How to Create a Digital Product and Sell It

Coming up with a digital product idea is one thing. Figuring out how to create it is where many creators get stuck.

Say you want to make a budgeting template. You'll need to make several decisions, including what features to add, how to organize the spreadsheet, and which tools to use. An ebook comes with a different set of tasks. You'll have chapters to outline, content to write, and pages to design.

In this guide, we'll walk you through how to create a digital product, from planning and building it to testing, pricing, and putting it up for sale online.

Let's get started.

Plan Your Digital Product

You need to have a basic idea of what your final digital product will look like. This includes things like the format, what the customer will receive, and how different parts of your product will work together.

Choose the Right Digital Product Format

Start by thinking about how your customers will use the product. Different ideas can take different shapes, and the format you choose can affect what you'll need to create the product and how your customers will experience it.

A beginner workout plan can come in several formats. You could make a downloadable PDF with weekly schedules and illustrated instructions. Another option is a video course where you demonstrate each exercise, or a tracker where customers can record their progress.

Here's how some common digital product formats compare:

Keep in mind the programs your customers are already using. Someone who is comfortable using spreadsheets may find a budgeting template in Google Sheets easier to use than one built in a paid app.

You can also combine different formats to serve different purposes. A workout plan, for example, could include printable schedules, exercise demonstration videos, and an editable progress tracker. Just be sure to consider how much you'll need to create, test, and maintain for each additional format.

Define What Your Product Will Include

Having decided on a format, the next thing is to figure out what your product will include. Think about the experience customers will have using it. Also figure out the information, features, or resources they will need to achieve the result you're promising.

For example, a beginner workout plan needs more than a list of exercises to be useful. Without additional instructions, buyers may be left with questions. How often should they work out? How many repetitions should they do? And what if an exercise is too difficult?

There are several things you could include to help customers follow the plan:

• Weekly workout schedules: A breakdown of exercises for each day, including sets, repetitions, and rest periods.
• Exercise instructions: Written explanations and illustrations showing how to perform each movement.
• Beginner-friendly modifications: Easier variations of exercises that might be too challenging.
• Progress tracker: A printable sheet where buyers can record their completed workouts.
• Getting-started guide: Instructions to help buyers understand and follow the plan.

For example, fitness coach Ryan Fischer’s 12-Week Bodyweight Workout Program includes several of these features.

The program comes with a 103-page guide containing 72 workouts, video demonstrations for each movement, and easier or harder exercise variations. Buyers also get a fillable Excel tracker to record their sets, repetitions, and progress over the 12 weeks, along with instructions for following the program.

The resources work together to help customers follow the program, perform the exercises correctly, and track their progress without having to look elsewhere for instructions.

As you plan your own product, think about what customers will need to complete the intended task. Then decide which of those components should be included in the first version.

Put Together a Simple Product Brief

Now bring those decisions together in a simple product brief. This will give you something to refer to when making content and design decisions as you begin creating your product.

You don't need a lengthy document to get started. Just capture the basics:

• Product: What you're creating.
• Target audience: Who will use it.
• Purpose: What the product will help them accomplish.
• Format: How customers will receive and use it.
• Contents: What files, features, and resources the product will include.
• Scope: What you won't include in the first version.

For the workout plan we've been discussing, your brief might look something like this:

• Product: Four-Week Beginner Home Workout Plan
• Audience: Beginners who want to exercise at home without equipment.
• Purpose: Help buyers follow a structured four-week exercise routine.
• Format: Downloadable PDF with printable schedules and a progress tracker.
• Contents: Weekly schedules, illustrated exercise instructions, beginner modifications, a getting-started guide, and a progress tracker.
• Outside the scope: Meal plans, advanced routines, and personalized coaching.

You can put this together in Google Docs, Notion, or any tool you're comfortable using.

Keep it nearby as you work. It'll help you stay focused on the product you've decided to create, especially when new ideas come up along the way.

Map Out How You'll Build Your Digital Product

You have a general idea of what your digital product will look like and what it should include. Now you need to map out how you'll build it.

This means breaking the work into smaller tasks, figuring out what tools you'll need, and deciding how much time to set aside for each part.

