How I Started Creating Digital Downloads (and How You Can Too)
Product Assortment Planner
For a long time, I believed that selling products online had to be complicated. More inventory. More systems. More pressure to constantly create something new.
What I’ve learned instead is this:
digital downloads gave me a simple, flexible way to share what I know — and build income — without burning myself out.
If you’ve ever thought about creating digital products for your website or Etsy shop, I want you to know this upfront:
you don’t need to be a tech expert, a designer, or have a huge audience to get started.
You just need a clear idea, a willingness to begin, and permission to keep it simple.
Why I Chose Digital Downloads
As a creative business owner, I wanted products that:
Didn’t require inventory or shipping
Could sell while I wasn’t working
Supported my creative lifestyle (not the other way around)
Digital downloads checked all those boxes.
They allowed me to package my experience, tools, and systems into resources that genuinely help other creatives — planners, calculators, guides, and templates people can use right away.
And once they’re created?
They can be sold again and again.
What I Actually Created (and Why)
I didn’t start by asking, “What will make the most money?”
I started by asking, “What do people keep asking me for help with?”
That’s where your best ideas usually live.
Some examples of digital downloads that work well:
Planning templates
Checklists
Calculators
Guides or workbooks
Simple planners for a specific goal
My focus was always on useful, practical tools — not perfection.
How I Created My Digital Downloads
I kept the process very approachable:
I chose one clear problem to solve
(Not five. Just one.)I designed the product in Canva
Canva is beginner-friendly and perfect for clean, professional layouts.I wrote simple instructions
No over-explaining — just enough guidance to help someone get started quickly.I saved the final file as a PDF
Easy to upload, easy for customers to use.
That’s it.
No fancy software. No complicated tech stack.
Where I Sell My Digital Products
I sell my digital downloads in two main places:
My website — as a long-term home for my products and brand
Etsy — to reach people who are already searching for solutions
Etsy is a great starting point if you don’t yet have an audience. Think of it as a discovery platform that can bring new people into your world.
What I Want You to Know Before You Start
If you’re waiting until everything feels perfect, this is your gentle reminder:
Done is better than perfect.
Your first digital product doesn’t have to be:
50 pages long
Beautifully branded
The final version forever
It just needs to be helpful.
You can refine, update, and expand as you go.
How You Can Start (Today)
If you’re feeling inspired but unsure where to begin, try this:
Write down one problem you’ve already solved for yourself
Ask how that solution could become a simple tool or guide
Create a first draft — even if it’s rough
Momentum comes from starting, not overthinking.
A Final Encouragement
Creating digital downloads has given me more freedom, flexibility, and confidence in my creative business — and I truly believe it can do the same for you.
You’re allowed to build slowly.
You’re allowed to keep it simple.
And you’re absolutely capable of creating something valuable.
If I can do it, you can too 🤍
XOXO,
Shabya