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Introduction: The Best Digital Products
Let me tell you something – I never imagined I’d become a digital product creator. Just three years ago, I was grinding away at my 9-to-5, daydreaming about building something that was truly mine. Then I discovered the world of digital products, and everything changed.
Digital products have completely transformed how we think about entrepreneurship. Unlike physical goods, these virtual assets can be created once and sold infinitely without additional production costs. Pretty sweet deal, right?
I still remember the thrill of making my first $100 while I was sleeping. That’s the magic of digital products – they work for you 24/7, reaching customers across the globe without shipping delays or inventory headaches.
The overhead costs? Minimal. The scalability? Unlimited. The potential for passive income? Incredible. Whether you’re looking to supplement your income or build a full-fledged online business, digital products offer one of the most accessible entry points into entrepreneurship today.
What exactly are digital products? They’re intangible assets delivered electronically – ebooks, courses, templates, software, and more. And unlike physical products, they never run out of stock and can be delivered instantly to customers worldwide.
The 7 Best Digital Products to Sell
Let’s dive into the digital products that are absolutely crushing it right now. I’ve tried my hand at several of these, and I’ve seen firsthand which ones have the most potential.
1. E-books & Guides
E-books were my gateway drug into the digital product world. They’re relatively quick to create and perfect for sharing specialized knowledge on practically any topic.
I bombed my first e-book launch completely. Spent three months writing a comprehensive guide on productivity systems, only to sell a whopping two copies in the first month. Talk about a reality check! The problem? I hadn’t built an audience first or validated my idea.
But then I discovered what writer Anangsha Alammyan did – she created a targeted guide on securing high-paying freelance gigs based on her personal experience. By leveraging existing platforms and promoting to her established audience, she pulled in over $5,000 in just the first year. The difference? She solved a specific problem for a defined audience.
Tips for creating successful e-books:
- Focus on solving ONE specific problem really well
- Include actionable steps, not just theory
- Create a compelling title that clearly communicates the benefit
- Design an eye-catching cover (yes, people definitely judge e-books by their covers!)
2. Online Courses & Tutorials
Online courses let you go deeper than e-books, and people are willing to pay premium prices for comprehensive knowledge. This is where the big money often lies.
During my research I learned that successful courses need to be specific and results-focused.
Take Adam Enfroy‘s “Blog Growth Engine” course as an example. This thing is a beast – it generated over seven figures in sales by promising and delivering a clear outcome: growing a profitable blog. Adam didn’t just throw together some generic content; he built a systematic approach based on his own success and packaged it with compelling case studies.
What makes successful courses stand out:
- Clear transformation and results for students
- Multimedia content (video, text, worksheets)
- Community elements or direct feedback
- Regular updates to keep content fresh
3. Printables & Templates
Not gonna lie, I slept on printables for way too long. These deceptively simple products can be goldmines with the right audience.
I watched my friend struggle for months designing her wedding invitations before I realized there was a huge market for done-for-you templates. Planners, resumes, budgeting spreadsheets, social media graphics – these save people precious time.
Lisa Ebsworth is killing it in this space. She started selling digital art and printables on Etsy and has made over $100,000. The beauty of templates is they solve immediate problems and have a low price point, making them an easy purchase decision.
Best-selling printables typically:
- Solve everyday organizational problems
- Look visually appealing and professional
- Come in multiple formats (PDF, editable versions)
- Include clear instructions for customization
4. Software & Apps
Software products have higher development costs, but they can also command higher prices and create recurring revenue through subscription models.
I partnered with a developer friend to create a simple browser extension that solved a specific problem for content creators. While it wasn’t a home run, it taught me the incredible potential of software products.
Tips for successful software products:
- Start with a minimum viable product solving one core problem
- Gather user feedback early and often
- Consider a freemium model to build your user base
- Focus on excellent customer support
5. Stock Photos & Digital Art
I used to spend hours searching for the perfect image for my blog posts. That frustration helped me understand why high-quality stock photos and digital art are so valuable.
The market is competitive, but creators with a distinct style or who focus on under-served niches can still break through.
What works in this space:
- Creating cohesive collections or bundles
- Targeting specific niches (like images for female entrepreneurs)
- Offering different licensing options
- Creating seasonal collections that align with marketing calendars
6. Music & Audio Products
This one’s not for everyone, but if you have musical talent or audio production skills, there’s serious money to be made.
My neighbor quit his day job after his side hustle creating meditation tracks and ambient sounds took off. He now sells his audio products directly to meditation apps and yoga studios.