Break the Product Into Manageable Tasks

The contents of your product should be fairly clear by now. Make a list of everything you'll need to do to create each part.

Let's say you want to create a photography preset pack. To do this, you may need to:

• Experiment with and develop presets for different editing styles or lighting conditions.
• Test each preset on different photos to see how well it performs.
• Create before-and-after images to show what the presets do.
• Write a short guide explaining how to install and use them.
• Export the presets in compatible file formats.

Ebooks, online courses, and other digital products will require different kinds of work.

Try to be specific with your tasks. Instead of writing "create a course" on your to-do list, break it down into writing lesson scripts, preparing slides, recording demonstrations, editing videos, and creating any supporting materials.

Once you've listed everything that needs to be produced, you can start figuring out what to work on first.

Organize the Work in the Right Order

Certain parts of your product may depend on other parts being completed first.

Let's say you're creating a video course. You'll generally need to outline the lessons before recording them. You might also have to prepare demonstration files before filming a tutorial.

Look for these dependencies in your task list and arrange the work accordingly.

For example, if you're creating printable children's activity sheets, the process might look like this:

• Step one: Decide on the activities and learning objectives for each sheet.
• Step two: Sketch the page layouts and create the illustrations.
• Step three: Add instructions and finalize the page designs.
• Step four: Prepare a sample answer sheet or a guide for parents.
• Step five: Export the files and check how they print.

You probably don't need full-fledged project management software for this. A simple checklist in Google Docs, Notion, or a spreadsheet should be enough.

What's important is knowing what you'll work on next and what needs to be finished before you can move forward.

Choose the Tools You'll Use

Now that you've identified the tasks involved, you can look at which tools will help you complete them.

Here are some common options:

Consider the features you need, the file formats you'll be exporting, and how comfortable you are using each tool.

You'll also want to check whether customers need specific software to use your finished product. A Procreate brush pack, for example, requires a compatible version of Procreate, while a PDF can be opened with many free applications.

You don't need to spend a lot of money on new software to create your first digital product. Start with tools you already know how to use, as long as they can produce the quality and file formats your product requires.

Set a Realistic Budget and Timeline

With a better sense of the work involved, you can make a more accurate estimate of how much time and money the project will take.

For your budget, consider expenses such as software subscriptions, licensed creative assets, recording equipment, or hiring a freelancer. You may not need to spend anything if you already have the necessary tools and resources.

For your timeline, estimate how long each task will take instead of setting one big deadline for the entire project.

Say you're creating a collection of 20 printable wall art designs. You might set aside:

• Three days: Create the artwork.
• One day: Prepare different print sizes and file formats.
• One day: Design product previews and usage instructions.
• One day: Review the files and make corrections.

That's six days of planned work. But you'll probably want to allow some extra time for unexpected revisions, especially if you're learning new software.

If the project looks like it'll take too long, see where you can simplify things. You might launch with 10 finished designs instead of 20 and expand the collection later. Just make sure the smaller version still delivers what you've promised customers.

Now that you have your tasks, tools, and timeline figured out, you're ready to start creating the product.

Create Your Digital Product

You have a plan. Now it's time to start building the content, designs, or other materials that customers will eventually download and use.

Let’s get into it.

Create the Content or Core Assets

You've chosen your tools and put together a checklist. Now you can start working through the tasks.

Focus on creating the essential parts of your product first. You can always refine the design and presentation as you go.

Here's what that process might look like for different digital products:

For Ebooks and Guides

Start writing from your outline, working through one chapter or section at a time. Add examples, instructions, or supporting research wherever readers might need them.

If you're creating a guide to growing vegetables in small spaces, for example, your chapters could cover choosing containers, preparing the soil, selecting suitable plants, and caring for them.

You can write the content in Google Docs or Microsoft Word before moving it into a design tool. And if you haven't created all the illustrations or photos yet, leave placeholders for them so you can keep writing without interruptions.

For Online Courses

With your lesson outline in hand, start preparing the scripts, slides, and demonstrations. Record each lesson separately so you can easily make changes or replace individual sections without having to redo the entire course.

New York-based fashion and portrait photographer Justin Bridges provides a good example with his Fundamentals of DSLR Photography course on Skillshare.

