How To Create Digital Products To Sell Online

If you’ve ever wanted to make money online without worrying about shipping boxes or keeping inventory, creating digital products might be your best move.

Digital products are things you can sell over and over again—like ebooks, templates, courses, or design assets—without needing to remake or restock anything.

Why is this such a big deal? Because once you make a digital product, it can keep making money while you sleep, travel, or work on something else. You build it once, and it keeps working for you.

In 2023, the global e-learning market alone was valued at $399.3 billion, and it’s still growing fast (Statista).

And that’s just one type of digital product. From planners and stock photos to software and printables, there are endless options—and people are buying them every single day.

Let me break it all down and show you exactly how to create and sell your own digital product, even if you’re just starting out.

What Is a Digital Product?

A digital product is anything you can sell online that doesn’t come in a box. It’s something people download, access through a link, or view on their device.

Here are a few popular examples:

Ebooks and guides
Online courses
Notion templates
Printable planners or journals
Lightroom presets
Canva templates
Stock photos or illustrations
Membership sites
Audio files (like meditation tracks or music loops)
Apps or software tools

What makes digital products great is that you only have to create them once. No storage. No shipping. No handling returns.

How Do I Create Digital Products To Sell Online?

1. Choose the Right Product for You

Start with your strengths. Think about what you already know or what you’re good at. What do people often ask you for help with? That’s usually a sign you’re sitting on something valuable.

If you’re still unsure, here are some ideas based on your skills:

Good at writing? → Ebooks, templates, or email swipe files
Graphic design? → Social media templates, branding kits, or icon packs
Love organization? → Printable planners or Notion dashboards
Teacher or coach? → Courses or video tutorials
Photographer? → Stock photos or presets

Don’t chase trends—build something you’d be proud to use yourself.

2. Validate Your Idea

Before you spend hours making your product, check if people actually want it.

Here’s how:

Search on Etsy, Gumroad, or Creative Market – Are similar products selling?
Use Google Trends – Is interest growing?
Ask your audience – If you have followers, run a poll or ask in a post.
Check Facebook groups or Reddit threads – What questions do people keep asking?

You’re not looking for a “brand new” idea. You want something people are already buying, but with your spin on it.

3. Create the Product

Now for the fun part—building the thing.

Tools to help you get started:

Ebooks & PDFs → Canva, Google Docs, Apple Pages
Courses & Video Content → Loom, Zoom, Teachable, or Podia
Templates → Canva, Notion, or Figma
Audio → Audacity, GarageBand, Adobe Audition
Design Assets → Adobe Creative Suite, Procreate

Keep it simple at first. Don’t get caught up in perfection. Done is better than perfect.

4. Pick a Platform to Sell It

There are a ton of places you can sell digital products. Some handle everything for you. Others give you more control.

Top platforms to consider:

Gumroad – Super easy for beginners
Podia – Great for selling courses or memberships
Teachable – Best for online courses
Etsy – Ideal for printables and templates
Shopify – Great if you want a full store
Payhip – Low fees, easy setup
Notion – Sell templates directly with a link

Each one has pros and cons, so pick based on your needs. I personally recommend starting with Gumroad or Payhip if you’re new—they’re beginner-friendly and free to start.

5. Price It Right

Here’s the truth: most people undercharge. Don’t.

Instead, think about the value you’re offering. If your digital planner saves someone hours a week, that’s worth more than $5.

A few things to keep in mind:

Check competitor pricing
Start with a “starter” price and increase later
Try tiered pricing (like basic, pro, and premium)

Also, try offering a freebie to grow your email list. This builds trust and gives people a taste of your style.

6. Promote It Like a Human

You don’t need to be an influencer with 100K followers to make sales.

Here’s how real people get real results:

Start a simple landing page with Gumroad or Carrd
Build a small email list using MailerLite or ConvertKit
Share on platforms like Pinterest, Instagram, or TikTok (create behind-the-scenes or how-to content)
Join communities where your audience hangs out (Facebook groups, subreddits, Discords)
Use testimonials and reviews (even from beta testers) to build trust

You don’t have to do all the things—just pick one or two and stay consistent.

FAQs

Do I need a website to start?

Nope. Platforms like Gumroad or Payhip let you sell directly without a full website. But eventually, having your site helps with SEO and brand trust.

What if someone copies my product?

It can happen. But the upside is huge, and most people are honest buyers. Focus on building a community and trust around your brand. You can also add license agreements or use tools like PDF stamping.

Do I need to be a tech expert?

Not at all. Most tools are drag-and-drop or have templates. And there’s always YouTube tutorials to guide you.

How much money can I actually make?

It depends on your product, niche, and how you market. Some folks make $100/month. Others make $10K+. But even a few hundred a month can be life-changing if it’s passive.