Are you ready to finally create digital products customers love?
As an entrepreneur, one of the greatest fulfilments in the business world is the ability to make a difference. It is human nature to want to create and leave a legacy. Many great minds throughout history are those who have managed to make a positive impact in the world through product creation or service provision.
To achieve this, you should be able to make a product that is outstanding, helps others, and makes the world a better place.
It involves leveraging the skills, knowledge, and power YOU already have and packaging it up into a course, digital product, or app that someone else is willing to buy (because it serves a need)!
What Are Digital Products?
Firstly, a product is any item that you can sell to someone else in exchange for cash or barter. It could be a piece of produce, an electronic gadget, or a comfy couch. However, a digital product is an intangible asset or piece of media that can be sold and distributed repeatedly online without the need to replenish inventory.
Digital products cannot be tasted, touched, or held, don’t have physical form or substance, but you can turn digital products into physical products. For instance, many people buy e-books in PDF format, then print them on their computers. The product becomes physical, but it started out in digital format. Plus, everyone consumes them on an everyday basis.
Examples include Wikipedia articles, digital media, such as MP3s, PDFs, eBooks, downloadable music, internet radio, internet television and streaming media, fonts, logos, photos and graphics, digital subscriptions; online ads (as purchased by the advertiser), internet coupons, electronic tickets, plug-ins, templates, and online courses.
Until the Internet altered commerce for the better, a product was always a physical object or item — something to distinguish it from a service.
Unlike physical products, digital products are not subject to wear, tear, or deterioration. Sure, they may become less relevant over time as technology changes, but they can be updated easily, and they last forever.
Digital products can be used indefinitely, remaining in the same condition as they were the day of purchase.
How to Create Digital Products
It is said the lifeblood of all businesses comes from the creation of new products and services. The product should be accurate and specific for people. Again, these products should be naturally created when there is a demand in a particular market for that product.
Not sure what you could or should turn into a digital product?
Start with what you know!
Do you have something you’re passionate about? Start there and turn your passion into cash.
Perhaps you have a skill other people wish they had. Start there.
Do you have a unique solution to a problem? Start there.
Do you have a method for getting something done quicker, faster, with less money? Start there.
Now before you start hating on yourself, thinking that you need to be a “guru” before you can create a course… tell that voice in your head to kick rocks.
Everyone has an eBook inside them. Everyone has a course they can teach. Everyone has a lesson they can share.
Now, don’t get me wrong you have to market the heck out of your eBook, course, or app once you create it BUT believe me when I say that YOU DO have something worth teaching.
So, I’ve broken the process down into simple steps to help you research, create and market your digital product.
Brainstorm Digital Product Ideas
The first step to creating an effective digital product is to work out three things:
- What are you good at? Write down your skills
- Where is the hole in the market?
- How can you fill that hole?
Digital products can be anything, from freelance copywriting services through to selling memberships, there is a market for many different goods and skills. Consumers are looking for all kinds of products to make their lives easier.
Most digital products are educational, like courses, blogs, or instructional videos. Once you’ve figured out what you want to sell, you can determine an appropriate business model.
Research Buyer Pain Points
A bad marketer creates a product they like and tries to sell it to people. A great marketer works out what their buyer’s problem is and creates an accessible and effective solution to that problem.
Doing effective research into your target market and what they need is a crucial step into the creation and development of a great digital product idea. Start by looking at your target consumer and creating an effective profile; who are they, what is their situation, what do they need to make their life easier?
Once you’ve created this, you can pinpoint how your product will affect and benefit your target consumer.
Employ Keyword & Trend Research To Validate Ideas
Search Engine Optimisation, or SEO, is one of the most important parts of effective online marketing. By effectively utilizing keywords in your research for your products, you can observe marketing and buying trends from competitors and potential clients. Next, use it to create the blueprint for your own digital product.
Produce Your Digital Products
You’ve done your research, now it’s time to create the product!
