By Charles S. Mombo
In today’s political uncertainty and amid unexpected layoffs, generating passive income is more urgent than ever. As the Liberian saying goes, “Hard times make a monkey eat pepper. ” This reminds us to leverage our talents and not rely solely on a bi-weekly paycheck.
Selling premade digital products such as eBooks, templates, online courses, stock photos, or software necessitates some initial effort, but the rewards are worth it. Once created, these products can be sold repeatedly with no additional production costs.
There are two primary ways to embark on this journey: creating the digital product yourself or purchasing a pre-made digital product, rebrand them (which is allowed), and sell them for a profit. For instance, I create digital products by writing my paperbacks and eBooks or capturing stock images while exploring my two favorite cities: Chicago and Lisbon. You may not realize it, but even a casual photo of a Chicago Public Transportation (CTA) bus or a Pastel de Nata (the beloved Portuguese custard tart) can be sold as a stock image. The banner image at the top of this post illustrates a sellable stock photo; I leaned my bike against a wall adorned with plants, took a picture, and sold it. Companies need images for their websites, presentations, and more, but they can’t simply take them from the internet due to potential copyright issues.
Below, I will walk you through a step-by-step guide on successfully selling premade digital products.
1. Choose a Profitable Digital Product
Not every digital product is a success. To boost your chances of thriving, concentrate on products that:
• Solve a problem – People buy solutions, so identify pain points within your target audience.
• Have proven demand – Research marketplaces (e.g., Etsy, Gumroad, Udemy) to see what sells.
• Leverage your expertise – Create something based on your knowledge and experience.
Examples of High-Demand Digital Products:
• E-books & guides – Educational content, industry insights, or how-to guides.
• Templates & planners – Business templates, budgeting spreadsheets, or design assets.
• Online courses & video tutorials – Training for specific skills or certifications.
• Stock assets – Photos, videos, music, fonts, or graphic design elements.
• Software & tools – Web applications, automation scripts, or mobile apps.
2. Create a High-Quality Product
Since digital products are intangible, customers judge them based on presentation and perceived value. Ensure your product is:
• Well-designed and user-friendly – Clarity and ease of use are essential.
• Comprehensive but concise – It should deliver value without unnecessary fluff.
• Professionally formatted – Use polished graphics, clean layouts, and high-resolution content.
Tools to Create Digital Products:
• Canva, Adobe Suite – For designing templates, planners, and e-books.
• Loom, Camtasia – For recording and editing video tutorials.
• Notion, Google Sheets – For creating and organizing digital planners.
• Scrivener, Google Docs – For writing and formatting e-books.
• Bubble, Glide, WordPress – For developing no-code software or web applications.
3. Choose the Right Selling Platform
You can sell digital products on marketplaces (which provide built-in traffic) or your website (which allows you to control branding and pricing completely).
Popular Marketplaces:
• Gumroad – Ideal for e-books, courses, and templates.
• Etsy – Great for selling digital planners, design templates, and printables.
• Udemy, Teachable – Best for structured online courses.
• Creative Market, Envato Elements – For graphic assets, fonts, and stock content.
Selling on Your Website:
• E-commerce platforms: Shopify, WooCommerce (WordPress), or Squarespace.
• Payment processors (Gateways): Stripe, PayPal, or Sellfy for secure transactions.
Tip: Marketplaces handle customer discovery but take a commission. Selling on your site requires marketing but offers higher profit margins.
4. Price Your Digital Product Strategically
Pricing depends on perceived value, competition, and target audience. Consider:
• Competitive research – Compare similar products in your niche.
• Value-based pricing – Price based on the problem solved, not production cost.
• Tiered pricing – Offer different versions (e.g., basic vs. premium).
Example: In selling my most popular book, “Lisbon Explored: Unforgettable Experiences and Endless Charm Await,” I priced it as follows:
• eBook: $9.99
• Paperback: $21.96 (This portable 330-page book features large, clear fonts for easy readability, ensuring a comfortable experience for readers of all ages with sharp, high-quality print.)
5. Market and Sell Your Digital Product
A great product won’t sell itself. You need a strong marketing strategy.
Essential Marketing Strategies:
1. SEO & Organic Traffic
• Optimize your product listing with keywords people search for.
• Write blog posts or create YouTube videos around related topics.
2. Social Media Promotion
• Showcase your product on Instagram, Pinterest, and LinkedIn.
• Engage in niche communities on Reddit, Facebook, or Twitter.
3. Email Marketing
• Build an email list by offering a free sample or lead magnet.
• Send value-packed emails with occasional product promotions.
4. Paid Ads (optional)
• Use Facebook, Instagram, or Google Ads for targeted reach.
• Test different ad creatives and track conversion rates.
Tip: Create a sales funnel—a sequence that moves visitors from discovery to purchase (e.g., free content →, email signup → product offer).
6. Automate Delivery and Customer Support
Digital product sales should be as hands-off as possible. Automate key processes:
• Instant delivery – Platforms like Gumroad or Shopify automatically send download links after purchase.
• FAQs & self-service support – A simple help page can reduce customer inquiries.
• Chatbots & email automation – Use tools like Zendesk or ConvertKit for customer interactions.
7. Scale and Optimize
Once you’ve successfully sold your first digital products, focus on scaling:
• Expand product offerings – Create bundles, add-ons, or related products.
• Refine marketing strategies – Double down on what works (SEO, ads, partnerships).
• Improve conversion rates – Test product descriptions, pricing, and images.
Here’s my final take: Selling premade digital products is a great way to generate passive income while tapping into your expertise. The key to success lies in choosing the right product, creating high-quality content, selecting the right platform, and marketing effectively. Once your system is set up, your digital products can sell around the clock with minimal effort.
Don’t forget to follow @mombo_books and @surgesynergy on Instagram for updates!