His lessons cover camera settings, shooting techniques, and photo editing. In one demonstration, he photographs a moving fan to show how adjusting camera settings affects the resulting image. Students also complete a practical photography project where they apply what they've learned.

For your own course, you can use OBS Studio to record screen or camera demonstrations, then edit the footage in CapCut or DaVinci Resolve.

You'll also need to prepare any exercises, worksheets, or downloadable resources students will use alongside the lessons.

For Templates and Planners

Start by building the parts customers will interact with, such as editable fields, formulas, databases, or reusable layouts.

Say you're creating a Notion content calendar. You could start with a database containing publication dates, content formats, platforms, and production statuses.

Then add calendar and board views so buyers can organize their work in different ways.

Enter a few sample projects to make sure the database works as expected. You can always replace them with better examples later.

For Digital Art and Creative Assets

Work through the assets you planned earlier, creating each one in the appropriate software.

Let's say you're making a Procreate brush pack. You'll need to create the shapes and textures for each brush, adjust settings such as spacing and pressure sensitivity, and test how the brushes behave when drawing.

Digital artist Art with Flo, for example, sells an illustration brush pack containing 14 Procreate brushes. These include fineliners, shading brushes, texture brushes, and shape stamps.

Each brush needs to be configured and tested for its intended purpose. A fineliner should produce consistent strokes, while a texture brush needs to create the desired effect when applied to an illustration.

As you finish each asset, test it in the software customers will use. Keep your original working files, too. You may need them later to make adjustments or export additional formats.

Design and Format Your Product

Once the main content or features are ready, turn your attention to how customers will use the product.

Good design makes content easier to read and features easier to understand. What you'll need to focus on depends on the type of product you're creating.

• Ebooks and guides: Use readable fonts, clear headings, and consistent spacing. For longer documents, consider adding clickable navigation so readers can move between chapters.
• Printables: Choose standard paper sizes and leave enough space around the edges. Make sure writing areas are large enough for customers to use comfortably.
• Templates: Make editable fields easy to identify, separate instructions from working areas, and protect formulas where necessary.
• Online courses: Keep text on slides readable and use clear audio. Include captions or transcripts where possible.
• Digital artwork: Check that your designs have the right dimensions and resolution for their intended use.

Consider the devices and software your customers will use as well. An ebook that looks good on a laptop might be difficult to read on a phone. And a printable worksheet may look fine on screen but have text that's too small once printed.

Accessibility matters, too. Make sure there's enough contrast between text and backgrounds, avoid relying on color alone to communicate important information, and provide descriptive text for meaningful images where supported.

Export and Package Your Files

Your product is taking shape. Now you need to prepare the version customers will actually receive.

Depending on what you've created, this could be a single PDF, an editable template link, or a collection of downloadable files.

Before uploading anything to your store, check the following:

• File formats: Export files in formats suited to their intended use. Guides and printables commonly use PDF, while digital artwork may require PNG, JPG, or SVG files.
• File sizes: Reduce unnecessarily large files to make downloads easier, but without compromising quality.
• File names: Use descriptive names that tell buyers what's inside. For example, Travel-Planner.pdf is much clearer than Final-Version-3.pdf.
• Usage instructions: Include a short guide if customers need help opening, editing, installing, or using the product.
• Usage rights: Let buyers know whether they can use the files for personal or commercial purposes, especially when selling templates or creative assets.

If you're selling several files together, you can organize them into folders and package everything as a ZIP file.

For example, a photography preset pack might contain:

Portrait-Preset-Pack.zip

• Getting-Started.pdf
• Lightroom-Presets (folder)
  
  • Warm-Portrait.xmp
  • Soft-Natural.xmp
  • Moody-Portrait.xmp
• Installation-Guide.pdf

The Getting-Started file can explain what's included, which software customers will need, and where to begin.

Keep your original editable files separate from the versions customers will download. That way, you can make changes or release updates later without having to rebuild everything.

How to Create a Digital Product in Canva (Printable Travel Planner Example)

Now, let's put some of this into practice.

Say you want to create a printable travel planner that helps buyers organize their itineraries, reservations, packing lists, and travel expenses.

