Selling Digital Products Online: Everything You Need to Know

Starting an online business by selling digital products is a smart choice. They’re easier to create and handle than physical products because you don’t need to worry about storage or shipping.

If you’re interested in selling digital items, this guide will explain everything you need to know. We’ll cover what kinds of products you can sell, how much money you can make, and the best ways to sell them. Our aim is to help you pick the right product so you can get started right away.

What is a Digital Product?

A digital product is any product or service that you can buy and access online, like ebooks, software, templates, courses, music, and more. We’ll look at more examples of digital products later in this article.

Selling digital products is a great way to earn money online. It can bring in a good income and grow over time without much effort. Since there’s no need to manage stock or spend much on production, it’s an easy option for creators and business owners.

Types of Digital Products to Create and Sell

These digital products can appeal to a variety of skills and interests. Depending on what you know and who you want to reach, you can create one or more types of products. Here are some popular options:

• Ebooks and PDFs: You can sell educational items like guides, tutorials, or how-to resources in areas you’re passionate about, like travel, baking, or business.
• Online courses: Offer video lessons, quizzes, and downloadable materials for learning.
• Digital memberships: Provide subscriptions that give members access to exclusive content or extra benefits for a regular fee.
• Music and art: Turn your creative talents into income by selling original songs, sound effects, or beats. You can also sell digital art like illustrations or designs for personal or commercial use.
• Online services: Use your expertise to offer services like website design, social media management, or virtual coaching.
• Templates: Sell ready-made templates for documents, designs, resumes, or presentations that help customers be more productive.
• Software: Create apps, plugins, or tools that solve problems or make work easier for your target audience.

Various Digital Products to Sell

Here are a variety of digital products for you to check out based on the types mentioned above:

Ebooks and PDFs

The ebooks and PDF resources market is expected to reach $22.76 billion by 2030. With low production costs, selling these types of digital products can be a profitable and scalable choice.

You can sell ebooks on platforms like Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing or Payhip, while sites like Gumroad or Etsy are great options for PDFs.

• Ebooks and digital guides: Create ebooks or guides that people can use for reference. These could be travel guides, cooking recipes, self-help tips, or business advice. If you’re looking for inspiration, check out this list of profitable ebook niches.
• Event planning checklist: Sell individual event checklists or bundle them with others. The checklists could cover weddings, parties, or corporate events. You can find event planning examples on Etsy.
• Custom meal plans: Design meal plans for various diets, such as vegan, keto, or gluten-free. You can also make plans based on individual health requirements.
• Personalized fitness plans: Develop fitness plans for specific goals, such as losing weight, gaining muscle, or boosting endurance. These plans can include workout routines, exercise instructions, and nutrition tips. They’re also a great way to make money if you’re a fitness influencer.

Online Courses

Online courses are a great option to sell because they let creators teach people from all over the world. You can host your courses on platforms like Teachable, Udemy, or Thinkific or sell them directly from your site.

• Photography courses and tutorials: Teach others about photography through courses and tutorials. You can cover topics like picking the right camera or basic lessons on lighting and composition. You can sell these courses on a platform or your photography website.
• Online fitness classes: Teach fitness routines, workout plans, and healthy living tips. Create video lessons for specific goals like losing weight, building strength, or doing yoga, and offer personalized workout schedules.
• Cooking classes: Teach cooking skills or meal prep ideas. Whether it’s simple cooking or advanced baking, you can create classes for all skill levels. For ideas, check out the cooking courses on Udemy.
• Investment advice: Share advice on fundamental investing, from managing personal finances to understanding bonds or mutual funds. These courses can include video lessons, downloadable materials, and helpful guides.

Digital Memberships

Digital memberships are popular because people are happy to pay for content that offers more value than free options. You can sell memberships on Patreon, Kickstarter, Mighty Networks, or Instagram Subscriptions.

• Exclusive video content: Produce and share unique videos with perks such as no ads, bonus episodes, or behind-the-scenes footage. For example, True Crime Obsessed offers video content on Patreon, with monthly membership plans starting at $5–$7.
• Premium content: Offer exclusive content, like workout plans or fashion tips, as part of a membership. For example, influencers can sell premium content directly through Instagram Subscriptions.
• Newsletter subscriptions: Create and sell subscriptions for regular newsletters that include exclusive content, unique benefits for members, or curated information about your niche.
• Premium blogs and articles: Write detailed blogs or articles on platforms like Medium or Substack. This is great for niches like wellness, finance, or tech, where you can provide readers with valuable, exclusive content.
• Podcast subscription: Provide subscribers exclusive podcast episodes or early access to your content. You can release new episodes weekly or whenever fits your audience. Check out podcasts on Supercast for ideas.

