Selling digital products online can provide an easy way to earn passive income. You may have seen videos on TikTok highlighting how creators sell digital downloads remotely without much effort. And, one of the top markets for selling products that are downloadable is Etsy. Since many designers and makers already turn to Etsy to sell physical goods, it’s a smart choice for you to also list printable files and downloads.
Do you wonder How to sell digital downloads on Etsy? This guide will help you get started selling digital downloads on Etsy. We will walk through:
- Why sell digital products on Etsy?
- How to sell digital downloads on Etsy – A step-by-step guide
- Best selling digital products on Etsy
- Quick tips for selling digital Items on Etsy
Are you new to selling Etsy digital downloads? Dive right in to learn it now.
Why Sell Digital Products on Etsy?
Is selling on Etsy worth it? Knowing how to sell digital downloads on Etsy can be a profitable and fairly passive way to generate income on Etsy. However, there are additional significant reasons why this is advantageous.
Here are some of the key benefits of selling digital products on this best selling platform:
- Passive income potential: You only need to create the digital product once, and then you can sell it repeatedly with minimal ongoing work. That leads to income even when you’re not actively working.
- Low production costs: Making digital files is straightforward as you only need design software and your ideas. There are no printing, packaging, or shipping costs involved. You can start this business with just your existing tools.
- Easy distribution: Since customers download digital items instead of getting a physical product shipped, you don’t have to deal with delivery logistics. No packaging, trips to the post office, or late shipments to worry about.
- Minimal effort: Once a digital design is complete, you don’t need to continually remake it for new sales. Your listings can sell passively with low effort after the initial setup work. That makes selling designs on Etsy a low-investment, profitable way to earn income on platforms like Etsy.
How to Sell Digital Downloads on Etsy – A Step-by-Step Guide
Selling digital downloads is a great way to earn income online through Etsy. But how can you get started? Scroll down for a full guide on how to sell digital prints on Etsy.
Step 1: Decide what digital downloads to sell on Etsy
Before digging into how to sell a digital download on Etsy, you better get started by doing market research to find a profitable niche for your digital downloads. Simply visit Etsy and search for your ideas to see what’s popular. Take note of what sells well and how much other sellers charge. Also, don’t forget to look for any gaps in the market that you can fill.
Remember, your digital downloads need to stand out from what’s already available. By identifying a specific target market, you’ll know what to focus on and may even be able to justify a higher price for unique content.
For instance, let’s say you want to create digital planners, but many are already available on Etsy. So, you’ll need to carve out a niche. This could involve designing a planner that serves both as a scheduler and a food planner specifically for busy moms. When offering something different, you’ll be able to attract customers in a crowded market.
Step 2: Create your digital products
If you want to truly succeed in selling digital downloads on Etsy, you’ll need products people genuinely want. Do you want to provide digital files like Cricut SVGs for others to use in their crafting? Or printable goods like coloring pages kids can enjoy?
Your choice dictates the skills required. Wedding invites, for instance, can be designed with Canva Pro. But more complex items like Instagram filters or website templates may demand programs like Photoshop.
You can also consider investing in professional design help. Outsourcing to talented creatives can boost sales-worthy quality. Sites like Fiverr and Upwork offer reliable help at affordable rates. Fiverr connects you with pros across industries, while Upwork hosts an enormous database of qualified experts.
Hiring assistance may seem like an added cost initially when selling designs on Etsy, but it could easily pay off in increased relevance and revenue long-term.
Step 3: Price your digital downloads
Now, let’s discuss pricing for your digital downloads, this is what cannot be missed out on this how to sell digital downloads on Etsy guide. At a minimum, you’ll want to make back what you spent. Etsy charges 20 cents per listing plus 6.5% of the sale and 3% plus 25 cents per transaction.
To determine the right price, you can start researching your competition and see their price range. Adapt this information to fit your target market. Some niches like software and plugins or educational content like eBooks, working plans, or sewing patterns may have higher price points.
To price your products fairly, you need to clearly understand your competition’s profit margins and your own production costs. It’s helpful to watch videos or resources on product pricing or read our guide on how much does it cost to start an Etsy shop to find the best price for you and your customers.
Step 4: Sign up for an Etsy shop
After you’ve got your special idea when selling Etsy digital downloads, it’s time to set up your Etsy shop. Go to Etsy’s website or app to make a seller profile if you just start selling on Etsy.
Before filling in the details, you should:
- Come up with a catchy name for your shop that people will remember.
- Add a personal logo, and give your shop description some character to draw in more buyers and seem legit.
- Write a description sharing what makes your shop special that will help you stand out from the competition.
