The holy grail for any entrepreneur is finding a product that can be sold over and over again, generating recurring revenue for their business. While trending and seasonal products bring their own value in terms of high sales volume, evergreen products are the ones that keep sales consistent as they have constant demand throughout the year.
And what's better than an evergreen product? An evergreen digital product! Digital products are products that are created and sold online, meaning that they have much lower overheads than physical products.
Whether you already have digital creation skills or are planning to learn a few, side hustles like selling evergreen digital products can quickly become your main source of income, potentially earning you up to four and six-figure incomes.
Read this guide to discover the meaning of digital products; then browse our 17 evergreen product ideas for entrepreneurial inspiration.
What are Digital Products?
Digital products are products that exist online rather than in a physical form. It is a product that you experience on your device (computer, smartphone, tablet). Some popular digital products include ebooks, downloadables (think guides and journals), software, online paid communities, and more.
Another great aspect of digital products is that they can be sold and bought almost anywhere. Unlike physical stores, there are no geographical or time-based restrictions - online stores are open 24/7.
So what about evergreen digital products? Well, evergreen digital products are the products that are popular year-round. They are not seasonal items so there is a consistent audience for them, meaning that there is a consistent stream of income for the seller. Plus, with the low-cost associated with creating digital products (such as no need for physical inventory, physical order fulfillment, creating samples etc), evergreen digital products are the ideal low-cost item for online entrepreneurs to sell.
17 Evergreen Digital Products to Sell in 2024
Interested in learning how you can start selling these elusive items that bring in an income all year round? Then read our list to discover the wide range of digital products that are always popular with customers.
1. Digital Music
Musicians make money by selling their songs, beats, instrumentals, and background tunes to customers. In turn, customers enjoy new songs, add beats to video content, or use instrumentals and background tunes to spice up their digital products.
You don't have to be a chart-topping star to make money from your musical talent. If you want passive income streams from music, try one (or all) of these ideas:
- Offer custom songs in your store for use in videos or short films
- Sell bundled tunes for background music to YouTube videos, Instagram, TikTok, or meditation sessions
- Create sound effects and bundle these for social media or advertising
- Sell your sheet music online
- Offer online tutoring specific to the instruments you play via live or pre-recorded sessions
- Teach the next generation of DJs how to mix music.
2. Ebooks
As evergreen digital products, ebooks are right at the top of the list. This digital product has been around for decades and has gone through several evolutions and revolutions. From the old days when people used to invest blood, sweat, and tears into creating these digital gems to current AI creations, ebooks are as popular as ever.
In fact, ebooks are so popular that market research placed their global value at US $19.95 billion in 2022. This value is anticipated to reach US $32.19 billion by 2032 if the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) remains steady at 4.9%. While physical books have some seasonal aspect (books make for a great Christmas present!) ebooks are generally bought by the reader, and so remain popular all year round.
Plus, when you create ebooks, you open yourself up to a whole market of other digital product opportunities. You can expand on the book by creating an audiobook, a blog, a digital community where readers can discuss the book, and so much more.
However, it takes more than writing an ebook to develop a promising digital side hustle (or even a main one). Even if you know how to write, you should still research where to publish your creation and how to market it.
3. GIFs
Did you know that you can make money by selling GIFs? Websites like 'Gifing' sell subscriptions to their library of royalty-free GIFs, allowing subscribers to download these clips and use them on their own sites. You can become a creator and upload your GIFs and earn 40% of all subscriber downloads of your GIF.
Creating a GIF is easy. Adobe Express converts any file type into a GIF in seconds. While this digital product probably won't earn you a full-time income, it could be a nice, consistent side hustle to earn you some extra pocket money.
4. Lightroom Presets
Another common, evergreen, and passive digital product is Lightroom presets. These are products that you can create once and sell over and over again. You can even create bundles for different events, like weddings, holidays, and travel.
You don't have to be a photo editing whizz to use Adobe Lightroom. Instead, you can start playing around with your photos with free presets and affordable subscription options. Once you're comfortable with your skill level, you can offer your services to others.
