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In this episode, Dr. Barbara Hales chats with Ty Cohen, founder of the Digital Business Builder Blueprint, about the key strategies for building a digital business that provides freedom without burnout.

  • Ty shares how he transitioned from working long hours at Walgreens to launching his digital business, helping professionals and creatives turn their knowledge into profitable digital products. He emphasizes the importance of authenticity, building a business with clear systems, and avoiding the pitfalls of burnout.
  • Ty reveals the core of his coaching program, which helps clients find clarity on their ultimate business goals, whether it’s gaining more clients, achieving more freedom, or earning additional income. The program provides one-on-one guidance to help you create digital products, such as online courses, books, workshops, and memberships.
  • Ty also discusses how professionals, including doctors and creatives, can build their digital businesses by offering value through lead magnets and video content, making the process organic and authentic. He provides insight into the key mistake many make when marketing their business and how to avoid it—staying genuine and giving away valuable information to build trust.

Key Takeaway:

“Building a business that doesn’t burn you out means creating systems that allow you to live life on your terms—whether that’s meeting with clients, enjoying lunch with family, or taking spontaneous trips.” – Ty Cohen.

Connect with Ty Cohen:

Website: www.tycohen.com

Connect with Barbara Hales:

Twitter:   @DrBarbaraHales

Facebook:   facebook.com/theMedicalStrategist

Business Website: www.TheMedicalStrategist.com

Show website:   www.MarketingTipsForDoctors.com

Email:   Barbara@TheMedicalStrategist.com

Books:

YouTube: TheMedicalStrategist

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/barbarahales

TRANSCRIPTION

Introduction to the Episode

Dr. Barbara Hales 00:02

Welcome to another episode of Marketing Tips for Doctors. I’m your host, Dr. Barbara Hales. Today, we have with us a special guest, Ty Cohen. Today’s guest is someone who went from spending 10 years behind a pharmacy counter to building a digital business that runs with clarity, confidence, and purpose. He’s the founder of the Digital Business Builder Blueprint, a six-month coaching experience where he helps professionals, coaches, creatives, and everyday action-takers turn what they know into digital products, coaching offers, and businesses they can run, grow, or even sell one day. What makes his approach different is that it’s not about overnight results or going viral—which we will hope for anyway. It’s about creating real solutions, real systems, and a business that gives you freedom without burnout. He’s here today to talk about what it really takes to build something online that lasts, and how to shift from trading hours for dollars to building a business that runs with more structure and less stress. Welcome to the show, Ty!

Ty Cohen’s Background and Early Career

Ty Cohen 01:26
Hey, Barbara, thanks for having me. I’m excited. I’m excited to hear what we’re going to talk about today.

Dr. Barbara Hales 01:30
Yes, well, we’re going to be talking about you, partially because you’re going to give our listeners some great advice and tips that they’ll be able to implement right away.

Ty Cohen 01:42
Let’s do it.

Ty Cohen’s Life Before Digital Business

Dr. Barbara Hales 01:43
So take us back. What was your life like before you discovered digital business? And, you know, like, what has it been like since?

Ty Cohen 01:52
Yeah, you know. So working at a pharmacy, we got paid off a stipend, right? So we put in 55 hours a week at a minimum. So that was my life. It seemed like I would get up, go to work, go home, get something to eat, get up, go to work, go home… It was like Groundhog Day every single day. My life consisted of work, being at Walgreens, working with customers, attending meetings, and very little time for myself and my family. And at that time, I was just starting a family, right? So it was super important to be there. I just felt like everything was Walgreens Pharmacy.

Dr. Barbara Hales 02:39
I think a lot of doctors can certainly relate to that. They go to work, they come home, they fall asleep, and then the next day, they’re back at work without spending any time outside the office for their loved ones.

Ty’s Journey to Digital Business

Ty Cohen 02:54
Yeah, yeah. And I think that what happens is, you know, when I first started doing this, Barbara, I didn’t have any role models. So it’s not like now where you can turn on YouTube or Instagram and see people with digital businesses everywhere. What I did know is that I wanted to be different. I think that’s what it takes sometimes: wanting to be different. So I started to study business, and as I did, I started dabbling in it. I realized it was scary, but this was the freedom I was after. It was like tasting that first bite, and I was totally hooked. So I would come home after Walgreens, exhausted, but I had this renewed energy because I knew I was going home to work on something that would eventually pull me away from where I was. I would put in another three or four hours into studying my digital business. That was the beginning for me. Since then, I’ve helped tens of thousands of people do the same.

Building the First Digital Product

Dr. Barbara Hales 04:05
How did you go from having no audience or tech skills to building your first digital product?

Ty Cohen 04:13
Yep, that’s a great question. So, being genuine and authentic, listening to your customer base, and being willing to help only those in alignment with you is key. Once I made that decision, I could talk to those people, and they were willing to listen. Selling then became easier because I wasn’t selling to everyone, I was helping people who genuinely wanted help.

