A 5 Step Starter Guide to Selling Digital Products Online

Written by:EMAcademy Published:

The online marketplace for digital products is booming, growing every year with new tools, platforms, and audiences eager for quality content. This guide covers everything you need to know to dive in with confidence, from choosing the right product to effectively marketing it. By the end, you’ll have a solid foundation to start selling digital products and maximize your reach.

What Are Digital Products, and Why Are They a Great Opportunity?

Digital products are downloadable, accessible goods like e-books, courses, software, design templates, or even music and videos that require no physical shipping. Because they’re infinitely replicable and usually have lower production costs, they’re loved by creators and customers alike.

Examples of Successful Digital Products:

  • Ebooks: Many authors and experts turn their knowledge into ebooks. For instance, Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing allows authors to publish and sell their ebooks globally. By doing this, creators like Mark Dawson have leveraged Kindle ebooks as a primary income stream, while also offering tips to help others succeed.
  • Courses: Platforms like Udemy or Skillshare enable anyone to create and sell courses on topics like web development, productivity, design, or language learning. For instance, SEO expert Brian Dean uses online courses to teach his proven methods to others, monetizing his skills and expertise while building a strong following.

Helpful Link: Guide to Self-Publishing on Amazon KDP

The Benefits of Digital Products:

Beyond easy distribution, digital products allow you to scale without limits, providing opportunities for passive income, brand building, and expertise sharing. You can focus on creating once, and let your product continue to sell over time.

Step 1: Choosing the Perfect Product

Choosing a product that truly resonates with your target audience is the first step. Start by researching what potential customers are asking, what problems they face, and what gaps you could fill.

Examples:

  • Fitness or Nutrition Plans: If you’re a fitness enthusiast or certified trainer, consider creating digital workout guides or meal plans. Fitness influencer Kayla Itsines popularized digital fitness programs like the “Sweat” app, which provides exercise plans that millions of users download and follow.
  • Templates and Tools for Business Owners: Busy entrepreneurs often look for time-saving resources. Business coach Jenna Kutcher sells customizable templates for entrepreneurs, including Instagram story templates, budget calculators, and email templates, to simplify life for other business owners.

Helpful Tip: Tools like AnswerThePublic or Google Trends can help you identify questions and keywords related to your niche, giving you insight into what your target audience is searching for.

Helpful Link: AnswerThePublic

step2 - creating digital products

Step 2: Creating High-Quality Digital Products

Creating digital products requires patience and planning to make sure it’s both high-quality and valuable.

Steps to Follow:

  1. Outline the Content: Structure is key to keeping content focused. For example, if you’re building a course, break it down by modules or key topics.
  2. Choose the Right Tools:
    • For ebooks: Tools like Adobe InDesign, Canva, or even Google Docs can help create visually appealing layouts.
    • For courses: Platforms like Teachable, Thinkific, or Kajabi provide all the tools needed to structure and deliver a course.
  3. Create Visual Appeal: Quality matters, especially in design. If you’re not a designer, consider hiring one from Upwork or Fiverr. Etsy sellers often use visually stunning e-books and printables, which increases their appeal.

Example: Creator Sarah Titus sells printable planners, calendars, and journals on Etsy, consistently ranking as a top seller. Her printables are well-designed, practical, and cater to specific needs (e.g., budgeting, family planning), which has earned her a loyal customer base.

Helpful Link: Sarah Titus Store

Step 3: Pricing Your Digital Product Right

Setting the right price can be challenging, but it’s essential to strike a balance between affordability and value. There are several pricing strategies to consider:

Strategies:

  1. Competitive Pricing: Research similar products to establish a base price range. For example, if most ebooks in your niche are priced around $10, pricing yours similarly might make sense for building trust and fitting into market expectations.
  2. Value-Based Pricing: Consider pricing your product based on the perceived value it provides. A comprehensive video course, for instance, could be priced higher because of the time commitment and depth it offers, while a one-page guide could be offered at a lower price.
  3. Tiered Pricing Options: Offering different levels of access is a great way to serve a range of budgets. Amy Porterfield, for instance, often includes different tiers in her online courses, allowing people to pay more for added resources or exclusive content.

Examples of Digital Product Pricing:

  • Many fitness influencers sell downloadable programs at around $50-100 for a multi-week program.
  • Business templates on Creative Market range from $5-50 depending on their complexity and customizability.
step4 - selling digital products

Step 4: Marketing Your Digital Product

Creating a great product is only half the battle. Here are some ways to spread the word effectively:

1. Build an Engaging Landing Page: Think of this page as your product’s showcase. Include testimonials, a clear value proposition, and enticing visuals. Popular page builders include ClickFunnels or LeadPages.

2. Utilize Social Media and Content Marketing: Share snippets or previews of your product on platforms like Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook to build excitement. Thinkific and Teachable both offer templates for course previews that can be shared on social media.

3. Collaborate with Influencers and Affiliates: Find influencers in your niche to promote your product. You might even start an affiliate program where affiliates earn a percentage for each sale they refer, a strategy successfully used by ConvertKit for its email marketing software.

Helpful Link: How to Create a Landing Page that Converts

Step 5: Delivering Your Digital Product Seamlessly

The final step in the customer journey is delivering the product, and it should be as smooth as possible.

Best Practices for Delivery:

  1. Use a Reliable Platform: Tools like Shopify or Gumroad ensure secure, immediate delivery of digital products, which is key for a great customer experience. Shopify allows you to integrate downloads directly, while Gumroad specializes in selling digital goods and is simple for creators and buyers alike.
  2. Provide Post-Sale Support: Offering support makes a huge difference in customer satisfaction. Create a support email, help page, or FAQ section. Notion or Google Docs are both free, easy ways to set up helpful guides or FAQ resources that your customers can access after purchase.
  3. Create a Community Around Your Product: If you’re selling a course, consider a private Facebook group for customers. Online coach Mariah Coz does this successfully by fostering a community space where course members can ask questions, share successes, and network.

Conclusion

The world of digital products is rich with possibilities, allowing you to share what you know, reach new audiences, and build a stream of passive income. With a bit of creativity and thoughtful planning, your product can not only provide value but also make a difference in your customers’ lives. Follow these steps, experiment with your ideas, and above all, stay focused on helping people solve problems in a way only you can.