Wondering what the best digital products to sell on Etsy are? Digital downloads are one of the best and easiest things to sell on Etsy.
Over the years, Etsy has arguably become the most popular platform for buying and selling handmade, vintage, and digital products. With that being said, its massive growth and popularity has made it more competitive for sellers trying to stand out. Though the site was once an easy way to get a business off the ground, it now takes some more strategy.
Interested in selling things on Etsy but don’t want to spend excess time making things by hand or finding products at the thrift store? Don’t worry, the age of digital products has made it incredibly simple to make money without managing inventory or production.
If you’re still scratching your head wondering what types of products you can sell, we’ve compiled a list of some of the best products to sell on Etsy that can be created right on your computer. But first, let’s briefly talk about two directions you can go with digital sales.
Custom vs. pre-made
You’ll find all kinds of opinions when it comes to custom designing products vs. selling pre-made items on Etsy. There are pros and cons to both approaches, and depending on who you ask, you’ll get a different argument.
With custom digital items, you can charge more money and have the chance to switch things up more often if you’re getting bored. The downside to offering customization is dealing with nit picky customers and a higher time commitment.
With pre-made products, you can almost set your small business on autopilot without having to design anything above and beyond what you offer in your shop. Many creators opt for this model because the design only needs to be done once and then they can focus on generating revenue off just a few products.
Regardless of what you choose to do, you’ll still need to answer messages and have customers that want refunds once in a while — that’s something no business owner can avoid.
Standing out from other sellers
Being successful on Etsy isn’t as simple as creating a digitized piece of art, setting up a shop, and hoping customers will show up. In the competitive online world, you’ll need to figure out a way to stand out from other businesses on the platform.
Whether that means selling something really niche and unique, creating a really valuable offer, or having the best support for your products, you have to get imaginative if you want to succeed and get ahead.
Wait, what if you don’t know how to design?
You don’t have to be some sort of Photoshop guru to create products! Freelance websites like Upwork, Fiverr, and Onlinejobs.ph are great ways to connect with designers around the globe that can create something under your direction. With a small investment, you can have a sellable product in days to weeks.
Digital products you should sell
1. Planners
In recent years, planners have exploded in popularity, making them a hot choice for Etsy sellers. Think about it, planners are the ultimate customizable item and can be tailored for so many different groups of people like:
- Stay-at-home parents
- Business professionals
- Athletic trainers
- Athletes
- Students
- Teachers
- Entrepreneurs
- And more!
Do some market research by talking to friends, family, or coworkers to see what they’d like to see in a planner made just for them. Once you have an idea of the features you want it to have, head over to Planify Pro to start creating for a very small monthly fee (less than $180 per year for a commercial license to sell your planners).
Once your product is done, you can sell the PDF in your shop for customers to download and print at home.
2. Etsy shop assets
With millions of shops on Etsy, sellers are always looking for ways to stand out and attract their target customers. Shop assets are banners, icons, and other graphics that can be used for branding their online store.
Canva is the perfect place to start if you’re planning on designing the assets yourself, with presized templates specifically ready to create icons for Etsy.
3. Office art
With more people than ever before working remotely these days, being able to personalize a workspace can do wonders for professionals using a home office. You can get really creative with how you want approach this idea, for example:
- Hire a photographer or take professional photos yourself (if you have the equipment)
- Purchase a commercial license for stock photos
- Create original artwork and have it converted into digital format
- Play around with different fonts and sayings
You could sell various collections and styles for different tastes, so do some research on what’s out there already and what there is a demand for.
4. Photo presets
Presets are a highly popular and reliable way to edit photos, allowing photographers and other creatives to achieve a specific style and cut down on their editing time.
If you have a knack for editing and creating styles, there are always influencers, bloggers, and photographers looking for the best presets that go well with their brand.
5. Phone wallpaper
Have some original ideas on some cool mobile device wallpapers? People love to personalize their devices and find art that speaks to them.
Whether it be a certain art style, geographical location, sport, or other interest, there are infinite options for creating irresistible backgrounds people will want to download for their phones.
Imagine selling phone wallpapers for a couple bucks and then getting thousands of purchases — there’s definitely money to be made!
6. Resume and CV templates
The way to stand out when applying for a job is not to submit a dull, unexciting resume or CV that looks like everyone else’s. That’s where you come in!
Designing resumes that are sleek, attractive, and easy to fill in with personal information are in high demand. A Microsoft Word or Google Docs-compatible template is typically preferred by those looking to easily customize and send to potential employers.
