How to Add Digital Products on Shopify

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Why Sell Digital Products on Shopify?
3. Adding Digital Products to Shopify
4. Enhancing Your Digital Products Strategy
5. Conclusion
6. FAQ

Introduction

Imagine you could sell a product that never goes out of stock, doesn't require shipping, and can be downloaded instantly by your customers. Sounds too good to be true? It isn't—this is the beauty of digital products. With Shopify, adding digital products to your store is straightforward and efficient, allowing you to diversify your offerings and tap into a new revenue stream. Whether you're selling ebooks, music, digital art, or software, Shopify provides the tools you need to get started. In this guide, we'll walk you through the process of adding digital products to your Shopify store, configuring your settings, and optimizing your sales strategy.

Why Sell Digital Products on Shopify?

Selling digital products comes with numerous advantages:

1. Low Overhead Costs: Digital products eliminate the need for inventory storage, packaging, and shipping, reducing both time and cost.
2. Scalability: Once a digital product is created, it can be sold an unlimited number of times without additional production costs.
3. Instant Delivery: Customers receive their products immediately after purchase, which can lead to higher customer satisfaction and fewer customer service inquiries.

Adding Digital Products to Shopify

Step 1: Install the Digital Downloads App

To facilitate the sale of digital products, Shopify offers the free Digital Downloads app. This app allows you to upload and deliver digital files securely. Here's how to install it:

1. Go to the Shopify App Store: Search for the "Digital Downloads" app.
2. Install the App: Click on "Add app" and follow the prompts to complete the installation.

Step 2: Create a Product in Shopify

Before you can add your digital files, you need to create the product in your Shopify store:

1. Navigate to Products: From your Shopify admin, go to Products and click on Add product.
2. Enter Product Details: Fill in the necessary product details such as title, description, and price.
3. Uncheck 'Requires Shipping': In the Shipping section, make sure to uncheck the "This is a physical product" checkbox.
4. Save the Product: Click Save to create the product.

Step 3: Add Digital Files

With your product created, you can now add your digital files:

1. Open the Digital Downloads App: Navigate to the app from your Shopify admin.
2. Select Your Product: Click on Products and select the product you created.
3. Upload Files: Click Add digital files, then select and upload your files. You can upload multiple files or use a .zip file to bundle them together.

Step 4: Configure Fulfillment Settings

You can set up fulfillment options for your digital products to ensure smooth delivery:

1. Automatic Fulfillment: By default, digital products are set to automatically fulfill. When a customer completes a purchase, they instantly receive a download link via email.
2. Manual Fulfillment: If you prefer, you can choose to manually send download links. This can be useful if you want to vet orders before fulfillment.
3. Download Limits: You can set limits on the number of times a customer can download a product. By default, downloads are unlimited.

Step 5: Customize Emails and Checkout

To provide a seamless experience, customize the email templates and checkout settings:

1. Edit Email Templates: In the Digital Downloads app, go to Settings > Email templates. Here, you can personalize the email that customers receive with their download link.
2. Display Download Links at Checkout: You can opt to display the download link on the Order Status page at checkout by adjusting the settings under Checkout in the app.

Enhancing Your Digital Products Strategy

Bundling Physical and Digital Products

If you sell both physical and digital products, consider bundling them:

1. Create Variants: Create separate variants for the digital and physical versions of your product within the same product page.
2. Attach Files to Digital Variants: Using the Digital Downloads app, attach the digital files to the appropriate variant.

Marketing Your Digital Products

1. Leverage SEO: Optimize your product pages with relevant keywords to improve visibility. Including keywords like “add digital product Shopify” can help attract the right audience.
2. Email Campaigns: Use email marketing to promote your digital products to your existing customers.
3. Social Media: Share previews or snippets of your digital products on social media to generate interest and drive traffic to your store.

Providing Customer Support

Ensure that your customers have a smooth experience:

1. FAQ Section: Add a detailed FAQ section to address common questions about downloading and accessing digital products.
2. Customer Service: Be ready to assist customers who face issues with downloads. Quick and helpful responses can turn a potential problem into a positive customer experience.

Conclusion

Adding digital products to your Shopify store is a powerful way to expand your offering and increase revenue with minimal overhead. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can seamlessly integrate digital products into your business and provide a great experience for your customers. Remember to utilize the tools provided by Shopify, market your products effectively, and provide excellent customer support to maximize your success.

FAQ

Can I limit the number of times a customer can download a digital product?

Yes, you can set download limits using the Digital Downloads app. This is managed in the product's settings within the app.

Is there a file size limit for digital products on Shopify?

Yes, the maximum file size you can upload is 5 GB. If your files are larger, consider compressing them into .zip files.

Can I offer both a digital and physical version of the same product?

Yes, you can create different variants of the product and attach digital files to the corresponding digital variant.

What should I do if a customer doesn't receive their download link?

Firstly, ensure the customer's email address is correct. If the issue persists, you can manually send the download link via the Digital Downloads app.

How can I remove a digital file from a product?

You can delete the digital file from within the Digital Downloads app. Just navigate to the product and remove the file from the list of uploaded files.

By integrating digital products into your Shopify store, you unlock new opportunities to grow your business and reach a wider audience. Happy selling!