Sell digital products on Shopify in 2025: Step-by-step guide

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Gone are the days when Shopify was just for selling physical goods like t-shirts and mugs. Today, knowing how to sell digital products on Shopify can get you ahead of the competition and boost sales. 

Digital products have surged in popularity alongside the rise of online content creation and demand for digital goods and services. As a result, Shopify provides an ideal platform for turning digital assets into a thriving online business.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through how to sell digital products on Shopify. You’ll learn how to set up your digital store and identify the most profitable digital products to sell on Shopify. We’ll also talk about some proven strategies to help you stand out in the digital marketplace.

How to sell digital products on Shopify: Step-by-step guide

You feel ready to sell digital products online. You have a vision for what your brand will look like. Before anything else, you need to know how to set up digital products on Shopify. Here are the five easy steps to follow:

• Step 1: Create a digital product
• Step 2: Add the digital product to Shopify
• Step 3: Install the digital downloads app
• Step 4: Set pricing and delivery options
• Step 5: Configure automated emails for delivery

Step 1: Create a digital product

When it comes to learning how to sell digital products on Shopify, the first step is creating or sourcing your digital product. 

It doesn’t necessarily have to align with your skills or interests. However, you should conduct thorough market research to ensure that there’s a demand for the product. 

Digital products are versatile, allowing creators to display their expertise in various ways. For example, if you’re a chef, you could write an ebook on dairy-free recipes for kids. If you’re an artist, create digital art prints or a musician, you can produce sound effects and exclusive music samples.

Once you’ve decided on which digital products to sell on Shopify, take time to ensure they’re high-quality. 

Anyone with a knack for creating such products can sell their digital products on Shopify. However, if creating digital products isn’t your specialty, you can collaborate with freelancers or purchase licensed content that you’re allowed to resell.

Step 2: Add the digital product to Shopify

After creating your product, you must start a Shopify store if you don’t already have one. You can sign up for a three-day free trial, after which you’ll have to pay $1 for the first month. You can also upgrade to any of the paid plans:

• Basic: $39/month
• Shopify: $105/month
• Advanced: $399/month
• Plus: $2,300/month

Shopify will ask onboarding questions, such as what you want to sell and whether you already have an online store. This helps set up your account based on your business needs. However, answering these questions is optional. You can skip them or edit them later.

After creating your account, you’ll be given access to your dashboard. On the left side, click Products and select Add product.

This provides a page for you to input your product information, such as title, product description, and media. Since you intend to sell digital products, untick the box that says This is a physical product under Shipping. Then, save the status of your product listing as Draft instead of Active.

Step 3: Install the digital downloads app

An important step for selling digital products on Shopify is integrating a digital downloads app. This allows you to upload files like songs, art, and courses that customers can download after purchase.

To start, go to the Shopify app store and search for digital downloads. It’ll return a number of search results, but we’re choosing Digital Downloads by Shopify. It’s free and allows you to upload a maximum file size of 5GB per product.

Click Install to integrate the app with your Shopify store. Now, go back to the product listing we saved in the previous step. Click More actions and select Add digital file.

Click Add files to upload your digital product and Save to create a download link. 

You can add multiple files per product, which is great for bundling. Also, Shopify collections come in handy for organizing products by type, price, and custom criteria.

Step 4: Set pricing and delivery options

Now that your digital product is ready, it’s time to determine pricing. Pricing can be relative. However, several factors govern it, such as:

• Competitor pricing for similar products
• Cost of production
• Shopify’s transaction fees

Unlike physical products that require detailed shipping calculations, digital products are delivered instantly. After uploading your digital files, click on the Fulfillment bar to choose how the product will be delivered to customers. 

Selecting the Automatically send files option ensures the product is delivered immediately after payment. You can also limit the number of downloads to prevent unauthorized sharing.

Additionally, you can customize your Shopify checkout page to include your brand elements like logo, colors, and font. This can improve your brand’s perceived value and create a memorable shopping experience for users. It also offers upselling opportunities.

Step 5: Configure automated emails for delivery

The last but critical step on how to upload digital products on Shopify is notifying customers of their purchase. Shopify provides an email template you can send to customers when their requested file is ready for download. While this template serves its purpose, using a dedicated email marketing tool like Omnisend can improve customer experience.

