How to Make and Sell Digital Items on Etsy?

how to sell on etsy

99 percent of successful shops begin with successful products. What does this mean? Before we explore how to start selling Digital Items on Etsy, it is essential to conduct market and product research on Digital Items.

There are many things to consider:

  • Is selling Digital Items on Etsy a good idea?
  • How to create/make Digital Items to sell on Etsy?
  • Which types of Digital Items products are popular on Etsy?
  • How many sellers are selling Digital Items on Etsy?
  • What can you learn from the top Etsy sellers in Digital Items?
  • How much does it cost to sell Digital Items on Etsy?
  • How to make your Digital Items shop stand out on Etsy?

Feeling a bit complicated? No idea where to get useful information about Digital Items? Don't worry, there's more help available today - although Etsy is evolving every day, an amazing Etsy seller tool can give you almost everything you want in a timely manner.

Take a sip of coffee. Let's move on to How to sell Digital Items on Etsy.

As a reminder, all the data below comes from EtsyHunt, which has a huge and growing database of Etsy sellers and products. More importantly, it will help us to spy on sellers who sell Digital Items on Etsy, as well as what's trending in Digital Items on Etsy.


Is it a good idea to sell Digital Items on Etsy

The key is to estimate the profitability and competition of selling Digital Items products on Etsy.

First, do a quick search for the keyword "Digital Items" to assess demand and competition.

For the keyword "Digital Items", the views is 8406521, and the favorites is 21808. Meanwhile, there will be at least 79 competitors on Etsy. Obviously, making Digital Items to sell on Etsy is a good choice.

Then, let's look at the best-selling Digital Items products to estimate the profit.

When calculating the profit of a competitor's product, the formula can be: Profit = Sales X Average Price - Etsy Fees.

Regarding the fees for selling Digital Items products on Etsy, we will need a free Etsy fee&profit calculator. You will find these posts I wrote helpful:

As for sales and pricing, the sales is 6844, and the average price of Digital Items product is 25.63.

We've gone over a rough market analysis of selling Digital Items on Etsy. There is no doubt that the profit opportunity of Etsy Digital Items is real and can be high. Now, the next step would be to find out your niche and learn how to generate passive income over time.


How to create Digital Items to sell on Etsy?

Everyone will have their own set of methods, but I offer 4 easier steps to get started on how to sell Digital Items on Etsy.

1. Find your niche for your Digital Items shop

Millions of people are shopping or selling unique and creative products on Etsy. Here are the top 20 most popular Digital Items products in which your niche may be hidden. You can get inspiration from them to make your unique Digital Items products.

