If you're chronically online like we are, you can't get too far in your daily scroll before finding someone who claims to be able to make 5 figures a day selling something they whipped up on Canva in a few minutes. Everyone seems to be selling you the "silver" bullet as to making a quick buck online. This article is going to provide you an alternative if you are more of a creator in it for the long haul, and you want to invest your time and energy into a platform that also build your own brand. Unlike selling on Etsy where your own product page is fighting with hundreds of your competitors in cross sells.
Whether you’re an artist, coach, influencer, digital creator, or just someone with a killer idea, Shopify might be your BFF for turning the work you've created into your own digital ecosystem. Plus, unlike other platforms, Shoopify allows you to keep your audience engaged with you, and have your visitors feed back into your revenue streams and advertising too.
We’re breaking down everything you need to know about selling digital products on Shopify—from choosing what to sell get it up and running and make your first sales. Let’s do this.
Why Shopify Is Perfect for Selling Digital Products
Before we get into the juicy stuff, let’s talk about why Shopify is the platform for selling digital products. Here’s the deal:
- User-Friendly AF: Even if your tech skills max out at turning on Netflix, Shopify makes it ridiculously easy to set up a store.
- Automation Heaven: Shopify automatically delivers digital files to customers. No more emailing PDFs at 2 a.m. like a stressed-out zombie.
- Customizable: From funky fonts to sleek themes, you can make your store look as extra or minimal as you want.
- Scalable: Whether you’re selling one eBook or selling 100 ebooks a minute like the next Kylie Jenner lip kits, Shopify grows with you at any size.
The Best Digital Products to Sell on Shopify
We know there's a lot of rumours out there that Shopify is only for physical priducts like clothing, makeup, and the like. But we've worked with dozens of creators across the globe from course creators, to cookbook authors and travel bloggers, who want to monetize their brains and share with their audience in a way they can control.
Here's just a few ways you can leverage the Shopify platform:
1. eBooks
From a 1-page PDF to a hundred plus page cookbook. If your audience wants to read and consume it now, why wait months to print and put it in store? Package it into an eBook and slap a price tag on it. Think guides, how-tos, or even spicy fiction. You can deliver the good instantly with apps like SkyPilot. They instantly send customers their purchase right in checkout confirmation, and follow up emails, and save it to their customer profile. Plus your files are secure behind a login, have download limits and other security features to limit piracy of your goods.
2. Online Courses
Transform your knowledge into a full-fledged course. While you can choose to host your video and learning content externally with platforms like Thinkific and Teachable (which integrate seamlessly with Shopify btw!) you can also have your course integrated directly into your website experience, so that your customers and audience never have to leave your digital home. We love apps like Tevello which are super low cost way to have an online course and community hub right in your customer account area.
3. Printable Designs or Print on Demand
Planners, calendars, wall art—the Pinterest crowd lives for this stuff. Sell PDFs or templates they can print at home. Instead of sending them to Etsy, where (let's face it) they're more likely to click on your competitors stuff that just so conveniently gets placed on the same page as your products, instead you can create full customized landing pages or product pages showcasing your own work. Plus you can even offer more high-touch ways of customer service, curate your own reviews, and provide instant chat and more to answer questions.Check out an app like Printful where you can upload your incredible artwork and build your own catalogue of printed goods to your online store. PLUS you don't need to order or keep stock of anything meaning you have a super low-risk business.
4. Software or Apps
Whether it’s a niche productivity app or custom website templates, software is a digital goldmine. And no one wants to wrestle with Stripe not sending order confirmations, and the complexity of figuring out how to provide license keys. The app we recommend, License Keys & Codes - DPL or invest a bit more in an app like FileMonk - takes care of all these headaches for you.
5. Stock Photos or Videos
Are you a shutterbug, or have an in-demand unique style of stock that you want your followers to be able to grab? Sell packs of stock photos or B-roll clips for creators, portfolio stock, or even patreon-like exclusive content for your most engaged fans. Just set up a subscription service to allow your audience to opt-into a low per-month rate and you have a list of people to allow access to different parts of your site, or send them emails and messages when their content is ready. We love free apps like Shopify Subscriptions, or Appstle Memberships, or Simplee Memberships to manage the fees, and any of the apps we already mentioned above to faciliate the delivery of your content. You can also have those subscribers added to a members only part of your site with an app like Appstle Memberships to create a portal and even further provide an exclusive access to your brands experience.
6. Music, Photo, Video, and Audio Files
From beats for producers to meditation tracks for yogis, audio files are another booming category. You can even sell add-ons for popular editing apps like Capcut, Photoshop or more.
7. Memberships and Subscriptions
Offer exclusive content like newsletters, workout plans, or VIP access to your brain (a.k.a. coaching sessions). Any of the recommended apps we listed above would help you create an online store that does just that, without the cost of making a phone app for hundreds of thousands.
Tips for Selling Digital Products Like a Boss
1. Bundle Up
Pair complementary products together (e.g., an eBook + a printable workbook) for a value-packed offer.
2. Offer Freebies
Everyone loves free stuff. Use a freebie (like a sample chapter or a mini-course) to build your email list.
3. Leverage Reviews
Social proof is everything. Ask your customers to leave glowing reviews and showcase them on your site.
4. Optimize for SEO
Sprinkle keywords throughout your product descriptions, blog posts, and metadata. Hello, search traffic!
5. Use Upsells and Cross-Sells
Encourage customers to buy more with upsell offers (e.g., “Add this for just $10”) and cross-sells (“You might also like this”).
Conclusion
Selling digital products on Shopify isn’t just a dream; it’s a game-changer. Whether you’re a seasoned creator or just starting out, Shopify gives you the tools to share your brilliance with the world. So, what are you waiting for? Set up your store, start selling, and watch your digital empire grow.
Oh, and if you need help designing your Shopify store, hit us up at ARQ Design Studio. We’ll make your store look so good, even your competitors will be jealous.
