Digital products have redefined the concept of goods in the modern business landscape. Traditionally, products were tangible, distinct from services. However, the advent of the Internet has given rise to a whole new category: digital products.
These are products available online, offering information or entertainment in exchange for payment, devoid of any physical form.
They encompass an array of items, from streaming media like movies, TV shows, and games to software, applications, templates, audio files, eBooks, online courses, and more. The distinguishing feature is their intangibility.
Moreover, the versatility of digital products extends beyond the digital realm. For instance, an eBook purchased in digital format can be printed, transitioning from a purely digital form to a tangible product.
Why Sell Digital Products?
1. Ease of Marketing and Management
Digital products require no physical production, storage, or delivery costs. This translates to streamlined selling processes, making it an excellent avenue for side businesses or passive income streams.
2. Global Reach in Advertising and Marketing
The digital sphere allows for global reach. With the right digital product, you can capture the interest of a vast audience worldwide. This presents an opportunity to promote other ventures or careers through digital products.
3. Profit Potential
Digital products typically require less effort and time to create, often with minimal upfront costs compared to physical goods. This leads to better profit margins, given the comparatively lower expenses associated with creating and distributing them.
Additionally, since there’s no need to produce units repeatedly, the profit margin tends to increase over time.
What Kinds of Digital Products Can You Sell? (15 Ideas)
With every coming year, the kinds of digital products you can sell only seem to be growing. Currently, there are a lot of options that you can pick from. The list below has compiled the 11 best options that you can choose from:
1. Ebooks
Ebooks continue to be a lucrative avenue for online sellers, appealing to a vast audience eager to consume digital reading material. In the US alone, ebook sales surpassed $1.1 billion in 2020, showcasing a thriving market for digital books.
Creating an ebook doesn’t necessarily require being a seasoned author like Stephen King. You can leverage your expertise or passion in various niches, especially within non-fiction and instructional categories.
Crafting materials such as how-to guides, diet plans, fitness programs, or even shorter content like manuals and blueprints can be highly profitable.
Example: If you’re a fitness enthusiast, you might create an ebook on “Effective Home Workouts for Busy Professionals” or a shorter guide on “7-Day Meal Plans for Weight Loss.”
- Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing
- Smashwords
2. Online Courses
Online courses have become a preferred means of learning, offering flexible education opportunities from the comfort of one’s home. Capitalizing on your expertise by converting it into an online course presents a promising income stream.
One of the significant advantages of the online courses is their accessibility and flexibility, attracting learners who desire self-paced learning experiences. Formal teaching credentials are not always required, making it an excellent avenue for sharing knowledge.
Example: If you have expertise in digital marketing, you might create an online course titled “Comprehensive Guide to Digital Marketing Strategies,” encompassing video lectures, reading materials, and quizzes.
Recommended Platforms:
- Teachable
- Udemy
3. Subscriptions and Memberships
Offering memberships or subscription-based services create a recurring income model, particularly suitable for fostering a community and providing ongoing support.
Memberships can grant access to exclusive content, discussion forums, workshops, and Q&A sessions. This fosters a sense of community and provides a predictable revenue stream through subscription-based models.
Example: A fitness instructor might create a membership site offering access to monthly workout plans, live Q&A sessions, and a supportive community forum.
- MemberPress
- Patreon
4. Music
Musicians have diverse options to monetize their talents online, from selling licenses for their compositions to offering music-related educational content.
Selling music licenses to content creators, YouTubers, and filmmakers is a straightforward way to monetize your music.
You can also sell albums or individual song downloads directly from your website or streaming platforms.
Example: A musician might offer online guitar courses or sell sheet music for their original compositions.
5. Digital Art
Leveraging artistic skills in the digital sphere offers a plethora of monetization opportunities. Whether it’s designing logos for startups or creating digital art assets, the market for digital art is expansive.
For instance, graphic designers can offer customizable brand kits or create emotes and badges for content creators and streamers, catering to a niche yet vast market.
Example: A graphic designer might offer customizable brand kits or design emotes and badges for content creators and streamers.
6. NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens)
NFTs have gained immense popularity as digital assets tied to blockchain technology. While the investment aspect can be volatile, artists can create and sell their unique digital artworks as NFTs.
These NFTs, sold on platforms like OpenSea or Rarible, not only provide artists with a new revenue stream but also offer potential royalties on subsequent sales.
Example: Artists can tokenize their digital artworks and sell them as NFTs on platforms like OpenSea, receiving royalties on subsequent transactions.
7. Photographs
Photography enthusiasts can monetize their skills by listing high-quality images online.
While stock photography platforms like Shutterstock or Adobe Stock are common, offering specialized photography services, such as event photography or selling commissioned images, can also be lucrative.
Example: A travel photographer might sell prints of their scenic landscapes or offer their services for destination-specific photography.
- Shutterstock
- Adobe Stock
8. Statistics and Data
Curating well-researched data sets tailored to niche markets holds immense potential for generating income.
The demand for pre-compiled data is persistent among businesses and researchers, who rely on such data for market analysis, research, and decision-making processes.
Creating and selling data sets, whether statistical analyses, industry-specific reports, or specialized datasets, cater to this demand. This venture is particularly lucrative as it offers a direct solution to a prevalent need in various industries.
Example: Offering market research reports or industry-specific data sets to businesses or researchers looking for reliable information.