Getting these initial parts right sets the stage for strong first impressions and laying a foundation to promote your unique digital downloads.
Step 5: Create listings for selling downloads on Etsy
When your shop is set up, now you should know how to list digital downloads on Etsy. Whether you want to know how to sell templates on etsy or how to sell downloadable files on Etsy, creating listings incur the same process.
Start by signing in and clicking Shop Manager in the top corner. Choose Listings on the left side.
Click the Add a Listing button above. Creating a digital listing is a bit different than a physical one. Pay attention here – it’s easy to miss a key step.
Scroll down to Details and click Add core details.
Pick Digital files and I did under who made it. Click Apply.
Etsy will ask to switch the format. Click Apply, and it will delete any info added before.
Now go back to About and add files by clicking or dragging them into the upload area. You can add up to 5 files under 20MB each, totaling 100MB.
Etsy allows formats like JPG, PDF, TXT, and more. The rest is like a normal listing guide. But watch for digital specifics.
Alternatively, inventory management tools can streamline your product listings and save you from repeating the same process every time you create a new listing. An example of such a tool is LitCommerce. It serves as a centralized platform for all your inventory, enabling you to easily create, update, and manage all your digital product listings from a single location. If you want Etsy integration with other platforms, this tool is also your go-to choice.
Step 6: Market your digital items
After all the basic steps for how to sell digital downloads on Etsy are done, the next one is to attract shoppers. There are several strategies you can use to promote yourself effectively:
- Employ email marketing: Offer free versions of your digital downloads to people who subscribe to your monthly newsletter. Then, you can provide subscribers with monthly freebies, exclusive discount codes, and sales to attract their attention.
- Leverage social media: Create a Facebook page, Instagram account, and TikTok to showcase and promote your digital downloads. Share engaging content, provide behind-the-scenes glimpses, and interact with your followers to build a loyal following.
- Optimize your Etsy shop for search engines: Utilize Etsy SEO techniques to improve the visibility of your shop and products in search results. This involves using relevant keywords in product descriptions and optimizing your shop’s tags.
- Collaborate with influencers: Consider reaching out to high-profile influencers in your niche to attract more potential shoppers. Some influencers may be willing to give you a shoutout or promote your products in exchange for the freebies.
- Explore Etsy advertising options: Etsy offers advertising features that can help increase the visibility of your shop and products. You can invest in Etsy ads to reach a wider audience and drive more traffic to your listings.
These are just some popular marketing strategies you can employ to promote your digital downloads effectively and have more shoppers visit your Etsy shop.
Step 7: Monitor the performance
Becoming a successful Etsy seller requires continuous monitoring of your shop’s performance and adjusting when needed. So besides knowing how to sell digital downloads on Etsy, you should learn to monitor your shop performance. You can make the right decisions to foster your online business growth by reviewing relevant metrics. Here are some notable aspects to consider:
Track shop statistics
One valuable resource at your disposal is the shop statistics provided by Etsy. They can be views, visits, favorites, and conversion rates. If you check these figures often, you can foresee good things happening and parts needing work after selling digital items on Etsy.
Analyze sales and revenue
Analyzing your sales and revenue figures in detail is crucial as well. Keep a keen eye on which digital products sell the best and generate the highest revenue. This information assists you in deciding whether to concentrate on particular categories or expand the variety of your best-selling products.
Best Selling Digital Products on Etsy
There are various types of digital downloads to sell on Etsy. However, we’ll focus on suggestions catering to artists and designers. Here are some ideas to consider for your Etsy shop:
Printable planners
Etsy buyers have a strong affinity for planners. Create printable 12-month planners that customers can easily print and use. Alternatively, you can offer editable digital planners that are mobile-friendly and accessible on various devices.
Fonts
While free fonts are widely available, some crafters desire a more distinctive and personalized touch. If you have graphic design skills, you can design and sell unique fonts in your Etsy shop.
Wall art
As an artist, selling digital downloads on Etsy can be an excellent way to monetize your talent. Watercolor art or photopraphy print is particularly popular among Etsy buyers, you can add some inspirational quotes to have a stronger appeal. Additionally, consider offering digital art options such as computer wallpapers, which eliminate the need for customers to worry about optimizing digital prints. Whatever options you choose, it has its own benefits.
We have guides for photographers to sell their works on Etsy, check our selling photos on Etsy tutorial and how to sell digital download photos on Etsy guide now for more information.
Trackers, worksheets, and checklists
Selling templates, budgeting plans, work performance trackers or weekly checklists are all possible choices when starting selling digital items on Etsy. You can offer pre-filled content or editable documents that shoppers can customize according to their needs.
