What Are Digital Downloads? A Simple Guide to Selling Online (2024)

Do you want to make money online without selling physical products? Offering digital downloads is a great way to achieve this goal.

Digital content has revolutionized how we consume products, from music and movies to software and e-books. Selling virtual products is an excellent way to generate passive income.

But what exactly are digital downloads, and how do they work? This comprehensive guide answers that and more.

🔎 In this step-by-step guide, I’ll cover:

What Are Digital Downloads?

Digital downloads are electronic files that can be purchased and downloaded from the internet. These files are typically delivered in digital formats, such as PDF, MP3, or video.

Unlike physical products, digital products don’t require shipping or handling. This makes them convenient, accessible, and often more affordable.

Common examples of digital downloads to sell include:

• Documents
• eBooks
• Music files
• Software
• Online courses
• WordPress themes & plugins
• Stock photos
• Templates & spreadsheets
• Graphics & digital art
• Fonts

🔎 Check out more ideas for digital downloads to sell.

How Digital Downloads Work

File downloads offer a convenient way to purchase and access a wide range of content. Generally, downloads consist of a three-step process: purchase, download, and access.

To start, the user visits an online store or marketplace, browses and selects the desired item, and purchases the digital content.

Once the payment is processed, they receive a confirmation email with a download link or code used to download the content. Then the customer can access the downloaded file on their device.

For music and movies, a media player app may open and play the file. For eBooks, use an e-reader app or software. For software or other types of digital content, the seller provides instructions.

Though not always the case, digital downloads are often available in multiple formats. That makes it easier for customers to choose their preferred and compatible format. Some may include DRM (Digital Rights Management) protection, which restricts how to use and share the content.

Pros and Cons of Digital Downloads

There are many benefits of digital and downloadable content. They’re beneficial to both buyers and sellers. Some of the biggest pros include:

• Convenience: Digital files are instantly accessible, eliminating the need to wait for shipping.
• Accessibility: You can access digital content from anywhere with an internet connection.
• Cost-effectiveness: Downloads often have lower prices than physical products due to reduced production and distribution costs.
• Environmental friendliness: Digital products reduce the need for physical materials and transportation, making them more eco-friendly.

Like any product, though, downloads don’t come without disadvantages. One of the biggest challenges is piracy. Digital downloads are vulnerable to piracy, which can harm creators and businesses.

Another obstacle is technical limitations. For example, some files may have compatibility issues or require specific software or hardware.

Selling Digital Downloads

If you want to get started in the world of eCommerce, digital content is an excellent place to start. The step-by-step process varies depending on what and where you’re selling.

Below, I’ll go over the key steps.

Choose an eCommerce Platform

There are many platforms and online marketplaces where you can sell digital content. While marketplaces like Etsy let you quickly list a product, they offer few customization options. They also tend to come with high fees and limited control.

Therefore, I always recommend selling directly to customers through your own website.

✅ Learn more about Marketplaces vs Your Own Store.

Why Use WordPress + EDD

WordPress is a popular platform for building websites, and it’s an excellent choice for selling digital products. You have complete control over your website’s design and functionality. Plus, countless plugins and themes are available to suit your specific needs.

Easy Digital Downloads (EDD) is a leading eCommerce plugin for WordPress that makes selling digital downloads easy. It comes with a full shopping cart system, reliable payment gateways like Stripe, and download and customer management.

It offers many extensions to optimize, manage, and promote your store. For instance, the Free Downloads add-on lets you use free digital downloads as lead magnets on your site.

🏷 Compare EDD Free and EDD Pro.

Set Competitive Prices

The pricing of your products will depend on various factors. This includes the type of product, its quality, and demand. It’s smart to research your competitors and set a competitive price while still allowing you to make a profit.

Market and Promote Your Product

Marketing your products is essential to making sales. Promote your downloads through social media, email marketing, and content marketing and Search Engine Optimization (SEO).

It’s also a good idea to offer discounts or promotions to encourage customers to buy.

For more in-depth guidance, check out the following:

💡Tips for Promoting Your Digital Products

🛒 How to Get Started With Affiliate Marketing

🌐 Effective Marketing Strategies to Increase Sales

Offer Excellent Customer Support

Running a successful eCommerce business means providing a solid customer experience even after the sale is made.

Have a clear refund policy and a customer support system in place. You can use EDD built-in refund system to process refunds and offer customer support through email or a support ticket system.

💡 Learn more ways to improve customer support.

How to Sell Digital Downloads With WordPress

For WordPress users, setting up your digital download store is incredibly simple.

Don’t have a WordPress website yet? Sign up for SiteGround’s Managed EDD Hosting. You’ll be able to get your site set up in no time.

Step 1. Get EDD

The first step is to download and installEDD on your WordPress site (Plugins » Add New). Once you activate the plugin, click Get Started to launch the Onboarding Wizard.

This takes you through the initial key steps of setting up your online store. For example, you can set up Stripe as your payment gateway, enter info about your business, install conversion and optimization tools, and add your first product.

⚙️ Check out our EDD Quickstart Guide for help.

Step 2. Add Your Digital Download(s) to Sell

The next step is to add the product you’re selling as a digital download. EDD refers to all digital products as ‘downloads’.

To begin, go toDownloadsand select theAdd Newbutton.

On the next screen, name the download and add a description.

I’ll use a PDF guide as an example. Next, set the price you want to sell the digital product for under Download Prices.

Then go to the Download Files section. This part is important; it’s where you’ll upload the file your customers will purchase and download.

In the File Name field, add something such as “Download PDF”. This will be the auto-expiring link included in your shoppers’ purchase confirmation email and on their download page.

Next, click on the link icon under File URL to upload the digital download file (in this case, a PDF).

Finally, add aDownload Image under the settings on the right to display on the digital download product page.

Step 3. Publish, Promote & Sell Your Downloads

When you’re done, selectPublish at the top of the page. Then click on View download to see how your product page looks from the front end of your website.

If you have a payment gateway setup, you can also go through the checkout process to ensure everything looks and functions correctly. To activate a payment gateway or enable Test Mode on your site, you can do so under Downloads » Settings Payments.

You can also find the tabs for Emails, Marketing, Extensions, and more in these settings.

Explore these options and tools to help you customize your online store and develop your marketing strategy. For instance, you can integrate third-party apps and connect with email marketing services that can help you promote your digital downloads.

FAQs About Digital Downloads

Let’s wrap up by answering some frequently asked questions.

Use EDD to Sell Digital Downloads

Digital content has become an integral part of our modern lives. By understanding the benefits, challenges, and best practices associated with downloads, you can make informed decisions as a consumer or seller.

EDD is a powerful tool that lets you create a digital download store quickly and easily. It comes with built-in features like payment processing, download management, and customer management.

Ready to start selling digital content from your WordPress site?

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