How to Sell Digital downloads on Shopify

Why Should You Consider Selling Digital Products?

There are several compelling reasons why you should consider venturing into this market.

First, it’s cost-effective. Digital products, unlike physical ones, have minimal overheads, leading to more significant profit margins. Plus, they’re scalable; they can be sold endlessly once made, promising continuous revenue growth.

The internet allows sellers to access a worldwide audience, offering vast expansion opportunities. Digital products also promise passive income. With efficient marketing, sales can occur automatically, meaning you earn even when not actively working.

Furthermore, selling digital products offers flexibility and convenience. As a seller, you have the freedom to work from anywhere at any time. On the other hand, customers can purchase and access your products instantly without waiting for shipping or delivery. The digital world also offers infinite possibilities for product creation. Whether it’s e-books, online courses, software, templates, music, or graphic designs, you can create and sell a wide range of digital products. This allows you to tap into your passions and expertise while catering to the needs and interests of your target audience.

In conclusion, selling digital products presents a unique and exciting opportunity for entrepreneurs and creatives.

10 Digital Products To Sell On Shopify

If you’re considering starting an online business on Shopify, here are ten digital product ideas that can be successfully sold on Shopify.

E-books

E-books have carved out a significant niche, offering readers the flexibility and convenience of accessing content across devices. For individuals blessed with subject-matter proficiency or a knack for weaving captivating narratives, the realm of e-books presents a golden opportunity.

Crafting e-books—from instructive manuals that distill your expertise, culinary compendiums packed with delectable recipes, to riveting fictional tales—can yield substantial dividends. This is especially true given the increasing preference of readers towards digital content, be it for its portability, eco-friendliness, or ease of purchase and download.

Online Courses

In the age of the digital revolution, online courses have emerged as one of the most sought-after digital products. As traditional classroom settings evolve, there is a growing demand for remote learning, providing ample opportunities for experts in various fields to share their knowledge.

Selling online courses on Shopify is a lucrative venture and a way to establish oneself as an authority in a specific niche. Whether you’re an expert in digital marketing, culinary arts, graphic design, or any other domain, there’s a global audience eager to learn from you.

The key is to create a course that offers genuine value. This means well-researched content, interactive modules, and perhaps even quizzes or assignments to engage learners. Quality production, including clear audio, high-definition videos, and intuitive interfaces, can enhance the learning experience.

Moreover, providing supplementary materials like PDFs, eBooks, or even discussion forums can create a comprehensive learning environment. This holistic approach ensures that students purchase your course and recommend it to others, amplifying its reach and profitability.

Digital Art and Printables

The digital art and design world is booming, attracting many who value creativity and convenience. This growth offers artists and graphic designers a chance to monetize their skills.

Artists can cater to art enthusiasts by offering top-quality digital pieces, from detailed illustrations to captivating art prints. The demand for printables, like well-designed planners or personalized wall art, is rising. These print-ready items give customers instant access and the freedom to print multiple copies at home.

By delivering high-quality and varied products, designers can appeal to various tastes and needs, making their digital work essential to many.

Music and Audio Tracks

The audio world constantly changes, allowing musicians and composers to profit from their unique sounds.

There’s a growing love for original music; artists can satisfy listeners by delivering captivating tracks. With the rise of digital media like videos and podcasts, there’s a high demand for custom sound effects and royalty-free tunes to enhance content.

Shopify helps, making it easy for artists to sell their music in various digital formats. This ensures a smooth buying process for customers and easy audio integration into their work, benefiting both the creator and the buyer.

Photography

Photography is a powerful medium in today’s visual world. Captivating photos have a strong appeal. Photographers can turn your unique photos into valuable digital products. With Shopify, you can easily sell your work. High-quality images and stock photos can attract a diverse group, including bloggers, businesses, and art lovers.

Software and Apps

The digital world thrives on innovative software and apps. If you’re skilled in coding, there’s a huge opportunity in software development. Using Shopify, you can sell custom software or apps. These can range from workplace tools to entertaining games or specialized industry software. It’s vital to recognize the vast market and identify gaps. By understanding what users want and applying your skills, you can create standout products on Shopify that address specific needs.

Membership Access

Setting up a membership section on your Shopify website creates an exclusive area for premium content or services. This can include in-depth articles, expert tutorials, active forums, or personalized support. What makes it special is its quality, depth, and community.

Most use a subscription model, where users pay monthly or yearly for ongoing value. By consistently providing top-quality content and building a community, you can boost loyalty and make your Shopify platform more attractive and credible.

Fonts and Typography

The world of graphic design and typography is vast, offering many opportunities. As branding and personalization become more important, there’s a growing demand for unique fonts and designs.

You can tap into this demand if you’re skilled in this area. By creating and selling unique fonts – from elegant script styles to bold display versions – you can cater to a niche but growing market. They’re not just buying a font but a unique identity and voice.