Building a Business Without Burnout

Dr. Barbara Hales 04:52
You talk a lot about building a business that doesn’t burn you out. What does that actually look like?

Ty Cohen 04:58
A business that doesn’t burn you out looks like this: I have a meeting with Barbara, I attend that, and after, I can go out to lunch with my wife if I want. On a Thursday, I can go to the beach if I feel like it. If my wife says, “Hey, let’s go to France in two weeks,” we can plan it. There are no obligations. We have that freedom and availability.

Explaining Digital Publishing in Simple Terms

Dr. Barbara Hales 05:33
Sounds good. So, for someone listening who’s never heard of digital publishing or digital products, how would you explain it in simple terms?

Ty Cohen 05:47
Digital products and publishing is basically taking something you’re passionate about or knowledgeable about, and then packaging it in a digital format. It could be a Kindle book, a digital course, a membership, or workshops—any digital format that’s easy for people to access. These products are often sold directly through online platforms. It could be a $5 product or a $25,000 product. And the best part is, it applies to any industry, from doctors to creatives.

Digital Publishing Success Stories

Ty Cohen 07:43
For example, I have a client who’s a surgeon, but she’s passionate about crocheting. I helped her create a digital course about crocheting, and now she’s selling it left and right. So, it’s about creating a product around something you love talking about. Or, if you’re a professional with a practice, creating a Kindle book as a marketing tool can help get clients and prospects.

Why Digital Products Are Easier Than Textbooks

Dr. Barbara Hales 09:12
What I want to point out to our listeners is that writing a textbook takes years of hard research, sourcing, and corroborating. But if you publish a Kindle book on topics you’re already an expert in, it would be much easier and faster to attract clients. Would you agree?

Ty Cohen 11:30
Absolutely. We help clients create everything from books to courses and coaching programs. A Kindle book can be used to attract clients because it allows you to answer common questions and provide value, and at the end, you offer a way for readers to contact you for more. You can market it on social media to gain new prospects quickly.

Digital Publishing for Non-Writers

Dr. Barbara Hales 11:37
Can someone who isn’t typically an author still write digital products online?

Ty Cohen 11:37
Absolutely. About 50% of people I work with are passionate about writing, while the other half aren’t. If you’re not into writing, you can hire a ghostwriter or freelancer to create content based on your ideas. They’ll handle the writing, and you can focus on marketing and growing the business.

Overview of the Digital Business Builder Blueprint

Dr. Barbara Hales 12:31
You run a six-month coaching experience called the Digital Business Builder Blueprint. Can you walk us through what that looks like?

Ty Cohen 12:31
Sure! We first identify your ultimate goal—whether it’s more clients, more freedom, or more income. Then, we determine why you want to achieve this goal because understanding your “why” helps you stay on track. After that, we start building your program, whether it’s a book, course, coaching program, or something else. I work with clients one-on-one to ensure they don’t make common mistakes.

Marketing and Growing Your Digital Business

Dr. Barbara Hales 14:34
How did you get the word out about your brand when you first started?

Ty Cohen 14:34
I focused on building genuine relationships and engaging authentically with people. Over time, word spread, and as I started advertising, my audience grew. The key is to be authentic and consistent.

Creating a Unique Brand

Dr. Barbara Hales 15:45
How can doctors create a unique brand that sets them apart?

Ty Cohen 15:45
The key is giving value to your clients and prospects. In the digital space, it’s easy to share value through things like books or videos. Offering advice in a relatable way helps you connect with your audience. Being authentic will make you memorable, and clients will bring you more clients.

Mistakes to Avoid in Marketing

Dr. Barbara Hales 17:52
What is a common mistake professionals make when trying to market themselves, and how can doctors avoid it in their practices?

Ty Cohen 17:52
A common mistake is copying what others are doing. The key is offering value with a clear call to action, such as a free video, pamphlet, or book. By giving useful information and staying consistent, you’ll gain credibility and start attracting more clients.

What Is a Lead Magnet?

Dr. Barbara Hales 19:35
What is a lead magnet, and what’s the most effective type for professionals?

Ty Cohen 19:35
A lead magnet is a valuable piece of content offered in exchange for contact information. This could be a free video, guide, or ebook. The key is to give more value than expected, and make sure your content is shareable, which can make your brand go viral.

Final Tips on Video Marketing

Dr. Barbara Hales 22:13
Where should you post your video? Should it be on YouTube, and then linked to your website?

Ty Cohen 22:13
Yes, upload your video to YouTube, make it public, and link it to your website or opt-in page. This way, the video will be visible to both new viewers and existing clients, and it can be easily shared.

Conclusion

Dr. Barbara Hales 23:41
Well, that’s great advice. And listeners, get started on this! This has been another episode of Marketing Tips for Doctors, featuring Ty Cohen, who’s shared some fantastic insights. His contact information will be on our show notes. Till next time, bye!