Recommended Platforms:
- Self-publishing through a personal website
- DataMarket
9. Podcasts
Podcasts have emerged as a highly versatile platform for sharing information, entertainment, and advertisements. They cater to a diverse audience seeking engaging and informative content.
Revenue generation can come through various channels for podcasters. Creating exclusive or premium content that appeals to a dedicated audience segment can drive subscription-based revenue models.
Additionally, advertising and sponsorships can provide revenue opportunities, with brands paying for product placements or endorsements within the podcast episodes.
Example: A business consultant might offer in-depth advice and discussions on industry trends through a subscription-based podcast.
- Anchor
- Patreon for Podcasts
10. Software and Applications
The development of software or applications, especially those utilizing subscription-based models, presents promising prospects for recurring income. Identifying market demands and preferences is critical for creating software that addresses specific needs or enhances user experiences.
Choosing the right pricing model—whether a freemium approach, tiered subscriptions, or one-time purchases—can significantly impact sustained revenue.
Regular updates, new features, and impeccable customer support are also essential for maintaining user engagement and retention.
Example: Creating a productivity app with monthly subscriptions for enhanced features or designing software tailored for a specific industry.
- Google Play Store
- Apple App Store
11. Games
Game development, whether focused on indie projects or mobile gaming, offers substantial revenue potential. Instead of solely emphasizing complex graphics, focusing on engaging gameplay concepts that resonate with a broad audience can be more profitable.
In-app purchases, advertising, and subscription models are common monetization strategies for games. Developing games that captivate users and encourage spending on additional features or enhancing the gaming experience can lead to significant revenue streams.
Example: Creating a casual mobile game with in-app purchases for additional features or ads for monetization.
- Unity
- Unreal Engine
12. Stock Music and Audio
In the digital content space, a demand exists for unique audio elements such as music compositions, sound effects, and tracks. These elements are crucial for enhancing the overall appeal and quality of various projects.
Content creators, filmmakers, and advertisers often seek original and diverse audio content to complement their visuals and engage their audience effectively.
Audio content creators can monetize their work by selling these audio assets online. Marketplaces that offer royalty-free music, sound effects, or custom audio tracks cater to a wide range of professionals seeking quality audio elements for their projects.
These platforms facilitate the purchase and licensing of audio content, allowing creators to reach a broader audience and earn revenue through their work.
Example: Offering royalty-free music tracks suitable for use in YouTube videos or podcasts.
13. Digital Planners and Organizers
The digital era has ushered in a preference for organized digital planning and scheduling methods. Digital planners and organizers have gained substantial popularity among individuals seeking an efficient and flexible way to manage their tasks, schedules, and goals.
These planners often come in downloadable formats compatible with various note-taking or planning apps, providing users with a customizable and convenient tool to structure their digital lives.
They cater to professionals, students, and anyone seeking a more organized approach to managing their day-to-day activities.
Example: Creating downloadable digital planners compatible with note-taking apps like GoodNotes or Notability.
- Etsy
- iPadPlanner.com
14. Webinars and Online Workshops
Webinars and online workshops present a lucrative avenue for professionals or experts in specific fields to share their knowledge and expertise.
Offering in-depth sessions on niche subjects allows hosts to monetize these sessions by providing them as paid digital products.
By leveraging platforms that facilitate hosting, ticketing, and distribution of digital events, hosts can reach a global audience interested in specialized learning opportunities.
Whether it’s business insights, skill development workshops, or industry-specific discussions, these digital events cater to an audience seeking valuable, specialized knowledge.
Example: Hosting paid online workshops on topics like digital marketing strategies or personal finance management.
15. Fonts and Typography
Graphic designers and typographers often create unique font styles and typography elements to meet the diverse design needs of various projects.
Catering to designers, content creators, and individuals seeking distinct and original typographic elements, font designers can monetize their creations.
Platforms that promote the sale and distribution of fonts provide a marketplace for designers to showcase and sell their unique font styles.
These platforms offer variety of fonts, from handwritten scripts to decorative typefaces, allowing creators to showcase their originality and cater to diverse design preferences.
Example: Offering a collection of original handwritten fonts or decorative typefaces.
- MyFonts
- Creative Fabrica – Fonts
Overview: Top-Selling Digital Products for Maximum Profits
Digital products revolutionized business, removing the need for physical production and distribution.
These are intangible goods, such as eBooks, online courses, software, music, and digital art, that create an excellent opportunity for entrepreneurs to market globally without high upfront costs.
The ease of creation and management, along with the possibilities of high margins of profit, make digital products an appealing business model.
The expertise provided through webinars, online courses, specially crafted fonts, and audio tracks-all these and many more make digital products cater to a very huge audience base and thus are ever-increasing in demand.
Common FAQs About Selling Digital Products
Are there recurring revenue models for digital products?
Yes, with subscription-based products, such as memberships, online courses, or software with subscription plans, you can create recurring revenue streams.
Is it possible to sell hard copies of my digital products?
Yes, you could take some of your digital products or digital art, for instance, and have them made into physical copies to sell as hard products alongside your digital ones.
What is NFT, and how can I sell them?
An NFT is a unique digital asset that is sold on blockchain platforms like OpenSea. Artists and creators are allowed to sell digital artworks as NFTs and even earn extra income in the future when royalties are appended to the sale.