The most important thing to remember is the ‘measure twice, cut once’ approach: high-quality digital products are more likely to keep buyers coming back.
If you’re not sure how to go about creating your product, consider hiring a freelancer with the right skillset to do the heavy lifting for you. Whether it’s the creation of an eBook or website development, many people are offering their expert skills for affordable rates.
Create An Online Store
Having an online shop means that if a customer wants to make a purchase in the middle of the night, they can. Meanwhile, you’ll continue to sleep soundly and when you do wake up the next morning, you’ll have a new payment notification.
Yet, many people shy away from launching an online shop because they are concerned about the costs involved. These days, there are many options for new sellers that don’t have any upfront costs and are easy to utilize to display and sell your products.
Platforms such as Fiverr, Upwork, and Gumroad are designed as B2B platforms that connect buyers and sellers with compatible services. These platforms are free to register with and are a great place to get started with your online selling.
But if you’re after something more professional and individual, platforms like WordPress offer a business option with a professional framework for a polished business website.
Build An Audience And Market Your Digital Products
To effectively build and sell your digital products, you’ll need to build public awareness of who you are, what you offer, and how it can fix your client’s problems.
A great way to do this is through social media. It’s free, accessible to everyone and with effective keyword research can be used to reach your target audience over a long-term basis. Platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok are used daily by millions of people. Therefore, you can easily share photographs, videos, and information to your audience about yourself and what you’re offering.
Some other ideas to consider include email marketing campaigns, SEO, and content optimization.
Creating a digital product is easy: most of your time and effort will go into finding and bringing in your target audience. By following these steps, you could see the difference between a flop and a flying success.
Benefits of Selling Digital Products Online
We live in a time where you can operate a business right from your couch. From start to finish. What’s not to love?
For some people, online sales provide supplementary income in addition to the main job they do. For others, it’s become a full-time job. What these cases have in common is, that they both leverage the undeniable benefits of selling digital products.
Here are some benefits of selling digital products online:
- You’re never limited to how many products can sell. The sky’s the limit!
- In other words, you eliminate all the problems that physical product sellers have to deal with every day.
- . The barrier to entry is low with digital products as you don’t have to invest in stock or manufacturing. You won’t have to hold an inventory or receive any shipping charges.
- . You can easily create products for any niche or audience. The goods won’t cost you anything, as they are only made once and repeatedly sold afterward. You will be able to retain the majority of your sales in profits.
- . You might offer a free product or a sample of your product to build your email list, sell licenses to use your digital products, and offer paid subscriptions for exclusive digital content.
- . Have in mind that the industry is expected to be worth $331 billion by 2025.
7 Profitable Digital Products To Sell Online
Selling digital products is an ideal way to increase your exposure and your profits! The main benefit is that digital products only need to be created once but can be sold repeatedly.
Customers love digital content as they can access it immediately after purchasing without needing to wait for anything to be shipped. Entrepreneurs don’t need to track inventory or worry about storage and there are few overhead costs.
Regardless of what you’re selling, the key is to always provide value. With that in mind, here’s our list of 7 profitable digital products to sell online that are guaranteed to bring value to a niche audience.
1. Online Courses & Webinars
Use your expertise to create educational courses, which is one of the most lucrative ways to make money online. Countless people prefer e-learning and taking courses online because it gives them the flexibility they need and allows them to study at their own pace. The best part is that you can sell to as many people as you like despite their geographical location.
So, if there is something you are great at or do better than anyone else you know, create an online course. Pick something that will add value to people’s lives and help them meet certain goals.
Teach your students a new skill or share helpful advice on specific issues. For example, if you are an accountant and have great experience with bookkeeping, target freelancers, and startups. Offer financial advice and help them manage their finances. Use your experience and the knowledge you’ve gathered over the years to add value to students’ lives and keep them interested in your course.
If you have great writing skills, create a course that’s centered on helping aspiring writers become professional writers and make their mark in the business.
