The Best Practices for Creating & Selling Digital Products: A Complete Guide for New Marketers
Do you have a passion, skill, or knowledge that others would pay to learn?
You don’t need to be a world-class marketer or designer to turn that knowledge into a profitable online business. With the right idea, solid experience, and a few tools, you can create valuable digital products and start generating income from them. In this guide, we’ll explore the best practices for creating and marketing digital products that sell, even if you’re just starting out.
Table of Contents
Types of Digital Products You Can Create
The first step in building a successful digital product business is deciding what kind of product you want to create. The beauty of the digital marketplace is that you have a wealth of options. Below are some popular types of digital products you can create:
1. PDF Guides & eBooks
PDFs and eBooks are one of the easiest digital products to create. You can share your expertise, offer practical advice, or provide in-depth knowledge on a topic you’re passionate about. This format is highly popular in niches like self-help, business, and personal development.
- Best For: Writers, educators, and subject-matter experts.
- Tools to Use: Canva (for design), Google Docs or Microsoft Word (for writing), and Adobe InDesign (for advanced layout).
2. Video Courses & Instructional Videos
Video courses are an excellent way to provide value while leveraging your teaching skills. Whether it’s a course on digital marketing, cooking, or fitness, video tutorials can be highly engaging. This format is particularly popular for people who want to learn hands-on skills.
- Best For: Teachers, coaches, and experts in a specific field.
- Tools to Use: Camtasia (video editing), ScreenFlow (Mac users), OBS Studio (for screen recordings), and Thinkific (for course hosting).
3. How-to Guides
If you’re an expert in a specific process or task, how-to guides can be invaluable to your audience. These guides break down complex topics into digestible steps, helping your audience achieve their goals.
- Best For: DIY enthusiasts, consultants, or anyone with step-by-step expertise.
- Tools to Use: Google Docs (writing), Canva (design), and WordPress (blogging).
4. Membership Sites
Membership sites are an excellent way to create recurring income by offering exclusive content, resources, or services to members. This could include anything from exclusive tutorials to a community for discussion and networking.
- Best For: Community-driven businesses, fitness trainers, and niche experts.
- Tools to Use: Kajabi, Teachable, Skool, or WordPress with membership plugins.
5. Digital Downloads (Templates, Checklists, etc.)
Digital downloads such as templates, planners, or checklists can provide your audience with tools that save them time or help them accomplish a task. For example, social media post templates, budget planners, or business proposal templates.
- Best For: Creatives, coaches, and business consultants.
- Tools to Use: Canva, Google Sheets, Microsoft Excel, and Adobe Illustrator.
6. Online Communities (e.g., Skool, Discord)
Creating an online community where members can interact and access exclusive content is a growing trend. Platforms like Skool and Discord enable creators to build a tight-knit community around their brand and offer exclusive support.
- Best For: Coaches, creators, and niche experts building a loyal following.
- Tools to Use: Skool, Discord, and Facebook Groups.
7. Software & Apps
If you’re technically inclined, creating a software tool or mobile app can be a lucrative way to monetize your skills. This requires more technical expertise but can offer high scalability once developed.
- Best For: Developers and tech experts.
- Tools to Use: App development platforms like Flutter, Swift, or no-code platforms like Bubble.
8. Audio Files (Podcasts, Music, Audio Guides)
Podcasts are a great way to reach an audience with in-depth discussions, interviews, or storytelling. Similarly, audio guides and music can be sold to listeners in niche industries like meditation or self-improvement.
- Best For: Speakers, musicians, and anyone who enjoys communicating through audio.
- Tools to Use: Audacity, GarageBand, and Podbean.
The Tools You Need to Create Your Digital Products
Creating high-quality digital products doesn’t require you to be a design or tech expert. You just need the right tools to turn your ideas into reality. Below are some of the best tools for creating digital products:
For Writing & Design
- Canva: An easy-to-use design tool perfect for creating eBooks, PDFs, social media graphics, and more.
- Adobe Photoshop/Illustrator: Industry-standard tools for advanced graphic design and photo editing.
