Digital content — e-books, music, online courses, and more — is being adopted across an ever-widening range of genres, and the market continues to grow. Shopify has become a popular platform for many businesses because it lets them sell digital content "easily" and "effectively."
This article covers everything from the basics of selling digital content to the benefits of using Shopify, concrete setup steps, and real shop examples. It's useful whether you're just starting to sell digital content or exploring new possibilities for your ecommerce business.
What Is Digital Content?
Digital content refers to products in data form that are distributed and sold over the internet. Because this type of product can be stored as data, it can be sold without holding any physical inventory. Examples of digital content include:
- E-books
- Online courses and seminar videos
- Music and sound effects
- Design assets and photos
- Applications and software
- Digital art
Advantages of Digital Content
Compared with physical products, digital content offers the following advantages.
No ongoing material or production costs
Once content is created, it can be sold to multiple customers. Because material and production costs are settled as an upfront investment, it's easier to forecast costs.
No inventory management required
Unlike physical products, digital content is stored as data, so there's no need to secure warehouse space, and no risk of running out of stock.
Lower shipping costs and less shipping work
After purchase, content is delivered to customers via a link, typically by email, so there's no shipping cost or shipping work involved.
Easy to sell globally
Products in data form can be sold anywhere in the world. Since they're largely unaffected by shipping costs, delivery time, or export regulations and tariffs, you can deliver content quickly and cost-effectively.
Disadvantages of Digital Content
Despite the advantages, there are also some challenges.
Risk of copyright infringement and piracy
Digital content is easy to copy, so measures need to be taken against this.
Competition with free content
Nowadays, free information, photos, and video material available on social media and stock sites, along with generative AI, are widespread, making it a challenge to communicate the value of paid content.
Benefits of Selling Digital Content on Shopify
If you want to sell digital content, you may feel overwhelmed by the sheer number of platforms available. This section explains the benefits of selling on Shopify.
Easy to set up digital content sales
Setting up digital content sales on Shopify is very simple: when registering a product, mark it as a "product that doesn't require shipping," then use an app to link the content data you want to sell to that product. For the detailed flow from setup to sale, see the next section, "How to Get Started Selling Digital Content on Shopify."
A wide range of apps for selling digital content
Shopify offers a rich selection of convenient apps dedicated to digital content sales. As an example, here are some features of apps that are useful for selling digital content.
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Automatic delivery of download links |
Automatically sends the customer a download link after purchase. Eliminates manual handling and improves operational efficiency. |
| Limits on download count and expiration |
Lets you limit the number of downloads or the link's validity period to prevent misuse. |
| Anti-piracy features | Adds mechanisms to prevent copying or unauthorized use of data. |
| Creating and selling NFTs | Turns art or digital content into NFTs (non-fungible tokens), granting ownership so it can be traded. |
Shopify also offers a variety of other features that strengthen digital content sales.
How to Get Started Selling Digital Content on Shopify
Selling digital content with Shopify is easy to get started with, in the following 5 steps. Shopify's admin is intuitive and easy to understand, so even first-time users can proceed smoothly with setup.
STEP 1: Open a Shopify store
Create a Shopify Partner account from the official Shopify site and open a store. There's a 3-day free trial, after which it's available for 150 yen for one month. (As of November 2024.) This lets you check out the features while keeping initial costs low.
The blog article below walks you through the process of getting started with Shopify, from signing up to opening your store. Please use it as a reference.
STEP 2: Install the necessary apps
Install apps that support digital content sales from the Shopify App Store. For example, choose apps like "Digital Downloads" or "MenuLock" to strengthen download link delivery and copyright protection features.
STEP 3: Register your digital product
On the product registration screen, enter basic information such as the product name, price, and description.
Next, uncheck "This is a physical product." This sets the product as non-physical, and removes the need to enter shipping information.
Next, upload and link the digital content you want to sell (e.g. a PDF, music file, or video) to the product. (Using an app such as Digital Downloads.)
STEP 4: Set up the email template
When a customer purchases a digital product, an email with the download link is sent automatically. You can customize this notification email. (Using an app such as Digital Downloads.)
Make sure to include all the information customers need so they can smoothly receive their purchase. Adding your brand logo and a concise explanation of the download steps will make the email feel more trustworthy.
STEP 5: Confirm everything works with a test purchase
Once STEPs 1–4 are complete, make a test purchase to confirm that everything works correctly, from purchase through to download.