Some of the most profitable courses to explore are writing, web design, business, entrepreneurship, arts, personal development, graphic design, yoga classes, and music lessons.
The goal is to focus on what you do best and turn it into a course. If you market yourself right, you will get as many students as you want. Your course can be a downloadable one-off course or a collection of videos.
Use platforms such as Kajabi, Skillshare, Thinkific, Udemy, or Teachable to create and sell your course. Pick a platform that gives you the flexibility you want and allows you to meet your goals.
Consider creating a series of modules to encourage customers to purchase multiple courses. You can even bundle courses together for a slight discount.
The selling point for the customer is flexibility – no need to be in a classroom or log on at a certain time.
2. eBooks & Workbooks
There is a huge market for eBooks and the trend toward digital reading materials is increasing. Customers like being able to read on their tablet or smartphone and can access eBooks whenever and wherever they find convenient.
Hence, eBooks are the most common and profitable digital products you can create. You write them once and sell them repeatedly to customers. If you enjoy writing, then this is the best option for you.
You only have to brainstorm brilliant topic ideas and start writing. Consider what you are passionate about and what you want to accomplish with your book to ensure success. Answer key questions: “What topics do you enjoy reading and researching?” “What type of books do you like?” And “What are you knowledgeable in?”
Pick a niche that’s in line with your passion or interests to succeed.
Consider the purpose of the book. Why do you want to write an eBook? And What do you want to accomplish from it? Do you want to help your readers master a certain skill? Do you want to help them pursue their goals and live purposeful lives? Do you want to motivate them and help them heal from past hurts? Whatever your goal, specify it to ensure you move in the right direction.
Consider your audience. Who are you writing for? Who do you want to reach? And how are they going to benefit from your writings? Define and know your readers to curate content they are interested in. The kind that will keep them talking about your book and get you more sales.
Once you choose a niche and come up with an attention-grabbing topic, start writing. You can write fiction books, non-fiction books, educational books, and so on. There is no limit to what you can write. You just have to choose something you love and be creative about it.
For example, if you have impressive cooking skills, write a cookbook. Share nutritional advice and your recipes with your readers. If you are a poet, write poetry books. Compile your best poems and turn them into an eBook. If you are a blogger, repurpose your content and turn it into an eBook. Identify your best articles and turn them into an eBook.
Aim to add value to your readers’ lives with the information you share. That is the only way to succeed. Consider your area of expertise when choosing topics to write about and ensure your final product is carefully edited. Selling your eBook on Amazon (Kindle Direct Publishing), Apple Books, or Smashwords will allow you to reach a greater audience.
Another option is to hire a freelance writer and get your book written in no time. Look for ghost-writers on Guru, FlexJobs, Fiverr, PeoplePer Hour, or ProBlogger.
3. Podcasts
Podcasts offer an easy and effective way to communicate your expertise and connect with your audience. They are the most powerful communication medium that people prefer. Mostly because anyone can listen to them anywhere and at any time.
Your listeners can easily pay attention to what you are saying while performing other tasks. For example, cleaning, driving, meditating, and exercising.
Since many podcasts are offered at no cost, you’ll need to ensure you have content that your audience is willing to pay for. Consider having free episodes as well as premium content for a fee.
Decide what type of podcast to create and focus on marketing and selling it to your target audience. Create and sell podcasts that entertain your audience, motivate them, soothe them, inform them, or help them achieve personal or professional goals.
Current episodes can be offered at no cost while charging for access to older content. Try publishing your podcast on Patreon or Spotify.
Other audio products to look into are recorded lectures, audiobooks, music tracks, soothing sounds, relaxing background music, ringtones, beats, and instrumental tracks. If you have music production skills, invest in recording equipment, create audios, and start selling them online.
Now when you’re ready to launch your podcast, you can grab Podcasts Made Easy, a handy reference guide.