Using platforms like Shopify, you can reach a global audience looking for original typography to enhance their projects.

Digital Templates and Website Set-up Service

In the age of digital dominance, having an online presence is more crucial than ever. Recognizing this need, consider offering pre-designed templates tailored for websites, blogs, or even social media graphics. These templates serve as a foundation, allowing users to have a polished online appearance without starting from scratch.

However, not everyone possesses the tech-savviness required to navigate and personalize these templates to reflect their brand’s essence. This is where your customization services come into play.

By presenting an auxiliary service where you assist in both the setup and personalization of these templates, you cater to those whom the technical intricacies may daunt. This holistic approach ensures clients acquire a premium template and benefit from a seamless and customized digital transformation, positioning them confidently in the digital realm.

Nutrition or Workout plans

The health and wellness industry thrives. Personalized nutrition and workout plans cater to individuals looking to achieve specific health goals. Whether it’s weight loss, muscle gain, dietary needs, or training for an event, these plans offer tailored advice and structure, making them highly sought after.

A Step-by-step Guide On How To Sell Digital Downloads On Shopify

Step 1: Disable Shipping

When selling digital products, there’s no need for shipping details.

• Go to your Shopify admin panel.
• Click on ‘Settings,’ then ‘Shipping and delivery.’
• Under the ‘Shipping’ section, remove or disable any shipping rates you’ve set up.
• Save the changes.

Step 2: Install and Set up Shopify Digital Download app.

Shopify’s Digital Downloads app makes it easy to sell digital assets. Here’s how to get started with it:

• Visit Shopify’s Digital Downloads page.
• Click ‘Add app’ and approve the installation.
• Once installed, open the app to configure the necessary settings and familiarize yourself with its interface.

Step 3: Add Your Digital Product

With the Digital Downloads app installed:

• Navigate to ‘Products’ in your Shopify admin.
• Click ‘Add product.’
• Fill in the product details, including title, description, and price.
• Under the ‘Media’ section, you can upload the digital file associated with the product.
• Save the product listing.

Step 4: Set Up Automatic Fulfillment

Ensure seamless delivery for your customers

• Within the Digital Downloads app, navigate to ‘Settings.’
• Opt for ‘Automatic’ under the ‘Fulfillment’ section, ensuring customers receive their download link immediately after purchase.

Step 5: Customize Email Templates (Optional)

Personalize the communication to enhance the customer experience.

• Go to ’ Settings ‘ in the Digital Downloads app and then ‘Email templates.’
• Modify the email content to align with your brand’s voice and messaging.
• Save changes.

Step 6: Adjust Download Settings

Control how customers access their purchases.

• Within the app, navigate to ‘Settings’ and then ‘Download settings.’
• Set parameters like the number of download attempts allowed and the download link’s expiration timeframe.
• Save your preferences.

Step 7: Place a test order

Before going live, ensure everything works smoothly.

• Add the digital product to your cart on your Shopify store and proceed with a purchase (consider using a 100% discount code to avoid charges).
• Check whether the download link is sent promptly and functions correctly.
• Ensure the user experience is seamless and intuitive.

Step 8: Monitor and Optimize

Continuously improve for better performance.

• Regularly check the Digital Downloads app dashboard to monitor sales and customer behavior.
• Assess which products perform best and consider promotions or marketing tactics to enhance sales.
• Gather feedback from customers to further refine the buying process and product offerings.

By following these steps meticulously, you ensure that your digital products are available and delivered professionally and efficiently.

Other Apps To Sell Digital Downloads On Shopify

While Shopify’s native Digital Downloads app is a fantastic tool, the platform’s ecosystem is brimming with third-party applications that offer unique features tailored to diverse digital selling needs. Let’s delve deeper into a couple of these alternative options.

Digital Downloads ‑ Filemonk

Digital Downloads ‑ Filemonk stands out due to its emphasis on simplicity combined with robust features. It allows for unlimited file hosting, which means sellers aren’t restricted by the number or size of their digital products.

Moreover, the app ensures instant deliveries; customers promptly receive an email with a download link as soon as their purchase is finalized. This immediacy in service is coupled with secure storage provisions, ensuring all digital assets remain safeguarded against unauthorized breaches.

Furthermore, the platform allows sellers to customize email notifications and maintain consistency with their brand’s voice and messaging.

EDP- Easy Digital Products

EDP- Easy Digital Products is another commendable option in Shopify’s digital selling space. True to its name, EDP aims to simplify the digital product selling experience. It’s crafted to cater to a wide audience, from beginners to seasoned e-commerce experts.

One of its standout features is the flexibility it offers in product listings. Sellers can effortlessly combine physical and digital products under one umbrella, ideal for those offering paired or complementary products. Additionally, EDP champions automation; digital products are dispatched to buyers without the seller’s manual intervention once a purchase is made.