7. Zoom backgrounds
Since virtual meetings and remote work are more common nowadays, not everyone has a super professional setup in the background when hopping on a Zoom call.
Employers and employees alike are looking for both fun and professional backgrounds to make their meetings a little more enjoyable.
8. Tutorials & courses
Are you an expert in a specific skill or field of study? Etsy can be the perfect way to sell your knowledge by offering courses and tutorials. You can sell a video course with PDF bonuses or an ebook on how to do something.
9. Business plan templates
Have you started and successfully run a profitable business? There are always people looking for help on how to start a business and what first steps they should take.
Creating templates that solve some of those problems are very popular on Etsy, so take a look at what’s out there and create your own to sell.
10. Coloring pages
Both kids and adults alike can have fun and relieve stress by detaching for a while with a coloring page. From cartoons to floral pages, you can really get creative with designs and patterns.
Plus, you can consistently come out with new pages for repeat customers that enjoy your artwork!
11. Invitations
There will always be a need for invitations. There are so many special events in life that warrant a celebration — birthdays, weddings, and baby showers are just a few occasions that people want personalized invitations for.
You could come up with dozens of designs that fit a wide range of personal interests and styles. The nice thing is, there is no need to ship anything! Your customers will simply order and print at a local print shop or at home.
12. Logos
Though this digital service is a bit more competitive, with the right marketing and promotion you could have a steady stream of requests coming in for a custom logo.
Develop a unique style, ask for referrals and start seeing more graphic design opportunities come your way.
13. Excel templates
For people that aren’t particularly fond of Excel or Google Sheets, templates can make all the difference. There’s no limit to what kinds of templates you can create.
We’ve seen options for:
- To-do lists
- Budgets
- Debt tracking
- Meal planning
- Business
- Personal training
- More!
14. Website templates & themes
Every business needs a website, but not everyone has the budget to build something custom, especially in the beginning stages of a business. Creating templates tailored for specific industries can be highly attractive for DIYers that want a personalized touch.
Use platforms like Shopify and Wix to get started as they are very easy to use.
15. Nursery art
Planning your baby’s nursery layout is one of the most exciting things for parents. Imagining their little one in a room with welcoming art they hand picked is both exciting and comforting.
There’s no end to the kinds of printables you can sell. Animals, space, airplanes, and floral are just a few really popular themes for infants and young children.
16. 3D printer patterns
3D printers have been around for a while, but are now much more affordable and accessible to the average consumer. This is a space that doesn’t have as much competition yet on Etsy, so coming up with some cool designs could be really profitable as it gains traction in coming years.
17. Fonts
Creators and other professionals are always looking for awesome fonts that they can use for their own businesses or projects for clients. If you’re up for developing some custom fonts, you can make some money selling them in bundles.
18. Clipart
Clipart is always in high demand for projects ranging from web design to logos and custom greeting cards. There are literally thousands of directions you could go with designing clipart files.
Creating themes like boho, retro, or modern and bundling assets together is an attractive way to offer your products.
19. Recipe cards
Recipes can easily get disorganized at home. Some are written on scratch pieces of paper while others are on notecards — it can make for a giant mess.
Clean and well-designed recipe cards with a little personality are popular for anyone wanting to stay organized in the kitchen. And with the simplicity of this kind of design, you could have it ready to put in your Etsy shop in no time.
20. Wedding printables
Weddings are big business. Couples spend a lot of money on their special day, and they want it to be perfect. Items like custom menus, seating arrangements, checklists, and other printables can be a nice personalized touch to an incredibly memorable experience.
Are Digital Products Profitable On Etsy?
Yes, digital products can be very profitable on Etsy. Since you don’t have any additional costs for the actual products and shipping costs, this can reduce your expenses and create a business with mostly profits.
You can make anywhere from just a few hundred dollars to five figures a month. It all depends how much work you put into it.
Get Started Making Passive Income
Selling digital products and printables on Etsy is one of the best businesses you can start to achieve a passive income stream. The platform delivers the product to the customer for you, making the transaction hands-off for you. Designing something one time and selling it for years isn’t a bad idea for continuous income!
As one of the largest online retailers behind other giants like Ebay, it won’t be hard to get people searching the site for your product. If you really want to gain some momentum, you can run ads to your shop directly on Etsy to increase traffic.
Something to note — the platform charges a $0.20 listing fee per item and 6.5% transaction fee for every sale, so make sure to budget appropriately.
If one of the ideas above caught your attention, start researching your market and creating a killer product.
Happy selling and good luck!
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