Most people underestimate how much others would pay for what they already know. This guide shows you how to test your expertise against real-world demand, pricing potential, and audience pain. You’ll walk away with clear frameworks, smart tools, and practical ways to turn your know-how into income.
Why You Might Be Overlooking the Value of What You Know
You’ve probably spent years solving problems, building systems, or figuring out shortcuts that save time and money. But when it comes to turning that into something sellable, you hesitate. You second-guess yourself. You assume it’s not unique enough, or that others already know it. That’s the trap.
Here’s what usually happens:
- You’ve built a process that works, but you think it’s “just common sense.”
- You’ve solved a recurring issue at work, but never documented it.
- You’ve helped others with advice, but never thought to charge for it.
- You’ve created templates, dashboards, or workflows, but they sit unused outside your team.
Let’s say you’re a project manager who’s figured out how to reduce scope creep using a simple weekly check-in format. You’ve used it for years. It works. But you’ve never packaged it. You assume others already do this. Meanwhile, someone else is selling a $49 template that does exactly what you’ve been doing for free.
Or maybe you’re a contractor who’s built a sourcing matrix that saves hours every week. You’ve never shared it publicly. But there are thousands of professionals searching for “how to compare suppliers quickly” or “best way to vet vendors.” That’s demand. You just haven’t matched it to your solution yet.
This disconnect between what you know and what others need is where most people get stuck. You’re not lacking value—you’re lacking visibility and validation.
Here’s why this happens so often:
| Misbelief | What’s Actually True |
|---|---|
| “Everyone already knows this.” | Most people are overwhelmed and searching for shortcuts. |
| “It’s too simple to sell.” | Simplicity is exactly what people pay for—clarity saves time. |
| “I’m not an expert.” | You don’t need credentials—just a repeatable result. |
| “It’s not unique.” | Your angle, context, and execution make it valuable. |
You don’t need to be the best in the world. You just need to solve a painful problem better than the person searching for help.
That’s where tools like Semrush, SparkToro, and Notion come in. They help you surface what people are struggling with, where they’re talking about it, and how you can package your solution in a way that’s easy to understand and easy to buy.
Here’s how that plays out:
- Use Semrush Keyword Magic Tool to find what people are actually searching for around your topic. Look for phrases like “how to fix,” “best way to solve,” “mistakes to avoid,” or “template for.”
- Use SparkToro to find where your audience hangs out online—what podcasts they listen to, what social accounts they follow, what language they use to describe their pain.
- Use Notion to build a clean, simple version of your solution—a checklist, a dashboard, a guide. Something that turns your knowledge into a usable tool.
You’re not just selling information. You’re selling clarity, speed, and confidence. And that starts with recognizing that what you know is already valuable—it just needs to be matched to the right pain.
Here’s a quick way to test that:
| What You Know | Who Needs It Most | What They’re Likely Searching For |
|---|---|---|
| Weekly check-in format | Project managers, team leads | “how to reduce scope creep”, “project check-in template” |
| Sourcing matrix for vendors | Contractors, procurement teams | “compare suppliers fast”, “vendor vetting tool” |
| Onboarding SOPs | Small business owners, HR managers | “new hire checklist”, “employee onboarding process” |
If you can match your knowledge to a real search, a real frustration, or a real workflow gap, you’re already halfway there. The next step is validating demand, which we’ll break down next.
How to Validate Real-World Demand Without Building Anything First
You don’t need a product, a course, or a fancy website to know if your knowledge is valuable. You just need proof that people are already trying to solve the problem you understand well. That proof shows up in search engines, forums, and conversations—if you know where to look.
Start with search intent. When people are in pain, they search with urgency. They type things like:
- “How do I fix…”
- “Best way to avoid…”
- “Template for…”
- “Mistakes to avoid when…”
Use Semrush Keyword Magic Tool to plug in a few phrases related to your topic. You’ll see clusters of questions, search volume, and keyword difficulty. Look for high-intent phrases—those that show someone is actively trying to solve a problem, not just browsing.
Let’s say you’ve built a system for onboarding new hires in under 3 days. You search “employee onboarding checklist” and find:
| Keyword | Monthly Searches | Intent Level |
|---|---|---|
| “employee onboarding checklist” | 9,800 | High (ready to act) |
| “how to onboard new employees” | 3,200 | Medium |
| “onboarding process template” | 2,600 | High |
That’s real demand. You haven’t built anything yet, but you already know people are looking for what you know.
Next, use SparkToro to find where your audience spends time. If you’re targeting HR managers or small business owners, SparkToro shows you what podcasts they listen to, what social accounts they follow, and what language they use when talking about onboarding. That helps you shape your messaging to match their pain.