# Image Product Total Sales Learn More
1
Magic World Clipart Collection - Carnival Clipart - Carnival Items - Personal Use - Commercial Use - Digital Download
Magic World Clipart Collection - Carnival Clipart - Carnival Items - Personal Use - Commercial Use - Digital Download
1,387
2
Crochet Toothless and the Light Fury PDF Patterns - (Digital Pattern only, NOT the finished, tangible items)
Crochet Toothless and the Light Fury PDF Patterns - (Digital Pattern only, NOT the finished, tangible items)
1,469
3
500+ Designs Bundle Layered Items, Svg, Png, Dxf, Eps, Clipart, Vector Cricut, Cut File, Digital Vector file, 125+ UNIQUE DESIGN
500+ Designs Bundle Layered Items, Svg, Png, Dxf, Eps, Clipart, Vector Cricut, Cut File, Digital Vector file, 125+ UNIQUE DESIGN
226
4
Beginner Bat Sewing Pattern  - PDF Digital Download - Plush Sewing DIY Project - No Physical Items Sent
Beginner Bat Sewing Pattern - PDF Digital Download - Plush Sewing DIY Project - No Physical Items Sent
1,620
5
Crow Stuffed Animal Sewing Pattern - PDF Digital Download - Plush Sewing DIY Project - No Physical Items Sent
Crow Stuffed Animal Sewing Pattern - PDF Digital Download - Plush Sewing DIY Project - No Physical Items Sent
1,606
6
Letter Banks (Set of 26 Letters) - Ai, SVG, PDF, DXF - Digital Download - No Physical Items Included
Letter Banks (Set of 26 Letters) - Ai, SVG, PDF, DXF - Digital Download - No Physical Items Included
793
7
Glowforge Pins Starter Pack - honeycomb pins - Alignment Tools - crumb tray - holding material tools DIGITAL CUT FILE
Glowforge Pins Starter Pack - honeycomb pins - Alignment Tools - crumb tray - holding material tools DIGITAL CUT FILE
163
8
Halloween Clipart Collection - Carnival Clipart - Carnival Items - Personal Use - Commercial Use - Digital Download
Halloween Clipart Collection - Carnival Clipart - Carnival Items - Personal Use - Commercial Use - Digital Download
546
9
Frozen Clipart, Free Layered SVG, Elsa PNG, Anna Printable, Olaf Digital Download, Letters Numbers, transparent background, birthday items
Frozen Clipart, Free Layered SVG, Elsa PNG, Anna Printable, Olaf Digital Download, Letters Numbers, transparent background, birthday items
280
10
Frog Sewing Pattern - PDF Digital Download - Plush Sewing DIY Project - No Physical Items Sent
Frog Sewing Pattern - PDF Digital Download - Plush Sewing DIY Project - No Physical Items Sent
342
11
Stuffed Animal Bat Sewing Pattern - PDF Digital Download - Plush Sewing DIY Project - No Physical Items Sent
Stuffed Animal Bat Sewing Pattern - PDF Digital Download - Plush Sewing DIY Project - No Physical Items Sent
10,918
12
Sitting Kitty Cat Stuffed Animal Sewing Pattern - PDF Digital Download - Plush Sewing DIY Project - No Physical Items Sent
Sitting Kitty Cat Stuffed Animal Sewing Pattern - PDF Digital Download - Plush Sewing DIY Project - No Physical Items Sent
1,341
13
Alabama SVG Cutting Files for Cricut, Silhouette, Glowforge - American Football Team Fan T Shirt Design - Football Season Mom Sister Dad
Alabama SVG Cutting Files for Cricut, Silhouette, Glowforge - American Football Team Fan T Shirt Design - Football Season Mom Sister Dad
117
14
Halloween Clipart Collection - Carnival Clipart - Carnival Items - Personal Use - Commercial Use - Digital Download
Halloween Clipart Collection - Carnival Clipart - Carnival Items - Personal Use - Commercial Use - Digital Download
80
15
BOHO Clipart, Instant Download BOHO svg, png, pdf, eps, jpg, dxf, Digital Clipart Files, Summer BOHO Clipart Elements, Laser cut, Cricut svg
BOHO Clipart, Instant Download BOHO svg, png, pdf, eps, jpg, dxf, Digital Clipart Files, Summer BOHO Clipart Elements, Laser cut, Cricut svg
92
16
Air Jordan digital papers, Jordan scrapbook, Jordan patterns, Jordan digital paper - 30x30 cms 300 dpi
Air Jordan digital papers, Jordan scrapbook, Jordan patterns, Jordan digital paper - 30x30 cms 300 dpi
221
17
Stuffed Animal Stingray Sewing Pattern - PDF Digital Download - Plush Sewing DIY Project - No Physical Items Sent
Stuffed Animal Stingray Sewing Pattern - PDF Digital Download - Plush Sewing DIY Project - No Physical Items Sent
1,763
18
Bookish Gifts, Edgar Allan Poe Gift,  Gothic Home Decor, Bookworm Gifts
Bookish Gifts, Edgar Allan Poe Gift, Gothic Home Decor, Bookworm Gifts
220
19
Dinosaur and Loch Ness Monster Stuffed Animal Sewing Pattern  - PDF Digital Download - Plush Sewing DIY Project - No Physical Items Sent
Dinosaur and Loch Ness Monster Stuffed Animal Sewing Pattern - PDF Digital Download - Plush Sewing DIY Project - No Physical Items Sent
1,066
20
Betta Fish Stuffed Animal Sewing Pattern - PDF Digital Download - Plush Sewing DIY Project - No Physical Items Sent
Betta Fish Stuffed Animal Sewing Pattern - PDF Digital Download - Plush Sewing DIY Project - No Physical Items Sent
1,375

2. Determine how to make Digital Items to sell online.

For how to make Digital Items, you can choose to make it entirely at home, or consider using some tools to implement your ideas.