Music and Art

These digital products are great for creative people who love making music and art. You can sell music tracks, sound effects, and custom beats on platforms like Bandcamp, BeatStars, Airbit, or Traktrain.

For stock photos, try platforms like Creative Market. Printable art, such as posters or digital designs, can be sold on your website or through print-on-demand sites like Printify.

• Exclusive music tracks: Sell licensed music tracks as an independent artist on platforms like Bandcamp. Share your original music with fans or creators who need unique audio for their projects.
• Premium stock photos: Upload and sell high-quality images on sites like Creative Market. Check out our guide on selling photos online for more tips.
• Printable art: For sale, offer artwork or other printable media, like posters or illustrations. You can upload your art to marketplaces or sell it on your website.
• Sound effects: Create sound effects for video editors, podcasters, or game developers and sell them individually or as bundles.
• Custom music beats: Make and sell custom beats for musicians or content creators. You can also offer drum kits, samples, presets, and loops.

Online Services

Online services are a great way to turn your skills into a profitable business. Whether doing freelance work or offering specialized services, you can sell them on sites like Fiverr and Upwork or even directly from your website.

• Freelance services: Provide services based on your skills, like writing, graphic design, or social media management. You can learn how to get started with our guide on building a freelance business.
• Custom logo designs: Design logos for companies or individuals. Tools like Canva or Adobe Illustrator can help you create professional designs.
• Personalized trip itineraries: Plan customized travel experiences by making unique itineraries based on your client’s preferences, including activities, places to stay, and local tips.

Templates

Digital templates are popular because they’re simple and give professional results. You can sell these templates on platforms like Etsy, Creative Market, or your website.

• Contract and invoice templates: Create templates to help freelancers send contracts and handle payments. These tools make it easy to send professional documents and manage payment processes.
• Website templates: Design customizable templates for platforms like WordPress or Shopify. You can visit Hamza Ehsan’s website for inspiration.
• Customizable personal budget templates: Make easy budget tracking tools to help people organize their spending, savings, and financial goals.
• Business bookkeeping templates: Provide bookkeeping templates to help small businesses track income, expenses, and profits. These digital products are helpful for entrepreneurs managing their finances.
• Virtual assistant templates: Create templates that assist virtual assistants in their work. These could include client welcome packets or social media post templates. You can sell these in bundles to make it more convenient for users.

Software

Creating software may need more technical skills, but it’s an advantageous digital product. With many resources and tools available, building software is more possible than ever for motivated creators.

To reach a large audience, you can sell your products on platforms like Flippa, Gumroad, CodeCanyon, or your own website.

• Custom software solutions: Create and sell software that solves specific problems for businesses or individuals. This could include tools for project management or inventory tracking.
• Website development: Build and design websites for clients, whether businesses, bloggers, or entrepreneurs. Find out what to charge for a website to keep your pricing fair and profitable. For inspiration, check out Anna Franques’ portfolio.
• Apps: Create mobile or web apps that serve specific needs, such as productivity, education, or entertainment. Apps are a great way to reach the growing tech market.
• Plugins: Make plugins that add features to platforms like WordPress or Shopify. Examples include SEO tools, payment systems, or customization options.
• Themes: Like plugins, you can design and sell website themes for platforms like WordPress.

How Much Can You Make Selling Digital Products?

On average, you can make around $1,000–$2,000 a month, but this varies based on the product and target audience. Successful digital product sales on platforms like Etsy can bring in up to $93,000 in revenue. Here’s how much you could earn with different digital products:

• Ebooks and PDFs: PDFs can bring in up to $1,000 a month, while ebooks typically earn $2–$5 per month, depending on the price and platform fees. Experienced ebook sellers with over 6 years of experience can make up to $45,000 in that time.
• Online courses: The income can range from $1,000 to $10,000 a month, depending on the course topic.
• Digital memberships: Creators can earn an average of $12,000 in revenue from selling memberships.
• Music and art: Selling music like custom beats can earn around $100–$1,000 monthly. You could make anywhere from $100–$2,000 for artwork, depending on the price you set.
• Online services: Offering online services, such as freelancing, can earn between $31,000 and $275,000.
• Templates: Selling templates can earn you up to $2,000 monthly.
• Software: Selling a website could earn around $1,400, while creating and selling WordPress themes could cost $10,000. If you develop custom software, you could make as much as $146,000 per year.

