The business landscape today requires people to be tech-savvy. The rise of inflation, coupled with the opening of new opportunities, makes it necessary for more and more people to get creative and look for ways to boost their income.
Selling digital products is one way to do that. We use these products most of the time without realizing it. Audiobooks, video games, online courses, and digital marketing tools are examples of digital goods that can be bought and sold virtually.
Learning how to create and sell digital products could help people ensure a steady stream of passive income. This article provides insights on everything one should know to sell digital products. From inception to marketing and selling – there’s a lot involved in the game.
So let’s get started!
Table of Contents
An overview of the digital products market
4 profitable digital product ideas
How to sell digital products in the virtual marketplace
The bottom line
An overview of the digital products market
As the name pretty much says, a digital product is an intangible product that exists virtually and can be sold online. Their easy replication, accessibility, and distribution are the features that make them stand apart from the physical products. The transaction value of digital commerce is forecasted to reach USD 7.35 trillion in 2025. It is expected to show a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 14.47% – resulting in a total value of USD 12.93 trillion by 2029.
If you haven’t entered the virtual domain before, now is the time to do so!
One can sell any skill they’re pro at. Scan the demand for each category and act accordingly. For instance, online education is a digital product that could be worth USD 840 billion by 2030. There are endless possibilities for digital products to sell online. Evaluate your expertise and resources to make a decision.
4 profitable digital product ideas
Tons of digital products exist out there. Below, we have discussed the top four. Don’t hesitate to browse more to determine a good option for yourself.
- Online courses
Above, we added a stat on how online education is expected to reach new heights. Considering that more people are always on the go yet want to upskill themselves, the demand for educational products will keep increasing. The US is leading this growth. It generated a revenue of USD 87,510.00 million in 2024. E-learning platforms like Skillshare and Coursera are making online courses just a few clicks away.
This creates an excellent opportunity for those who have a unique skill or educational background. They can try hosting monthly webinars, structured courses, or downloadable tutorials. Another great way to monetize their knowledge is through e-books and podcasts. Mobile apps like Kindle, Spotify, and Scribd allow users to host their own podcasts or self-publish their writings. Specialized online courses in fields like personal development, tech education like graphic design, and health and wellness are most popular among the eBook and podcast audience.
When it comes to eBooks in particular, note that this market isn’t solely limited to fiction. There is an equally high demand for non-fiction, motivational writings, how-to guides, and self-development eBooks. The concise explanation of complex ideologies makes eBooks a perfect lead magnet for people willing to invest in themselves!
- Licenses for digital properties
There is a thing called creative property, and its popularity is growing. Like physical products, people need credits and ownership for their creative assets. From stock photos to audio files, music, and video clips – there is a global ecosystem of digital assets created by different content creators.
Licensing content for use by other businesses and individuals is one way to generate passive income. Invest your hard work in creating high-quality audio files, video transitions, stock photos, or background music. Then, start receiving revenue for them by publishing on platforms. For example, Pexels and Pixabay are crowd-favorites when it comes to stock photography.
These platforms can help showcase your content, but keep in mind that some might take a commission from each sale. If you’d prefer to have your own store, you can use tools like SendOwl. It’s great for digital product businesses and can automatically create unique license keys.
While brainstorming digital product ideas, identify what the target audience needs. Understand what kind of content is in demand and where the existing content creators fail to fill the market gaps. Ensure your products have watermarks, especially when selling them virtually.
- Digital downloads
Selling digitally downloadable products is also an easy way to attract clients and make money online. Breaking into the digital marketplace requires supplying the most popular digital products. You can invest and sell products or services you’re experts at. Note that these are digital items that people can download to make their online journeys smoother. Creators can sell digital files at a set payment. Or, they can leverage them for free, creating a lead magnet to obtain emails for further sales funneling.
A few examples of digital downloads in demand are:
- Editable templates: Designs for resumes, emails, websites, copywriting, Excel sheets, social media posts, fonts, themes, and photo presets.
- PDF resources: Instruction manuals, step-by-step guides, and other helpful documents.
- Printable items: Planners, calendars, stickers, worksheets, cards, checklists, and other print-friendly materials.
- Specialized tools: Plugins for editing software and UX design kits for web developers.
There are multiple ways to sell these digital files. You can sell them through established platforms like Society6 or Etsy. You can even sell them on your own online store if you have one. However, relying on a platform like Etsy means less effort expended for coding or marketing strategies. Countless products are being released on Etsy every year. Take a look at the hot sellers in the past year and forecasts for 2025. Then, get creative in your niche and supply your target audience with the products they yearn for.
- Memberships
This business model allows companies and freelancers to generate revenue over time by charging customers a recurring fee for accessing products and services. This means bundling multiple digital products together and getting their payment from clients on a regular basis. These can include fitness lessons, self-development sessions, business tools, or online courses.
A membership site is an excellent choice to expand your digital products and build a loyal community. Members who pay monthly or yearly can enjoy special deals, discounts, and exclusive content. Platforms like Etsy and GameDay stand out for their diverse digital product categories. The latter provides three membership options, allowing customers to combine products and services based on their organization’s needs.
Each of these digital product ideas presents unique opportunities. Tailor them to the desired audience and make sure the quality of your product speaks for itself. Even if you’re a budding entrepreneur, you might end up making waves in the virtual business world with the right products and marketing materials.
How to sell digital products in the virtual marketplace
After exploring some promising ideas, it is vital to understand how to sell these products/services online. Here are some steps to get you started:
- Find or create a product: Determine what the potential customers are looking for. Create your own product or join an affiliate program of an existing content creator.
- Choose a platform: Analyze the market to find platforms that sell your products. Let’s say you want to create and sell online courses while keeping all the revenue. Thinkific is a great place to start.
- Develop a marketing strategy: Every business needs a strong marketing plan to attract and keep customers. Create a solid landing page for your digital products and promote them on social media platforms.
- Study the competition: Study businesses successfully selling the type of digital product you want to offer. This can help you spot areas where your business can improve. Make a list of the pros and cons of their business model to refine your own processes. Competitor analysis also provides valuable insights into your target audience and potential customers.
- Get feedback: Customer reviews are key to growing your business. If people aren’t happy with your digital product, it’s better to find out early so you can improve. You can gather feedback through surveys, interviews, or comments. Reviewing this input will help you enhance your products and build trust with your audience.
As the demand for digital products grows, it is quite likely that the products and services will continue changing to meet fluctuating demands. Following these steps and staying attuned to the audience’s needs can help to build a successful online business selling digital products.
The bottom line
Unlike physical products, you don’t have to own a brick-and-mortar store for digital products. Simply use your skills and resources to create, follow the right strategies, and earn from your creative assets. Some products/services are even designed to complement the current physical products of a business. For example, a fitness equipment company might offer a digital workout program that complements its physical products, like exercise machines or resistance bands. This helps its customers make the most of their purchases.
The key to success in this digital era lies in knowing the nuances of these products and identifying the benefits/challenges that tag along. Then, position them strategically in the evolving digital marketplaces. Don’t forget to keep tabs on the latest developments to ensure your business stays on the edge!
