How To Make Money Selling Digital Products On Amazon

Introduction

Let’s be honest—most of us want to make money online, but not everyone wants to deal with physical inventory, shipping, or customer returns. That’s exactly why digital products are such a game changer.

No stock to store, no boxes to ship—just create it once and sell it forever. And if you’re already on Amazon shopping every week (like most of us), why not use it to earn too?

Amazon isn’t just for books or kitchen gadgets anymore. It’s one of the best platforms to sell digital products, especially with tools like Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) and Merch by Amazon.

You can sell ebooks, journals, templates, low-content books, printables, and even digital art—all without touching a warehouse.

So if you’ve been thinking about selling digital products but didn’t know where to start, or you’re wondering if Amazon is the right place to do it, this guide breaks it all down in plain, simple language.

What counts as a digital product on Amazon?

When I say “digital products,” I’m talking about things you can create on a computer and sell without printing or shipping anything yourself. Here’s a short list:

eBooks (Kindle books)
Low-content books (planners, journals, logbooks)
Printable templates (budget sheets, coloring pages, habit trackers)
Merch designs (T-shirts, mugs, tote bags through Merch by Amazon)
Audiobooks (via ACX/Audible)

These are all things that can live entirely online, and Amazon already has the infrastructure to help you sell them.

Why Amazon is a smart place to start

Let’s get real—Amazon is massive. It gets over 2.7 billion visits per month. That’s a built-in audience.

Instead of struggling to find customers, your products can get in front of people already searching for them.

Here’s what I like about selling on Amazon:

Free tools: KDP and Merch by Amazon don’t charge upfront fees.
Passive income potential: Create it once, earn for years.
Global reach: You’re not just selling locally—you’re selling worldwide.
No need to build a website: You can get started without a blog, email list, or social media following.

How do I sell digital products on Amazon?

Let’s go through it step-by-step. No fluff. Just what you need to know.

1. Pick your product type

If you like writing, start with ebooks. If you’re into design, try printable planners or low-content books. Good at drawing? Merch by Amazon is perfect for T-shirts and other apparel.

Don’t overthink this. Pick one format and start small.

2. Set up your Amazon account

For eBooks or low-content books, go to Kindle Direct Publishing. It’s totally free.
For T-shirts and merch, request an invite to Merch by Amazon.
For audiobooks, sign up at ACX.com, which distributes to Amazon and Audible.

3. Create your product

Here’s where the work happens—but just once.

eBooks: Write your book in Google Docs or Word, then convert it to Kindle format (KDP has free tools for this).
Low-content books: Use tools like Canva, Book Bolt, or Tangent Templates to design journals and planners.
Printables: Canva works great here too.
Merch: Design graphics using Canva or Photoshop and upload directly to Merch by Amazon.

Pro tip: Keep it simple. A gratitude journal doesn’t need to be 300 pages. Some bestsellers are only 50.

4. Upload and publish

Each platform (KDP, Merch, ACX) will walk you through the process:

Title
Description (make it keyword-rich)
Cover image
Pricing
Categories

Amazon handles everything else: listing your product, delivering it to customers, and paying you.

5. Promote (a little goes a long way)

Amazon does most of the work, but giving your product a little boost helps:

Share on social media
Create a Pinterest pin linking to your product
Ask friends to leave reviews
Use basic keywords in your title and description (think like a buyer)

You don’t need a big following to make this work. Amazon’s search engine does a lot of the heavy lifting.

How much money can you actually make?

It depends on the product and how much effort you put in. Some creators earn $100 a month from one book. Others make $5,000+ from a portfolio of low-content books or shirts.

Here’s a rough idea:

eBook: Earn 70% royalties for books priced between $2.99–$9.99
KDP low-content book: Average royalty is $2–$5 per sale
Merch by Amazon: Usually $2–$7 per shirt sold
Audiobooks: Royalties are 20%–40%

Consistency is key. The more products you upload, the more you can earn.

What sells best?

Some niches perform better than others. Here are a few ideas to get you thinking:

Low-content books:

Daily planners
Weight loss journals
Budget trackers
Puzzle books (crosswords, sudoku)

Merch:

Funny sayings
Holiday shirts
Pet-related designs
Hobby tees (golf, coding, camping)

You don’t need to reinvent the wheel. Look at what’s selling and make your own version with a twist.

FAQs

Do I need a business license to sell on Amazon?

Not when you’re just starting. But once you start making steady income, you’ll want to talk to an accountant or tax pro.

Can I sell under a pen name or brand name?

Absolutely. Most KDP authors use pen names. For merch, you can create different brands.

Do I have to advertise?

Nope. Amazon’s search engine does a lot. But running ads can help speed things up later.

How long does it take to see sales?

Some people get sales the first week, others take a month or two. Keep uploading consistently.

Tools that can help you

Here are a few useful tools that make creating digital products easier:

Canva – Design anything (free and easy)
Book Bolt – KDP book design + research
Tangent Templates – Low-content book interiors
Publisher Rocket – Find the best keywords for your KDP books
Creative Fabrica – Fonts, graphics, and templates (make sure to check license terms)

Final thoughts

Selling digital products on Amazon is one of the easiest ways to start making money online. It’s not instant riches, but it is real, steady income that grows over time. You don’t need to be an expert. You just need to start.

Most people never do because they think it’s too technical or too late. It’s not. You can absolutely do this.

So, what’s stopping you from creating your first digital product today?