Are you interested in finding out which digital products are the most popular for online selling? If so, you’re in the right spot. We will guide you through the tried-and-true methods of earning money with digital products. Astute business owners understand that selling digital products offers numerous benefits compared to selling physical items, the most significant being the potential for high profit margins.
You can create a digital product that is suitable for selling using only a computer, mobile device, and internet connection, without the need for physical materials, factories, or a large staff. Digital products are an excellent means of generating passive income. It is the perfect opportunity for you to create and share something amazing with the world! However, you may be wondering which type of digital product to begin with.
Prepare yourself for various digital product ideas and find inspiration.
1. eBooks
EBooks are highly sought-after digital products by both creators and customers due to their simplicity in production, which mainly involves written text and a few relevant images.
Ebooks can be easily distributed either on large marketplaces or self-created online stores. Customers find them highly accessible as they can be read on e-readers, tablets, computers, and even mobile phones.
Creating eBooks allows you to share your knowledge or interests easily, as you can educate, advise, or curate existing content with an eBook and sell it on your website.
2. Software
The software industry is a vast and continuously expanding sector, offering numerous opportunities. The global software market is expected to surpass a value of 1 trillion dollars in the coming years, which is truly immense.
Every day, individuals rely on computers and mobile devices. By creating apps that fulfill people’s needs and desires, code writers and product developers can enhance efficiency in both business tasks and daily routines. Ultimately, software has the potential to be the most lucrative digital product available.
You can create and sell various types of software products to a wide range of users including large enterprises, small businesses, and individual users.
- WordPress plugins
- WordPress themes
- Mobile apps
- Fitness apps
- Project management apps
- Video games
- Windows Apps
- Mac Apps
- Linux Apps
- iPhone Apps
- Android Apps
- Web-based apps (Saas) more on that below
Code can be converted into money.
3. Web-based Applications (SaaS)
Web-based applications, unlike software, are not downloaded and installed on your device or computer from the web.
Instead, this software is operated within a web browser. It is commonly referred to as SaaS (Software as a Service). While these businesses may not strictly fall under the category of “digital products,” they can still be marketed and sold in a similar manner, and customers tend to perceive them as such.
When deciding on their software, many developers have to choose between creating a web-based SaaS application or an installation-based program. The SaaS industry has a vast ecosystem, and there are numerous well-known digital products that fall under the category of SaaS.
- File storage services:
- Dropbox
- iCloud
- Google Drive
- MediaFire
- Music apps:
- Spotify
- Apple Music
- Email marketing platforms:
- Drip
- MailChimp
- AWeber
- ConvertKit
- Constant Contact
- Customer/contact management (CRM) apps:
- Salesforce
- Nutshell
- Pipedrive
- Groundhogg.io
- Site monitoring apps:
- Pingdom
- Status Cake
- Upime.com
- New Relic
- Project management services:
- Basecamp
- Asana
- Podio
- Jira
- Online learning:
- Udemy
- Team Treehouse
- LinkedIn Learning (formerly Lynda.com)
- Skillshare
- Coursera
SaaS products commonly utilize subscription pricing, where customers are charged a regular payment for access to the tools/apps/services. This payment can either be made on a monthly or annual basis.
4. Graphics and Digital Art
Selling digital files is a great online money-making opportunity for graphic designers and artists as it enables them to reach a vast customer base while utilizing their existing skills for work.
Currently, there is a multitude of possibilities in which one can capitalize on their artistic skills by adopting digital methods. Examples of such opportunities include creating printable wall art and posters, designing digital graphics, or generating surface pattern designs that can be utilized for wrapping paper, fabric, wallpaper, and other similar applications.
Examples of digital products include:
- Logos
- Brand kits
- Design templates
- Adobe files and templates (.PSD and .AI files)
- Affinity Designer and Affinity Photo templates
- PowerPoint themes
- Original artwork
- Clip art
- Stock icons (vectors)
- Card designs
- Swipe files
- Patterns
- Brushes
- Backgrounds
5. Cloud Design App Templates
We must give special attention to a new category of graphic templates. Canva and VistaCreate, web-based design apps, are experiencing rapid growth. These apps enable both amateurs and experts to effortlessly create stunning designs using just a web browser. They are particularly beneficial for beginners.
