What if your content could generate additional income alongside your ad revenue? Selling digital products is a proven way to do this, especially when those products align closely with the type of content you create. In this guide, we’ll show you how you can grow your channel and income stream by using this effective approach.

Why selling digital products works

Platform monetisation is an unpredictable business. Ad rates can fluctuate month to month, sponsorship opportunities can be sporadic, and you are always at the mercy of the ever-evolving algorithm. Selling products can give you more control over your earnings and allow you to build a business around your audience rather than relying entirely on third-party platforms.

If done well, it can also give your channel a level of legitimacy, while simultaneously establishing a deeper connection with your community. Instead of simply watching your content, your audience has an opportunity to purchase products that relate to what you offer in your videos. This can transform casual viewers into loyal fans who are willing to actively invest in your brand.

The best part is that no matter what your videos are about, there’s usually something of value you can turn into a product and sell. Whether you’re a musician, educator, designer, gamer, filmmaker or lifestyle creator, there’s usually a product or products that will naturally fit your audience.

What types of products could you sell?

Finding the right things to sell through your content is crucial. They generally fall into 3 categories: Physical products, digital products and services.

Many people immediately think of merchandise when discussing creator products, and for very good reason. If you’ve established a strong following through your content, then branded merchandise can be an excellent way to strengthen and reinforce your brand.

Popular physical Merchandise items include:

  • Garments such as T-shirts, hoodies, hats and caps
  • Stickers
  • Mugs and drink-ware
  • Posters and art prints
  • Notebooks, journals and stationary
  • Collectibles
  • Limited-edition items

If organising inventory and mailing out physical products feels like too much to juggle, then selling digital products is the solution. These have become an increasingly attractive monetisation option because once they have been created, they can be sold repeatedly with very little ongoing cost and effort.

Examples of digital products include:

  • Online courses
  • E-books and guides
  • Checklists and templates i.e Notion templates
  • Digital planners
  • Social media content packs
  • Music tracks
  • Exclusive memberships

If you are a creator in the artistic and creative fields, you have the extra option to sell resources that will help other creators (i.e. your audience) produce content.

These might include:

  • Stock footage
  • Motion graphics
  • Video transitions
  • Beats and instrumentals for vocalists
  • Sample packs for music producers
  • Stock footage (still and video)
  • Illustrations, scrapbook pintables and clipart
  • Graphic design assets i.e. fonts, textures, tools
  • Digital artwork
  • 3D models

In many cases, you can utilise your expertise to become a sellable product itself. One-to-one coaching, tutoring, consulting and mentoring services are all valuable offerings that have the potential to command premium pricing.

If you have a specific skill and have built credibility with your audience in that area, there’s a strong chance people will be willing to pay to learn directly from you. They already come to your channel for specific knowledge, but many will also want personalised advice that’s tailored to their own work. Offer specific packages or work out an hourly rate and invite enquiries. Just make sure you have enough time and energy available to offer this kind of service, so you can deliver a level of quality that keeps your customers satisfied.

The key to choosing what kind of product to sell is to focus on items that complement your content. The stronger the connection between what you create and what you offer, the easier it becomes to generate sales.

How to facilitate your sales

Once you’ve created a product, you’ll need a method to facilitate the sale. Fortunately, creators now have more options than ever before.

For total control, many creators choose to sell products through their own website because it provides them with complete control. This can also be the most cost-effective method, especially if they already have a website. You will still need to integrate an e-commerce facility. There are various options, including using an e-commerce platform, adding a plugin, using a “hosted checkout” or even having a custom-built store that integrates with a payment system such as Stripe.

Alternatively, you can use a third-party e-commerce platform to create a dedicated online store. Sites such as Shopify, WooCommerce and Squarespace Commerce make this process relatively simple. They will host your store with options to upgrade and customise further. And while your stores and products are discoverable on these platforms, you still need to actively drive customers to them.

There are also platforms designed specifically for independent sellers. These platforms often make it easier to launch products quickly and can be particularly useful for creators who don’t want to manage a full e-commerce website. You can even use membership and tipping platforms to sell goods. This can be doubly effective as it also encourages customers to take out a membership. Here are just a few sites that can facilitate the selling of products:

Depending on your niche, a specialist marketplace may be the way to go. They can often offer a second discovery route to help you reach another audience of buyers. For musicians, Bandcamp is a well-established site, while artists and designers have many options, including Etsy, Creative Market, and ArtStation Marketplace. If you plan to offer online courses, educators frequently turn to Udemy, Teachable or Thinkific.

It’s possible to use a combination of platforms, leveraging different marketplaces for discovery while directing your most engaged followers to your own website. Let’s face it, if you’ve put in the work to develop a line of products, it’s often advantageous to spread your net as wide as possible. Just make sure you don’t overwhelm yourself, as it may become tricky to manage inventory across different platforms, especially when it comes to physical products.

How to promote products (without becoming annoying)

Selling products is one thing… doing it well without irritating or alienating your audience is another.

Learning how to sell products without becoming overly promotional is a skill in itself. As well as your creator’s hat, you also have to don a shiny salesperson suit. Often, less is more, and the most effective product promotion barely feels like promotion at all.

The best approach is to integrate your products naturally into your content. For example, if you’re a music producer, use your own sample packs in tutorials. If you’re a filmmaker, edit your videos using the transitions or LUTs you sell. If you’re a coach, share valuable advice that demonstrates your expertise before promoting your services.

By actively using the product(s) you are selling in the content, you are creating intrigue as well as demonstrating its worth. Your audience, therefore, should not be annoyed if you casually mention that the thing you are using can be purchased using the link below or on screen.

Here are several effective places where you can include a link to your product and encourage potential customers to make a purchase:

  • Video descriptions
  • Pinned comments
  • Youtube cards and End screens
  • Social media bios
  • Link-in-bio pages

The most important thing is to focus on solving problems. People buy products because they believe those products will help them achieve a goal, solve a problem or, in the case of branded merch, show support.

It’s also important that not every piece of content you put out contains a promotional element. Building trust and creating valuable and entertaining content should always come first. Do this consistently, and you’ll naturally get your audience on side, meaning that when you do promote a product or service, they’ll be far more open and receptive to it.

Conclusion

In conclusion, building a successful channel is about far more than views, subscribers and ad revenue alone. To create a truly sustainable and resilient creator business, diversification is essential. By offering products and services that provide genuine value to your audience, you can unlock additional revenue streams, strengthen your connection with your community, and create a business that continues to grow alongside your content.

Whether you choose to sell merchandise, online courses, digital downloads, creative assets or personalised coaching, the opportunities are endless. By striking the perfect balance of great content with valuable products, you can create multiple income streams and build a creator business that continues to grow alongside your audience.

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