Its support for diverse file formats further highlights the app’s versatility, accommodating everything from e-books and music to software. EDP provides a seamless solution for those selling licensed products with integrated support for distributing license keys to customers.

Sell Digital Product Downloads On Shopify: Best Practices

To thrive in the digital marketplace, especially on a platform as competitive as Shopify, it’s paramount to employ a combination of tested strategies and innovative approaches. Here’s a deep dive into the best practices to ensure your digital products stand out and generate optimal sales:

Optimized Product Listings

At the heart of every successful online sale is a well-optimized product listing. This goes beyond just a catchy title or an attractive image. Focus on high-quality images, descriptive and compelling product descriptions, and clear indications of the product’s value proposition. Remember, for digital products, potential buyers cannot “touch” or “try” before they buy, so your listing needs to convey every possible advantage and detail of your product.

Leverage SEO

SEO is more than just a tool; it’s key to making your online content visible. To do this effectively, include relevant keywords in your product titles and meta descriptions. But don’t just stuff them in; make sure they fit naturally into the content. This makes your content easier to read and more credible to people and search engines.

By carefully using SEO, you help your product appear in search engine results. This can lead to more visitors and, likely, more sales, strengthening your online presence.

Email Marketing

The customer journey in e-commerce doesn’t end with a purchase; it’s really just the start. Keeping a strong connection with customers is key; email marketing is a great way to do this. It allows for more than just basic communication; it opens the door for meaningful conversations.

In a time when personalized messages are crucial, generic emails usually get ignored. That’s why it’s important to segment your email list. By grouping customers based on past purchases, age, or browsing habits, you can send custom-made emails to each person. This makes people more likely to engage with your emails, turning each one into a message and an experience.

At this juncture, integrating tools like the Yotpo app can elevate your email marketing strategy from effective to exemplary. Yotpo isn’t just a tool; it’s a multifaceted eCommerce marketing arsenal. Beyond facilitating customer reviews, it offers an array of cutting-edge features. From visually-driven marketing initiatives and robust loyalty campaigns to streamlined referral programs and integrated SMS marketing, Yotpo provides a holistic suite to empower your email marketing endeavors. Tools like Yotpo ensure your communications leave a lasting imprint, fostering loyalty and driving repeated engagement in a digital landscape teeming with transient interactions.

Bundles and Discounts

Creating value for customers often means offering more for less. Consider bundling related digital products together at a discounted rate or offering time-sensitive discounts to stimulate sales. This not only increases the perceived value but can also encourage bulk purchases.

Engage on Social Media

Social media today is more than just a place for personal updates; it’s a major player in shaping consumer behavior. Platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter have become markets, forums, and touchpoints for brands and customers.

For digital products that can’t be physically touched, social media offers a way to bring them to life. You can give customers a feel for what you’re offering with eye-catching photos, videos, or interactive stories.

But the power of social media goes beyond just showcasing products. It lets you interact with customers in real-time. They can ask questions, give feedback, and share experiences, making the relationship a two-way conversation. This instant feedback gives you direct insights into customer preferences and needs. To make the most of social media, you need to post regularly. Sporadic updates won’t keep you in customers’ minds. Use stories to create urgency; well-placed ads can guide users to your online store.

Collaborate with Influencers

Partnering with influencers in your niche can introduce your products to a broader yet targeted audience. Influencers lend credibility to your products and can sway their followers into becoming potential buyers. Ensure the influencers you collaborate with align with your brand values and audience demographics.

Pricing strategy

Let’s start by looking at the pros of a monthly membership model. This model is like other subscription services we use daily, from Netflix to Microsoft Office. It offers businesses a stable income each month and turns one-time buyers into long-term customers. Plus, it keeps customers engaged by offering them new content or ongoing benefits.

On the other hand, the one-time payment model is simple and straightforward. It works well for digital products like specialized software, in-depth courses, or resource kits. Customers pay once and get lifetime access to a valuable product. This model works best for products that have lasting value and don’t need frequent updates.

The challenge is matching your pricing to what your customers want. Do they prefer long-term engagement or a one-off, valuable purchase? To figure this out, you need to do market research, study your competitors, and listen to customer feedback.

Lastly, consider the nature of your product. Does it need regular updates? Is its value ongoing or a one-time thing? These factors will help you choose the right pricing model.

Social Proof

Consumers often look to their peers when making purchase decisions. This is where tools like Loox come into play. Loox allows you to amass and showcase photo reviews from satisfied customers, adding a layer of trustworthiness to your products. By highlighting genuine reviews, especially those with visuals, you can significantly strengthen your brand’s credibility, fostering trust and encouraging more purchases.

Bottom Line

By following these steps meticulously, you ensure that your digital products are available and delivered professionally and efficiently. This approach will foster trust and customer loyalty, enhancing your brand’s reputation in the digital marketplace.