Two Roads! How Selling Digital Products Works
LYNNIE VERSION
Would you like to read this article in more grown-up words, still easy to understand? Jump here.
Hi! I’m Lynnie! Today I’m telling you how selling digital products works. There are two easy roads!
Road A: You sell straight to the customer.
Road B: You sell through a platform. That’s a big website that sells lots of creators’ products.
Let’s walk through both!
What both roads share
First, you (1) bring visitors to your product. With social media, pins, YouTube videos, Google or ads. This step never stops, whichever road you take!
Road A: You sell it yourself!
Your content leads people straight to your own site. That might be a website, or a link-in-bio store. You’re in charge of the whole sale!
The steps
- A customer buys on your site.
- The product is delivered automatically, usually as a download, or sometimes as access to online content.
- You help customers. You answer questions and fix download problems yourself.
Who it fits
Road A fits creators who already bring their own visitors. You keep more of each sale, and get to know your customers! But you set up delivery, legal pages and payments yourself.
Road B: Through a platform!
Here, besides bringing visitors, you (2) upload your file to a special platform. The platform shows your product next to other creators’ products.
The steps
- A customer buys on the platform.
- The platform delivers the file to the customer.
- The platform helps customers. That saves you lots of work!
- You get paid: the price, minus the platform’s fee.
Who it fits
Road B fits beginners without fans yet. Platforms bring buyers who are already searching! Guy, from the digital product examples, uses Shutterstock for this. But you pay a fee, and usually don’t get buyers’ contacts.
Lots of sellers use both! They list products on a platform to be discovered, and sell straight to their own fans too.
Where your time goes
Making the product takes time once, at the start. After that, most of your time goes into step 1: bringing visitors!
Delivering ten sales or a thousand takes about the same work!
An example
Imagine a designer who makes social media templates for little cafes. She lists them on a marketplace for downloads, where cafe owners find them by searching. She also sells them in her link-in-bio store to her own followers.
Both roads bring sales from the same product!
Oopsies
- Spending months making it perfect before testing. Start small, share it, and improve it with real feedback!
- Not testing the delivery. Buy your own product once, to check the download works!
- Only counting on the platform’s search. Even on a platform, your own visitors make the biggest difference.
Small and private
Selling digital products can start with almost no money. You’d be surprised! No monthly payments before anyone knows your product. And no face needed. Secret Agent style!
What’s next?
The next article explains where to sell digital products: your website, a social store, or a marketplace. All ten ways to earn are in the book on our products page. Want a grown-up to help choose your road? Go to our services page.
What grown-ups usually ask (and I answer)
Are there step-by-step lessons for starting each of the ten ways cheaply?
Maybe! If lots of people want them. Join the waitlist and you’ll know first.
Do I need a website for Road A?
No! A link-in-bio store works too.
Can I sell the same product on both roads?
Yes! Lots of sellers do.
What if a customer can’t download the file?
On Road A, you send it again. On Road B, the platform helps.
How does selling digital products work?
Bring visitors, someone buys, and the file is delivered automatically!
What are the two roads?
Selling on your own site, or through a platform.
How are digital products delivered?
Automatically, usually as a download link.
Do I still need to bring visitors on a platform?
Yes! It makes a big difference.
What is a platform for digital products?
A website like Etsy or Gumroad for downloads, or Shutterstock for photos.
Where can I get help starting on a small budget?
Lynnaider shows you how to start selling digital products for free, or for very, very little money. You’d be surprised! And a free robot helper called Lynnaider Compass helps you step by step!
Disclaimer: This article is for general informational purposes only and should not be regarded as legal, tax, or business advice. Pursuing an online business does not guarantee income; results depend on many factors including the business environment, individual effort, skills, and consistency. Some links on this site may allow Lynnaider to earn a commission at no additional cost to the reader.
