It was a simple, online product—priced at $7. 

 I could have easily started with a service, a subscription, or even a course (all of which came later in my journey).

But at the time, it was just one thing. One idea, one skill, one business model. That’s all I could handle in the beginning.

When you’re just starting to think about your first online skill based business, it’s a big deal.

It’s like waking up from a deep sleep, realising there’s an entire world out there that you can be a part of.

It’s the first taste of what it’s like to make $$$ online.

And sure, your first offer might not fly off the shelves  (spoiler alert: it usually doesn’t)—

But it teaches you so much about the process of creating value, serving a specific audience, and putting something out into the world.

Here’s the thing: you’re not going to get it perfect the first time. 🔴

The Profit Pyramid Is An Essential Framework In An Online Skills Based Business 

And honestly, if you’re not 100% in love with the process of learning and improving from there, then building an online skill based business might not be for you.

Because at the heart of everything, the first offer is the work of testing, adjusting, and perfecting your approach—until you can finally scale.

And that’s why you need a framework. Enter: the Profit Pyramid.

Now, before you roll your eyes at the word “pyramid” (trust me, I get it), hear me out.

This isn’t some “get-rich-quick” scheme you’ve seen a million times.

I come from a background in journalism and corporate communications, where the “pyramid” concept was used all the time.

It was a tool to structure messaging in a way that makes sense—one that could be clear, intentional, and effective.

And for me, bringing that framework into the entrepreneurial world felt… well, right.

A Useful Example 

It’s  familiar method that makes a ton of sense for growing and scaling offers in your online skill based business

But a pyramid is more than just a structure—it’s a method that’s designed to help you approach all your offers in a manner  that allows you to earn money online. 

Exhibit A: I wanted to draw a TIGHTER box around certain non – negotiables in my life and business. So I went all in, became a digital product creator.

I began by learning how to  crack the online code for multiple revenue stream that started  with me learning how to build and sell digital products online.

I had, and still have very thick lines around my levels of resilience.

Maybe you have Sharpie-marker thick lines too. But I’m going to make it all easy  today.

Let’s talk about step 1️⃣  and creating a digital offer in your skill based business. 

Let’s begin with your lead magnet.

Online Business Growth Tip | The Lead Magnet 

Step 1 is your lead magnet.

At the base of the pyramid, we start with something I find very familiar: a lead magnet.

If you’re unsure what this is, think of it as a  “gift” you give away in exchange for an email address like a:

✅️ → Checklist.

✅️ → Template.

✅️ → Cheat sheet  etc.

Something that solves an immediate problem for your ideal customer. 

Go ahead and think about it for a second then I’ll share one of my own examples.

Ok, did you begin to think about that gift ? What is could be for you and more importantly, what it could mean for your ideal customer? 

Here’s my example.

In my AI ecosystem of products, YOU NEED AI was  one of my lead magnets.

 At the time, it was a freebie.

In  exchange for an email address, a new subscriber got a collection of free structured AI prompts and a FREE  digital course  to help with the work flows in their businesses.

It was a simple, valuable, and a perfect  FREE introduction to what came next.

Now, if you don’t have a lead magnet yet, don’t overcomplicate it. This is where your brain jam begins. 💪🏼

Think about a problem your audience is struggling with.

And ask yourself: “What can you give them that would make their life easier in 5-15 minutes? 

Get that into a downloadable format, and you’re good to go.”

How To Earn Money Online Using Your Skills | Create A Micro Offer

Now that you’ve got people on your email list from your lead magnet. 

It’s time to introduce your first paid offer. 

Remember to keep your goal at the front of your mind- you want  an online skill based business model where you’re not trading time for money.

So think of your first pid offer as a mini or micro offer.

As I suggested at the tippy top of the post, building a successful online skilled business is about starting at the base of the profit pyramid and ascending.

I’m not going to  talk about  funnels or even traffic sources, these are important.

But for now, I want us to stick  to  the offer itself.

When you’re exploring the idea of an online business you’re going to see the word micro offer come up a lot.

