From digital planners sold on Etsy to NFTs that rake in millions, digital products are no longer just a trend—they’re the backbone of an emerging, global economy. What used to feel like a quirky side hustle is now a full-blown revolution in how creators, brands, and influencers engage with audiences, deliver value, and build empires. Whether it’s a TikTok creator pushing their latest e-book or a billion-dollar brand like Nike dropping virtual sneakers, digital products are reshaping what it means to create, connect, and earn in today’s world. In 2024 alone, consumers around the world were expected to spend around $135 billion on digital goods. So yeah, this is real. And if you’re a creator, educator, brand—or even just a curious consumer—you’re already part of this shift. Let’s dive into how this space works, who’s winning, and what it means for you.
Source: Google Trends
Previously, we discussed how paid advertising can help brands; now, imagine boosting your digital product to maximise reach and ROI! The term ‘digital product’ has transitioned from a niche concept to a mainstream topic over the past decade. Google Trends reveals that global interest in the term digital product has surged by over 3x since 2020, reflecting the increasing curiosity and engagement of users worldwide. This surge in interest aligns with the explosion of creators, brands, and platforms embracing digital-first offerings.”
But what is a digital product? It is anything that can be created, sold, and delivered online. We’re talking e-books, mobile apps, online courses, music files, design templates, digital art, Notion dashboards, Canva templates—you name it. What makes them special is their low distribution cost and high scalability. These are items that exist entirely in a virtual format, available for instant access, with no logistical hurdles like shipping or warehousing. Their appeal is not just rooted in convenience and their ability to meet a growing demand for accessible, self-paced, and often personalised experiences.
One Recipe, Infinite Servings
Digital products can be shared endlessly without running out. With each sale, the product becomes an asset that improves with user feedback and updates–just like any great recipe! Mobile apps alone accounted for over $171 billion in consumer spending in 2023. Online education revenues were expected to exceeding $185 billion for 2024. E-books brought in $14.6 billion. Creators like Rachel Jimenez make over $100,000 annually just by selling digital planners and printables. These aren’t isolated success stories—they’re evidence of a broader digital transformation.
A world beyond just PDFs
Platforms like Envato and Udemy were among the first to democratise digital product creation at scale. They empowered everyday people to sell templates, courses, and design assets directly to a global audience, laying the foundation for today’s creator-powered digital economy.
Since then, digital products have evolved far beyond static files. They now include immersive fitness apps, binge-worthy subscription platforms like Netflix and Spotify, educational hubs like Skillshare and Coursera, as well as digital fashion and virtual goods in games like Fortnite and Roblox. All of these are accessible instantly, updatable in real time, and scalable without physical limitations.
This brings us to the true magic of digital products, which is their flexibility. They’re not locked into one format or one purpose. They are recombinant, they can be mixed, matched, and edited into new offers. A single course can become a webinar series, a community membership, a downloadable workbook, or even part of a mobile app. And they’re aspatial—they’re not tied to a physical location, which means you can sell a template in Mumbai to a customer in Berlin, without ever leaving your room.
The real game-changer? Digital products evolve. They’re not static objects; they’re living systems that grow with their users. A great app learns your habits. A successful course evolves with feedback, leading to version 2.0, just like new editions of books, but without the printing costs or physical limitations. A popular template is constantly updated based on user needs. This dynamic nature turns digital products into long-term assets and not just one-off transactions.
That’s also why user experience (UX) design and its principles are so important in this space. Usability is everything. A digital product has to feel intuitive, helpful, and delightful. Excellent products meet a need and they exceed expectations by understanding what users truly want. We’ve moved beyond “human-centric” design into an era of deeply personalized, user-centric experiences.
The Creator-Consumer Glow-up!
This relationship between creators and users is mutually beneficial. A digital product creates a fair value exchange, the creator earns money and reach, while the user gains knowledge, entertainment, or improved productivity. The creators who give value before they sell, through free content, community engagement, or helpful tools—build trust that turns casual followers into loyal customers. Take Ankur Warikoo, for example. He built a massive online presence through free YouTube content and went on to earn Rs. 9.56 crore (USD 1.1 million) in a year through his paid digital courses on his education platform WebVeda.