To get started, use Adobe Lightroom to add effects and styles by experimenting with exposure, light, and color. You can achieve all these changes without impacting the original photo. After completing a project, you get to save the new images and the presets that you used to make the changes.
The next step is to sell your preset files online. Customers love these products because they can buy the files and apply these to their photos for amazing results instead of investing the effort to edit their photos.
To find success selling Lightroom presets, follow these steps:
- Check the tools your intended market uses to integrate your digital products well with theirs.
- Learn the software in this environment and the add-ons that will work for customers. Become an expert so your customers don't look elsewhere for these services.
- Showcase your work, presets, and add-ons and publish them
- Market your work on social media to build interest.
5. LinkedIn Profiles
This niche product may not be something that you have considered but it can be a nice little money maker. Any job hunter knows that standing out in a saturated market can be extremely difficult, so they will often pay someone to help them write a resume, cover letter, or even a LinkedIn profile that creates a great first impression.
If you have a way with words, then why not use your skill to write or rewrite LinkedIn profiles for clients? Alongside this, you could also create templates for professionals who are looking to level up their LinkedIn page. This is a simple idea and an easy-to-create product that could quickly gain traction.
To get started, you can create a company on Whop to sell digital downloads of your LinkedIn templates and sell your LinkedIn writing services.
6. Paid Communities
If you are passionate about any topic - from reselling to trading, investing, sports betting, and anything in-between, then you can sell a membership to a paid community.
The idea is simple - you create an online community (Discord and Telegram are the most popular options for this), set up your business, and start selling access to it. Then, members pay on a weekly, monthly, or yearly basis to gain access to your community and learn from you while interacting with other members.
Some of the best-selling paid communities revolve around making money, as everyone wants to discover new ways to earn an income, and what better way than learning from someone who already has experience? So if you have had success as a sports bettor, trader, investor, ecommerce entrepreneur, or literally anything else (anything that's legal, of course!), then you can create a community sharing your advice, tips, and tricks for finding success in your chosen niche, along with any tools and resources that you find useful.
Plus, if you already have a following on social media and want to monetize it, this digital product could be ideal for you. Use your social media account to generate interest, and then offer members the chance to access more information about their favorite topic. As you attract their attention, you can increase your membership fee and improve your offerings as you grow.
7. Online Coaching
If you have a skill to share but don't like the idea of running a community then you should consider online coaching. As a digital coach, you can use various media to coach clients online rather than meeting them in person. This approach is convenient as it saves you and your clients a lot of time and has a global appeal.
You can arrange personal sessions with individuals or groups via video calls, online forums, email, or chat. Whatever your client wants to achieve, you can use your training to help them achieve their goals.
Various packages are also possible with this business. You can offer once-off coaching sessions, group meetings, multiple sessions at reduced prices, and pre-recorded videos addressing specific topics. Your training media can include eBooks, PDF files, and audio materials.
There are many established online coaches, so focusing on a niche area is a good idea. In an unsaturated market you can quickly become an expert in your field, increasing your credibility as an online coach.
8. Online Courses
Formal tertiary education has become so incredibly expensive that it has left a massive gap in the market. Platforms offering online courses have quickly jumped in to fill that gap. Now, online courses are the way to go if you need to learn how to market digital products, write an ebook, become an expert reseller, or anything else.
To highlight the value of online education, its growth has become so extensive that one market research company forecasts its value will be over US $175 billion by 2030. Whether certifications are included or not, this market allows you to develop courses as digital products for online sale.
The starting point
If online courses, teaching, or education interest you, identifying your passion is the best place to start. For example, if healthy food is a driving force in your life, you could develop an online course about healthy eating habits. Alternatively, if you have created a successful YouTube channel, a short course on duplicating that success will be popular with many people.
