How to Sell Digital Products on Shopify?

So many people are enticed by the eCommerce industry, but most are taken aback by the significant upfront costs, from inventory to warehousing. These overheads not only drain resources but also limit scalability and geographic reach.

But to start your business or even further, you can sell digital products on Shopify. That will eliminate physical constraints and open doors to a global market with minimal initial investment.

Through this blog, I’ll explain what the Shopify development experts recommend when it comes to selling digital products through this platform.

How to Sell Digital Products on Shopify?

Let’s take a look at how you can create the best Shopify store for selling digital products. Here’s the step-by-step process.

Install a Digital Products App

Shopify’s core functionality is geared towards physical products. To efficiently deliver digital goods, you’ll need a dedicated app from the Shopify App Store. These apps automate the delivery process, ensuring customers receive their files after purchase.

Some of the best apps for selling digital products on Shopify are Digital Downloads, Easy Digital Products, Sky Pilot, and LDT Digital Downloads. All of these products have free plans available, along with paid ones with more extensive features.

Search for the app in the Shopify App Store, click “Add app” and follow the installation prompts. You’ll likely need to grant the app certain permissions to access your store data.

Add Digital Products to Your Shopify Store

Once you have a digital delivery app installed, you can start adding your products. The process is similar to adding physical products but with a few key differences.

In your Shopify admin, go to “Products” and click “Add product”. Then fill in the usual details:

• Title: Give your product a clear and descriptive name.
• Description: Write a compelling description highlighting the benefits and features of your digital product. Use high-quality images or mockups to showcase your product.
• Pricing: Set your price.

Now comes the digital products part of the process. In the product editing page, you’ll find a section (usually provided by the app) to upload your file(s). Supported file types commonly include PDFs, ZIP archives, MP3s, MP4s, and more.

Go through the relevant process according to your chosen app.

Disable Shipping for Digital Products

Since you’re selling digital items, you don’t need to charge for or calculate shipping. It’s essential to disable shipping for these products to avoid confusion for customers.

For that, you’ll find the “Shipping” section within the product editor. Uncheck the “This is a physical product.” option. That will remove the shipping options for that specific product.

If you are selling multiple digital products, go for the bulk editor to disable shipping for them at once.

Set Up Email Templates

While most digital product apps handle automatic delivery emails, customizing these emails can enhance the customer experience. You can usually customize the email subject line, body text, and sender information.

Shopify uses a templating language called Liquid, which allows you to insert dynamic content into your emails. Common variables include:

{{ order.name }}: The order number.

{{ customer.email }}: The customer’s email address.

{{ product.title }}: The product name.

{{ order.created_at | date: “%m/%d/%y” }}: The order date.

Before saving your changes, preview the email to ensure it looks correct. Many apps also allow you to send test emails to yourself.

Optimize Product Pages for Search

Just like with physical products, optimizing your digital product pages for search engines is crucial for driving organic traffic to your store. Here are a few key strategies:

• Keyword Research: Identify relevant keywords your target audience uses when searching for products like yours. Use tools like Google Keyword Planner, Ahrefs, or Semrush.
• Optimize Product Titles: Use your primary keyword naturally in the product title. Keep it concise and descriptive (under 60 characters to avoid truncation in search results).
• Write Compelling Product Descriptions: Use a mix of primary and related keywords throughout the description. Focus on the benefits of your product and use clear, concise language.
• Optimize Product Images: Use high-quality images and compress them for faster loading times. Add descriptive alt text to each image, including relevant keywords.
• Optimize URL Structure: Use short, descriptive URLs that include your primary keyword (e.g., [invalid URL removed]).

For this part of the process, you can consult with our professional Shopify agency. Our team has some outstanding SEO experts to help deliver the best results with the target audience.

