If you’re a creator looking to build a sustainable income, consider selling digital products. The digital product industry is steadily growing. A recent study by JP Morgan revealed that over $54 billion is spent on digital goods annually, a figure expected to grow to $74 billion by 2025.

As a writer, designer, educator, or influencer, having the right digital product strategy can help you consistently get a piece of this pie while growing your audience and authority. Also, they are easy to produce and have great potential for passive income.

In this guide, you will learn everything you need to know about building a successful digital product strategy. From choosing the right products to sell to creating, marketing, and scaling your digital products successfully. You will learn how to use your digital products to reach local and international audiences.

But first, why are digital products a game-changer? 

In today’s creator economy, digital products have revolutionized the way people earn money online. Unlike physical goods or service-based businesses, digital products have unique advantages that make them a powerful and scalable way to generate income. 

Here’s why:

1. Low overhead costs: You don’t need to worry about inventory, shipping, or production expenses like you would with a physical book. 
2. Scalability: You can deliver the same item to unlimited people without any extra effort.
3. Passive income potential: Earn while you sleep with automated systems. No waiting at the store till 9pm to make a few bucks. Online stores like Selar  and Amazon facilitate this process for you so you can do more with your time. 
4. Audience growth: They are very helpful in positioning you as an expert and helping you build a loyal following.
5. No Payment or location barriers: With platforms like Selar, you can easily sell your products and receive payments from anywhere in the world.

Now you know the perks. How do you do it the right way? If you’ve been relying on brand deals, freelance gigs, or ad revenue, adding a digital product strategy to your business can help you create a more stable income stream. Here are the steps to building the right digital product strategy.

Step 1: Choose the right digital products

Not every digital product will work for every creator, so you should pick one that aligns with your expertise and audience. For example, a busy creator might get a lot more from selling courses than from having membership classes that require their constant attention.

Likewise, a creator who specializes in hands-on products like hairstyling will probably benefit from having a membership service where students can be followed up with, as opposed to writing an e-book.

That being said, here are some of the most popular digital product options: 

1. Ebooks and guides: An ebook (electronic book) is a digital version of a traditional book that can be read on phones, computers, tablets, or e-readers like Kindles. It allows you to share knowledge, tell stories, or provide educational content without printing physical copies. 

Common types of ebooks include how-to guides, self-help books, novels, reports, and manuals. At Selar, we’ve published several ebooks, including The Ultimate Digital Product Manual for Creators, which is a step-by-step guide for creators to help them launch and sell their digital products.

As a first time creator looking at getting into the digital products industry and making money from it, ebooks are one of the easiest ways to achieve this goal. It is also one of the fastest ways to create a digital product as all you need is your laptop, google doc and your digital product idea,

2. Online courses and workshops: An online course is a structured virtual program that teaches a specific skill or subject using video lessons, written materials, and interactive exercises. If you are an educator, coach, professional, or anyone with expertise in a field, you can use courses to teach things like graphic design, coding, social media marketing, branding, and fitness. 

3. Templates and tools: Templates and tools are pre-designed resources that help people complete tasks quickly and efficiently. These can include digital planners, design files, spreadsheets, and frameworks that save time and enhance productivity. As a designer, marketer, business owner, or content creator, you can create social media post templates, business proposal templates, and notion planners to help customers do various aspects of their work effectively. 

For example, lifestyle content creator Aderinsola Oluwafemi sells templates on Selar for creators looking to stay organized and properly plan and achieve their content creation or influencing goals.

4. Memberships and subscriptions: A membership or subscription model provides ongoing value to customers in exchange for recurring payments. It usually involves access to exclusive content, coaching, training, or community interactions. Coaches, consultants, influencers, and educators can create membership plans for their clients for private communities, exclusive training programs, monthly newsletters, or mentorship programs.

For example, a fitness coach looking to help clients stay fit can run a Monthly Home Workout Club, where members access new workout routines, live Q&A sessions, and meal plans every week.

