What Is an Information Product
If you’ve ever downloaded an eBook, joined an online course, or read a whitepaper, you’ve already seen an information product in action. These are resources created to deliver knowledge, not physical goods, and they’ve become essential tools for businesses, educators, and content creators.
An information product is any digital or physical resource designed to convey knowledge or instructions. Instead of selling a tangible item, you’re selling or distributing expertise.
They can be free (such as a user guide or factsheet) or paid (such as an eBook or video course). What matters is that they are structured, reusable, and meant to inform or educate.
Some key traits of information products:
- Created to educate or inform
- Usually digital (but can be printed)
- Reusable and scalable for wide audiences
- Often used for training, onboarding, documentation, or sales enablement
Common Types of Information Products
- eBooks and Whitepapers
Long-form written content offering deep insights, analysis, or step-by-step processes - Online Courses and Tutorials
Structured lessons using videos, slides, audio, or mixed media to teach a complete skill or topic - Templates, Checklists, and Toolkits
Pre-made documents or frameworks that users can customize and apply quickly - Knowledge Bases and User Guides
Centralized documentation that helps users operate products or follow procedures - Webinars, Presentations, and Workshops
Live or recorded sessions designed to explain specific topics in detail
Real-World Examples
- A cybersecurity company is releasing a whitepaper on best practices
- A SaaS company publishing a step-by-step onboarding guide
- An independent expert launching a video course
- A design agency offering ready-to-use templates for branding
Why Information Products Matter
Information products are valuable for several reasons:
- Scalable
Once created, they can be distributed to unlimited users with minimal cost - Authority-Building
High-quality resources demonstrate expertise and build trust with audiences - Efficiency
They answer recurring questions and reduce the need for one-on-one support - Revenue Generation
Some information products can be monetized as standalone offerings - Knowledge Preservation
They document internal processes so knowledge isn’t lost when people leave
In short, they help you transfer knowledge efficiently, which is essential for both internal and external communication.
How to Create an Information Product
Follow these structured steps when building an information product:
- Identify Your Audience and Goal
Define who it’s for, what they need to know, and what problem it should solve - Research and Organize the Content
Collect accurate, up-to-date information and arrange it into logical sections or modules - Choose the Right Format
Pick the delivery format (guide, video, template, interactive tutorial) based on how your audience prefers to learn - Design for Usability
Make it visually clear and consistent — use headings, bullet points, visuals, and examples for better comprehension - Review and Test with Users
Get feedback from sample users or team members to ensure it’s accurate and easy to follow - Publish and Maintain
Release it on your platform, make it easy to access, and set up a schedule to update it when content becomes outdated
Example Scenario
Imagine you work for a software company launching a new tool. Instead of sending scattered emails and slides, you build:
- a quick start guide
- a step-by-step video tutorial
- a template checklist for setup
All of these together form an information product package that simplifies onboarding and reduces support tickets.
Conclusion
Information products transform knowledge into structured, reusable, and scalable resources. They save time, cut down repetitive support, and help users get the answers they need without friction.
By understanding your audience, planning your structure, and focusing on clarity, you can build information products that remain valuable long after they’re published.