The key is creating audio products specifically designed for a particular use case.
Audio products that sell well include:
- Beats and samples for music producers
- Sound effects for video creators
- Guided meditations
- Custom jingles for podcasts and videos
7. Memberships & Exclusive Content
Recurring revenue is the holy grail of digital products, and memberships deliver exactly that.
I tried launching a membership too early in my business journey and fell flat on my face. The lesson? You need to build credibility and prove your value before people will commit to ongoing payments.
Pat Flynn‘s “Smart Passive Income Pro” membership site is a masterclass in doing this right. By first providing tons of free value through his podcast and blog, he built the trust needed to generate over $200,000 in recurring revenue from his membership community.
What successful membership sites offer:
- Exclusive content not available elsewhere
- Direct access to the creator (Q&As, office hours)
- A community of like-minded members
- Regular new content or benefits
Creating High-Quality Digital Products
I’ve bombed enough product launches to know that creation isn’t enough – you need strategy from day one.
Market Research First, Creation Second
My biggest mistake? Creating products I thought people wanted instead of products I knew they needed. Now I never create anything without validating the idea first.
Start by hanging out where your potential customers are – Reddit, Facebook groups, industry forums. What questions do they ask repeatedly? What problems frustrate them? These are gold mines for product ideas.
Use tools like Google Trends, keyword research, and Amazon bestseller lists to identify popular topics in your niche. The goal is to find the sweet spot between your expertise and market demand.
Quality Is Non-Negotiable
I learned this lesson the hard way. My first product had typos and formatting issues that led to refund requests and damaged my reputation.
Every digital product must:
- Deliver on its promised transformation
- Be well-organized and easy to navigate
- Look professional and polished
- Work properly on all intended devices
Remember, your digital product is a direct reflection of your brand. One low-quality offering can harm your credibility for future launches.
Testing & Gathering Feedback
Before my full launch, I now always recruit a small group of beta testers. Their feedback has saved me from embarrassing mistakes countless times.
Offer your product at a discount to a limited audience in exchange for detailed feedback. Use their input to refine your offering before the official launch.
Effective Platforms for Selling Digital Products
Where you sell matters almost as much as what you sell. Each platform has its own advantages and drawbacks.
Your Own Website: Maximum Control, Maximum Effort
Nothing beats the control of selling directly from your own website. I use WordPress with WooCommerce for my main products, which gives me complete flexibility over pricing, design, and the customer experience.
The downside? You’re responsible for driving all the traffic. There’s no built-in audience like you’d get on a marketplace.
Tools that make website selling easier:
- WordPress with WooCommerce or Easy Digital Downloads
- Shopify or BigCommerce for a more turnkey solution
- SendOwl or Gumroad for simple digital delivery
Online Marketplaces: Built-in Traffic, Less Control
When I was starting out with zero audience, Etsy was a lifesaver for getting my first sales. Marketplaces like Etsy, Amazon KDP, Gumroad, and Teachable come with built-in audiences actively looking to buy.
The trade-off is you’ll pay fees (usually 3-30% of each sale) and have less control over branding and customer relationships.
Best marketplaces by product type:
- E-books: Amazon KDP, Gumroad
- Courses: Udemy, Teachable, Podia
- Templates & Printables: Etsy, Creative Market
- Stock Photos: Shutterstock, Adobe Stock
Social Media: The Traffic Generator
I wasted months trying to be on every platform. Now I focus on mastering just one or two where my audience actually hangs out.
Instagram and Pinterest work wonders for visual products like templates and graphics. TikTok is becoming increasingly powerful for reaching new audiences quickly. LinkedIn is gold for B2B digital products.
The key is to provide value consistently and build relationships before promoting your products.
Email Marketing: Your Most Valuable Asset
My biggest business regret? Not building my email list sooner. Email subscribers convert at rates 5-10x higher than social media followers in my experience.
Start collecting emails before you even have a product to sell. Offer a valuable free resource (often called a “lead magnet”) in exchange for email addresses, then nurture those relationships with consistent value.
When launch day comes, these subscribers will be your most eager customers.
Pricing Strategies & Maximizing Profits
I’ve priced products too low out of fear and too high out of greed. Finding the right price point takes strategy.
Research Competitors But Don’t Copy Them
Before setting my prices, I always check what similar products are selling for. But I don’t just match competitor pricing – I consider my unique value proposition.