5. Printables and digital downloads: Printables and digital downloads are downloadable resources that customers can print or use digitally. These products cater to people who need ready-made solutions for organizing, planning, or decorating. Budget planners, meal prep sheets, educational worksheets, or digital wallpapers. For example, a lifestyle blogger selling a budget planner sheet can help people track their spending and savings. 

Pro Tip: Choose a product type that aligns with both your skills and what your audience is already looking for.

6. Event tickets: If you host virtual or in-person events, selling digital tickets is a great way to monetize your audience while providing them with valuable experiences. Whether it’s a webinar, workshop, conference, live stream, or private networking event, digital tickets make it easy to manage attendance without the hassle of physical distribution.

Step 2: Validating your idea

Before you spend weeks (or months) creating a product, make sure people actually want it. You can do this through the following steps:

1. Research demand: Use platforms like Google Trends, Twitter, Reddit, and Quora to see if people are asking questions related to your topic.
2. Poll your audience:  Get personal. Ask your followers what they’d pay for. 
3. Make a pre-sell: Offer early access or a discounted price to gauge interest before launching.

If you have put a lot of effort into marketing, and no one’s willing to pre-order or demonstrate enthusiasm, it might be time to tweak your idea or focus on solving a different problem with a different digital product.

Pro tip: Your digital product is likely going to arise from questions people repeatedly ask you. 

Step 3: Creating a high-value digital product

Once you’ve validated your idea, it’s time to make something truly valuable. Here’s how:

1. Solve a specific problem: The more specific, the better. A niche audience is often more profitable than a general one. 
2. Give a step-by-step plan: Include step-by-step instructions, templates, or exercises to ensure users can apply what they learn. 
3. Prioritize quality: Invest in good design, clear structure, and engaging content. 
4. Use social proof: Testimonials, case studies, or early access feedback can boost credibility.

READ: How to Easily Create and Sell Digital Products Online

Step 4: Pricing your digital products

Now that you have created a digital product, it is time to put a price on it. Many creators make the mistake of underpricing their digital products because they spend very little on production by way of physical materials. However, your pricing should reflect the value you provide, not just the effort it took to create. Here are some pricing models to consider: 

1. Low-ticket (Under $10): Great for impulse buys (e.g., templates, ebooks, printables).
2. Mid-ticket ($20 – $200): Ideal for online courses, premium guides, and in-depth resources.
3. High-ticket ($200+):  Best for memberships, coaching, or exclusive masterclasses.

Pro tip: Offer tiered pricing (basic, premium, VIP) to give buyers options based on their needs and budget.

Step 5: Marketing and selling your digital products

Having an amazing product means nothing if no one sees it. Here’s how to get your digital product in front of the right audience:

1. Optimize your sales page

Your sales page should be clear, compelling, and focused on getting people to buy. Many times, the difference between a sale and a drop is how enticing the product looks and feels and the perceived value to the customer.

1. A clear explanation of what buyers will gain: Outline the key benefits, not just features. Instead of saying “Includes 10 modules”, say, “Learn the step-by-step formula for building a profitable online course in 10 easy lessons.”
2. Testimonials or success stories: If others have used your product successfully, share their experiences. Social proof helps potential buyers trust that your product works.
3. A strong call to action (CTA): Use direct, action-oriented language like “Buy Now”, “Get Instant Access”, or “Start Learning Today”. Make sure your CTA stands out visually using buttons. 

2. Use content marketing

Educate and engage your audience through blog posts, YouTube videos, Twitter threads, or LinkedIn articles related to your digital product strategy. Content marketing is one of the most powerful ways to drive traffic to your digital product. The goal is to educate, entertain, or inspire your audience while subtly promoting your product.