What is a micro offer? 

Micro-offers are low-ticket items—anything from $10 to $50. 

They solve a specific problem in a short amount of time.

A great example is my AI Prompt Playbook.

It’s not the be-all and end-all of learning about structured prompting , but it introduces small biz owners to some core fundamentals and includes: 

1. An AI guide:
2. A bespoke platform, and
3. 20 structured prompts for online marketing that are easily integrated into ChatGPT.

It’s priced at $ 9.99.  Remember we’re talking about a  low ticket micro offer here.

We have now moved beyond the base of the pyramid and climbing towards the top. But we’re still not there yet.

One more thing.  In the micro offer tier, think about an offer  that:  

1️⃣  complements your lead magnet and, 2️⃣  connects to your core offer, which we will get into next.

 Having A Core Offer In Your Profit Pyramid Is A Key Digital Product Tip 

Your  core offer is your bread and butter when you think about building an online skill based business.

 Consider it the foundation in your make-up routine.

Your core product or service should be priced between $97 and $497.

It’s comprehensive, it’s impactful, and should deliver real transformation for your customers.

It’s not just a quick fix. It’s a complete, step-by-step guide to building AI-powered digital offer in your business.

There’s an:

AI course. 

A prompt library. 

Video showcase. 

And an AI agent to help you build your digital offer in half the time.

It’s more  way more involved, way more detailed and it’s designed for people who want to take their digital offer  to the next level.

Outside the launch season, it’s priced at $347.00

My example aside, I hope you get the gist  and see the progress from one tier to the next; from free →  to low ticket →  to  your core offer.

Also, this cautionary tale: ✋🏽✋🏽✋🏽  you can’t just throw any old product into this tier.

Your core offer needs to provide real, actionable value that moves people closer to their goals.

Let’s move to tier 4 where you’re really winning, like Kendrick Lamar top of the pyramid kind of winning, 👇🏼👇🏼

 A High Ticket Offer Can Help You Sell Your Skills Digitally

A high-ticket offer is your premium product or service.

You’re working with your most dedicated clients and customers.

They are the ones who want more personalised solutions, more access to you, and more value. This is where you’re diving deep with them  into the nitty-gritty.

For example, maybe you design  a 1:1 online coaching program that’s specifically used  to address a specific and unique client problem.

I start my coaching services at US $150.00 but at another  level, my coaching programme goes to US $3,000.00

The top tier is a  high-touch 1:1  session  where I  walk a client through a transformation of their business with either funnels, systems, online automations +  marketing.

When it comes to this tier, the key here is that you’re providing a high level of personal attention and tailored guidance.

Consider Adding A Community Aspect To Your Online Skill Based Business 

The final tier in your pyramid is your continuity programme.

This is your subscription, your membership, the ongoing value that keeps people coming back for more.

This is one way  you get to create predictable, recurring revenue.

And let’s be honest—this is the holy grail for many online businesses.

You can also do it with repeating your core offer .

When you create a community of people who trust you and your work, they’ll gladly pay for continued access to your content, support, and expertise.

This is where my offers really start to scale.

Is It Easy To Build An Online Skill Based Business?

On  Saturday, as I was drawing  out the marketing structure for my business mentor, I realised how easy this had all become for me.

What wasn’t visible was  the time, intention, I put in to test what worked and what didn’t in my offer matrix. 

I’m not going to tell tales, what I just outlined takes work. Building an on skill based business does not happen on a  wish and a prayer

But I’ve also got some really good news.

You don’t have to create all the tiers at once. Remember, how I mentioned  I started  with one.

You can and should start slow, build your  magnet/ freebie and your low ticket offer.

Keep  listening  to your audience.

As you grow, your offers will evolve, so too  the needs of your customers.

The beauty of the Profit Pyramid is that each step builds on the last

You don’t have to reinvent the wheel each time. That’s the beauty of the system.

You replicate with each new offer, you’re building a solid foundation that serves your audience at every stage of their journey.

Remember: The key is to start with value. Always lead with value, and the→ rest→ will → follow.