Making Money from Digital Products

Digital products are items you can create once and sell repeatedly online without needing any physical stock, packaging, or shipping.
They include things like e-books, printable planners, budgeting spreadsheets, templates, online courses, or digital art.
Whether it’s a budgeting tool, a digital guide, or a productivity planner, once created, a good digital product can sell for months or even years.

Pros of Selling Digital Products

No Physical Stock or Shipping: Everything is delivered instantly after purchase.
Low Start-Up Cost: All you need is a computer and an idea.
Unlimited Sales: Once made, your product can sell an infinite number of times.
Passive Income Potential: Create once, earn over and over again.
Scalable: Easily add new products or bundles over time.
Perfect for Bloggers & Creators: Great for turning your knowledge or content into something valuable.

Cons of Selling Digital Products

Takes Time to Create Quality Products: Your first version may need testing and refining.
Competition: Standing out takes creativity and good design.
You Still Need Marketing: Traffic doesn’t come automatically.
Digital Theft / Sharing: Rare, but it can happen.
Customer Support: Some buyers may lose files or need download help.

How to Start Selling Digital Products (Step-by-step guide)

step 1. Choose a Product Type That Fits Your Skills

Start with something you already know or enjoy creating.
Popular examples include:
Printables: Wall art, calendars, journals, habit trackers.
Templates: Resumes, business forms, Canva or Notion templates.
Finance & Productivity Tools: Budget planners, debt trackers, savings challenges, spreadsheets, e-books.
Courses or Tutorials: Teach what you know in video or PDF format.
If you’ve already made tools or resources for your site, they can often be turned into paid digital products.

step 2. Create the Product

You don’t need expensive software, start with simple tools:
Canva: Design printables, e-books, or checklists.
Google Sheets / Excel: Build budgeting templates or calculators.
Notion: Create productivity or finance dashboards.
Audacity / Loom: Record tutorials or audio lessons.
ChatGPT: Help outline, refine, or write descriptions.
Keep your design clean, practical, and visually appealing. The goal is to make something people will actually use.

step 3. Choose Where to Sell

You can either sell on an established marketplace or your own website.
Marketplaces (easy for beginners):
Etsy: Great for printables, planners, and templates.
Creative Market: Focused on professional design resources.
Gumroad: Ideal for selling directly from your website or social media.
Shopify: Offers full control, though it comes with a monthly cost.

Your own Website:
If you already have traffic, hosting your own shop gives you full control and branding power.
See our other side hustle page on making money form your own website.

step 4. Set a Fair Price

Start affordable as small, well-priced products often sell best.
Typical pricing examples:
Printables: £2–£6
Templates: £5–£15
Budgeting Tools / Notion Dashboards: £7–£20
E-books / Guides: £5–£15
Courses or Bundles: £20–£100+
You can even offer “Pay What You Want” pricing if your goal is accessibility and community support.

step 5. Promote Your Products

Even great products need visibility. Try these free methods first:
Link products in relevant blog posts (e.g., budgeting or productivity topics).
Share new launches on Instagram, TikTok, Pinterest, or Facebook.
Offer free samples or mini tools to build awareness.
Partner with other creators to cross-promote products.
Focus on solving real problems. Products that make people’s lives easier or help them save money tend to sell best.

Rough Earning Potential

Income depends on product quality, pricing, and consistency:
Beginner: £0–£50/month (1–2 products)
Intermediate: £100–£500/month (multiple listings)
Experienced Sellers: £1,000–£5,000+/month (own shop or popular Etsy store)
The more products you publish, the more your income potential compounds over time. It’s a true build-once, earn-forever model.

Is This Side Hustle for You?

Selling digital products is one of the most accessible and rewarding online income streams.
It combines creativity, problem-solving, and purpose, letting you earn ethically while helping others.
If you can identify a problem and create a simple, affordable solution, you’ve built a genuine source of passive income.
It’s low-risk, beginner-friendly, and scalable, perfect for anyone looking to grow income online without big start up costs.

Disclaimer

The side hustle ideas shared on this page are for general information and inspiration only.
We have no affiliation with the platforms or companies mentioned, and results can vary.
Earning money online carries some risk. Income is never guaranteed, and success often depends on time, effort, and personal circumstances.
Always research each opportunity carefully before getting involved.