Freelancing is taking its spot more than ever before as a source of ‘active income’. However, the one for ‘passive income’ is digital products.
Social media has made it even easier to promote yourself. Thus, skilled professionals are making thousands of dollars with their audiobooks, ebooks, and software. So can you.
In this insight pool, I’ll take you through 12 digital products that are immensely popular on the Internet. Moreover, you’ll learn to promote your products effortlessly. Let’s go!
What Are Digital Products?
Anything that you can sell online is a digital product. For example, the new album you stream or your favorite eBook are digital products. However, the list isn’t limited to PDFs and audio files.
Digital products come in various forms such as graphics, plugins, website themes, apps, and software. Let’s take a deeper insight into each and how you can make money out of them.
Forms Of Digital Products
Counting, there are 12 digital products across different skills and industries. All products have their own marketplaces, prices, and tools. Let’s dive into each product one by one
1. E-book
eBooks are the number 1 way to share insights on a concise topic, solve 1 pain point, and retain your audience. In addition, they’ve gained popularity for direct answers. For example, an eBook on ‘50 Answers To Copywriting‘ would take you through no story, only answers.
Note that not every eBook sells out. But you can do so if you create an eBook that solves:
- Your target audience’s major pain point
- The boredom of reading
Make it interesting and intriguing — with the design, content, and insights. Lastly, market your eBook with a strong personal brand on the Internet.
2. Stock Images
If you have a knack for photography, stock images are your way of income. According to the type of license you use, you can customize those images for commercial purposes.
Here are some of the websites you can sell your images on:
- Shutterstock
- Etsy
- Alamy
3. Illustrations
Startups and small-scale brands rely on platforms such as Canva or packs of illustrations. It’s because a full-time illustrator isn’t affordable…and here your role comes in.
You can create packs of illustrations, instead of stand-alone ones, and pitch them at higher price points. This way, more money comes in without working actively.
4. UI Kits
UI Kits play a crucial role when setting up a website or app as the designer doesn’t need to build each element from scratch. Therefore, people choose to invest in one. Note that a basic UI Kit includes:
- Buttons
- Lists
- Fonts
- Colors
- Tabs
- Checkboxes
- Cards
The demand has grown for UI Kits, particularly for Sketch, Figma, and XD in recent years. If you’re a design enthusiast, creating one might generate a pocketful amount.
5. WordPress Themes
Hundreds of millions of websites are based on WordPress. However, most of them use pre-built themes to customize the designs. The best themes have a few things in common:
- SEO-friendly
- Responsive
- Easy-to-customize patterns
- Minimal UI
Of course, free as well but they make dollars with the premium version of the theme. In simple words, offer value to an extent and then add the ‘premium’ threshold. On average, the costs go around $50 or more.
Now, can you earn by creating a theme?
Yes, if you know how to code.
6. WordPress Plugins
WordPress plugins are codes that add new features to your WordPress site. Counting some examples are Yoast SEO, Elementor, and WPForms.
Here’s what you must keep in mind:
WordPress org can give you exposure to an ideal audience but for free. But wait, you got the perk right here — the audience.
Then, you can sell your plugin on an online marketplace or your website. Although online marketplaces might sound like a cheaper and better option, you got 2 cons:
- The charges may be high.
- More competition and no standout chance.
On the other hand, your website will help you gain more leads and conversions. To consider, Yoast SEO also gives its website a priority for the premium version.
Here’s a process:
- Set up a team of developers and business experts, who can understand the requirements of WordPress users to code a plugin that can meet specific requirements.
- Launch a free version of the plugin on WordPress (Plugin Guidelines for WordPress) and host the premium version on your company site.
- Promote your free & premium versions of the WP plugin, upgrade and improvise.
7. Fonts
You may or may not be aware but fonts are creations of people. Like them, here’s the whole way you can earn with fonts:
Use font creation tools such as Calligraphr, Fontstruct, and Font Forge. Note that some tools may be paid too. Once done, it’s time to sell.
Take a glimpse at these 10 font marketplaces:
- Adobe Fonts
- LinoType
- MyFonts
- Etsy
- FontSpring
- HypeForType
- Envato Elements
- Design Bundles
- Creative Fabrica
- Creative Market
Here are a few tips when you go out to sell:
- Create listing images showcasing where your fonts would fit the best.
- Ensure to keep your fonts niche-based.
- Optimize your selling profile with good SEO.
Lastly, promote your fonts and services on social media to get more recognition.
8. Music & Audio
Instagram reels, long-form videos, or podcast intros — most visual content nowadays is sent out with a beat of the music. So, if you’re a musician, you can sell out your creations too in the forms of:
- Background music
- Stock music
- Beats
- Sound effects
A catchy hook or an upbeat sensation, whatever fits your genre, and you’re good to go with the music.
9. Video Courses
Udemy and Skillshare come to the top of your mind when adding a new skill to your skill set. Like others, you can leverage your skills too, like,…here we go!
There are 4 forms of videos, including the ones without needing you to show on camera:
- Instructor-led videos
- Animated videos
- Screen-recorded shoots
- How-to videos (includes visual cues)
Once you choose which type you want to go ahead with, take the next 5 steps:
- Analyze and plan the topic, context, and ultimate goals of your course. Note to keep your target audience in mind.
- Now, scrape off the information and organize it into the ‘perfect’ script.
- Set up a clear & well-lit area for recording and shooting.
- The last step of the ‘making’ — edit and give the finishing touches.
- Finally, upload the course on chosen platforms and market it.
10. Premium Membership
Instagram launched a paid subscription feature to benefit its creators. However, you can launch one of your own and offer premium content to your subscribers. Such a thing is feasible for:
- Content Sites (Forbes)
- Apps (Spotify)
- Business websites (SEMrush)
People pay what you quote if you meet their expectations in terms of value. Thus, premium membership counts as another digital product.
All you have to do is add quality to others.
11. Templates
Countless influencers have been selling templates in their specialized industry for the past few years. Gone are the days when new ideas were created. People have learnt to repurpose and reuse the old ones now…and so, templates!
Several types of templates are popular among emerging creators such as:
- Social media posts
- Presentation
- Emails
- Logos
- Resumes
- Brand style guides
Tip: Pick only 1-2 industries you know about and create templates around what worked for you.
Hold authority over your product.
12. Integration Softwares
Since the digitalization era started, we’ve gotten platforms to serve different purposes. For example, HubSpot’s CRM tool manages customers’ data. Moreover, platforms such as WooCommerce accumulates lots of customers data.
Both are different on their own. However, integration software allows them to work together like this — HubSpot-WooCommerce integration.
Similarly, you can pick up two platforms that may act extremely helpful for users and integrate them. Another example is ChatGPT & Google Docs.
Learn more: Product Development Process
How To Market (& Sell) Digital Products?
Looking at the list of marketing tactics, you might want to go for running ads. However, one of the most powerful marketing moves is content marketing.
Let’s define the term first:
Content marketing is when you solve your audience’s pain points and then redirect them to your services. In simple words, you provide ‘value’ to gain leads.
Now, how can you utilize good content power to sell your products?
Here’s ‘the 3S’ formula:
- Start to provide immense value on social media that speaks directly to your audience.
- Show the social proof of how your product helped your clients.
- Share the ‘unique value proposition’ to let them know why your product is the one.
Gradually, build authority over your industry.
Final Words
No matter how good your digital product is, it must solve your audience’s pain point. Hence, study and identify their problems and then create a considerable product.
Moreover, ensure to price it accordingly. For example, if your audience belongs to the middle-class segment, the pricing shouldn’t be too high.
After these details, you’re ready for the launch!
