In previous posts, we talked about monetizing a small audience and the value in starting your Creator career with coaching calls, but at some point, every Creator runs into the same challenge:

“How can I scale my income without constantly trading time for money?”

For many Creators, the first way they make money is through brand deals, sponsorships, or 1:1 work like coaching and freelancing. But these income streams are unpredictable, time-consuming, and often capped by external factors—whether it’s platform algorithms or the number of hours in a day.

That’s where selling digital products come in.

Digital products allow you to package your knowledge, skills, and expertise into something you create once and sell forever—even while you sleep. Instead of constantly chasing clients or booking more calls, digital products work for you around the clock, bringing in sales 24/7.

But with so many options, where do you start?

That’s what this guide is here to help with.

By the end, you’ll know:

✅ Why digital products are the key to scaling your Creator business
✅ The four main types of digital products
✅ How to choose the right digital product to start with

If you’re ready to build something that makes money—even while you sleep—let’s dive in.

My Shift to Digital Products

When I first started building online businesses a decade ago, I went the traditional route—physical products.

For my first ecommerce business, I spent months sourcing inventory, negotiating with suppliers, and figuring out logistics. After $10,000 and 108 days, my first inventory shipment arrived. That’s when the real work started—marketing, shipping, and handling customer service.

Every sale was exciting… but it also meant:

❌ More logistics
❌ More inventory headaches
❌ More time spent keeping the business running

Luckily, at the same time, I was sharing my journey online—helping others navigate ecommerce. People started reaching out for advice, asking how I picked products, found suppliers, built my store, and got my first sales.

That led to my first coaching calls. Helping people one-on-one felt great, but I ran into a new problem:

I was still trading time for money. ⏳

That’s when I saw an opportunity. Instead of answering the same questions over and over, what if I packaged everything I knew into a product?

So I created The Ecommerce Startup Bundle—a simple PDF packed with discounts, resources, and tools for new store owners that I created in a few days.

In the first week after I launched it, I made almost 100 sales, $29 each—$2,900 in passive income.

By the end of the first month, it was nearly $10,000.

Compared to selling physical products, it felt like magic.

No inventory. No shipping. No overhead. Just knowledge and a bit of work upfront turned into passive and ongoing revenue.

That’s when I realized that digital products scale in a way that physical products never can.

I spent a few more years building ecommerce business, but as I continued to grow my audience, I slowly shifted to 100% digital, and there was no looking back.

Since then, I’ve launched ebooks, courses, templates, and directories, selling nearly $500,000 worth of digital gold.

If you’re like me, you don’t just want to make money—you want to scale without working more hours. I spent years selling physical products and trading my time for income, but digital products gave me a way to break free.

Now, more Creators than ever are making the same shift—turning their knowledge into scalable, sell-on-autopilot assets.

The Rise of Digital Products in the Creator Economy

As we previously discussed in our State of the Creator Economy, the way Creators make money online is shifting.

For many years, most Creators relied on brand deals, sponsorships, or ad revenue, but those income streams are unpredictable, inconsistent, and heavily dependent on platform algorithms.

Creators are now taking control of their income by selling digital products—turning their knowledge, content, and expertise into scalable, sell-on-autopilot assets.

And it’s working.

• 📊 The average U.S. adult now spends $120–$130 per month on digital goods—a number that’s rising every year.
• 💰 4 in 10 full-time Creators are earning more money now than they were two years ago.
• 🚀 75% of Creators believe they can make over $50,000 per year from digital products alone.

Translation? There’s never been a better time to start selling digital products.

Consumers are already spending money on digital downloads, templates, courses, and memberships—so why shouldn’t they be buying from you?

What Exactly Is a Digital Product?

“Digital product” is a broad term, so let’s first define what it actually means.

At its core, a digital product is anything you can sell online that doesn’t require physical inventory, shipping, or manual fulfillment.

But digital products come in many forms, each with their own pros and cons.

The 4 Major Categories of Digital Products for Creators

Not all digital products require the same amount of time, effort, or ongoing management. Some can be sold passively, while others require continued involvement.

Here’s how they compare:

Digital Product Type	Scalability	Time & Effort Required	Best For
Digital Downloads (Ebooks, templates, spreadsheets)	🔥 Highly scalable	✅ Low effort – create once, sell infinitely	Creators looking for a quick, low-maintenance income stream
Online Courses	🔥 Highly scalable	⚠️ Moderate-high effort – requires upfront work, then scales	Educators and subject-matter experts ready to teach in-depth topics
Productized Services	⚠️ Partially scalable	❌ Ongoing work required for each customer	Service providers looking to scale beyond 1:1 work
Membership Communities	🔥 Highly scalable	❌ Continuous content & engagement needed	Creators who want to engage with their audience long-term and create recurring revenue

Now, let’s break down each category in more detail.