With tens of millions of users, their user base will continue to increase alongside the growth of social media. You are able to offer templates for this expanding market using your existing design skills. To take advantage of this opportunity, all you need is a free Canva for VistaCreate account. Don’t overlook this simple and guaranteed success!
Online courses can be approached by thinking step by step.
Online courses are considered by many to be the most popular type of digital product to sell currently. The global e-learning industry has seen significant growth in recent years, with its size nearly doubling from 2019 to 2022 and projected to triple in size between 2022 and 2030.
One advantage is that anyone has the ability to sell online courses since we all excel in some area! Presently, popular categories for online courses comprise of:
- Cooking
- Music
- Art
- Photography
- Creative writing
- Content creation
- Technology
- Marketing
- Business and entrepreneurship
- Languages
7. Printables
Customers can purchase digital files online, such as planners, chore charts, stationery, repair manuals, meal plans, or recipe cards, which are then able to be printed by the customers themselves.
It is not necessary to possess skills in graphic designing or technology to earn a profit by selling printables.
Take a closer look at my friends Julie and Cody, who made the decision to leave their corporate jobs a couple of years back in order to begin selling printables. Their success was such that they established Gold City Ventures, an initiative aimed at instructing individuals on how to establish a profitable printables business from the very beginning.
If you want to discover their secrets, you must take a look at this incredible eBook, which is completely free! It includes their exclusive compilation of top-selling products and provides guidance on how to maximize your sales by leveraging trends, even if you are a novice in the field.
Step 8 is related to music.
Similar to artists, musicians have numerous opportunities to earn income from their work through digital products. The time of relying on securing a record deal with a prominent label has come to an end. Instead, individuals can simply upload their songs onto platforms such as Bandcamp or SoundCloud and generate income whenever someone buys their creations.
You can also consider the option of selling licenses for your songs to filmmakers, content creators, and businesses using platforms such as Pond5 or AudioJungle. You can make money as a musician by selling raw beats to other musicians on digital marketplaces like Airbit or BeatStars, without necessarily having to sell complete songs. Many musicians have achieved significant success through this approach.
9. The incorporation of sound effects.
In a world of constant content creation, sound effects have become one of the best digital products to sell.
From YouTubers, podcasters, and musicians to audio engineers and marketers, everyone is in search of distinctive sound effects for their projects. Consequently, it is possible for you to market and sell your very own exclusive effects on platforms such as AudioJungle and Pond5.
At present, transition sound effects such as whoosh, bang, and zap are highly favored. However, it is also worth considering incorporating nature sounds and ordinary sounds like keyboard typing or bacon frying, among others. The possibilities for creation and selling are truly endless!
Photography involves thinking step by step.
If you enjoy photography, it is simple to convert your skills into a passive source of income. How? Businesses, newspapers, content creators, and website designers require images for their work and brands. They acquire these images by using online stock photo agencies.
By listing your photographs with stock photo agencies such as Shutterstock, you can earn a commission whenever someone downloads your work. Despite the commission being frequently modest, it can accumulate significantly over time. In fact, Shutterstock has already paid over $1 billion to photographers worldwide.
Everyday objects being used and people engaging in everyday actions are the most sought-after photos, making them highly valuable to marketers and content creators. Additionally, landscape shots that evoke inspiration and photos depicting concepts such as a snowy day or working from home are also in high demand.
11. Presets for Photographs
Are you familiar with Lightroom presets?
Lightroom is a photo-editing program developed by Adobe that enables photographers to generate preset filters. These filters can subsequently be applied to photographs during the post-production phase, enhancing the overall quality of their work and establishing a uniform ambiance.
As photographers seek a competitive edge in the world of content creation, Lightroom presets are rapidly gaining popularity as one of the most sought-after digital products.
12. Content in the form of videos.
On a daily basis, the typical American dedicates nearly two hours of their time to watching digital videos on their devices. This clearly indicates the growing demand for video content and the numerous opportunities available for content creators to earn money from their work.
You could start a YouTube channel, or sell videos through a platform like Uscreen or Vimeo, or launch a Patreon and provide exclusive content to subscribers. You can even monetize your TikTok account! What type of video content is most popular right now?
- Short films
- Travel documentaries
- Product comparison videos
- Tutorials
- Music videos
- Comedy videos
- Gaming videos
- Behind-the-scenes footage and exclusive vlogs