Selling these products happens everywhere now—from marketplaces like Etsy, Amazon, and the App Store to personal websites powered by platforms like Shopify, Gumroad, and Notion. However, social media is the secret sauce. Instagram, WhatsApp, TikTok, Twitch, Substack and even Discord have become powerful storefronts and engagement points–turning communities into customers. The real catch here is that most of these platforms have built-in reach, which means your audience can be global from day one. Big players are doubling down too. Starbucks’ app seems like a loyalty tool, but it’s also a digital product that drives nearly 60% of its U.S. revenue. Nike Run Club doesn’t just track your steps, it deepens your bond with the brand. Apple made $85 billion in 2023 from its digital services, from app subscriptions to digital media. And PhysicsWallah, an Indian ed-tech startup, transformed from a single YouTube channel into a $1 billion company through scaling digital content.
As with fashion, personalisation continues to be cornerstone of successful digital products. Genies, a rising force in the avatar space, exemplifies this shift toward hyper-customised virtual identity. The platform allows users to craft expressive digital personas and colorful avatars that serve as extensions of themselves across social platforms and Web3 environments. From tailored hairstyles and mood-driven facial expressions to culturally relevant wardrobes and collectable accessories, every detail is fine-tuned to reflect personal taste. But Genies isn’t just a dress-up game, it’s a new canvas for digital selfhood. The more users engage with the ecosystem—styling their avatars, participating in digital events, or collecting creator-made wearables—the more nuanced and individualised their online presence becomes. It’s personalisation not just as a feature, but as a philosophy, shaping how we express, connect, and even monetise our virtual identities.
Nike’s app ecosystem also personalizes everything from workout suggestions to custom shoe designs using your activity history and preferences, while its Nike By You platform allows you to co-create sneakers, combining personalization with digital interactivity. As adaptive learning and AI-driven recommendations become the norm, consumers now expect experiences tailored to their individual behavior, preferences, and pace, and brands that meet this demand are not only boosting satisfaction but also securing long-term relevance.
Recession-proof? More like Future-proof.
Some people wonder if digital products are just a recession hack, another way to hustle when money’s tight. But that misses the bigger picture. These products thrive because they’re lean, scalable, and future-proof. In a knowledge-driven economy, bitstrings are becoming the most powerful building blocks of modern commerce. It’s not just about side income anymore. It’s about building something sustainable, borderless, and meaningful. Creators like Rachel Jimenez exemplify how side hustles can become sustainable sources of income even after economic recovery, reinforcing the idea that digital products are not just pandemic-era fixes but foundational tools in the new creator economy.
Got a skill? You can monetise it.
You don’t need to be a tech genius to start building your own digital product. What you do need are foundational skills: the ability to create compelling content, a basic understanding of marketing (especially social media and email), an eye for design and usability, and the willingness to experiment. Knowing your way around tools like Canva, Shopify, Notion, or even Google Sheets is also helpful. The best part? You can learn all of this through—you guessed it—digital products.
Want to start? Here’s how to think about your first product:
1. Solve a specific problem. The best digital products save time, simplify something, or provide unique insight. Don’t aim for “what will sell”—aim for “what will help.”
2. Start small. Your first product doesn’t need to be a giant course or app. A checklist, template, mini-guide, or toolkit can be a great MVP (minimum viable product).
3. Build in public. Share your process on social media. Talk about what you’re making, why it matters, and who it’s for. This builds hype and validates your idea.
4. Iterate, make updates. Your first product won’t be perfect. That’s okay. Use feedback to make version 2 better!
5. Keep showing up. You’re not just selling a product—you’re building trust. People don’t just buy downloads; they buy credibility and connection.
Whether you are a student eager to share your expertise, a brand aiming to boost engagement, or a creator ready to turn your audience into income, digital products open the door to incredible opportunity. They allow you to scale your presence, connect with global audiences, and build lasting assets and alternative revenue streams that grow over time.
Every time you purchase a course, download a template, or explore a new app, you are not just a consumer. You are part of a dynamic digital economy. And if you are ready to take that next step, your expertise could fuel something amazing.
Your journey does not stop at consuming. Why not start creating? The digital world is waiting.
Writers: Purval Irkhede and Bhavya Vidyarthi
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