Coloring pages
Parents constantly seek adorable and imaginative coloring pages to entertain their children. So another good idea for digital downloads to sell on Etsy is to design coloring pages that shoppers can print repeatedly. For added appeal, consider creating coloring pages tailored to different age groups, attracting customers with toddlers and those with teenagers.
Crafter guides
Etsy is a go-to platform for DIY enthusiasts seeking project guidance. If you enjoy crafting, you can sell downloadable resources such as scrapbooking materials, crochet tutorials, or sewing patterns in your shop.
Social media templates
Businesses invest significant time in their social media presence and often search for professionally designed shortcuts. If you possess some graphic design experience, you can create social media templates specifically for Etsy.
Quick Tips for Selling Digital Items on Etsy
Selling digital files on Etsy seems simple but has points to know. Here are 3 tips you may find useful when learning how to sell digital downloads on Etsy:
1. Watermark your listing photos and designs
Keeping control of your digital items can be tricky. Without marking up images, anyone could take your designs without paying. Some sellers may pass off your creations as their own and resell them, too. So you need to make some efforts to protect your work.
Watermarking and licenses can help by clarifying that the items belong to you alone. Marking designs show ownership, while rules state how buyers can use and share what they obtain. That also guards your creations and earnings from unfair copying by unknown users.
2. Update your products following pop culture trends for quick sales
Shows like Marvel movies, or things like NFTs, become very popular but may go away fast, too. When you sell digital items on Etsy, watch for new popular culture things coming up. Since you can make listings almost overnight, you can get new ones up about the current trend real quickly.
Trends won’t stay hot forever, so swap out old designs for newer ones once people stop liking the old trend so much. Also, remember that Etsy won’t let you copy someone else’s work. Make sure your designs are only your idea, or Etsy may shut down your shop for stealing other people’s thoughts. Staying aware of what’s getting attention lets you cash in fast, and changing things up and not copying others keeps your shop safe for a long time.
3. Provide customization services
Letting people change up your basic designs makes the items more wanted by customers. Buyers might ask you to tweak a small thing and pay a bit extra.
Set up some templates for customizing in your Etsy shop. Then, work with buyers to make the download fit what they need. For example, you could add an option to change the name or switch colors in a birthday card. If you want to enhance the personal touch, consider incorporating a unique and eye-catching birthday invitation card design that can be easily customized to suit the preferences of the buyer.
Giving options to make it their own keeps customers happier. They may spend more money too. It helps sell more.
How to Sell Digital Products on Etsy – FAQs
- Is it hard to sell digital products on Etsy?
Selling digital items on Etsy can be tough since there are so many sellers. But it’s still very possible, too. You just need to get ready well.
When learning how to sell digital art on Etsy, you have to study what others are doing and make your things different. Make your listings easy to understand with good details and photos about what you made. Also, price them right.
See what people want then and do things like sales or promoted ads to help more customers notice your products. With planning, you can succeed in selling downloads on Etsy.
- How do you sell Etsy digital downloads?
Digital files can open up major earning potential for your Etsy shop if you know how to list and sell them effectively.
From logos to ebooks, many Etsy sellers have discovered digital products are a profitable addition to their shops; here’s how to follow in their footsteps.
- Step 1: Decide what digital downloads to sell on Etsy
- Step 2: Create your digital products
- Step 3: Price your digital downloads
- Step 4: Sign up for an Etsy shop
- Step 5: Create listings for selling downloads on Etsy
- Step 6: Market your digital items
- Step 7: Monitor the performance
The details of each step one how to sell digital downloads on Etsy were discussed above. You can scroll up and check it thoroughly.
- How much does Etsy charge for digital download listing?
Etsy charges $0.20 for each thing you sell on their site. This is true for digital items and real things, too. The fee is small but adds up if you sell lots of things. It’s important to remember this cost when setting your product prices on Etsy.
- How much can I earn from selling digital products on Etsy?
There’s no perfect answer, but when new people start selling online, they usually earn $10 to $100 weekly. But some do better right away. It varies a lot based on what you sell and how hard you work.
After gaining experience, monthly profits of $3,000 or more are normal for sellers who did their research and launched multiple product ideas for their audience. The more things you offer that people want, the more money you can make over time as your shop grows. Many sellers start small, and profits tend to build up if they keep working at it.
Is Selling Etsy Digital Downloads Worth it?
Selling digital items on Etsy can become money you make while you sleep. But, it takes effort to begin. Is it a good choice? That’s for you to decide. We think digital sales are great for making cash online. And, if you want to earn more money with little startup cost, learning how to sell digital downloads on Etsy is smart to try. Once set up, it keeps making you money without much work from you.
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