Omnisend integrates directly with Shopify, allowing you to set up personalized, automated emails like in the example below. Its email workflow is highly customizable and allows you to offer discounts with follow-up emails.

Marketing strategies to sell digital products on Shopify

While knowing how to add digital products on Shopify is essential, the key to success is effectively marketing them to the right target audience. Here are some effective Shopify marketing strategies to help you reach more customers and drive conversions for your digital products:

Promote a free lead 

One of the most effective ways to market digital products is by offering a free sample. This could be a chapter from your ebook or a preview of your course content. This gives your potential customers a sneak peek of the value you’re offering.

This strategy works well when combined with email marketing. Customers will have to input their email addresses before they can access the free sample. It’s a win-win — customers get value right away, and you get a list of people interested in your product.

You can make the most of this strategy by using Omnisend to set up automated follow-up emails. For instance, after a customer downloads the free sample provided, Omnisend can send a series of emails to engage them, such as product highlights or special offers. This opens the door for upselling, as you can promote premium versions of the product or suggest related items based on their interest. 

Start an affiliate program for your digital product

Affiliate marketing can drive traffic and increase sales for your digital products on Shopify. When you partner with individuals or brands, they tell their audience about your product or share a preview to increase your reach. This approach is cost-effective, as you only pay for results.

Platforms like Shopify Collabs make it easy for store owners to find affiliates and influencers. You can also track their performance and handle payments all within Shopify.

When creating your affiliate program, look for ecommerce influencers whose audience matches your target demographic and who are in a similar niche. 

You can also offer commission-based promotions as an incentive for affiliates to promote your product actively. However, the commission rates should be tailored to each affiliate’s audience size and level of engagement. Influencers with a larger or more active following can be motivated to promote your product when the commission is high.

Collect preorders with early bird discounts

Building anticipation for your digital product while securing early sales is possible through strategic preorder campaigns. This approach allows customers to secure products in advance, enabling you to gauge interest and predict demand. 

Consider setting up tiered discounts to reward quick decision-makers. For instance:

• Tier 1: 50% off for the first 100 buyers (super early bird)
• Tier 2: 25% off for the next 100 buyers (early bird)
• Tier 3: Final preorder at 15% off (last chance)

Following this structure, early buyers get the best prices, while those who plan to buy later are encouraged to act quickly before the discounts expire. Add urgency by showing a real-time countdown timer or how many spots are left.

You can also leverage Omnisend’s first-order discount popup template to offer an exclusive discount to early birds and collect email addresses at the same time. You can then automate follow-up emails to keep customers informed about their preorders.

Offer a money-back guarantee

Money-back guarantees shouldn’t only be for physical products. They’re also crucial when selling digital products on Shopify. Although digital products can’t be physically defective or damaged, customers should still be given the option to ask for a refund if the product doesn’t meet their expectations. 

This strategy will make potential customers feel comfortable purchasing from you. This reassurance can help build trust, leading to higher conversion rates.

Just remember to clearly outline the terms of the guarantee. For instance, you can offer a 30-day “no questions asked” refund policy. It can also be a conditional guarantee, such as “complete your first module, and if you’re not satisfied, get a full refund.”

Ensure that the guarantee is prominently featured on your product pages, and use trust-building languages like “Try it risk-free.” You can also add customer testimonials as social proof to emphasize the authenticity of your offer. 

Bear in mind that although you may run the risk of processing refunds, the trust you build with your audience is worth far more than this small risk. 

Best digital products to sell on Shopify

When it comes to selling digital products on Shopify, the possibilities are vast. It’s crucial to identify the right product to sell to maximize your profits. Here are some of the best digital products to sell on Shopify:

• Ebooks and digital guides: Topics like fitness, finance, and self-help are always in high demand. People value expert insights and are often willing to pay for specialized content that offers actionable advice. These digital products are cost-effective to produce, yet you can market them as premium content.
• Digital art and designs: Artists and designers can sell their work as digital files. This includes illustrations, stock photos, and printable designs. These products have become popular due to their personalization options. They’re profitable for artists who want to expand their reach without the limitations of physical print production.
• Software and apps: Selling products like website templates, productivity tools, and browser extensions is a lucrative option, especially for developers and tech-savvy entrepreneurs. These digital products appeal to a broad audience. They often allow for tiered pricing or subscription models, which creates opportunities for additional revenue streams.
• Music, videos, and audio files: Media contents are in growing demand as they provide essential resources for content creators. Some popular examples include sound effects, background tracks, stock music, and video transitions. These files are versatile, as customers can use them in various projects like social media and professional presentations.
• Online courses and educational content: As people seek to learn new skills or hobbies from home, online courses have increased in popularity. From cooking classes to coding boot camps, creating a structured course on a topic you’re knowledgeable about can generate consistent revenue. This category has a high potential for premium pricing and can be combined with community features for added value.

