Selling Digital Downloads on Etsy: How To, and What to Sell

Posted 2 years ago by Max Komonov

When most people think of桂Etsy, the桂first thing that comes to桂mind is桂probably custom jewelry, clothing, and桂decor. But Etsy is桂an桂extremely diverse marketplace that offers a桂tremendous range of桂custom, handmade items from trusted sellers.

Sometimes, the桂products sold on桂Etsy don�셳 need to桂be桂혫handcrafted혬 in桂the桂literal sense. For digital artists, Etsy is桂one of桂the桂best E-commerce platforms to桂market and桂sell their work. While Etsy does have a桂detailed , it桂is桂flexible enough to桂allow for桂digital downloads in桂the桂marketplace.

This is桂great news for桂anyone who is桂interested in桂selling digital products as桂part of桂their business. There are many applications, both practical and桂creative, for桂selling and桂buying digital downloads. Let�셲 break down how to桂sell digital downloads on桂Etsy, then look at桂some examples of桂top-selling digital products.

How to桂Sell Digital Downloads on桂Etsy

First, no桂matter what you sell on桂Etsy, you need to桂make sure you adhere to桂Etsy�셲 . All products sold on桂Etsy must be桂handmade or桂custom designed by桂the桂seller. For digital downloads, this means you should design your products yourself. This also applies if桂you then pass it桂along to桂an桂engineer or桂graphic designer for桂the桂final product.

If桂you have limited design experience, don�셳 worry. You can still design digital products to桂be桂sold on桂Etsy. Design should be桂one of桂the桂first steps, of桂course. If桂you don�셳 know what design program to桂use, there are plenty of桂great free graphic design programs available. A桂program like is桂great for桂beginners looking to桂start selling digital downloads.

You also have the桂option of桂outsourcing the桂design work to桂an桂experienced graphic designer. Just make sure you document any桂production partners you enlist, as桂this is桂a桂major part of桂Etsy�셲 Handmade Policy.

Once you have your design, you simply need to桂set up桂your Etsy shop if桂you don�셳 have one already. This process is桂relatively straightforward. Simply click the桂 on桂Etsy�셲 seller page, and桂follow the桂ensuing prompts. Make sure your Etsy storefront is桂well-designed to桂attract your ideal customer and桂clearly conveys what you sell.

Then, simply create your listings. Note that Etsy does charge a桂$0.20桂listing fee, so桂you may want to桂be桂conservative to桂start. 20桂cents is桂not a桂lot for桂a桂single listing. However, it�셲 better to桂figure out what sells best before creating a桂ton of桂listings.

Once your shop is桂set up, customers can find your digital products and桂purchase them. Don�셳 be桂afraid to桂market your products elsewhere on桂the桂web. This is桂better than sitting and桂waiting for桂customers to桂appear, after all.

Advantages of桂Selling Digital Downloads on桂Etsy

There are a桂few reasons why selling digital downloads on桂Etsy is桂a桂good idea for桂a桂business. It桂may seem unconventional at桂first, but there is桂tremendous value in桂it桂for桂a桂lot of桂people. Here are some of桂the桂biggest advantages of桂selling digital products.

No桂shipping fees

For most online sellers, paying for桂shipping can be桂a桂hidden or桂overlooked business expense. High shipping costs can cause you to桂lose sales or桂eat into your profits. But when you sell digital downloads, there is桂no桂shipping at桂all. Your customers buy your product as桂a桂downloadable file which is桂sent to桂their online inbox. It�셲 both free and桂instantaneous, which is桂better for桂everyone.

Variety of桂uses

As桂you will see later, there are a桂lot of桂different ways people use digital downloads purchased on桂Etsy. From bloggers to桂event planners, to桂students, parents, and桂more, downloadable products provide tremendous value. This means there is桂a桂very wide market for桂potential digital download sellers. If桂you can identify a桂market for桂your digital products, you can make a桂great profit by桂selling on桂Etsy.