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1️⃣ Digital Downloads (Fully Passive Income)

💰 Low-to-mid ticket | Infinitely scalable | One-time purchase

Best for: Creators who want the fastest and easiest way to start selling digital products.

Why It Works:

✅ Low effort, high reward – Create once, sell infinitely.
✅ No ongoing work – Fully passive after launch.
✅ Easy entry point – Most digital downloads can be created in a day.

Examples:

✔ Ebooks & guides – Informational PDFs, how-to guides, playbooks.
✔ Notion & Airtable templates – Pre-built workflows for business & productivity.
✔ Spreadsheets & calculators – Pricing tools, budget planners, revenue trackers.
✔ Stock photos & design assets – Photography packs, digital stickers, Canva templates.
✔ Printable planners & digital journals – Habit trackers, goal-setting planners, fitness logs.

Why It’s a Smart First Product: Digital downloads are the fastest path to passive income because they require no customer support, ongoing updates, or delivery work.

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2️⃣ Online Courses (Mostly Passive, High-Ticket Income)

💰 Mid-to-high ticket | Scalable | One-time purchase or subscription

Best for: Creators who want to package their expertise into a structured learning experience and sell it at a premium price.

Why It Works:

✅ High perceived value – People are willing to pay more for structured learning.
✅ One-time effort, long-term sales – Create it once, sell it over and over.
✅ Can be a stepping stone to memberships or coaching – Courses often lead to upsells.

Examples:

✔ Video-based masterclasses – Step-by-step recorded lessons.
✔ Email drip courses – Lessons delivered over time via email.
✔ Mini-courses – Short, topic-specific trainings (cheaper than full-length courses).

Why It’s Scalable: Once a course is recorded, it requires minimal ongoing work—you can sell it thousands of times without additional effort.

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3️⃣ Productized Services (Scalable, But Requires Some Work)

💰 Mid-to-high ticket | Semi-scalable | Typically one-time purchase

Best for: Service-based professionals looking to scale beyond 1:1 work without losing the personal touch.

Why It Works:

✅ Turns custom services into repeatable products.
✅ Easier to scale than 1:1 coaching.
✅ Higher-ticket pricing compared to simple digital downloads.

Examples:

✔ Website audits with templated recommendations.
✔ Custom branding kits with limited personalization.
✔ Social media strategy templates.
✔ Personalized video feedback services.

Why It’s Scalable: Instead of offering unlimited 1:1 services, you create repeatable, streamlined offerings that save time while still providing value.

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4️⃣ Membership Communities (Recurring Revenue, Ongoing Work Required)

💰 Recurring revenue | High engagement | Subscription-based

Best for: Creators who want to build a loyal community and provide ongoing value over time while creating a recurring revenue stream.

Why It Works:

✅ Creates predictable, monthly revenue.
✅ Fosters a loyal, engaged audience.
✅ Allows for deeper relationships with customers.

Examples:

✔ Exclusive mastermind groups.
✔ Private accountability communities.
✔ Monthly content drops (e.g., stock photos, swipe files, templates).

Why It’s Scalable: Memberships grow over time, making them a long-term revenue stream—but they do require ongoing content and community management.

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What’s the Best Digital Product to Start With?

If you’re unsure where to start, here’s a simple guide:

👉 Want fast, passive income? → Start with digital downloads.
👉 Want high-ticket sales? → Create an online course.
👉 Want to scale your services? → Offer a productized service.
👉 Want long-term, recurring revenue? → Build a membership.

For this guide, we’ll focus on digital downloads—since they’re the easiest and fastest way to start scaling your Creator business.

Why Digital Downloads Are the Best Entry Point for Creators

If you’re new to selling digital products, digital downloads are the easiest and fastest way to start generating passive income.

Unlike courses, memberships, or productized services—which often require weeks (or months) of development—digital downloads can be created in a day and sold infinitely with no ongoing work.

They’re the lowest-risk, highest-reward way to start generating passive income as a Creator.

Why Digital Downloads Work for Creators

✅ Low Barrier to Entry – No need for complex software, design skills, or upfront investment.
✅ Fast to Create & Sell – Many downloads can be made in a few hours using simple tools like Notion, Canva, Airtable, or Google Docs.
✅ Affordable for Buyers – Generally priced between $5–$50, making them impulse-buy friendly and easy to sell—even with a small audience.
✅ Completely Passive Income – Once created, they can be sold infinitely with no additional effort.
✅ Works for Any Niche – Whether you teach, create, design, or coach, there’s a digital download format that fits your expertise.

Now that we’ve established why digital downloads are the best entry point let’s break down some of your options for creating digital downloads.

Best-Selling Digital Downloads for Creators (And How to Pick Yours)

Every Creator’s expertise and audience are different, but some types of digital downloads consistently generate the most sales across industries.

