Have you ever dreamt of creating an eBook, an online course, or a set of templates and earning money from them while you sleep? Well, the reality is that it’s easier than you might think. Whether you’re a seasoned creator or just starting out, selling digital products like eBooks, courses, and templates online is a great way to generate passive income.
But, here’s the catch: To sell your creations successfully, you need the right platform to host and sell them. The platform you choose can have a huge impact on your success. With so many options out there, it can be tough to figure out which one will help you grow your digital product business.
That’s why I’ve put together this comprehensive guide to the Top 5 Platforms for Selling eBooks, Courses, and Templates Online. Whether you’re just starting or looking to scale up, these platforms offer everything you need to start selling—and making money.
Let’s dive in!
Why Sell eBooks, Courses, and Templates Online?
Before we get into the platforms, let’s talk about why digital products like eBooks, courses, and templates are such a smart choice.
- Low Overhead Costs: Unlike physical products, you don’t have to worry about inventory, packaging, or shipping costs.
- Passive Income: Once created, these products can be sold continuously, generating money even while you sleep.
- Global Market: You can reach customers worldwide with just a few clicks.
- Scalability: Whether you sell 10 products or 10,000, your work doesn’t change. It’s all about how well you market.
The digital product market is booming. In 2021, the global e-learning market alone was valued at $250 billion and is expected to reach $1 trillion by 2027. Similarly, eBook sales have seen a huge rise in recent years. So, if you’re ready to tap into this trend, the platforms below will help you maximize your sales.
Top 5 Platforms for Selling eBooks, Courses, and Templates Online
1. Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP)
When it comes to selling eBooks, Amazon KDP is the king. It’s the most popular platform for self-publishing eBooks, and for good reason.
Why Use Amazon KDP?
- Massive Audience: Amazon has over 300 million active customers worldwide, which means your eBook has the potential to reach millions of readers.
- High Royalties: With KDP, you can earn up to 70% royalties on each sale, depending on the price of your eBook and where it’s sold.
- Easy to Use: Setting up your eBook on Amazon is simple. Just upload your manuscript, set the price, and you’re good to go.
How Much Can You Earn?
Depending on how well you market and promote your eBook, you could potentially earn $500 to $5,000+ per month. Top authors make even more, with some hitting six figures annually!
Tip: Make your eBook available in Kindle Unlimited for additional income. Authors who opt into this program are paid based on the number of pages read by Kindle Unlimited subscribers.
2. Teachable
Teachable is one of the best platforms for selling online courses. Whether you want to create a simple video course or an in-depth, multi-module program, Teachable has everything you need to create and sell your course seamlessly.
Why Use Teachable?
- Customizable Course Builder: You can upload video lessons, PDFs, quizzes, and assignments. Plus, Teachable’s drag-and-drop builder makes it super easy to structure your course.
- Integrated Payments: Teachable handles everything, from payments to taxes. You can accept payments in USD, GBP, EUR, and more.
- Marketing Tools: Teachable comes with built-in features to help you market your course. You can offer discounts, create coupons, and even set up affiliate marketing programs.
How Much Can You Earn?
Teachable offers a free plan as well as paid plans starting at $39/month. Top course creators can make $1,000 to $50,000+ per month, depending on the popularity of the course and their marketing efforts.
Tip: Offer limited-time promotions or bundle courses together for a higher ticket price to increase sales.
3. Etsy
When you think of Etsy, you might think of handmade jewelry or vintage clothes, but did you know that Etsy is also a fantastic platform for selling templates and other digital products?
Why Use Etsy?
- Large Marketplace: Etsy has over 90 million active buyers worldwide, making it an ideal platform to sell digital products such as templates, planners, digital art, and more.
- Instant Downloads: When someone purchases your digital product, Etsy automatically delivers the download to the buyer. This makes the selling process incredibly smooth and automated.
- Affordable Listing Fees: Etsy charges a low listing fee of just $0.20 per product, and you only pay a small transaction fee when you make a sale.
How Much Can You Earn?
Digital product sellers on Etsy make an average of $1,000 to $5,000+ per month, depending on the product and niche. Some successful Etsy sellers even earn $100,000+ annually.
Tip: Optimize your Etsy shop for SEO by using relevant keywords in your product listings to increase visibility and attract more customers.
4. Udemy
Udemy is another excellent platform for selling online courses. It’s one of the largest online learning marketplaces, with over 40 million students and 183,000 courses.
Why Use Udemy?
- Massive Reach: Udemy’s built-in audience of millions of learners gives your course exposure to a global market.
- Course Creation Tools: Udemy offers tools to help you create video lessons, quizzes, and assignments. You don’t need to be a tech expert to get started.
- Marketing Assistance: Udemy promotes your course to students who are likely to be interested, helping you get more sales.
How Much Can You Earn?
Udemy instructors earn between $10 and $50 per student depending on the pricing and the promotional deals. Top instructors make $5,000 to $100,000+ per year.
Tip: Keep your course content updated and engage with your students through Q&A to boost your course’s ranking on Udemy.
5. Gumroad
Gumroad is a platform that makes it easy to sell digital products like eBooks, templates, music, and courses directly to your audience. Unlike other platforms, Gumroad doesn’t require you to have an existing website or blog.
Why Use Gumroad?
- No Upfront Costs: Gumroad has no setup fees or monthly charges. You only pay a small fee when you make a sale (usually 5% + 30 cents per transaction).
- Simple to Use: Setting up products on Gumroad is quick and easy. You can upload your files and set a price in just a few clicks.
- Direct Customer Relationship: Gumroad allows you to collect customer emails, giving you more control over your marketing and future sales.
How Much Can You Earn?
Gumroad doesn’t have a set earning potential, as it depends on your audience and how well you market your products. But successful creators can easily earn $1,000 to $10,000+ per month with Gumroad.
Tip: Use Gumroad’s “Pay What You Want” feature for some products to attract more buyers and build a loyal customer base.
Choosing the Right Platform for You
Each of these platforms has its unique advantages, so the best one for you depends on your specific goals and product type. If you’re focusing on eBooks, Amazon KDP is hard to beat. For online courses, Teachable and Udemy are great choices, while Etsy is perfect for selling templates and creative products.
No matter which platform you choose, remember that marketing is key to your success. If you create great products but don’t promote them effectively, you won’t see the results you’re hoping for. Combine the right platform with smart marketing, and you’ll be on your way to generating passive income from your digital products.
Now, get ready to turn your ideas into income—one product at a time. You’ve got this!