4. Planners & Printables
Design printables and help your audience save time and produce professional work in a short space of time. Printables are templates that users can download and use without creating them from scratch on their own.
There is a big market for digital content like planners and journals. Fitness, meal, and blogging planners are popular, along with personal finance and budgeting planners. Use your creativity to design printables like educational worksheets or wedding invitations. Consider bundling items together for a higher price point.
Canva is an excellent resource for creating these items and they can be sold on sites like Etsy. Create and advertise on your site, blog, YouTube channel, or social media pages. Only deliver the package when you receive payment to avoid scams.
Printables can be planners, meal plans, cookbooks, workbooks, calendars, art prints, gift cards, kids coloring sheets, schedules, project planners, checklists, cheat sheets, lesson plans, and kids’ workbooks.
Conduct market research and pick something that you know people are interested in buying. Go to Amazon, search for best-selling products, and come up with creative ideas to ensure success.
5. Digital Templates & Calculators
If you have decent design skills, consider creating graphic design templates. Creative Market is a popular site for selling templates that customers can use to organize or market their business. Appeal to job-seekers by creating their resume and templates.
Tools that help customers crunch numbers are also popular. Calculators that help plan investments or track business expenses can be quite invaluable.
Countless people are looking for fast and effective ways to market their businesses. So, create templates and help them speed up their marketing processes.
Design photoshop templates, business cards, wedding invitations, posters, flyers, brochures, illustrations, PowerPoint templates, pamphlets, logos, comics, icon packs, and user interface designs.
You don’t need advanced design skills to create any of these templates.
Use Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator to create professional designs. Watch free YouTube videos or enroll in a paid online course to speed up the process and increase your chances of success.
Search for reputable graphic design courses on Udemy, Coursera, edX, or Udacity.
Advertise your designs on social media platforms, your website, or your blog. Add your business logo, name, or any other mark to ensure people don’t steal your work.
Sell your services on the top freelancing sites to reach more people and boost sales. Some of the best sites to work with are Upwork, Fiverr, Guru, and PeoplePerHour.
Other graphic design products to sell are typefaces, textures, objects, overlays, backgrounds, 3D models, AR templates, and shapes.
6. Membership Sites
Perhaps my favorite product creation model is providing customers with exclusive content via membership sites. Memberships are key to developing an engaged community and ensure recurring revenue. They are a great way to bring like-minded people together and encourage sales.
Customers can subscribe to a monthly or yearly membership, which offers them access to premium content on your website.
It is easy to sell new products to community members because they trust and value your content. They know that if they run into problems or challenges with their work, other members will be more than happy to help. They can also easily go through community forums, search for the information they need, and quickly find answers.
Create courses, premium content, guides, or other valuables and make them exclusive to members. For example, if you are a blogger or sell eBooks, start a membership site and offer premium content to site members. Make sure your exclusive content adds value to your audience’s lives. Create mouth-watering offers that are interesting and worthwhile. Give people a reason to upgrade from free content to premium content.
If you create online courses, divide them into two categories. The first category can be free courses and ones you sell on Udemy. The second category should comprise courses that are only accessible to community members.
The purpose and advantage here is that you are offering an incentive to paid members with exclusive access to your online community. This may include a discussion forum, special promotions, or early access to content and sales.
Come up with an effective pricing strategy to attract people and get them to enroll in membership courses. For example, offer 5 of your best courses at a discount price and make them available to community members only. Charge a monthly, yearly, or one-time fee to get students to join or upgrade from Udemy courses to membership ones.
Offer additional benefits to community members such as exclusive interviews, live Q&A sessions, access to all courses, and private community forums.
Countless people have quit their 9-5 jobs and earn 6-figure incomes from membership sites. So, invest your time and other resources into the process and make it work.
7. Coaching Packages / Mentoring Sessions
Online coaching sessions are a great way to cross-sell your digital products. A customer who purchases your eBook may want more personalized advice or mentoring. Platforms like Zoom allow you to meet with clients in the comfort of their own homes.
