In the digital age, selling online products has become a lucrative venture for many entrepreneurs. Digital products are particularly attractive because they require no inventory and can be sold repeatedly without additional costs. Here are 13 profitable digital products and the best platforms to sell them.
1. E-books
E-books are one of the most popular digital products. They can cover any topic from self-help to fiction and can be easily created and distributed.
Where to Sell:
- Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP): A widely-used platform allowing authors to publish and sell e-books directly to millions of readers.
- Apple Books: Offers a global audience through Apple devices, ideal for reaching readers on iPads, iPhones, and Macs.
- Kobo: A popular platform for e-book distribution with a strong international presence.
2. Online Courses
With the rise of e-learning, online courses have become a significant source of income. They can range from short tutorials to comprehensive multi-week programs.
Where to Sell:
- Udemy: A massive online learning platform with millions of students, ideal for courses on virtually any topic.
- Teachable: Offers robust tools for creating and selling courses, including customizable templates and marketing features.
- Coursera: Partners with top universities and organizations to offer high-quality courses, ideal for academic and professional subjects.
3. Printables
Printables include planners, calendars, worksheets, and other downloadable documents. They are highly popular in niches like education and personal organization.
Where to Sell:
- Etsy: A marketplace for handmade, vintage, and unique goods, including a vibrant community for printables.
- Gumroad: A straightforward platform for selling digital products directly to customers.
- Shopify: Provides comprehensive tools for setting up an online store, ideal for selling a variety of digital and physical products.
4. Stock Photos
If you’re a photographer, selling stock photos can be a great way to monetize your skills. High-quality, royalty-free images are always in demand.
Where to Sell:
- Shutterstock: A leading marketplace for stock photos, offering a vast audience and excellent royalty rates.
- Adobe Stock: Integrated with Adobe Creative Cloud, making it a go-to source for designers and creatives.
- iStock: Part of Getty Images, offering a wide-reaching platform for selling high-quality photos.
5. Graphic Designs and Templates
Design assets such as logos, social media templates, and website themes are in high demand among businesses and content creators.
Where to Sell:
- Creative Market: A marketplace for handcrafted, mousemade design content, including graphics, templates, and more.
- Envato Elements: Offers a subscription service for unlimited downloads of digital assets, popular among designers.
- Etsy: Also a great place for selling unique digital design assets, with a large, engaged audience.
6. Music and Audio Files
Musicians and audio producers can sell music tracks, sound effects, and even podcast jingles.
Where to Sell:
- AudioJungle: Part of the Envato Market, offering a vast library of music and audio files for various projects.
- Bandcamp: A platform that allows artists to sell music directly to fans, keeping a higher percentage of sales.
- Pond5: A marketplace for royalty-free media, including music and sound effects, with a diverse customer base.
7. Software and Apps
If you have programming skills, developing software or mobile apps can be a profitable venture.
Where to Sell:
- Apple App Store: The go-to platform for iOS apps, offering a large, global audience.
- Google Play Store: The main marketplace for Android apps, providing access to billions of users.
- Microsoft Store: A platform for Windows apps and software, reaching a broad audience of PC users.
8. Website Themes and Plugins
Web developers can create and sell themes and plugins for popular platforms like WordPress and Shopify.
Where to Sell:
- ThemeForest: A part of Envato Market, known for its wide selection of website themes and templates.
- CodeCanyon: Another Envato Market platform, specializing in plugins and scripts for various web applications.
- TemplateMonster: Offers a diverse collection of website themes and templates for various platforms.
9. Digital Art and Illustrations
Digital artists can sell their creations as downloadable files or offer custom commissions.
Where to Sell:
- DeviantArt: A community for artists to share and sell their digital artwork.
- Etsy: A platform for selling unique digital art and custom illustrations.
- Redbubble: Allows artists to sell their designs on various products, from prints to apparel.
10. Membership Sites
Offer exclusive content or services through a membership site. This could include anything from premium articles to online community access.
Where to Sell:
- Patreon: A platform that allows creators to offer exclusive content to subscribers, building a steady income stream.
- MemberPress: A WordPress plugin that makes it easy to create and manage membership sites.
- Kajabi: Provides tools for creating membership sites, online courses, and more, all in one platform.
11. Podcasts
Podcasts can be monetized through sponsorships, memberships, and direct sales of premium episodes or transcripts.
Where to Sell:
- Apple Podcasts: A major platform for distributing podcasts to a large audience of Apple users.
- Spotify: A popular music and podcast streaming service, offering broad reach and monetization options.
- Patreon: Allows podcasters to offer exclusive content and perks to their most dedicated listeners.
12. Online Coaching and Consulting
If you have expertise in a particular area, you can offer coaching or consulting services online via video calls or webinars.
Where to Sell:
- Zoom: A leading platform for video conferencing, ideal for virtual coaching and consulting sessions.
- Calendly: Helps manage appointments and scheduling for coaching sessions, integrating seamlessly with other tools.
- CoachAccountable: A platform designed specifically for coaching, offering tools for managing clients and sessions.
13. Virtual Events and Webinars
Host virtual events or webinars on topics of interest to your audience. These can be live or pre-recorded and sold as digital products.
Where to Sell:
- Zoom: Offers robust features for hosting virtual events and webinars with large audiences.
- WebinarJam: A platform specifically designed for creating and managing webinars, with powerful marketing tools.
- Eventbrite: Allows for the promotion and ticketing of virtual events, reaching a broad audience.
Conclusion
The digital marketplace offers vast opportunities for selling various types of digital products. By choosing the right platform and leveraging your skills and expertise, you can tap into these profitable avenues and build a successful online business.