You can create online courses on just about any topic and earn a passive income for your efforts. All it takes is a few tweaks or updates to keep online courses current. If you're prepared to keep your course relevant and evergreen, this is one digital product that can generate income for years to come.
After creating a course, you can register with a well-known platform like Whop, where digital entrepreneurs have made and are making their fortunes.
9. Paid Newsletters
If you specialize in a certain field then you can share your knowledge via paid newsletters. Typically, you would already have a social media presence and want to expand it. If not, you can market their expertise to others who are willing to pay for their knowledge. This special information, guidance, or products can be sold through regular paid newsletters.
For instance, if you're an avid traveler with a blog, you can offer readers a paid newsletter. This digital product can contain advice about the best restaurants, safe areas, must-do activities, and places to avoid when visiting a country.
Or, if you're a serial entrepreneur, regular tips and "how-to guides" are valuable for those who want to start their own business. Sure, there is plenty of information on the web, but knowing it comes from a regular person is often more meaningful than dealing with a faceless individual.
Paid newsletters are a truly evergreen digital product - they go out every day, week, or month, and continue to be sent out on a regular basis, meaning that you collect payment on a regular basis!
10. Stock Photos
If you're one of those people who can't be parted from their camera, a stock photo site is waiting for you to monetize your hobby. People constantly look for fresh images for their media campaigns, blogs, and social media accounts, so making evergreen income is a distinct possibility here.
Explore sites like Unsplash and Pexels to see their business model or develop your own. You can make money by including ads on your site, offering memberships, sharing in the sales of contributors, or by creating a unique model that differentiates your site from others.
Another consideration is what categories to include in the stock photo site. A niche market is great for attracting attention initially, but multiple categories offer a broader use and new markets over time.
Experts advise that you should offer your photos free initially while you build interest, asking users to credit your site when they publish the image. Only after you have gained a decent following should you consider monetization. In the interim, ads could pay your overheads and leave more for something else.
11. Plugins
Plugins are software programs that you use to enhance others. For example, WordPress has multiple plugins to improve the function of existing software. Many of these plugins are free, but some require payment. If you want to add a special feature to a website, use a verified product to avoid potential operational problems or security threats.
Examples of well-known plugins include Yoast SEO for WordPress to optimize content, while the All-in-One WP Migration is another. With a tech background or keen interest, you can build your own plugins and sell these online. Keep updating them, and these digital products will earn a reputation for being evergreen, like several Discord plugins.
Find weaknesses in existing plugins and develop better ones, or think of better, faster ways to solve everyday problems. If you can hit on a plugin that makes life and work easier for millions and sell it for a once-off payment for lifetime use, or even a recurring subscription, you could be on your way to an early retirement.
12. Printables
If you can create printable calendars, wall art, labels, coloring pages, checklists - or anything else that a customer downloads and prints - then you can sell downloadable printable products with an iconic evergreen quality.
Printables are the physical version of online templates. While both often work as B2B services, they are ideal for B2C markets. Plus, printables are known to earn creators up to six-figure incomes a month, making this a worthwhile ecommerce venture.
So if you're feeling creative and need an outlet for your talents, selling printables might be right for you. Software like Canva, Krita, and Design Wizard have free versions that are ideal for beginners. But if you're already a designer, you're one step ahead of everyone else.
Offer online book covers, wedding invitations, cards, daily planners and other evergreen digital products. Make them editable, and then offer once-off payment options or memberships to build your new business. Soon, your Whop printables store could generate four or six monthly figures.
13. Recipes and Meal Plans
Food lovers often enjoy playing with new recipes. So if you love dabbling with new flavors, consider turning your interest into a business by producing recipes, photos, or cooking videos and selling these online. Alternatively, if healthy eating fascinates you, create various eating plans for vegetarian, vegan, carnivore diets, and others.
Eating Well is one site offering its users plenty of advice and recipes for eating their way to wellness, regardless of their current state of health. You can aspire to the same success if you choose these digital products as your ecommerce foundation. The beauty of online recipes and meal planning services? Everyone needs to eat! So there will always be a market for your product.