Starting to sell products online may be daunting but deciding on the product is the hardest part – it just gets easier from here. All it takes is choosing a product from this list, putting together the digital assets, and then launching your store.
Consider which digital products will work best for you and get started selling! So, whether you’re looking to create some supplementary income, or launch a full-fledged online business, now is the time!
Related: 21 Profitable Digital Products & Where to Sell Them
Marketing Digital Products More Effectively
When coming up with the idea for your product, it’s important to consider your Unique Selling Proposition (USP) – how you will differentiate yourself from what’s already out there. You should be able to answer pertinent questions about what is unique or special about your product.
Again, you should be able to offer higher quality at a lower and competitive price. Then you will be to make a difference in the world.
You need to come up with a great product because if your product doesn’t stand out from your rivals by some significant difference, you will find sales hard to come by. Differentiation is what helps customers identify your brand or service. Blending in with every other similar product on the shelf should be the last thing you want.
Although the positioning of your service or product is very essential and key, it can only carry you so far. The majority of your clientele will buy your product for the integrity of the product. Your product should speak for itself and should strive to offer unmatched quality that your consumers can come to know and expect from your brand.
You don’t have to spend sleepless nights with your laptop feeling stuck, overwhelmed, and thinking too big to make a dent in the world. It’s not like every idea must be elaborate, complex, and innovative. Some of the most impactful businesses in the world today are based on the simplest of ideas.
Nevertheless, your key to success is to choose the right digital marketing method on how to promote your digital product the right way. Below I’ve listed some of the most effective ways you can choose from to learn how to promote a product.
7 Most Effective Ways on How to Promote a Product Online
- Facebook Ads
- Google Ads
- Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
- Email Marketing
- Content Marketing
- Social Media Posting
- Website Design
Related: 8 Steps to Creating & Launching Profitable Digital Products
Launching A Digital Product
Before you launch your product, you need to thoroughly refine it. It’s recommended to test lots of ideas at the beginning of a project. It costs relatively little to see which ideas are most promising, but make sure you stop work on ideas that don’t, before committing a lot of time and resources. Think beyond a new product or service’s immediate potential and also think about the longer term.
When you feel ready to launch your product to market, make sure you have done everything you need to do. Because once you’ve launched, you’ve virtually only got one shot to make an impression on consumers. They say the first impression is the only important impression.
It’s not easy to make amendments as they can require a long and grueling process, such as getting new copyright. Take the time to get it right before you launch because it’s hard to change your ingredients, brand, and design once you get started in the marketplace. You need to be more thoughtful.
A quick hack to help you get an endorsement of your product or service is to elicit feedback from others. New products and services must respond to your customers’ needs. You need to discover what these are through extensive market research.
You can start by testing the market on a low scale. After you’ve won their approval, then you can do mass production and sell to the bigger and wider market. But you may have to take the needs of other parties into account although the end-user of your product or service might be your most important customer.
It’s also helpful to consult members of your team about your development plans because they may contribute ideas that you’ve overlooked. Furthermore, seek the comments of suppliers and other business associates as their specialist expertise could be invaluable. Be patient because big goals can take time to come to fruition. If you give up at the first stage, then you’ll never get anywhere.
Hopefully, you’ve realized that it’s possible for you to make a difference in the world through product creation. You create them once and sell them repeatedly. The best part is that they require little or no effort to maintain. So, take advantage of that and diversify your income.
Final Thoughts
Digital products are one of the most lucrative ways to make money online. Start small and grow from there. Choose one digital product and focus on it. Promote it to your target audience and concentrate on getting at least 100 sales. Once you reach that mark, move on to your next product.
Hopefully, you’ve realized that it’s possible for you to make a difference in the world through product creation. You create them once and sell them repeatedly. The best part is that they require little or no effort to maintain. So, take advantage of that and diversify your income.