1. Write blog posts or LinkedIn articles: If you’re selling an online course on branding, publish an article like “5 Common Branding Mistakes (And How to Fix Them)” with a link to your course.
2. Create YouTube videos or Instagram Reels: Show quick tutorials, case studies, or behind-the-scenes content about your product.
3. Share Twitter threads: Break down valuable insights and end with a CTA to check out your product.
4. Email marketing: Build an email list by offering a free lead magnet (e.g., a checklist or mini-course) and nurture potential buyers with useful content before making your pitch.

3. Build an email list

Email marketing is one of the most effective ways to execute a winning digital product strategy. According to the Radicati group, the number of worldwide email users is expected to grow to over 4.8 billion by the end of 2027.

Here’s how to build a winning email list:

1. Offer a freebie in exchange for emails: A free e-book, checklist, or webinar can attract sign-ups.
2. Send valuable content regularly: Share tips, case studies, and insights to keep your audience engaged.
3. Use a sales email sequence: Create a series of emails that introduce the product, address pain points, and drive urgency with limited-time offers.

4. Use social proof and influencers

People are more likely to buy something when they see others benefiting from it.

1. Encourage early buyers to leave reviews: Ask satisfied customers to share testimonials.
2. Showcase real-world results: If your product helped someone achieve a goal, share their before-and-after story.
3. Partner with micro-influencers: Find niche influencers who can genuinely recommend your product to their engaged audience.

READ: How To Market a Digital Product In 9 Ways: 2024 Ultimate Guide

5. Use Selar

If you’re an African creator looking for an easy and efficient way to monetize your digital products, Selar is an excellent platform to consider. Whether you’re an author, educator, designer, or entrepreneur, Selar allows you to sell your products to a global audience with ease. Here’s why Selar stands out:You can sell a variety of digital products: Whether it’s ebooks, online courses, tickets, templates, digital art, coaching services, or memberships, Selar makes it seamless to set up your store and start selling immediately.

1. Accept payments from anywhere: Your customers can pay from anywhere in the world. 
2. Multiple payment options: With twelve different currencies, including USD, GBP, EUR, and multiple African currencies, ensuring smooth transactions regardless of their location. Paystack and Stripe integrations are also available upon request. 
3. Seamless integration: You can integrate Selar with your website, email list, and social media pages, allowing you to promote and sell products directly from your platforms. You can also integrate with third-party apps like Facebook Pixel, Mailchimp, SendPulse, ConverKit, Kartra and more. 
4. Zero coding required: You don’t need any technical skills to set up your store. Selar provides a user-friendly interface to create and manage your digital storefront effortlessly.
5. Sales analytics and marketing tools: Get real-time insights into your sales performance and leverage built-in marketing tools like discount codes and upsells to boost your revenue.

6. Experiment with paid ads (optional)

If your organic marketing is working well, consider using Facebook, Instagram, or Google Ads to get more attention. This way, you can target potential buyers based on interests and behaviors. You can also show ads to people who visited your sales page but didn’t buy and A/B test different creatives (headlines, images, and CTAs) to see what converts best.

READ: How To Sell Online Courses With Social Media Ads

Step 6: Scaling and automating sales

Once you start making sales, the next step is for you to grow your digital product business so that you can receive consistent revenue growth.

1. Automate sales funnels: Set up an email sequence to guide new leads from interest to purchase.
2. Upsell and cross-sell: Offer related products after checkout to increase revenue. Selar has an inbuilt upsell and crossell feature that you can take advantage of. 
3. Analyze and optimize: Use analytics tools to track conversions, tweak pricing, and refine your messaging based on customer feedback.
4. Create a referral program: Encourage satisfied customers to refer others in exchange for discounts or bonuses.

Final thoughts

Selling digital products isn’t just about making money; it’s about providing real value and building a brand people trust. With the right digital product strategy, you can create a scalable income stream while helping your audience solve problems.

As an African creator, the world is your marketplace. With platforms like Selar, you don’t have to worry about payment restrictions; just focus on creating and selling.