If your course includes personal feedback while competitors don’t, you can justify a higher price. If you’re new to the market, you might start slightly lower to build social proof.
Value-Based Pricing: What’s It Worth To Them?
The game-changer for my business was switching from “what do I think it’s worth” to “what is this worth to my customer?”
If your e-book helps someone land a job that pays $10,000 more annually, charging $97 is a no-brainer. If your template saves a business owner 10 hours of work, what is that time worth to them?
Psychological Pricing Tactics That Work
I’ve tested dozens of pricing strategies, and these consistently perform best:
- Use price anchoring (show the higher “regular” price crossed out)
- Utilize the power of 9 ($97 instead of $100)
- Offer multiple pricing tiers (basic, premium, deluxe)
- Create scarcity with limited-time offers or bonuses
Smart Bundling For Higher Average Order Value
My revenue doubled when I started offering strategic bundles. Combine complementary products at a slight discount to increase your average order value.
For example, if you sell a meal planning e-book, bundle it with printable grocery lists and recipe cards for a higher-priced package.
Legal Considerations
Ignoring the legal side of digital products can come back to bite you. Trust me, I learned this the hard way.
Protecting Your Intellectual Property
I once found someone selling my exact productivity planner on Etsy. Since I had properly registered my copyright, I was able to get it taken down quickly.
For valuable digital products, consider:
- Registering copyrights for original works
- Trademarking your brand name or product names
- Using watermarks on preview images
- Including copyright notices on all materials
Clear Terms Of Use
Every digital product should come with clear terms stating what buyers can and cannot do with your product.
Can they use it for commercial projects? Print it for personal use only? Share it with friends? Spell everything out to avoid misunderstandings.
Refund Policies That Protect Both Sides
Having a fair refund policy builds trust with buyers while protecting you from abuse. For most digital products, I offer a 14-day satisfaction guarantee with specific conditions.
For courses, consider requiring proof that they’ve actually gone through the material before issuing refunds.
Success Stories & Case Studies
Let me share some real-world success stories that inspire me every day.
Anangsha Alammyan: From Writer to Digital Entrepreneur
Anangsha leveraged her freelance writing experience to create a comprehensive guide on landing high-paying gigs. The brilliance of her approach was using platforms like Gumroad while promoting through her existing Medium audience.
This strategic distribution helped her earn over $5,000 in the first year from a single digital product. What’s impressive is how she turned her personal experience into a valuable resource that solved a specific pain point for other writers.
Lisa Ebsworth: Diversifying Digital Income
Lisa’s story resonates with me because she didn’t put all her eggs in one basket. She explored various side hustles, including creating an e-book on side hustles that earned her £1,000.
By expanding into online courses and other digital products, she brought her total digital product earnings to £15,000. Her approach shows the power of testing different formats to find what works best for your audience.
Helena Di Biase: Scaling to Five Figures Monthly
Helena’s journey is mind-blowing – within just one year of starting her online business, she managed to earn over £20,000 in a single month. Her digital products alone brought in £9,534, plus another £6,000 from an online mentoring program.
What I love about Helena’s approach is how she combined digital products with service offerings, creating multiple income streams that complement each other.
Adam Enfroy: From Blogger to Seven-Figure Course Creator
Adam’s story is perhaps the most dramatic transformation. He built his blog from scratch and identified exactly what his audience was struggling with.
Instead of creating a generic course, he developed the highly specific “Blog Growth Engine,” which addresses the exact challenges his audience faces. By combining high-quality content with strategic partnerships and email marketing, he generated seven figures in sales.
The lesson from Adam? Deeply understand your audience’s challenges before creating your product.
Conclusion & Next Steps
My journey into digital products has transformed my life and finances. I’ve made plenty of mistakes along the way, but each one taught me valuable lessons that improved my next product.
The beauty of digital products is that anyone with knowledge or skills can transform them into income-generating assets. Whether you’re a graphic designer, writer, photographer, programmer, or subject matter expert in any field, there’s a digital product format that can showcase your talents.
Start by identifying what unique value you can provide. What problems can you solve? What skills can you teach? What time can you save?
Remember that your first product probably won’t be perfect – and that’s okay. Each creation is a stepping stone to better understanding your audience and refining your offerings.
Ready to take action? Begin by validating your digital product idea. Talk to potential customers, create a minimal version to test, and gather feedback before investing too much time.
Your digital product empire won’t be built overnight, but you can use AI for productivity and efficiency, with persistence and strategic thinking, you can create assets that generate income for years to come.
What digital product will you create first?
