How to Make & Sell Digital Products (Beginner Guide)

In today’s digital world, creating and selling digital products is one of the easiest and most profitable ways to earn passive income. Whether it’s Canva templates, eBooks, online courses, or planners, the demand for digital products is growing. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the step-by-step process of creating, listing, and selling your first digital product online.

Step 1: Choose a Profitable Digital Product Idea

The first step is to decide what type of digital product you want to create. Some profitable ideas include:

  • Canva Templates – Social media templates, resumes, planners, etc.
  • eBooks & Guides – Step-by-step tutorials, industry insights, or niche-specific topics.
  • Printable Planners & Journals – Budget planners, meal planners, fitness journals.
  • Online Courses – Teaching a specific skill via recorded videos or PDFs.
  • AI-Powered Resources – ChatGPT prompt books, automation guides.

Tip: Research trending products on Pinterest, Etsy, and Payhip to find what sells best.

Step 2: Create Your Digital Product

Once you have an idea, use the right tools to create a high-quality product:

  • Canva – Perfect for designing templates, eBooks, and planners.
  • Google Docs/Notion – For writing eBooks or guides.
  • Loom/Camtasia – For recording course videos.
  • ChatGPT – For brainstorming content or generating drafts.

Design Tips:

  • Keep it simple and easy to use.
  • Use high-quality fonts and visuals.
  • Make sure it solves a specific problem for your audience.

Step 3: Set Up Your Payhip Store

Payhip is a great platform for selling digital products because it’s beginner-friendly and requires no upfront cost.

How to set up your store:

Sign up at Payhip.com.

Click ‘Add Product’ and upload your digital file.

Set a price (consider $7-$27 for beginners).

Write a compelling product description with SEO keywords.

Upload eye-catching product images (use Canva mockups).

Step 4: Promote Your Product on Pinterest

Pinterest is a traffic goldmine for digital product sellers. Here’s how to market effectively:

  • Optimize your profile – Use keywords in your bio and board names.
  • Design eye-catching pins – Use bold fonts and high-quality images.
  • Use Pinterest SEO – Add keywords in pin titles, descriptions, and alt text.
  • Pin consistently – Aim for 5-10 pins per day.
  • Join group boards – Get more exposure by pinning in active communities.

Step 5: Scale & Automate for Passive Income

To turn this into a sustainable business, consider:

  • Creating Bundles – Combine multiple products into a premium offer.
  • Email Marketing – Capture leads using a freebie and nurture them via email.
  • Expanding to Other Platforms – Sell on Etsy, Gumroad, or your blog.
  • Using Paid Ads – Run Pinterest or Facebook ads to boost sales.

Conclusion

Selling digital products is one of the best ways to earn money online with minimal effort after setup. Follow these steps, stay consistent with marketing, and keep refining your products based on customer feedback.

Ready to start? Download our free Canva template guide to create your first digital product today!