Digital Products to Sell: How to Start an Online Business from Scratch

So, you want to start an online business selling digital products? You’re in the right place!

Incorporating digital products into your business offers numerous advantages, including flexibility, high-profit margins, efficiency, and scalability.

Whether you’re here for the high-profit margins, the dream of passive income, or the sweet, sweet satisfaction of selling without ever having to ship a physical package (no more post office runs!), this guide will take you through everything you need to know.

Let’s dive right in and get you selling digital products that will have customers lining up at your virtual door. (Okay, maybe not literally lining up—digital products are more of an instant download kind of thing. But you get the idea.)

What Are Digital Products? (And Why They’re a Gold Mine!)

Before we get too deep, let’s answer the question: what are digital products? Essentially, digital products are anything that can be sold in a downloadable format—things like eBooks, online courses, stock photography, graphic design templates, and even coloring pages for Procreate.

Yep, that's right, you can even sell coloring pages for grown-ups (pro-level, of course!).

Unlike selling physical products, digital products don’t require any inventory, shipping, or warehouses. They're delivered digitally, meaning you create them once, and they can be sold repeatedly.

Definition and Benefits of Digital Products

Digital products are intangible goods that can be created once and sold repeatedly online without the need for inventory replenishment or shipping.

They offer numerous benefits, making them a gold mine for entrepreneurs and small businesses alike.

Advantages of Selling Digital Products

1. Low overhead costs – No need to rent a warehouse or stock up on inventory. You can start with just a laptop and a solid Wi-Fi connection (plus a lot of coffee).
2. Scalability – Once you create a digital product, you can sell it to as many people as you can reach. Your only limit is your ability to market and attract customers (which we’ll cover later).

If you're feeling inspired to jump into the world of selling digital products online, let’s talk about how to get started and what types of digital products sell best.

Step 1: Choose Your Digital Product Idea

All right, first things first—what kind of digital product should you sell? With so many digital products to sell, it can be overwhelming. But the good news is, you don’t have to reinvent the wheel. There are already tons of great digital product ideas out there that you can build upon or put your own spin on.

Digital Product Ideas

Choose the digital product you're the most interested in, whether that's online courses, stock photos, or anything else, and start making money from your digital goods!

Sound Effects and Background Music

For those with an ear for sound, creating and selling sound effects or background music is a lucrative option. These digital assets are always in demand for videos, podcasts, and video games.

Musicians and sound designers can sell their creations on platforms like Etsy, AudioJungle, or even their own e-commerce store.

Printable Worksheets and Activity Sheets

Design and sell printable worksheets or activity sheets for various purposes—whether they’re educational worksheets for teachers, Procreate coloring pages for artists, or fitness trackers for gym-goers.

Parents, teachers, and hobbyists alike love to download these files for easy use at home or in classrooms.

Printable Planners and Journals

The world of digital planners and journals is a booming niche. You can design and sell planners for productivity, fitness, finance, or even custom planners for specific hobbies or lifestyles.

Etsy digital planners are especially popular, offering customers the ability to download, print, or use on their tablets.

Custom T-Shirts (Design Files)

You don’t need to handle the physical product to sell custom t-shirts! Simply design custom t-shirt templates and sell the digital files for customers to use with print-on-demand services like Printful or Redbubble.

Done-for-You Digital Products

Offering done-for-you digital products is a fantastic way to appeal to entrepreneurs, bloggers, or small businesses.

These could include ready-made websites, social media templates, or branding kits. The idea is to create resources that allow people to hit the ground running with minimal effort.

Website Design Mockups

If you have design skills, creating and selling website mockups can be incredibly profitable. Developers, agencies, and freelancers often purchase mockups to showcase their work to clients in a professional way.

You can even sell them as downloadable templates on platforms like Creative Market or Gumroad.

Digital Stickers

Digital stickers are hugely popular, especially with the rise of digital journaling and bullet journals. You can create themed sticker packs for planners, Instagram stories, or messaging apps.

They are easy to design, and customers love collecting them!

Stock Illustrations

If you're an illustrator, selling stock illustrations is another great way to monetize your art. You can focus on specific niches like Caravan sheet music-themed designs or cute animal illustrations.

Sell them as single files or as part of a larger collection on platforms like Etsy or Shutterstock.