7 Apps That Are Useful for Selling Digital Content on Shopify
Here are 7 apps that are useful when selling digital content on Shopify. Introduce the ones that fit the type and use case of your own digital content.
- For beginners | Digital Downloads
- For advanced users who want more features | SendOwl
- For selling video content | Sky Pilot
- For selling video content | Kantan Douga Hanbai
- For e-learning | Courses Plus
- To prevent content piracy | MenuLock
- To turn content into NFTs | NFTeapot
For beginners | Digital Downloads
Image source: Digital Downloads | Shopify App Store
This is a free app from Shopify itself, equipped with the basic features needed to sell digital products. It can automatically deliver download links and limit the number of downloads, and is known for its simple usability. It's an especially good choice if you're selling a digital product for the first time.
The blog article below thoroughly explains "Digital Downloads" — its features, the benefits of adopting it, and exactly how to use it. If you want to start selling digital content, please use it as a reference.
For advanced users who want more features | SendOwl
Image source: SendOwl | Shopify App Store
SendOwl is a feature-rich digital content sales app. It comes with extensive sales reporting and security features, enabling advanced sales management. It also supports subscription sales and bundled multi-product sales, so it can adapt to a wide range of business models.
For selling video content | Kantan Douga Hanbai
"Kantan Douga Hanbai" is a Shopify app that lets you easily sell promotional videos, how-to videos, recipe videos, fan videos, and more, right on Shopify.
You can sell via a monthly subscription for unlimited viewing, offer rental-style sales with a set viewing period, and sell videos individually with streaming or download playback settings.
The blog article below introduces the features, pricing plans, and setup process for "Kantan Douga Hanbai" in detail. Please use it as a reference.
For selling video content | Sky Pilot
Image source: Sky Pilot | Shopify App Store
This app specializes in selling video content such as online courses. It can implement a system where customers log in and view content from a dedicated dashboard. It also stores videos and PDF files in the cloud and delivers them securely.
For e-learning | Courses Plus
Image source: Courses Plus | Shopify App Store
This app specializes in educational content and can implement functionality similar to a learning management system. It's ideal for selling online courses or learning programs, and comes with progress tracking and quiz features, providing a rich learning experience for students.
To prevent content piracy | MenuLock
Image source: MenuLock | Shopify App Store
This app prevents piracy of digital content by disabling right-clicking on images and text. It lets you easily set restrictions on features like "Save As," "cut and copy text," and "drag and drop," making it useful when handling digital products that require copyright protection.
To turn content into NFTs | NFTeapot
Image source: NFTeapot | Shopify App Store
This app supports creating and selling NFTs. It's recommended for creators who want to sell digital art or game items, and enables seamless transactions using cryptocurrency. It also has a feature for connecting to NFT marketplaces, enabling sales in a wider market.
Case Studies of Digital Content Sales on Shopify
Here are real examples of businesses selling digital content using Shopify. Use these examples to see how digital content is actually sold on Shopify, and as a reference for your own business.
RetroSupply Co.
Image credit: RetroSupply Co.
RetroSupply Co. is an ecommerce site that sells design assets, providing high-quality graphic materials to designers around the world.
A distinctive feature is its extensive tutorial blog that explains concrete ways to use the products, helping customers get the most out of them and giving the site a strong sense of reliability. Why not visit the site yourself to experience its appealing product lineup and educational content?
Atsueigo
Image credit: Atsueigo
Atsueigo is an ecommerce site aimed at Japanese English learners, offering practical learning materials centered on audio and video. It has abundant content catering to a wide range of learners, from beginners to intermediate level.
The intuitive, stress-free purchase process built with Shopify carries a learner's enthusiasm directly through to a purchase decision. Be sure to visit the site and see the purchase process for yourself.
Materia Collective
Image credit: Materia Collective
Materia Collective is an ecommerce site that sells video game music albums. It takes an internationally minded sales approach (for example, displaying product prices in multiple currencies), reaching game music fans around the world.
If you'd like to experience the possibilities of cross-border ecommerce combined with digital content using Shopify, take a look at this site.
Start Selling Digital Content on Shopify
Digital content is an appealing product format that requires little effort for inventory management or shipping, and can be delivered smoothly. With Shopify, all the features you need to sell digital content are in place, so you can start selling in a way that fits your business right away.
Why not unlock the full potential of digital content on Shopify and take your business to the next stage?
Finally, the blog article below introduces Shopify apps that help not only with selling digital content, but also with growing sales and improving operational efficiency. Please use it as a reference when choosing apps.