You can use Canva to design the planner and turn it into a downloadable PDF, even if you don't have much design experience.

Here's how to do it:

1. Create a new design: Open Canva and choose a document size, such as A4 or US Letter. You can start with a blank page or use a suitable planner template.
2. Set up your pages: Create separate pages for the itinerary, accommodation details, packing checklist, travel budget, and important contacts.
3. Add the content: Use tables for daily schedules and expenses, checkboxes for packing lists, and blank fields where customers can enter their information.
4. Customize the design: Choose fonts and colors and use them consistently throughout the planner. You can also add simple icons or illustrations to make the pages easier to navigate.
5. Check the layouts: Make sure each page has enough writing space and that the text will still be readable when printed. If you're using the same layout across several pages, duplicate it to keep the design consistent.
6. Export the planner: Select Share → Download, then choose PDF Print to create a file customers can print at home.

Once you've downloaded the file, open it and check that the pages are in the correct order, the text is properly placed, and everything looks as intended. You may also want to print a few sample pages to see how the planner works on paper.

Here’s a video walkthrough of the entire process:

You can follow similar steps to create ebooks, worksheets, journals, and other downloadable products in Canva.

If you're selling editable Canva templates rather than finished PDFs, you'll need to provide a template link that allows customers to create their own copies.

Test and Finalize Your Digital Product

Your digital product may look complete, but it still needs to be tested. Something that's obvious to you may not be so clear to a first-time customer. Testing can help you catch these issues before someone pays for your product.

Test Your Digital Product Yourself

The best way to test your product is to use it as though you're buying it for the first time. Work with the exported files rather than the original versions in your editing software.

The type of test you'll do depends on the product:

• Ebooks and guides: Read through the finished document, follow the instructions, and check that all links and navigation work.
• Templates: Create a fresh copy, enter sample information, and test whether formulas, databases, and other features work correctly.
• Printables: Print a few pages at the intended size and try completing the activities or filling in the fields.
• Online courses: Watch the lessons in order, complete the activities, and check that supporting resources are accessible.
• Digital assets: Import the files into compatible software and see how they work in a sample project.

For example, if you've created a collection of Lightroom presets, try applying each one to different types of photos. A preset that works well on a bright outdoor portrait might produce unwanted results on an indoor photo.

Also, see how your product works outside your own setup. A Notion template may work perfectly in your workspace but have sharing permissions that prevent customers from duplicating it.

You want to experience the product the way a buyer would, rather than simply checking that the files exist.

Get Feedback From Potential Customers

Your own testing can only reveal so much. Because you've spent time creating the product, you already know how everything is supposed to work.

If you've already validated your idea with potential customers, consider inviting some of those people to test the finished product. Otherwise, find a few people who match your target audience.

Give them access to the product and a specific task to complete. If you've developed a meal-planning template, for example, have someone plan a week's meals, generate a shopping list, and make changes to their schedule.

Let them work through the task without explaining every feature. Watch for places where they hesitate, misunderstand instructions, or struggle to complete something.

Afterward, ask questions like:

• Was anything confusing or difficult to use?
• Were you able to complete the task without help?
• Was there any important information or feature missing?
• What would make the product easier to use?

You want specific feedback. Someone saying "It's confusing" doesn't give you much to work with. But "I couldn't figure out how to change the serving sizes" points to a problem you can fix.

You can also ask testers to share screenshots, completed worksheets, or screen recordings with their permission.

Make the Final Improvements

Use what you've learned to improve the product before putting it up for sale.

For example, if people testing your Procreate brush pack have trouble installing the brushes, adding illustrated installation instructions may help. And if the brushes don't behave as buyers expect, you may need to adjust their settings or explain what each brush is designed to do.

Not every suggestion needs to make it into the product. Some feedback may come down to personal preferences or features that weren't part of your original plan.

Once you've made the necessary changes, export the latest version and go through a final checklist:

• All promised files and resources are included.
• Customers can open and use the product with the intended software.
• Links, formulas, and interactive features work correctly.
• Instructions are clear enough for first-time users.
• Issues discovered during testing have been addressed.
• Files and folders are organized, with usage instructions where needed.
• You've tested the revised version to make sure everything still works.