Promote Your Products

Promoting your digital products is essential for driving traffic to your Shopify store and generating sales. Here’s a breakdown of effective promotion strategies:

• Content Marketing: Creating and distributing valuable, relevant, and consistent content to attract and engage a clearly defined audience — ultimately, to drive profitable customer action.
• Search Engine Optimization (SEO): Optimizing your website and product pages to rank higher in search engine results pages (SERPs).
• Email Marketing: Building an email list and sending targeted emails to promote your products, offer discounts, or provide valuable content.
• Social Media Marketing: Using social media platforms to connect with your target audience, build brand awareness, and promote your products.
• Paid Advertising: Using paid advertising platforms like Google Ads, Facebook Ads, or Instagram Ads to reach a wider audience.
• Affiliate Marketing: Partnering with other businesses or individuals through affiliate marketing to promote your products in exchange for a commission on each sale.
• Influencer Marketing: Collaborating with influential people in your niche to promote your products to their followers.

Remember to track your results and adjust your strategies as needed to optimize your marketing efforts.

If you need help with selling digital products on your Shopify store, get our services and follow the best practices.

Best Practices for Selling Digital Products on Shopify

Now that you understand the basics of selling the digital products on Shopify products, there are a few best practices that will serve you well.

• Choose the Right App: Select a robust digital delivery app that meets your specific needs (e.g., file size, security, features).
• Optimize Product Pages: Use compelling descriptions, high-quality images/mockups, and relevant keywords for SEO.
• Disable Shipping: Prevent checkout confusion and errors by clearly disabling shipping for digital products.
• Automate Delivery: Ensure seamless and instant delivery of digital files after purchase using your chosen app.
• Customize Email Templates: Brand your delivery emails and provide clear download instructions for a positive customer experience.
• Offer Multiple File Formats: Cater to different customer needs by providing various file formats (e.g., PDF, EPUB, MOBI for ebooks).
• Secure Your Files: Protect your digital assets from unauthorized sharing or piracy using features like download limits or PDF stamping.
• Provide Excellent Customer Support: Offer prompt and helpful support to address any customer issues or questions.
• Market Your Products Effectively: Utilize various marketing channels like content marketing, email marketing, and social media.
• Track and Analyze Results: Monitor your sales, traffic, and other key metrics to identify areas for improvement and optimize your strategy.

By implementing these practices, you can expect the best results. But what kind of benefits will they be?

Benefits of Selling Digital Products on Shopify

Selling digital products through your Shopify store can introduce a wealth of benefits for entrepreneurs, including:

• Lower Overhead Costs: Eliminate expenses associated with physical products like manufacturing, storage, packaging, and shipping.
• Higher Profit Margins: With minimal production and distribution costs, you retain a larger portion of each sale as profit.
• Automated Delivery: Digital products can be delivered instantly and automatically after purchase, streamlining the fulfillment process.
• Scalability: Easily scale your business without worrying about inventory limitations or increased shipping costs.
• Global Reach: Sell your products to customers anywhere in the world with an internet connection.
• No Inventory Management: Avoid the complexities of managing physical stock, tracking inventory levels, and dealing with storage space.
• Passive Income Potential: Once created, your digital products can generate ongoing revenue with minimal additional effort.
• Flexibility and Variety: Offer a wide range of digital products, including ebooks, online courses, music, software, templates, and more.
• Direct Customer Relationships: Build stronger connections with customers through email marketing and direct communication.
• Easy Updates and Revisions: Quickly and easily update or revise your digital products as needed without incurring additional production costs.

Want the best of these benefits? Then get our services and create a profitable and sustainable online business.

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FAQs on Selling Digital Products on Shopify

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Let’s Summarize

Selling digital products on Shopify presents a compelling opportunity for entrepreneurs seeking a scalable and cost-effective online business. It involves selecting the right digital delivery app, disabling the shipping, customizing the email templates, and ensuring clear instructions.

Remember, protecting your valuable digital assets through download limits or other security measures is paramount. Beyond the technical setup, effective promotion is essential.

Are you on the lookout for building the best digital product business? Then connect with us today!