Opening up a store online – whether that be through Etsy, Shopify, WooCommerce, and so on – can help you to build a very successful eCommerce brand and business. But, before you open an e-store, you will need to have sufficient inventory ready to be shipped out to your customers. That is, unless you sell digital products.
If you’re just starting out in the eCommerce world and would like to avoid the headache of maintaining a physical inventory as well as the overhead costs that come along with housing physical products, creating & offering a catalog of digital products may be something for you to consider. Not only are you not required to maintain a physical inventory but you also don’t have to worry about things like shipping and returns.
Plus, when you create a digital product, you often only have to create it one time and then it can be sold time and time again. You essentially have an unlimited quantity which makes it that much easier to scale.
But, what types of digital products can you sell? Especially ones that are also in demand right now? Let’s have a look at several different types of digital products to help get you started on your journey and that will increase in sales over the long run.
E-Books
E-books rank as one of the most popular types of digital goods. They don’t have to be very long, and they can cover just about any topic. If you are skilled in a particular field or have a compelling story that you feel might help someone, most likely there is someone out there that would love to read all about it. Hundreds of millions of eBooks are sold every year and the total revenue of digital books reached 1.1 billion US dollars in 2021.
Online Courses
eCourses have been popular for quite some time and the industry is growing by the year. The e-Learning market size & share revenue is expected to grow 14.6% annually and reach 374 billion US dollars by the year 2026.
People love being able to learn when and wherever they want. Thanks to our busy schedules, the convenience of an online course can help us to complete courses and obtain certificates on our own time.
One thing to keep in mind with online courses, is that you will need to keep them up-to-date which will involve editing the course material from time-to-time. That way, the learning material is fresh and you can continue to receive positive reviews – and more sales!
Digital Planners
Time management and organization is a whole industry on its own. Millions of people use digital tools to help organize their fitness goals, work tasks, personal budget and day-to-day activities using digital planners.
Software
Software is a huge product category in the digital world as it helps to solve everyday problems. Just about everything from accounting to graphic design to time management can be made easier with the right software. For those who know how to code, software can be a great way to earn cash online.
However, creating software is obviously easier said than done. Unlike ebooks and online courses, it will likely involve a team along with a very specific skillset. One way to get around this is by selling someone else’s software by becoming a reseller or distributor.
Mobile Apps
Coders everywhere can rejoice at the amount of mobile apps that are purchased through app stores everyday. There is a ton of market share available for the right concept accompanied by the proper execution. If you are a skilled coder that can come up with an app that solves a unique problem, there is still tons of opportunity for you to break into the lucrative world of applications.
Templates
Customizable files can help reduce the time and effort it takes to achieve a desired result. Think about the time you could save by purchasing a premade resume template or a budget spreadsheet that has all of the formulas already intact. You could also sell creative templates that can be used for social media posts, flyers, and business cards. The options are endless when it comes to selling templates online.
Swipe Files
Swipe files are files that contain an expert’s unknown secrets to success. They might be phrases to use in direct copywriting, or a methodology for a marketing funnel. They are like hacks for games, but in real life.
Swipe files don’t have to be long although they can be one of the highest-value items you offer due to the sheer knowledge that the buyer will receive.
Illustrations & Vector Files
People love to use illustrations and vector files for a wide variety of both commercial and personal projects. Logos, icons, characters, backgrounds and other design elements are all great digital design products to carry in your online store especially if your audience is made up of graphic designers and crafty DIY enthusiasts.
Stock Photography
Stock photos, and even videos, will always be in demand. These assets can be used in social media content, blog posts, presentations, print material and more. If you are a budding photographer you can make a business out of selling some great digital photos that other businesses would find very useful.
Presets & Overlays
To accompany your stock photos and videos, you can also sell presets and transparent overlays to help enhance files. Presets are essentially premade filters that can alter an original photo or video. Many people who have ventured into the world of social media have slowly realized that taking a nice photo is only half the battle. Photos that stand out are ones that have a beautiful aesthtic, which is usually due to some talented editing. Many people do not have the time or energy to figure out great photo editing themselves, but would happily buy a filter that will give their photos the look and feel they are going for. Add some overlays, which are things like gradients, stickers and other creative elements that you can put on top of your original file, and you have a winning digital package to sell.
Fonts
The internet wouldn’t be the same if it were all written in Times New Roman. Ask any graphic designer how many fonts they own and they will likely have lost count! A font is an intrical part of any solid brand and most people are looking to stand out by using a font that is unique to their business or personal brand. From corporate-looking to decorative scripts to spooky & seasonal, fonts are certainly a best-seller.
Wallpapers
Everyone needs a good wallpaper for their desktop, laptop, tablet and mobile phone. While many people turn to Google and swipe one from there, there are a lot of people out there that are willing to pay for a high-quality wallpaper images that they can use on larger screens without the resolution loss.
Online Memberships
If you have a great website filled with valuable information, you can password-protect it and earn money by selling membership access. Think of it like a gym membership for your brain. Customers can purchase a membership to your site and then access exclusive content, get first dibs on product releases, receive special offers and much, much more.
Website Themes
People are constantly launching new websites and revamping their existing websites, so there’s no shortage of demand for new themes. This is an extremely large market, with all kinds of trends to follow and design standards to work with.
Be prepared to do some research. While themes are a lot of work and need to be updated on an ongoing basis, the potential to make some serious money is definitely in your favour here.
Craft Patterns
Craft patterns seem to be an ever-growing niche market. They can used be for just about everything, from doll clothes to quilts to scrapbooking pages. If you are a talented designer or seamstress, and are strongly interested in the Etsy marketplace, this might be the niche for you.
Printables
Printables are incredibly popular. And, since they’re so easy to use, customers will buy them again and again for different occasions.
A few ideas include greeting cards, invitations, colouring pages, party decorations, certificates, calendars and wall decor. Many people want to have beautiful, curated events without all the extra cost that comes with heading to a party store. Selling printables that allow people to customize their event is a sure-fire way to make some extra cash.
These ideas are all great examples of the different types of digital products you can begin selling in your online store. Start off by picking one that aligns with your business and brand, but don’t stop at just one! Are you already selling digital products? If so, let us know in the comments!