Social Media Content Templates

In the age of social media, everyone from influencers to businesses is looking for beautifully designed social media posts.

Create digital product packages with graphic design templates for Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and other platforms. You can sell these as part of a membership or individually through your online store.

Educational Products

With the rise of online learning, selling educational products like video tutorials, study guides, and online quizzes can be incredibly profitable. From coding tutorials to language learning flashcards, the possibilities are endless.

Font Creation

If you're into typography, designing and selling custom fonts can be a highly profitable business.

Whether you create quirky hand-drawn fonts or sleek professional typefaces, there’s a large market for unique fonts in branding, design, and publishing.

Stock Video Overlays

For videographers, selling video overlays and effects (like light leaks, transitions, or glitch effects) is a great way to monetize your skills.

These digital assets are used by video editors to enhance their projects, and they can be sold repeatedly with high-profit margins.

3D Models for Animation and Games

With the rise of 3D animation, video games, and virtual reality, there’s a growing demand for 3D models. You can create and sell 3D assets for characters, environments, and props on platforms like TurboSquid or CGTrader.

Digital Nomad Resources

Create and sell resources tailored for digital nomads, such as eBooks on remote work, budget trackers, or travel guides.

This market is growing, and digital products like guides and toolkits can be sold easily to travelers seeking flexibility.

Stock Footage for Filmmakers

If you're skilled at capturing high-quality video footage, selling stock footage for filmmakers, marketers, and content creators is another way to earn from your skills.

Sites like Pond5 or Adobe Stock allow videographers to sell clips to professionals who need ready-made video content.

Custom Icons and UI Kits

With so many people building websites and apps, there’s a growing demand for custom icons and UI kits. Designers can create icons, buttons, and other web elements for sale on platforms like Dribbble or Creative Market.

Online Coaching and Consulting

While slightly more service-oriented, offering digital coaching or consulting services in your area of expertise can also be a great way to generate income.

Whether it's business consulting, digital marketing, or personal development, you can package your advice into an online membership or course.

Digital Patterns for Sewing and Knitting

Sewing, knitting, and other crafts have gone digital! Create and sell digital patterns that crafters can download, print, and use at home.

Whether it’s sewing clothes or knitting scarves, these patterns can be sold as downloadable files.

Coloring Pages for Adults

Selling coloring pages for Procreate or printable adult coloring books has become a popular niche. Many adults find coloring to be a relaxing hobby, and artists can sell themed pages that cater to this market.

Caravan Lead Sheets

If you’re a musician, you can create and sell Caravan lead sheets or other music-related digital products.

Sheet music, tablature, or instructional music videos are fantastic digital assets that can be sold to fellow musicians or educators.

Golden Ticket Templates

Themed golden ticket templates or customizable event tickets are perfect for businesses or individuals hosting parties and events.

These can be designed to fit any occasion—weddings, birthdays, corporate events—and sold as digital downloads for printing.

Get Well Soon Coloring Pages

Another unique idea is to create get well soon coloring pages, especially ones that are themed for kids or designed to lift someone’s spirits.

These could be sold as part of a larger collection of greeting cards or wellness-themed products.

Digital Tools for Content Creators

Create and sell digital tools like SEO checklists, content calendars, or social media planners that help other creators manage their content creation.

These types of products can be sold through your own site or in bundles on digital marketplaces.

Online Courses

The eLearning industry is booming, and selling online courses is one of the top ways to generate passive income. You can create a course on just about anything—teaching people a skill like cooking, photography, coding, or even how to design and sell digital products online.

And the best part? Once your course is live, it keeps generating revenue without needing to physically show up every day.

Stock Photos & Footage

Do you have a knack for photography or videography? Selling stock photos, stock footage, and background music can be an excellent way to monetize your creative talents.

Websites like Etsy are also a great place to sell these digital products online, especially niche items like stock photography or specialized video footage.

Graphic Design Templates

Whether it’s website themes, design templates, or downloadable templates for business cards, resumes, and even golden ticket templates—graphic designers can easily create and sell customizable digital assets.

Website Themes and Templates

With so many people starting their own websites or blogs, there’s always a demand for beautiful and functional website themes and custom t-shirts.

If you're into graphic design, this could be a fantastic product to create and sell.