Keep a backup of your finished product and the original working files. You may need them to make updates or release an improved version later.

Price and Publish Your Digital Product Online

With your digital product created, you need to decide how much to charge, put together a product listing, and choose where customers will purchase it.

You don't need a complicated setup to get started. What matters is giving buyers enough information to understand what they're purchasing and making sure they can access the product after paying.

Decide How Much to Charge

Digital product prices can vary quite a bit, even within the same category. A simple printable planner might sell for a few dollars, while a more detailed workbook or specialized template could cost considerably more.

There are three things you'll want to consider when deciding on a price:

• Similar products: Look at what comparable products cost, what they include, and who they're designed for.
• Your costs: Factor in software subscriptions, purchased assets, transaction fees, and any work you've outsourced.
• Value to buyers: Think about what customers can accomplish with your product, how much time it could save them, and how difficult it would be to create something similar themselves.

For example, photographer and entrepreneur Jenna Kutcher sells several types of digital products at different prices. Her Lightroom preset collection costs $34, a customizable media kit template costs $79, and a 32-page wedding magazine template costs $175.

The products differ in what buyers receive. The preset collection includes 10 photo filters and installation instructions, while the wedding magazine comes with editable layouts, prewritten content, and files for Canva, Photoshop, and InDesign.

This is why it's useful to compare more than prices. The level of customization, number of files, supporting resources, and intended use can all affect what buyers are willing to pay.

You could also offer bundles or different versions of the same product to give customers more options.

And don't feel like your first price has to be permanent. Once you've collected customer feedback and sales data, you'll have a better idea of whether to adjust it.

Create a Product Listing That Shows What Buyers Will Get

Before uploading your product, prepare the information customers will see on its sales page.

First, give your product a descriptive name. Something like "30 Editable Instagram Carousel Templates" tells buyers more about what they're getting than "The Ultimate Content Bundle."

Next, put together the other elements of your listing:

• Product description: Explain what the product helps customers do and who it's intended for.
• What's included: List the files, features, and resources buyers will receive.
• Preview images: Show sample pages, screenshots, or examples of the product in use.
• File details: Specify the file formats and any software customers will need.
• Usage rights: Let buyers know whether the product is for personal use, commercial use, or both.

Customers can't physically inspect a digital product before buying it. That's why previews are especially important.

If you're selling printable coloring pages, for example, show a few finished pages rather than only the cover. For an audio sample pack, you could let people listen to some of the sounds before deciding to purchase.

Be clear about any limitations, too. If your template requires a paid software subscription or a particular app, make sure that's mentioned in the listing.

Customers should know what they're getting before they pay.

Upload and Publish Your Digital Product on Fourthwall

Once you've decided on a price and prepared your listing, you can make the product available for sale.

With Fourthwall, you can upload digital products to your own storefront and have purchased files delivered automatically to customers.

Here's how to get started:

1. Create your store: Sign up for Fourthwall or log in to your existing account.
2. Add a digital product: Open your products dashboard and select the option to create a digital product.
3. Upload your files: Add the PDF, ZIP file, or other supported downloads you've prepared.
4. Complete the listing: Enter your product name, description, price, and preview images.
5. Review and publish: Check the details and make the product available in your storefront.

After publishing, open your product page on both desktop and mobile. Check that the description is readable, the preview images display correctly, and the purchase information is clear.

If a test purchase option is available, use it to check the checkout and download experience. This will help you confirm that customers can access the correct files after purchasing.

Your Digital Product Is Ready. Now Get It in Front of People.

You've finally created something people can buy and use. That's a big milestone, but there's more to do after launch.

For starters, people need to know your product exists. Share previews, show them how it works, and talk about it in your content. Give people a chance to see what they're getting before they buy.

Once you've made a few sales, check in with your customers. What did they like? Was anything confusing or difficult to use? You may get suggestions you hadn't thought of while creating the product. Some could be useful for future updates, too.

Fourthwall can handle the delivery side of things. When someone buys your product through your storefront, their files are sent automatically. No need to email every customer yourself.

Of course, there's no telling how people will respond until they start using what you've made. So get your product out there, hear what they think, and use that feedback to make the next version even better.