Online marketplaces, from Etsy to Amazon, are quickly exploding as tools for millions of people to make money online without even having to build their own web presence, or as extra revenue streams in case you already have your own online shop. Marketplaces enable sellers to create their own profiles, post products and collect payments from consumers all over the world.
However, many of the top marketplaces aren’t all that friendly for people trying to sell digital goods. That’s why we put together a list of seven killer marketplaces that fit the bill. Each marketplace caters to different industries and product offerings, but each can help you build a page, post digital items like eBooks, music, videos and even PDF files.The best part is marketplaces provide all the processing and delivery for you, with automated links or download libraries for direct customer access. Keep reading to learn about the top digital marketplace solutions.
1. Amazon
Amazon is the most popular solution for those interested in selling digital goods online, and it offers a great place for you to reach out to an international crowd. You you sell anything from music to eBooks, and games to apps. Amazon also provides quite a few special programs for those sellers who sell exclusively with Amazon . For example, the Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing program is designed to increase commissions for authors and writers who only sell on the Amazon Kindle Store for a designated period of time. Amazon fees for digital products depend on the products you plan to sell.
Who is this marketplace best for?
Amazon is most popular for authors selling eBooks, buy the Amazon music library is robust and you can even sell apps and gaming files for download.
2. Gumroad
Gumroad marketplace lets you sell audio clips, eBooks and videos with the click of a button, and even offer rentals for your music or videos for a simple fee of 5% + 25¢ per transaction. The seller interface is clean and simple, and you receive advanced analytics for projecting your sales into the future. The coolest part is that you can quickly share your digital content through email, social media, your website and more. If you’d prefer to build a solid online shop with all the bells and whistles you might want to read some Shopify reviews.
Who is this marketplace best for?
The Gumroad marketplace is built primarily for authors, filmmakers and musicians. Big-name artists sell through Gumroad because of the simple interface and the connectivity with social media.
3. Themeforest
Themeforest is the most popular place to buy and sell website templates, HTML code, marketing themes, PSDs and plugins. Top sellers are known to make over $1 million per year and the store management area is ideal for interacting with customers and showing off your best work.
Include product demos on your page, allow customers to contact you or comment on the item, and build up your ratings to increase how many people buy from you.
Who is this marketplace best for?
Themeforest is all about website development, so if you don’t plan on making and selling website templates you probably won’t be working through Themeforest.
4. Lazada
Lazada is similar to Amazon, yet it focuses on selling items from people located in Southeast Asia. You receive your own admin panel for managing and posting your items with ease. Once someone buys a book or music clip from you they can access the files on their own Lazada dashboard.
Who is this marketplace best for?
Lazada is best for those sellers who would like to expand on their Amazon presence, but they don’t have access to places like Gumroad or Udemy because of their geographical location.
5. eBay
We all know eBay as that wonderful marketplace for buying and selling just about anything you can get your hands on. The classic eBay format is to bid on the items, similar to an auction, yet this strategy has changed quite a bit to make room for sellers who simply want to post and sell, without the need for holding an auction.
Selling digital products on eBay is just like selling a physical product, but you must indicate that you would like to “List as a Digital Item” when creating the product page. This removes areas that would only apply to non-digital goods such as shipping requirements. Before posting your digital items it’s wise to generate your own eBay store to brand yourself and accumulate ratings from buyers.
Who is this marketplace best for?
Anyone with digital files can sell on eBay since there are no restrictions.
6. Apple iTunes Store
The Apple iTunes store has books, music, apps, videos and more, yet it’s one of the more difficult marketplaces to get listed on, since Apple’s application process is more rigorous. The iTunes Connect program is your best bet when selling books, music and apps, since it guides you through the free application processes. Keep in mind that each form of media requires a completely unique application. The stats are great through iTunes, and you receive access to any consumer with an Apple product.
Who is this marketplace best for?
I like this for sellers who are familiar with Apple products, since the backend configuration is similar. It’s also mainly catered to app developers, authors and musicians, and you must ensure that you content is good enough to get into the marketplace.
7. Udemy
Udemy is your hub for selling video courses. It’s a wonderful way to make a passive income, since you gain access to all the free hosting and interface tools you need; and it processes the payments for you. The payment system is interesting as well, since if someone uses a coupon code from you, the instructor, you receive 100% of the revenue. If the customer is found via organic search, you keep 50% of the revenue, which still isn’t bad.
Who is this marketplace best for?
If you possess knowledge in a particular field and want to create some videos to sell to other people, this is the spot for you.
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