How Creators Earn Over $100,000 Selling Digital Products on Gumroad (And How You Can Too)
$3,129,297. According to Gumroad, that’s the amount creators earned last week alone! (As of May 17, 2024). These creators are selling all kinds of digital products — from well-known items like ebooks, courses, and templates to more unique offerings like top ten lists, new emojis, videos, and tips. Seriously, anything you can think of that offers value to an audience is up for grabs!
If you’re on Medium or reading this right now, you probably have expertise or knowledge that can be transformed into a digital product. By doing this, you can provide valuable solutions and make a meaningful impact on people’s lives. So, what’s stopping you from joining the streak?
I’ve just uploaded my first digital product on Gumroad. After watching countless videos, reading tons of articles, and going through the process myself, here are my top recommendations for how you can start making money on Gumroad — based on both what I’ve learned and my own experiences.
First, you’ll need a Gumroad account.
This part is pretty straightforward — just set up your account and profile. You’ll need a profile photo, a bio, and a username.
Then, explore Gumroad Discover. Gumroad’s powerful search engine for Inspiration.
Before you dive into creating your product, I recommend exploring Gumroad Discover, Gumroad’s powerful search engine. Familiarize yourself with the different categories and products available. This will give you a rough idea of what people in your niche are selling, the product descriptions that are compelling, the reviews people are leaving, and the types of cover images that stand out.
Adjust/ Create Your Product
Once you’ve done your research, create your product and adjust it based on what you’ve learned. Then, head over to upload your digital product.
Now, here are three important things to focus your efforts on
- Your product’s title,
- Your product’s description,
- And your cover image.
These are the first things that introduce your product to your audience and ultimately persuade them to make a purchase. Open a document and write down the key elements needed.
Your Product’s Title
Include keywords in your title and use powerful, emotional words to grab the customer’s attention. You can go with a formal title, but I generally prefer a conversational one that speaks directly to my audience.
For instance, I chose the title “Honestly, It’s Time to Thrive” to directly resonate with individuals feeling stuck and uncertain in their lives, by addressing their aspiration to succeed in their careers, achieve financial independence, and manage life’s pressures and expectations effectively.
Your Product Description
Your product description should include:
- Who your product is for: Clearly define your target audience.
2. What problem it solves for them: Be specific about how the product will take them from point A to point B. Use a prompt like: “My service and skillset help people suffering from ________ so they can ____________.”
3. What sets your product apart: Highlight unique features or benefits.
4. A brief summary of what it contains: Give a snapshot of what’s inside.
Again, it’s effective to speak directly to the reader, avoiding formality or a business tone. Address your potential client personally because you understand their needs at a deep level — after all, that’s why you created the product. There’s no need to introduce unnecessary formality.
Here is an example of my product description;
Cover Image
Your cover image should be 1280 px by 720 px. It needs to be enticing to attract potential readers. Browse Gumroad Discover for inspiration or let your creativity flow.
You can have more than one cover image. I chose to upload samples of my workbook as additional images so readers can get a preview of what they’re buying.
Thumbnail
You’ll also need a thumbnail for your product. This is what will be displayed in Gumroad Discover. The recommended size is 600 px by 600 px. While Gumroad says it’s optional, I chose to use one. Many sellers use different thumbnails from their actual cover image to create a distinct visual appeal.
Pricing
You get to set your own price and can even let your audience pay what they want. You can offer discounts too. All these options are available when you upload your product.
Marketing Your Product
After extensive research, here are a few strategies top creators use to promote their products and make money on Gumroad:
- Gumroad Discover: Leverage the Gumroad Discover page, which recommends your products to prospective customers. This helps you grow beyond your existing audience and find more people who might be interested in your work. To make the most of Gumroad’s discovery feature, ensure you’re listing your products under the right categories and tagging your sales pages with relevant tags and keywords your target audience will be searching for.
Choose your category wisely because it determines where your product will be displayed. For example, I was torn between “Self-Improvement” and “Business, Money (networking, career, jobs)” for my workbook. Since my workbook focuses on advancing your career and achieving financial stability, I chose the latter category.
Additionally, you can improve your product’s placement on Gumroad Discover by agreeing to an increased Discover fee, which is only charged when a sale occurs through Discover, not for sales made outside of Discover.
2. Social Media: If you want to promote your Gumroad store, social media is a great place to start. Platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube have massive user bases and can drive traffic to your product pages. If you already have a social media following, half the work is done! Start posting about your products and link your Gumroad store in your bio. Focus on the platform where your audience hangs out the most, and then repurpose your content for other platforms.
3. Search Engines: Google and other search engines can drive potential customers to your Gumroad store, but only if your pages are optimized. Use the right keywords in your headings, subheadings, and content. Following SEO best practices increases your chances of being seen by potential customers searching for your product.
4. Paid Advertising: Running ads on Facebook, Instagram, and Google is a fantastic way to bring in traffic and get leads for your Gumroad store. It requires some financial investment, but with the right targeting and a great product, you can make more money than you spend on the ads.
5. Your Blog/Website: Promote your Gumroad store through your blog or website. Sending email newsletters is a great way to communicate directly with people who are already interested in your products or content. Keep your audience updated on discounts, special offers, and new product launches.
6. Affiliate Marketing: Use the Gumroad affiliate program, which allows people to become affiliates of your product. By listing your product on Gumroad Discover, people can become affiliates and help promote your program.
7. Email Marketing: Sending email newsletters is another effective way to promote your Gumroad store. Communicate directly with people interested in your products or content, and keep them updated on discounts, special offers, and new product launches.
8. Your Local Network: Don’t forget about your local market. While it’s easy to focus on online customers, remember to promote your products to your local network, including friends and family.
Give these strategies a try and see how they work for you. Do you have a digital product you want to sell? Start promoting it today and watch your sales grow!
If you need more help boosting sales for your products after marketing, try these 5 tricks in the article below.
Unsure where to start, which skills to monetize, or which product will succeed in the market? Try these guided exercises in this Personalized Career and Financial Roadmap. You’ll align your strengths and skills with market demands, find inspiration for products to create for your Gumroad store, and discover many other new possibilities.