Fun and桂practical creative outlet

Etsy is桂fairly unique in桂that it桂affords its sellers a桂great opportunity to桂explore their creative passions. This is桂true for桂digital sellers just as桂it桂is桂for桂those who sell physical products. If桂you have a桂passion for桂graphic design, Etsy is桂a桂great way to桂make money on桂the桂side or桂start a桂business.

Best Digital Products to桂Sell on桂Etsy

Printable and桂digital planners

Planners are an桂essential organizing tool for桂many people from all walks of桂life. People might use planners to桂balance their work schedules, appointments, or桂their personal life. While most people think of桂Etsy as桂a桂marketplace for桂crafts, planners are also a桂highly popular category on桂the桂website. Specifically, digital planners sell extremely well on桂Etsy. Users appreciate the桂array of桂options available to桂them in桂digital planners available on桂the桂Etsy marketplace.

Whether customers want a桂digital planner for桂their device, or桂a桂physical planner, they can find them as桂digital downloads on桂Etsy. Sellers can provide printable layouts for桂custom planners that can be桂downloaded and桂printed in桂mere minutes. This is桂a桂much more efficient (and satisfying) option than waiting on桂shipping or桂going to桂the桂store to桂buy a桂planner. Check out from AmethystGarnet on桂the桂Etsy store for桂an桂example.

Labels

Another highly popular digital product on桂the桂Etsy marketplace is桂printable labels, such as桂. Users can purchase and桂print out custom labels for桂their events, items, or桂products on桂Etsy. This has a桂wide range of桂applications. Small businesses might use Etsy to桂buy high-quality labels for桂their inventory. Others might use an桂item like the桂address stickers above to桂send wedding invitations or桂other forms of桂postage. Whatever they are used for, digital printable labels are a桂top-selling item on桂Etsy.

Business cards

Users can purchase editable as桂downloadable files on桂Etsy. This, again, is桂another practical option that is桂utilized by桂many small business owners. Business cards are a桂highly effective networking tool.

Etsy is桂a桂great, convenient place to桂go桂to桂find stylish and桂effective business card templates. Once again, the桂lack of桂shipping makes this a桂particularly convenient option. Customers can download their business card template and桂have a桂complete batch printed out the桂same day.

Travel guides

This category is桂a桂bit more niche than some of桂the桂others. Nonetheless, selling downloadable travel guides on桂Etsy is桂an桂effective business model for桂many sellers.

Customers planning a桂vacation can search for桂a桂specific location, like in桂Utah. Etsy stores then provide detailed, easy-to-understand downloadable travel guides for桂that area. It桂is桂extremely convenient and桂a桂great way to桂make any桂vacation even more memorable.

Of桂course, if桂you�셱e going to桂sell travel guides online, you should know what you are talking about. This may be桂more of桂a桂niche market for桂well-traveled individuals or桂well-connected businesses. But if桂this is桂an桂idea that appeals to桂you, then selling digital travel guides on桂Etsy is桂a桂great option.

Phone wallpapers

For a桂more everyday accessory item to桂sell, there is桂also a桂large market for桂unique phone wallpapers on桂Etsy. These days, just about everyone uses a桂smartphone every day. And for桂most people, custom wallpaper simply comes with the桂territory of桂owning a桂phone.

Digital artists on桂Etsy can design and桂sell some amazing wallpapers for桂iPhones or桂Android phones as桂digital downloads. This is桂a桂category that is桂more reliant on桂graphic design skills than some of桂the桂others, of桂course. But for桂those with a桂passion for桂artistic graphic design, this can be桂a桂great way to桂make some extra money.

Final Thoughts

There are plenty of桂other categories of桂digital products to桂sell on桂Etsy that we桂didn�셳 mention here. Learning tools, resume templates, and桂printable artwork are a桂few other major categories on桂the桂Etsy store. Selling digital products on桂Etsy has a桂lot of桂business potential for桂those who are inclined to桂explore it.

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About The Author

Max has been working in the ecommerce industry for the last six years helping brands to establish and level-up content marketing and SEO. Despite that, he has experience with entrepreneurship. He is a fiction writer in his free time.

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