Learning from your competitors is an effective way. Check out the following 20 best-selling Digital Items on Etsy for inspiration. Or the latest Etsy trends.

# Image Shop Total Sales Learn More
1
EatSleepScribble
EatSleepScribble
2,716
2
ImaginedYarn
ImaginedYarn
4,331
3
NyksArtCo
NyksArtCo
5,597
4
BeeZeeArt
BeeZeeArt
23,814
5
BeeZeeArt
BeeZeeArt
23,814
6
bigbluelaserdesigns
bigbluelaserdesigns
33,873
7
CutwoodCo
CutwoodCo
12,044
8
EatSleepScribble
EatSleepScribble
2,716
9
DisynePlus
DisynePlus
63,585
10
BeeZeeArt
BeeZeeArt
23,814
11
BeeZeeArt
BeeZeeArt
23,814
12
BeeZeeArt
BeeZeeArt
23,814
13
Mdigitaldesign
Mdigitaldesign
23,138
14
EatSleepScribble
EatSleepScribble
2,716
15
FringeKreative
FringeKreative
3,294
16
TheLocozStore
TheLocozStore
0
17
BeeZeeArt
BeeZeeArt
23,814
18
TheMediocreWitch
TheMediocreWitch
327
19
BeeZeeArt
BeeZeeArt
23,814
20
BeeZeeArt
BeeZeeArt
23,814

3. Learn how to sell Digital Items on Etsy.

Test your Product first. For example, making some samples and posting them on Instagram and Pinterest. Ask your friends and followers some questions:

  • Do you like the Digital Items product I made?
  • If you like it, do you want to buy it?
  • If you are considering buying it, how much are you willing to pay for it?
  • If you buy it, how long are you willing to wait?
  • If you don't like it, why?

The answers would help optimize your Digital Items products.

Next, set up an Etsy account to start selling on Etsy. The 2 must-dos are:

  • Build a consistent and unique brand for your Digital Items shop. Shop name, logo, brand colors, fonts, mission and vision, and packaging...... all need to be considered.
  • List your Digital Items items and make sure to optimize the listings. A good listing includes a thorough description, professional images, keywords related to your product, and the best category or subcategory for your Digital Items products.

Attention, you should recognize the limitations of selling on Etsy. You can sell Digital Items on other 18 sites like Etsy. Also, you should consider opening a Global Etsy Shop (read more on Etsy International Shipping: Road to a Global Etsy Shop).


4. Decide how to ship Digital Items on Etsy.

Unlike on Amazon and Walmart, the shipping process on Etsy is entirely the responsibility of the sellers. It is essential for you to read Etsy's shipping policies and create shipping strategies. Here are two suggestions to win customers:

(1) Choose appropriate delivery dates and postage rates.

For your references. After entering the keyword "Digital Items" on the Etsy keyword research tool, we can see the average shipping time of Digital Items products is 9. In addition, some of the Digital Items sellers attract customers by using Etsy free shipping.

(2) Provide a consistent, professional appearance to your Digital Items packages.

You should think of a unique package for your Digital Items products, and purchase all the materials needed in bulk. Here is a post on how to find packaging ideas - Etsy Jewelry Box: The Way to Impress your Customers.


You're ready to make Digital Items to sell on Etsy!

Knowing how to sell Digital Items on Etsy is the first step. It's time to move on to the next level - Try and learn more.

  • How do you manage your Digital Items shop each week?
  • How do you keep going when there are no sales?
  • How do you promote your Digital Items shop when sales growth is stagnant?

The following articles will help you:

Etsy seller Guide

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