You can also test demand by sharing a simple version of your solution. Use Tally.so to create a one-page form that asks:
- What’s your biggest frustration with onboarding?
- How long does it take you to onboard someone?
- Would you pay for a faster, clearer process?
You don’t need hundreds of responses. Even 10–15 answers will show you whether your knowledge hits a nerve.
If you want to go further, list a simple version of your solution on Lemon Squeezy—a checklist, a guide, a dashboard. Price it low. See if it gets traction. You’ll learn more from one real buyer than from 100 likes.
How to Test Pricing Potential Without Guessing
Pricing is where most people freeze. You don’t want to charge too much and scare people off. You don’t want to charge too little and undervalue your work. The good news is, you don’t have to guess.
Start by benchmarking. Go to Udemy, Clarity.fm, or Fiverr and search for similar solutions. Look at what others are charging for guides, templates, or advice in your space. You’ll start to see patterns:
| Type of Knowledge Product | Typical Price Range |
|---|---|
| Templates and checklists | $10–$50 |
| Short guides or SOPs | $25–$100 |
| Dashboards or calculators | $50–$150 |
| 1-on-1 calls or consults | $100–$500/hr |
You’re not copying them—you’re calibrating. If someone’s charging $49 for a checklist that solves the same problem you’ve already solved better, you’re underpricing yourself by not offering it.
You can also test pricing by offering two versions:
- A free version with limited value (e.g., a basic checklist)
- A paid version with deeper insights, automation, or customization
Use Notion to build both versions. The free one gets attention. The paid one gets commitment. You’ll quickly see what people are willing to pay for.
If you’re unsure, ask directly. Use Tally.so to run a pricing survey. Ask:
- What would solving this problem be worth to you?
- Would you pay $29, $49, or $99 for a complete solution?
You’ll get honest answers, especially if you’ve already helped them understand the pain.
How to Map Audience Pain to Your Unique Angle
You don’t need to be the only person solving a problem. You just need to solve it in a way that feels more relevant, faster, or easier for your audience.
Start by building a “Pain Grid.” List out the top frustrations your audience faces, then match each one to something you know how to solve.
| Audience Pain Point | Your Unique Solution |
|---|---|
| “I waste time vetting vendors.” | Your sourcing matrix that filters fast |
| “New hires take weeks to ramp up.” | Your 3-day onboarding system |
| “Projects always go off track.” | Your weekly check-in format |
| “I don’t know what tools to use.” | Your curated stack of proven platforms |
You don’t need to solve everything. Just pick one pain point and go deep.
Use SparkToro again to find the exact language your audience uses. If they say “I’m drowning in vendor emails,” don’t call your solution a “procurement optimization framework.” Call it “a simple way to cut vendor noise.”
The more you mirror their language, the more your solution feels tailor-made.
You can also run short interviews. Talk to 3–5 people in your target audience. Ask:
- What’s the hardest part about [topic]?
- What have you tried that didn’t work?
- What would make this easier?
You’ll hear patterns. Those patterns are your positioning. They tell you what to emphasize, what to name your product, and what to leave out.
Use Notion to document these insights. Build a simple guide or dashboard that speaks directly to the pain you uncovered. You’re not just offering knowledge—you’re offering relief.
3 Actionable Takeaways
- Use search data and audience tools to validate demand before building anything.
- Benchmark pricing and test small offers to learn what people will pay for.
- Map real pain points to your unique solution using language your audience already uses.
Top 5 FAQs About Selling Your Knowledge
1. What if I’m not an expert? You don’t need credentials. If you’ve solved a problem repeatedly, you’re ahead of someone who hasn’t.
2. How do I know people will pay for it? Look for search intent, marketplace pricing, and direct feedback. If people are already paying for similar solutions, there’s room for yours.
3. What’s the best format to start with? Start with something simple: a checklist, guide, or dashboard. Use Notion or Scribe to package it cleanly.
4. How do I find my audience? Use SparkToro to discover where they spend time online and what language they use to describe their pain.
5. How do I avoid wasting time building something no one wants? Validate first. Use Semrush to find demand, Tally.so to run surveys, and Lemon Squeezy to test small offers.
Next Steps
- Start by searching your topic in Semrush Keyword Magic Tool. Look for high-intent phrases that show people are actively trying to solve a problem you understand.
- Use SparkToro to find out where your audience hangs out and what language they use. This helps you shape your messaging and product positioning.
- Build a simple version of your solution using Notion or Scribe. Package it as a guide, checklist, or dashboard. Share it with a few people and ask for feedback.
You don’t need to be perfect. You just need to be useful. The more you test, the clearer your value becomes. The clearer your value, the easier it is to sell. And once you’ve sold it once, you’ll never look at your knowledge the same way again.