Haiden Hibbert
Selling digital files online is a great opportunity for anyone looking to create a passive income stream. It doesn’t matter if you’re a writer, designer, photographer, musician, or something else – there’s a product out there for every type of digital entrepreneur.
The best part? Once you create your digital download, you can sell it over and over again without any additional expenses. This means you can focus on marketing your products to the right audience and growing your business. But before we get into any of that, let’s talk about how to get started selling digital files online in five simple steps.
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Table of Contents
Types of digital files you can sell online
There are countless creators and entrepreneurs who have built successful businesses around selling digital files. From design templates to e-books to online courses, business owners have found ways to package their expertise into downloadable products that people are willing to pay for.
So, what kinds of digital files can you sell? Here are just a few ideas to get you started:
- eBooks and guides
- Templates and printables
- Graphics and illustrations
- Photos and stock images
- Audio files and music
- Video content and courses
- Software and apps
Business Tip: To maximize your reach and appeal to a wider audience, consider repurposing your digital files into multiple formats. For example, you can turn your eBook into an audiobook by recording yourself reading it, or create a video series walking through the content. This way, you cater to customers who prefer different learning styles and mediums.
How and where to sell digital files
When it comes to selling digital files, you have a few options. You could use a third-party platform like Etsy or Creative Market, but there are some drawbacks, like file size limits, which can be restrictive if you’re selling large files like large templates, videos, or high-resolution images. Plus, when you sell on someone else’s platform, you’re subject to their rules and fees.
That’s why we recommend selling digital files on your own website using MemberSpace, an easy-to-use tool that helps entrepreneurs earn income from their memberships and digital products. With MemberSpace, you have complete control over your products, and there are no file size limits. You also have the opportunity to create a professional, branded experience for your customers on your own website.
And if you don’t have a website already, don’t worry! Setting one up to sell your files doesn’t have to be a complicated, time-consuming process. Check out the steps below to get started.
Step 1: Pick a website template from the platform of your choice
If you don’t have web design experience, we recommend starting with a no-code website builder, like Squarespace. This makes it easy for creators and business owners of all experience levels to get a digital product site up and running quickly.
If you need some inspiration, check out these free membership site templates for digital entrepreneurs.
Step 2: Upload your digital files to pages on your website
Once you have a live site, the next step will be to add each digital file that you plan on selling to its own page on your website. If you’re selling digital files from another platform, like a Canva template, you can also add the links to those files on your pages. You’ll also want to include a clear description and any necessary instructions on how to download or use the files.
Step 3: Restrict access to those pages with MemberSpace
Next, open your new MemberSpace account and add the URLs of the digital product pages you want to protect. When someone goes to view your files, they will have to fill out a payment form before gaining access.
Step 4: Set a price for each product
MemberSpace makes it easy to securely accept payments via credit card, Apple Pay, and Google Pay for your digital files through the built-in Stripe integration. You are able to to charge customers one-time, multiple, or recurring payments – whatever works best for your business! You can also make products free.
Step 5: Sell and promote your digital files
Once you’ve got your digital files added to your site and protected with MemberSpace, it’s time to start promoting them and making some sales! Here are a few ideas to get you started:
- Provide free samples or previews, like sharing a chapter of your eBook, offering a few pages of your template, or giving away a short clip of your videos
- Create bundle deals for multiple products
- If you have an email list, send out a regular newsletter with valuable content and promotions linking to your digital products
- Experiment with Google Ads, Facebook Ads, or Instagram Ads
- Create a blog where you write about popular topics in your industry/niche, and include a call-to-action to download your digital files
FAQs about selling digital files
How do I sell files and digital downloads online?
To sell files and digital downloads online, you’ll first need to create a website and add your files to pages. Then, use MemberSpace to restrict access to those pages and set up payment forms. When customers purchase, they’ll automatically get access to the files. It’s a simple, streamlined process for both you and your customers.
What are the alternatives to emailing large files?
One common challenge when selling digital files is figuring out how to deliver them to customers. Email might seem like an obvious choice, but there are often barriers, like file size limits and attachment restrictions.
The best alternative is to host the large files on your website. With MemberSpace, you can restrict access to these files so they’re not available to the general public. Customers can easily download the files from your site or get continuous access by logging in. And the best part? There are no file size limits with MemberSpace, so you can host even the largest videos, graphics, or templates.
How can I send a large video file?
To send a large video file, add the video to a page on your website and use MemberSpace to lock the page and ensure it’s not public. You can also privately upload it to YouTube and then embed the video on your web page. Then, either sell access or make it free – customers will just need to quickly create an account to log in and view the video.
How do I sell large digital files on Etsy?
Selling large digital files on Etsy can be tricky due to their file size limits. We recommend using MemberSpace to sell your large files on your website instead. With MemberSpace, there are no file size limits. Plus, you’ll have more control over your products and your customer experience.
What types of files can I sell online?
You can sell a variety of digital file types online, including:
- PDF (eBooks, printables, templates)
- MP3 (music, podcasts, audio courses)
- SVG (vector graphics, illustrations, icons)
- PSD (Photoshop files, templates, mockups)
- AI (Adobe Illustrator files, vector art)
- DOCX (Word documents, templates)
- XLSX (Excel spreadsheets, templates)
- JPG/PNG (images, graphics, photos)
- MP4 (videos, courses, tutorials)
Final Thoughts
You can start selling digital downloads online in just a few steps with MemberSpace, no matter how large the files are! All you have to do to get started is launch a simple website, upload your files to pages on your site, and use your new MemberSpace account to add a paywall to those pages. You can get started for free today!
For more guides and tips to building your online business, check out MemberSpace University.
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