There are definitely some things you need to know about how to start selling digital products as a beginner that most people do not tell you.
PLATFORM
Obviously, right?
But what beginners tend to do is think for weeks about which platform to pick.
Even me, I started on Etsy, then I launched my Fourthwall store. Before that, I was debating whether to pick Gumroad or Payhip and kept going back and forth like this. Then I said, stop. I will pick the one I feel I want to try the most, and that is it. Even when I made my choice, I second-guessed myself because overthinking got in the way.
The thing is, they all have their own advantages and disadvantages. None of them is perfect.
So, the best thing is to stop overthinking, choose the platform you like most, and just start.
Also, for beginners, a marketplace is a good place to start. It’s easy in many ways, but it can also be frustrating. You have to compete on price, and your items show up with thousands of other listings. You have to follow the platform’s rules, or they might close your shop. Overall, it’s a good place to begin, but not the best place to focus on forever.
SUBNICHE
I will give you an example using cars. For example, “cars” is a niche. But “sports cars” is a sub-niche. I may like Porsche sports cars, and you may like electric cars. We are both interested in cars, but we are drawn to different sub-niches.
It is the same with digital products. Digital products are an insanely broad niche, so you need a subniche within that niche.
Beginners often throw spaghetti at the wall and wonder why their products don’t sell. I see this a lot on subreddits, such as listing a generic planner with no clear target like busy moms. No surprise it doesn’t sell! 😅
Experimenting at first is fine, but keep a clear idea of your target audience and the problem your product solves.
Once something sells, stop there. Analyze the product, what worked, the design you used, the problem it solved, and then double down on it.
I’ll share a personal example. When I started selling digital products in summer 2024, I created over 100 Etsy listing mockups with MRR and PLR rights. I chose these because I saw others selling similar products successfully.
I listed them on Etsy, and boom—a sale. The second sale came just a few hours later, followed by several more quickly after.
Guess what I did?
I stuck with the niche. Now I always create digital products for small business owners looking for MRR and PLR products, and I not only reach new people but also have some repeat customers.
So, don’t be afraid to experiment. But once something works, focus on that customer and create for them. Do not try to please everyone because digital products are too saturated for that.
MARKETING
The funny part is that you will most likely spend a similar or even greater amount of time marketing your products than actually creating them. 😄
I did not know that when I started.
I just put some products up, as I said, and stayed with it. And I will not lie, with marketplaces, at least with Etsy, most of the traffic will come from Etsy itself. However, if you ONLY sell on a rented platform, do you really consider that having a business?
I knew I had a business but didn’t take it seriously UNTIL I launched my website. A website is essential because platforms can shut your shop down anytime.
If you start a website, you must drive your own traffic through TikTok, Pinterest, YouTube, Reddit, or Instagram. You’ll spend a lot of time promoting and sometimes wonder if it’s worth it.
Until the sale happens.
Then you will be like, oh my God, that works. My hard work paid off. I got a customer on my site. 🙈
Such a wonderful feeling.
I wish everyone could feel it.
Overall, when it comes to selling digital products as a beginner, marketing is just as important as creating them because nobody knows you yet. Paying for ads helps, but sales often stop when you stop paying. So, it’s best to focus on organic traffic and spend time marketing your digital products.
SEO
At this point, I feel like a broken record, lol. But please, please, please learn SEO if you are selling digital products as a beginner. It will pay off.
If you’re more advanced, you might say, “Who cares about SEO? SEO is dead. Nobody searches Google anymore. People only use ChatGPT now,” etc.
Incorrect.
People always buy to solve problems, even if it’s not obvious. For example, when looking for a mechanical keyboard, I might search “Amazon,” “Epomaker,” or a local store on Google before buying.
My dad is always Googling something to buy. SEO is changing, yes, but people still use Google. Especially older generations, and even I haven’t purchased anything through AI recommendations yet.
However, that example is branded search, which happens when you already know a company like Epomaker or Amazon. You will not be found like this at the start.
You will be found if someone searches for “content planning template,” for example. If you optimize your content with SEO, that customer who is ready to buy will find your site and will likely purchase because of your work.
One caveat:
People are starting to use ChatGPT and AI tools to ask, “Can you recommend Etsy shops that sell social media templates?” ChatGPT lists suggestions. You want your products in those lists.
How?
SEO. Traditional SEO. Quality content, backlinks, a great website, excellent customer experience, good reviews.
SEO is part of marketing, but I separate them to emphasize how crucial SEO is. Though it’s changing, you still need it to sell digital products.
COMPETITOR INSIGHTS
I know you could care less about what I do, but I will still tell you because I believe it will help you! 😄
Basically, I have a secret board on Pinterest where I save all the pins that appear on my feed related to my business, ones that catch my attention, that I like, or that get comments, likes, or any kind of engagement.
What do I do then?
When I make time for promotions, I create materials like the ones on my secret board. These focus more on helping people than just selling products. They take time to make, but I do it because giving value is important.
Another thing I do is ask ChatGPT what the best MRR and PLR digital product websites are, then check the citations. I look at what competitors offer and review, then create better products for the same customers without copying them.
And lastly, I type relevant keywords into Google, for example “MRR PLR stock images,” “MRR PLR digital products,” and then I check my competitors like that.
Even though checking competitors may seem like you are a copycat, you must do it. You need to understand their weak points (maybe very high prices?), and you also need to understand their strong points (high-quality designs, for example).
Your competition has already done the hard work for you. Just get inspired, learn from them, and maybe offer something better than what they have. But do not be a copycat, that’s a no-no.
That’s it from me today. I hope you learned how to start selling digital products as a complete beginner and that you’ll not only gain knowledge but also put into practice what I’ve provided! I’m giving my very best tips, even to my competitors, haha!
See you next week,
Gabi. <3