- Google Docs / Microsoft Word: Perfect for writing your content or guides.
- Scrivener: A writing software designed for authors and long-form content creators.
For Video Creation
- Camtasia: An all-in-one screen recording and video editing software.
- ScreenFlow: A similar tool for Mac users, perfect for creating video tutorials and courses.
- OBS Studio: A free and open-source software for live streaming and screen recording.
- Final Cut Pro: A professional video editing software for Mac users.
For Course Platforms & Membership Sites
- Teachable: A simple platform for hosting and selling online courses.
- Thinkific: Another course platform with a focus on ease of use and customization.
- Kajabi: A comprehensive platform that lets you create, market, and sell digital products, including memberships and courses.
- Skool: A modern platform for creating online communities and membership sites.
For Audio Creation
- Audacity: A free audio editing software for creating podcasts and other audio content.
- GarageBand: Ideal for beginner audio creators, especially for podcasts and music.
- Adobe Audition: A more advanced option for audio editing and mixing.
For Selling & E-commerce
- Gumroad: A simple platform for selling digital downloads, courses, and more.
- Shopify: A robust e-commerce platform for selling physical and digital products.
- Payhip: A platform for selling digital downloads and subscriptions directly to your audience.
- Clickbank: Ideal for affiliate marketing and digital product sales, especially for niche products.
Marketing Your Digital Products
Once you’ve created your digital product, the next challenge is getting it in front of the right audience. Let’s look at some of the best marketing strategies to promote your digital products.
Paid Advertising (PPC Ads)
- Google Ads: Great for targeting users actively searching for products like yours.
- Facebook & Instagram Ads: Use their targeting capabilities to reach specific demographics and interests.
- YouTube Ads: Ideal for video courses or product demos.
Organic Traffic Generation
- Content Marketing & Blogging: Create blog posts or video content around topics related to your digital product to drive organic traffic.
- YouTube Channel Creation: Share valuable video content related to your niche to build a following and promote your products.
- Influencer Marketing: Partner with influencers in your niche to promote your digital products to their followers.
- Forum Marketing (Reddit, Quora): Engage in niche forums and communities where people are seeking solutions your product can offer.
Email Marketing
- Mailchimp: Great for building your email list and creating automated campaigns.
- ConvertKit: A platform focused on helping creators build relationships with their audience through email marketing.
- ActiveCampaign: A more advanced option for segmenting your list and automating sales funnels.
Social Media as a Sales Tool
- Instagram: Showcase your digital products and interact with followers through stories, posts, and ads.
- TikTok: Great for reaching a younger audience with short, engaging videos.
- Facebook Groups: Build a community around your brand and engage directly with potential customers.
- Twitter: Use Twitter for real-time updates, promotions, and engaging with your audience.
Creating Your Own Affiliate Program
If you want to leverage others to help sell your products, creating your own affiliate program can be a game-changer. Platforms like ClickBank allow you to set up an affiliate program where others can promote your products in exchange for a commission.
- Why it Works: Affiliates can drive traffic to your products without you needing to do all the marketing yourself.
- How to Set It Up: Sign up for platforms like ClickBank, create your product listing, set your commission rate, and recruit affiliates to promote it.
You Don’t Need to Be an Expert at Everything
You don’t need to be a world-class marketer, designer, or technical expert to create a successful digital product. What matters most is having a solid idea that speaks to the needs of your audience. You don’t have to be perfect at every step—just stay focused on solving problems for your audience.
Conclusion: Take Action with Your Idea
The key to success in creating digital products isn’t just about having the best tools or the biggest marketing budget; it’s about having the right idea, staying focused on your audience, and using the tools available to you.
Get started today by researching your niche, choosing the product type that suits your skills, and planning how to bring it to market. With persistence, planning, and the right tools, you can create products that not only sell but also build a sustainable business.
Remember: Know your audience, focus on delivering value, and leverage the right tools—and you’ll be well on your way to success.
This article covers everything from creating the product to marketing and selling it, and it emphasizes how new marketers can succeed with the right approach.