No matter which product you choose, your final profit will depend on how you price and where you sell it. Now, let’s look at the benefits of selling digital products.

Why Sell Digital Products

• Earn passive income: Once you create digital products, you can sell them repeatedly without much extra work. This makes it a great side job you can do from home.
• Keep costs low: Since digital products don’t require physical materials, manufacturing, or storage, they are cheap to create and maintain.
• No inventory issues: Unlike physical products, you don’t have to worry about managing stock or shipping since everything is delivered digitally.
• High-profit margin: With low production and delivery costs, you keep more of the profit.
• Mobile commerce chance: As more people buy digital products directly from their phones, there’s a huge opportunity to reach a global audience and boost sales.

How to Sell Digital Products

Selling digital products involves four main steps, from choosing the right niche to promoting on the best platforms. Let’s go over them.

Find Your Niche

It’s key to choose a niche that matches both what people want and what you enjoy. When you work on something you’re passionate about, staying motivated and providing value is easier.

Start by checking trends with tools like Google Trends or looking at popular products on sites like Amazon Best Sellers, Etsy, or eBay. This will help you spot what’s in demand and where there might be gaps in the market.

Next, consider your audience by creating buyer profiles. Consider their age, interests, and needs. Then, join online groups or forums to better understand their challenges and preferences.

Lastly, examine your competitors’ offerings and find ways to differentiate your product. Offering better features, higher quality, or excellent customer service can set you apart and increase your chances of success.

Create High-Quality Digital Products.

Start by planning out the main features of your digital product. Make sure it’s easy to use and offers value to your audience.

For eBooks or courses, list the main topics and subtopics. For software or apps, decide what features to include and how users will interact with them. Break the process into smaller, manageable steps for development and testing.

Then, choose the right tools to help you create your products. For example:

• Canva or Affinity Publisher for designing eBooks, guides, templates, and graphics
• Final Cut Pro or Camtasia for creating videos or online courses
• Cubase or Reaper for making music or sound effects
• Figma or Sketch for designing mobile or web apps
• Procreate or Krita for creating digital artwork like illustrations and designs

Before launching, test your product with a small group for feedback. Use their suggestions to improve the product and make it valuable.

Sell Your Products

It is important for success to pick the right platform to sell your digital products. You can choose between third-party platforms or your own online store, each with its own advantages.

Third-party platforms like Shopify, Etsy, or Gumroad are easy to set up and give you access to a significant customer base. These are great options for starting or wanting quick exposure.

However, remember that these platforms usually take a cut of each sale, which can lower your profit. For instance, Etsy takes a 6% fee, and Gumroad charges between 10% and 30% per sale.

If you prefer another option, you can sell directly from your website using a platform like Interserver Website Builder, which has no transaction fees. Having your website gives you complete control over your product branding and profit and helps you build trust with your customers.

Promote Your Digital Products.

Marketing your digital products well can bring more visitors to your store and turn them into customers. Here’s how to get started:

• Content marketing: Write blog posts or videos about your niche that offer value and promote your products. For example, if you sell cooking recipes, you could make a YouTube video showing a recipe and link back to your store, like Binging With Babish.
• Email marketing: Offer free items like a sample chapter or discount codes in exchange for email sign-ups. Use automated emails to keep your subscribers engaged and remind them about purchases.
• SEO: Improve your product pages with relevant keywords, ensure your site loads quickly and works well on mobile to rank better in search results.
• Influencer and affiliate marketing: Partner with influencers in your niche to promote your products. You can also set up an affiliate program, letting others earn a commission by sharing your store.
• Social media: Post engaging content, behind-the-scenes looks, and customer reviews on platforms like Instagram or Pinterest. Add links to your store in your bio to help drive traffic. Tools like Stan, Podia, or Gumroad can help with this. For example, TikTok user Alexonabudget uses Stan to share financial templates as digital products.

Conclusion

With these digital product ideas, there’s something for everyone. Whether it’s ebooks, online courses, or templates, picking a product that matches your skills, passions, and interests is essential.

Pick the right platform to sell your creations, and you’ll be on the path to building a successful digital product business.

Follow the steps in our guide and start selling your digital products today!