Think Digital Products Are Easy Money?

What They Won’t Tell You About Selling Digital Products

Author

Miroslav Novohradsky
January 19, 2025

In partnership with

Digital products get hyped as the golden ticket to easy money.

Just create, upload, and watch the cash roll in.

At least, that’s what influencers and so-called “business gurus” want you to believe.

To be honest, behind the shiny promises are some hard truths no one’s talking about.

So, if you are selling digital products on Etsy, let’s talk.

A SPECIAL OFFER FOR YOU FROM OUR SPONSOR

Save 13 Hours Weekly of Podcast Pitching with PodPitch.com

It's 2025. Want to finally be a regular podcast guest in your industry? PodPitch will make it happen. Even the beehiiv team uses it!

The best way to advertise isn't Meta or Google – it's appearing on dozens of podcasts that your customers already love.

You could write a few emails yourself to podcast hosts...

Or you could automate thousands of emails going out weekly, pitching your people as the PERFECT next podcast guest.

  • Log in with your email

  • Load your brand info

  • Click "automate"

Emails pitching your team as the perfect next guest will start sending out automatically to podcast hosts.

Big brands like Feastables are already using it instead of expensive PR Agencies.

MYTH #1
"Passive" Income Is a Myth

Digital products are often sold as the ultimate source of passive income.

But calling it “passive” is like calling a marathon a casual stroll.

Here’s why:

  • Upfront Work: Creating a digital product, like an online course, a template, or an eBook, requires intense effort. You'll spend countless hours planning, designing, and refining.

  • Ongoing Maintenance: Products don’t just sell themselves. You have to update them, market them, and keep them relevant. Letting your product go stale is the fastest way to lose sales.

  • Marketing Isn’t Magic: You’ll need to run ads, optimize for search engines, and regularly post content to keep your audience engaged.

It’s better to think of digital products as scalable income.

Once the groundwork is laid, you can sell the same product to multiple people without additional work.

But don’t expect to hit cruise control and watch the dollars pour in.

MYTH #2
Not Everyone Can Do It

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but not everyone will make a living selling digital products.

  • Oversaturation: Digital products are a crowded market. Templates, courses, and guides flood platforms like Etsy, Gumroad, and Shopify. Breaking through the noise requires a unique edge.

  • Piracy: You might create the perfect template or course, only for someone to tweak it slightly and sell it as their own. Yes, digital theft is a thing.

  • Skills Required: Selling a digital product isn’t just about having a good idea. You’ll need to master SEO, copywriting, and possibly video editing.

For example, creating a product for a specific niche, like a theater production budget template, requires deep knowledge of that field. If you can’t solve a unique problem for your audience, success will be elusive.

MYTH #3
A "Good Idea" Isn’t Enough

Having a clever idea is great, but unless people actually want it, you’ll have a tough time selling. This is where product validation comes in.

To validate a product, you need an audience. Ask them directly if your idea solves a problem they care about.

For instance, a “personal finance template” might sound useful, but what specific needs does it address? Is it for small businesses? Freelancers? People tracking multiple bank accounts?

Testing the waters before diving in is essential. Otherwise, you might waste time creating something no one buys.

MYTH #4
Marketing Is a Full-Time Job

Once your product is live, the real work begins: marketing.

No, you can’t just “slap it online” and expect sales to roll in.

Successful sellers spend hours promoting their products through:

  • SEO: Optimizing blog posts and product pages to rank higher in search results.

  • Social Media: Consistently posting engaging content to draw people to your sales funnel.

  • Email Campaigns: Nurturing leads through email to build trust and close sales.

A well-thought-out marketing strategy is non-negotiable. Even with a niche product, without proper promotion, your masterpiece could sit unnoticed.

MYTH #5
You Need Thick Skin

Selling digital products isn’t always rainbows and unicorns.

Be prepared for:

  • Negative Feedback: Someone will inevitably complain, even if your product is great.

  • Technical Issues: Payment gateways can fail, download links break, and customer inquiries pile up.

  • Slow Starts: It might take months (or years) to see significant income.

Building resilience is crucial. Treat every challenge as a learning opportunity, and don’t give up when the going gets tough.

Digital products can be a great source of income, but they’re far from an easy win.

The gurus selling you dreams of effortless wealth are leaving out the hard parts. Like how much time, energy, and skill it really takes.

If you’re ready to sell them, just make sure you have realistic expectations, a clear niche, and a willingness to adapt.

The rewards are there, but they come to those who put in the work.

Have a wonderful day,

Miroslav from The Design Nexus

TOOLS YOU SHOULD TRY

Even if you sell products other than mugs or t-shirts, it doesn't mean it will cost you more.

There are tools that can help you with the tasks, and most of them have free versions.

Disclaimer: Within the article, you will find affiliate links. If you decide to purchase through these links, I want to sincerely assure you that I will receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Reply

or to participate.