Online Memberships and Exclusive Content

If you have a dedicated audience, consider offering online memberships or exclusive content through platforms like Patreon.

These could be anything from behind-the-scenes access, member-only articles, or additional downloadable resources.

Digital Tools and Services Online

Whether you’re selling a tool like an online calculator or offering a service like digital marketing consultations, digital tools are always in demand.

Step 2: Create Your Digital Product

Now that you’ve got your digital product idea, it’s time to create it. Don’t panic—it’s not as overwhelming as it sounds.

Whether you’re making an online course, designing a template, or recording stock sounds, the key is to make it high-quality. After all, best-selling digital products didn’t become bestsellers because they were mediocre.

• Research – Use Google Trends and industry forums to see what’s trending in your niche. What’s hot right now? Are there gaps in the market you can fill?
• Tools & Software – Invest in good tools to make your product shine. For graphic design, tools like Adobe Illustrator or free alternatives like Canva work wonders. For online courses, platforms like Teachable or Kajabi are easy to use.
• Test Your Product – Before launching, make sure everything works perfectly. You don’t want to find out after launching that your downloadable files have glitches.
• Brainstorming and Research – Coming up with a winning digital product idea requires a mix of creativity and research.
• Validating Product Ideas – Before you invest time and resources into creating a digital product, it’s crucial to validate your idea. This ensures that your product meets the needs and wants of your target audience.
  

Step 3: Set Up Your Online Store

You’ve created a product that people will love—now it’s time to set up an online store to sell it. Luckily, in today’s world, this is easier than ever.

Where to Sell Digital Products

Here are some suggestions for places where you can sell your digital products.

Your Own Website

Creating your own website gives you full control over your brand, marketing, and customer experience. WordPress, Shopify, or Wix are all good options for building an e-commerce store.

Plus, having your own website adds credibility, which can attract more potential customers.

Online Marketplaces

If you’re not ready to create your own store, you can sell on online marketplaces like Etsy, Gumroad, or Creative Market. These platforms already have a built-in audience (your potential customers) looking to buy digital goods, making it easier to get started.

Subscription Models

Consider offering a monthly or yearly subscription to access your digital products. This works particularly well if you can continuously add value to your paying subscribers by delivering fresh, exclusive content every month.

Step 4: Market Your Digital Products

Okay, you’ve got your product, and it’s ready to be sold. But how do you get people to notice it? Marketing is essential to the success of your business, and it’s something that can’t be overlooked.

Marketing Strategy for Selling Digital Products

Here are some of the most common marketing materials for selling digital products successfully.

Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

SEO is your best friend when it comes to attracting potential customers. Make sure your product descriptions, blog posts, and website pages are optimized for the keywords your target audience is searching for.

Speaking of which, have we mentioned "digital products to sell" enough yet? Just checking.

Influencer Marketing

Collaborating with influencers who are already trusted by your audience can be a great way to generate leads and get eyes on your digital products.

Consider offering them free access to your product in exchange for a review or shout-out.

Facebook Groups and Digital Communities

Join Facebook groups or digital communities where your target customers are hanging out. Be helpful, answer questions, and promote your product in a non-spammy way.

MystNodes for Passive Income

While you're working on your digital product sales, why not add an additional stream of passive income with MystNodes?

MystNodes allows you to rent out your internet connection securely, helping others while generating income on the side.

It's a great complement to your digital product sales—more cash flow and less hassle. You can thank us later!

Step 5: Scale Your Business

Once you start making digital product sales, you can reinvest that revenue into your business. The beauty of selling digital products online is that there’s no cap on how much you can sell.

You just need to focus on improving your marketing efforts, reaching more customers, and expanding your product offerings.

You can also look into selling done-for-you digital products (think pre-designed templates that people can customize) or offering bundled deals that make it irresistible for customers to buy.

Wrapping It Up

And there you have it—a step-by-step guide on how to sell digital products and start an online business from scratch.

Whether you're dreaming of selling Etsy digital planners, creating stunning graphic design templates, or launching a blockbuster online course, the world of digital products is full of opportunities.

And don’t forget, while you're building that empire, MystNodes can help you earn some extra passive income on the side.

So, what are you waiting for? Create, market, and sell those digital products!

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