Digital products are one of the easiest ways to start a business, earn passive income, and grow your online shop.
But with so many types of digital products, knowing what to create first can feel overwhelming. In this post, we’re breaking down the most popular digital product types, why they work, and how they can help you start selling online.
What Are Digital Products?
Before we dive into the various digital product types, let’s quickly define digital products. These are items you can sell and deliver entirely online—no physical shipping required.
Once created, they can be sold repeatedly, making them perfect for generating passive income. Passive income is money earned from work you’ve already done, allowing you to earn while you focus on other projects—or even while you sleep!
Popular Types of Digital Products
Here’s a breakdown of some of the most in-demand digital products:
1. Printables
Printables are files customers can print themselves at home or at a local print shop. Examples include:
- Planners and calendars
- Checklists and worksheets
- Wall art and posters
Printables are popular because they’re easy to create, easy to deliver, and appeal to a wide audience.
2. Templates and Digital Tools
Templates help customers save time by giving them a ready-made framework. Examples:
- Social media graphics templates
- Canva or PowerPoint templates
- Resume or business card templates
Templates work well for both individuals and businesses looking to streamline their creative projects.
3. eBooks and Guides
If you have knowledge to share, an eBook or guide can be a perfect digital product. Examples:
eBooks establish authority and can be sold individually or as part of a bundle. And ebooks are great for easy KDP Amazon listings.
4. Digital Art and Graphics
These include illustrations, clipart, icons, fonts, and brushes. Digital art is versatile—you can sell it for scrapbooking, home décor, stickers, or commercial use.
5. Courses and Tutorials
Online courses are digital products that teach a skill or concept. Examples:
- Video tutorials
- PDF guides with exercises
- Mini-courses for niche audiences
Courses are higher-ticket items and can complement other products like printables or templates.
6. Specialty Digital Resources
These are niche products for specific audiences, such as:
- Wedding templates and invitations
- Kids’ educational printables
- Seasonal or holiday-themed items
Specialty resources often perform well because they’re targeted to a particular need or interest.
Why Variety Matters
Offering a mix of products can help diversify your income and reach different customer segments. For example, if you sell printables, consider adding templates or digital art packs to create upsells and bundles.
Seasonal products, like fall-themed planners or holiday graphics, are especially effective for attracting buyers with urgency and excitement.
Next Steps
If you’re ready to start creating digital products, check out my 7-Day Digital Product Challenge. It’s designed to help you generate your first product in just one week, and it’s packed with templates, worksheets, and step-by-step guidance.
💡 Freebie: Download my Top Digital Products to Create checklist. This resource lists the best-selling digital products, with tips on how to adapt them for your niche and audience.
Stay tuned for our next post, where we’ll dive into the best digital printables to create and how to maximize your sales potential.
Key Takeaways
- Digital products can be sold repeatedly online, creating passive income opportunities.
- Popular types include printables, templates, eBooks, digital art, courses, and specialty resources.
- Offering a variety of products allows you to reach more customers and create bundles or upsells.
- Seasonal and niche products can help you stand out and generate urgency.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What’s the difference between digital products and printables?
Printables are a type of digital product. The key difference is that printables are designed to be printed by the customer, like planners, worksheets, or wall art, whereas digital products can also be used entirely on a device, like templates, eBooks, or online courses.
2. How do I deliver digital products to my customers?
Most platforms handle this automatically:
- Etsy: Customers get an instant download link after purchase.
- Shopify/WooCommerce: You can use built-in digital product delivery apps or services like SendOwl or Gumroad.
- Direct download links: PDFs, ZIP files, or cloud storage links work for self-hosted websites.
3. Can I sell seasonal products year-round?
Yes! While seasonal products like holiday or fall-themed items create urgency and peak interest during a specific time, you can pre-list them ahead of the season to catch early buyers. Pair them with evergreen items to maintain income throughout the year.
4. What tools are best for creating digital products?
- Printables and planners: Canva, Affinity Designer, Adobe InDesign
- Templates and graphics: Canva, Illustrator, Photoshop, Procreate
- eBooks and guides: Canva, Google Docs, Microsoft Word, InDesign
- Mockups and product previews: Canva, Placeit, Smartmockups
5. How can digital products generate passive income?
Once a digital product is created, it can be sold repeatedly without extra effort. Pair it with marketing strategies like social media promotion, email lists, or Etsy/Shopify listings to earn money while focusing on other projects.