10 best apps for selling digital products on Shopify

On the Shopify store app, you’ll find several apps to support key aspects of your business, such as marketing, product delivery, customer engagement, and payment processing. Here’s our list of the 10 best apps for selling digital products on Shopify:

• Digital Downloads by Shopify: This is Shopify’s native app for adding digital files, such as PDFs, JPEGs, ZIP files, and more, to your product directly from the app. It allows you to set download limits and send links at any time upon purchase. 
• Sky Pilot: This user-friendly app provides instant access links for downloads or video streaming. It enables subscriptions that you can sell through your own native app. 
• SendOwl: This app allows you to securely distribute any file or link as a downloadable product. It also offers PDF stamping, sales reporting, and automation tools to boost sales.
• FetchApp: It offers advanced features, such as the option to send updated releases to previous buyers and attach license keys to downloads. It can also consolidate order data and download statistics from multiple sales channels into a centralized dashboard.
• Omnisend: This all-in-one marketing app enhances digital product sales through email and SMS automation. It allows you to collect and display customer reviews, driving customer retention and repeat sales.
• ReCharge: Perfect for stores offering subscription-based digital products, ReCharge enables tiered discounts and cross-selling. You can also bundle products or allow customers to customize their own. 
• Stamped.io: This app enables users to collect and import customer reviews and ratings from Google and Instagram. It also provides rich snippets to improve store visibility on Google Shopping.
• Gumroad: This ecommerce platform allows creators to sell digital content, such as games, novels, and software. It integrates with Shopify using third-party apps for workflow automation.
• PDF Invoice and Order Printer: Ideal for professional invoicing, this app generates and customizes PDF invoices and receipts. It supports global sales by complying with international regulations and accommodating multiple languages. 
• Courses and Memberships by Bold: This app helps manage exclusive content access, subscriptions, and VIP tiers within your Shopify store. You can also collect recurring payments within the app. 

Why sell digital products on Shopify?

Selling digital products on Shopify offers a range of benefits. An in-depth review of Shopify offers insight into the features of this well-known ecommerce platform. That said, here are some key reasons why Shopify is a great platform for selling digital items:

• Low overhead: The reduced upfront costs are a key advantage of selling digital products on Shopify. This allows sellers to allocate more resources to marketing and content creation, driving sales and customer engagement.
• Scalability: Shopify can handle a vast catalog of products, making it suitable for businesses of all sizes. As your sales grow, you can quickly expand your product offerings without worrying about technical limitations. 
• Ease of use: The user interface is intuitive and user-friendly. Even those without technical expertise can easily learn how to sell digital products on Shopify. Anyone can create a professional-looking store and start selling their digital products.
• Automated delivery: Shopify enables instant, automatic file delivery after purchase, providing a seamless customer experience. There’s no need for manual order processing. You’ll also ensure the timely delivery of digital products.
• Multiple payment gateways: The platform supports numerous payment options, including credit cards, PayPal, and other commonly accepted methods. This flexibility allows your customers to choose their preferred payment method, increasing conversion rates and simplifying the checkout process.

Conclusion

Selling digital products on Shopify can be profitable when done right. The key to learning how to sell digital products on Shopify is to start with a high-demand digital product. Then, leverage effective marketing strategies to reach and convert your target audience.

From launching an affiliate program to scaling the business, the tactics shared in this guide can help you stand out in the crowded digital marketplace.

We also recommend using Omnisend, a powerful email marketing and automation platform that integrates directly with Shopify. This tool can help nurture leads and automate personalized product delivery emails. It also enables you to execute targeted campaigns to drive upsells and repeat purchases for your digital products.

A combination of Shopify and Omnisend creates a winning formula for selling digital products on Shopify in 2025 and beyond. 

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