If you’re not sure what to create, start here.

5 Best-Selling Digital Downloads for Creators

These five categories of digital downloads are proven to sell well—and they work for almost any niche.

1. Educational & Informational Downloads

📖 Best for coaches, consultants, and knowledge-based Creators.

Why It Works:

✅ People pay for structured, step-by-step knowledge they can’t easily find online.
✅ A great low-cost entry point into your expertise (and upsells into courses or coaching).

💡 Examples:

✔ Ebooks & Guides – Deep dives on a specific topic (e.g., “How to Get 1,000 Email Subscribers in 30 Days”).
✔ Workbooks & Worksheets – Interactive exercises to help users apply what they learn.
✔ Checklists & Frameworks – Simple, actionable roadmaps for achieving a goal.

2. Productivity & Business Tools

🛠 Best for entrepreneurs, freelancers, and business-focused Creators.

Why It Works:

✅ Saves buyers hours of time creating their own tools from scratch.
✅ People love plug-and-play systems that remove guesswork.

💡 Examples:

✔ Notion, Airtable & Google Sheets Templates – Business trackers, content calendars, budgeting tools.
✔ Spreadsheets & Calculators – Profit margin calculators, pricing tools, revenue tracking spreadsheets.

3. Design & Creative Assets

🎨 Best for designers, photographers, and social media Creators.

Why It Works:

✅ Businesses & Creators need high-quality design resources—but don’t have time to make them.
✅ These products are visually appealing and easy to sell through social media.

💡 Examples:

✔ Canva & Social Media Templates – Pre-made Instagram carousels, TikTok overlays, Pinterest pins.
✔ Stock Photos & Graphics – High-quality images for content Creators, marketers, and brands.
✔ Illustrations & Digital Stickers – Custom design elements for presentations, planners, and branding.

4. Lifestyle & Personal Development Resources

🌿 Best for wellness coaches, life coaches, and self-improvement Creators.

Why It Works:

✅ People are actively searching for tools to improve their habits, mindset, and well-being.
✅ These products have huge crossover appeal across different demographics.

💡 Examples:

✔ Planners & Journals – Digital or printable planners for productivity, goal setting, habit tracking.
✔ Meditation & Wellness Guides – Affirmation cards, guided journal prompts, stress management guides.
✔ Meal Plans & Fitness Trackers – Nutrition guides, home workout plans, weight loss trackers.

5. Specialized Industry Directories & Resource Lists

🔍 Best for Creators with deep niche knowledge or industry connections.

Why It Works:

✅ People will pay for curated, hard-to-find information that saves them research time.
✅ These downloads are easy to create if you have the right insider knowledge.

💡 Examples:

✔ Vendor & Supplier Lists – Best Dropshipping Suppliers for Creators or Top Print-on-Demand Companies for Artists.
✔ Freelancer & Service Provider Directories – Vetted professionals (e.g., “Top 20 Virtual Assistants for Solopreneurs”).
✔ Exclusive Discount Lists & Insider Deals – Curated savings for industry tools (e.g., Best AI Copywriting Tools & Discounts).

How to Pick the Right Digital Download for You

Not sure which type of digital product to start with? Use this simple framework:

1. What Problems Do People Ask You About?

💡 Your best product is often the thing people keep DMing or emailing you for help with.

• Are followers asking for your content creation workflow? Sell your Notion template.
• Do people ask about pricing freelance services? Create a pricing calculator.
• Have you mastered habit-building? Sell a goal-setting planner.

2. What Have You Already Created for Yourself?

💡 Many top-selling digital products start as personal tools Creators made for themselves.

• Already built a budgeting spreadsheet? Sell it.
• Have a custom fitness tracker? Package it as a digital download.
• Use a vendor list to find suppliers? Share it as a paid resource.

3. What’s the Easiest to Make?

💡 Don’t overcomplicate your first product—start with something simple and validate demand.

• If you can make it in a few hours or less, it’s a great starting point.
• You can always improve or expand later.

Final Thoughts: The Fastest Path to Scaling as a Creator

Selling digital products isn’t just about making extra income—it’s about building a business that works for you, even when you’re not working.

Unlike coaching or services, digital products allow you to:

✅ Turn your expertise into a scalable, passive income stream
✅ Sell infinitely without extra effort
✅ Build a business that grows without burning you out

And the best part? You don’t need millions of followers to succeed. Even a small, engaged audience is enough to start making sales and grow your revenue.

Your Next Steps

If you’re serious about scaling, here’s your roadmap:

1️⃣ Start simple – Create an easy-to-make guide, template, or planner.
2️⃣ Set up your sales funnel – Price it right, automate delivery, and remove friction for buyers.
3️⃣ Sell & scale – Promote consistently, bundle your best products, and refine based on audience feedback.

Your first digital product doesn’t need to be perfect. It just needs to be live.