Sell digital products
How to sell digital products: 6 mistakes holding back your sales
You sell Canva or Notion templates, AI prompts, photo presets, or printables. Your products are live, but sales are slow. When prices are low, you need plenty of sales to make a living. Every lost sale counts. Here are 6 mistakes to fix.
4 min read
In this article
- 1Selling “a template” instead of an outcome
- 2Using images that don’t show the product
- 3Relying on one place for all your sales
- 4Showing too many products without highlighting any
- 5Having no starter product
- 6Going quiet after publishing
- →What to remember about selling digital products
- ?Frequently asked questions about selling digital products
1Selling “a template” instead of an outcome
“Notion Budget Template” gets lost among thousands of others. “The Planner That Helps You Stick to Your Budget Without a Spreadsheet” tells buyers what it does for them.
Fix it: give each product a name that explains the problem it solves and who it’s for.
2Using images that don’t show the product
The image sells a digital product. A generic cover doesn’t show buyers what they’ll get.
Fix it: show the product in use. Fill in the template, show the same photo before and after applying your preset, or photograph the printable on a desk.
3Relying on one place for all your sales
If every sale comes from one marketplace or social platform, you depend on your visibility there. When that drops, sales follow.
Fix it: create a storefront of your own and share its link beyond that platform. Put it in your bio, on Pinterest, or in your newsletter. Ask complementary businesses to introduce your products to their audiences, too.
4Showing too many products without highlighting any
Forty equally prominent templates give buyers forty decisions to make.
Fix it: choose 3 featured products and show them first. Put the others after them.
5Having no starter product
A stranger won’t start with your most expensive bundle.
Fix it: offer a simple first product at a low price, or give it away in exchange for an email address. Let people try your work and give them a reason to come back for more.
6Going quiet after publishing
Digital products keep selling after launch. Announce yours once, and it disappears.
Fix it: talk about your products each week from a different angle. Show a practical use or share a review. Tie them to times when people need them most, such as back-to-school season, January, or the holidays.
What to remember about selling digital products
Your product’s name should explain what it helps buyers do. Its images should show how it works. And people need to see it beyond your own account. Highlight your best products and offer an easy first purchase. Then share your storefront link wherever you reach your readers.
Frequently asked questions about selling digital products
Where can I sell digital products?
In your own store or on a platform that sells downloadable files. Make buying simple, then share the purchase page wherever people can find you.
Should I sell on a marketplace?
Shoppers compare your offer with plenty of others there. Keep it if it brings in sales, and add your own storefront to showcase your products elsewhere.
Is it worth selling when there’s so much competition?
Generic products all look alike. Pick a specific audience and give your product a name that speaks directly to them.
Where should I start?
Rewrite the names of your 3 featured products so buyers know what they’ll get. Update the images to show those products in use, then create your Partn page to showcase them.