14. SaaS Products
Software as a service (SaaS) examples include Dropbox, Microsoft, Zoom Workforce Management, and others. If the software you use provides a service, you are likely using SaaS, and it is probably cloud-based because these programs take up too much space to store on most computers.
SaaS products range from customer relationship management (CRM) to project management, Content Management Systems (CMS), and automated marketing, to name a few.
Often, these products are expensive, but monthly subscription fees can make them affordable and accessible. If you want a hosted online store service, SaaS is behind the scenes, making storing and selling your evergreen digital products possible. Even if you have an independent website, hosting relies on SaaS to provide the platform you need to operate your ecommerce venture.
If you have ideas for creating software that users can access over the internet, then you have a SaaS product that you can sell to others via subscriptions. Examples of these evergreen digital products can include anything from office tools to project management, music, movie streaming, or anything else that can fill a gap in the market.
Research the market to see where you can fill a SaaS need. Determine if you can develop the software or if you need angel investors or partners. Create the software and test it extensively. Once you're satisfied with its performance, advertise it online.
15. Online Subscriptions
Is there any better evergreen product than a subscription-based product? Think of sites like Netflix, and you will have identified one subscription site among many. It is a service that you pay for each month for as long as you want to receive access to the product or service. Unlike memberships, there is no interaction between other people who have the subscription, so you do not have to manage a community to sell a subscription.
You simply offer them a service in return for a monthly fee. This service can be anything - from weekly meal plans to exclusive videos, newsletters, and more.
If you have a great digital product to offer that you can for a recurring fee, then consider starting a subscription.
16. Notion Templates
Are you a pro at using Notion? If the answer if yes, then Notion templates may be your evergreen digital product! A template is a pre-created document containing standard information, making it easy for people to complete. Therefore, Notion templates are pre-designed Notion pages to help people get organized across a variety of tasks. This could be habit trackers, budget planners, business documents and anything else that you can create with Notion.
People are always looking for shortcuts to save time and energy, and your skills and talents can help them to achieve their goals. As they get what they want, you earn a passive income – all for developing one or more Notion templates. This is not just an evergreen digital product but also a passive earner, as once you have created a template you can resell it forever - or at least for as long as Notion is around.
17. Videos
This digital product is similar to selling stock photos, but instead, with videos as the product. Pexels is one site among many that gives users access to its videos. Like stock photo sites, short videos of about 30 seconds and less are a welcome addition to blogs, emails, ad campaigns, and similar media tools.
Videos are evergreen digital products that bring a new dynamic to other online activities. They are easy to make and add to your portfolio, and like photos and GIFs you can sell these videos to paying customers.
Where to Sell Digital Products
Now that you have some ideas for evergreen digital products, let's take a look at where you can sell them! There are plenty of platforms where you can sell digital products, including Whop. Whop is an online platform and marketplace where you can sell almost every type of digital product available, from templates to ebooks, memberships, subscriptions, online courses, plugins, and more.
It takes less than ten minutes to get started as a seller on Whop. Here's how:
- Create an account on Whop.com
- Add your business name and social media handles
- Describe the digital products that you’re selling
- List your product in your dashboard, choose its price, and write a description to explain to buyers what they’ll get
- Go through the handy launch checklist and then you're done! Your evergreen digital product is ready to be sold
Start Selling Your Evergreen Products with Whop
Whop has earned a solid reputation as a premium ecommerce site and marketplace. Take a few minutes to register your evergreen digital product on Whop, where you can control everything you need from your dashboard.
As a seller on Whop, you can add and delete products and manage sales, membership, and subscriptions. Plus, you get access to a whole range of important metrics, including customer retention, MRR, churn, and many other features to support your operations.
Whop supports your entrepreneurial journey, so you can become a seller at no cost. Sales incur a 3% transaction fee but there are no sign-up costs.
Start your evergreen digital product journey now and take one step closer to earning a second or primary income – Whop is with you all the way.
