Kenya’s digital landscape is expanding and opportunities for creating income online are increasing quickly. The rise of mobile internet access, along with the widespread use of mobile payment platforms like M-Pesa, has made room for digital entrepreneurship to thrive. One of the most promising avenues for income generation is creating and selling digital products. If you’re looking to diversify your income or become a full-time digital creator, learning how to make money with digital products can be a game-changer. 

In this article, we will share easy and actionable steps to start making money selling digital products. If you’re a creator living in Kenya, pull out a pen and take notes. You’re in for a ride! 

But first, what are digital products?

Digital products are assets or pieces of media that can be sold and distributed online without being stored physically. They typically cannot be touched except via a screen. Examples of digital products include eBooks, online courses, digital art, software, music, and templates. 

Why sell digital products? 

There are a wide range of advantages to selling digital products as a Kenyan creator. We’ve outlined a few below. 

1. Cost of production is low: Digital products are very cheap to produce. Once you create a product, you can sell it unlimited times without additional production costs. As an entrepreneur, this is a great opportunity for you to tap into, with relatively low costs.
2. Global reach: Digital products can be sold and accessed from anywhere in the world, giving you access to a vast customer base. With increasing internet use and a young, tech-savvy population, the demand for digital products in Kenya is on the rise. 
3. The ability to automate processes: The selling process, including order fulfillment and delivery, can be automated through e-commerce platforms like Selar, freeing up time for you to do other tasks.
4. High-profit margins: Since the cost of replication is virtually zero, profit margins for digital products can be substantially higher than for physical goods.
5. Can be easily customized and updated: You can easily update or improve your product over time without the hassle of manufacturing, ensuring customers always receive the latest version.
6. Very convenient: Digital products are very convenient. They don’t need to be transported and can be delivered immediately. The rise of mobile money services has also made it easier for consumers to purchase digital goods online. 

Okay, but how do you decide what to create? 

Before creating digital products, you should first identify a profitable niche. This is usually one where there is high demand that aligns with your skills or interests. Both factors must be present so that you can enjoy the process of creation and earning. Start by researching market trends and consumer needs. For instance, educational content, tech tutorials, and African-themed digital art could be popular areas you can explore. 

Use keyword tools to find out what people are searching for in your niche. Answer the Public and Google Search, are great tools you can use to explore keywords. Keywords like “how to make money with digital products” and “five things people want to learn” can give you insights into trending topics and areas of interest. 

The goal is to identify a niche where you can provide value, solve problems, or fulfill a desire for your target audience. If you have a sizeable following on social media, you can also go the old-fashioned route of asking your audience what they would like to see from you. Pay keen attention to recurring questions and consider answering them when creating your digital product. 

Read: How to Easily Create and Sell Digital Products

Digital products you can create

Once you’ve identified a profitable niche, the next step is to create. Here are some ideas for digital products that are relatively easy to create and market:

1. eBooks: If you are an expert in a particular subject, consider writing an eBook. This could be a guide on how to learn a skill or even a fictional story set in Kenya.
2. Online courses: Create an online course that teaches a skill you’re proficient in. Platforms like Selar make it easy to host and sell courses.
3. Digital art and graphics: If you’re artistically inclined, you can create digital illustrations, logos, or templates that cater to local tastes and sell them on platforms like Selar. 

Focus on quality. High-quality products are more likely to receive positive reviews and generate repeat customers. Use tools like Canva for design, and Grammarly for writing, to ensure that the work you put out is stellar, and suitable for audience consumption. 

Where do you sell your digital products? 

To sell your digital products, you need an online store. There are several platforms accessible in Kenya which you can use to sell your digital products. Let’s look at a few: 

1. Selar: Selar is a popular platform in Africa for selling digital products. It supports mobile money payments, making it convenient for Kenyan users. Selar makes the process of selling digital products easy with its simple interface, secure payment options, and marketing tools that help you reach a wider audience. Selar optimizes for all kinds of digital products including eBooks, Courses & Memberships, Event Tickets & Training, Services, Digital art and more. By using Selar, you can focus on creating high-quality digital products while the platform handles everything else. Start using Selar today. 
2. Gumroad: This is another user-friendly platform that allows you to sell digital products worldwide. Like Selar, Gumroad is both a platform and a marketplace for creators to sell their products and services.
3. Shopify: With Shopify, you can create an online store to sell your digital products. You don’t need to have special tech skills, there are lots of templates with built-in features to help you get started.
4. Amazon: As the most popular e-commerce tool in the world, it’s natural to be the first to come to mind when you think about selling digital products. However, Amazon might not be optimized for digital products that aren’t eBooks. 

How do you get people to buy your digital products? 

Creating a great product is only half the battle; you also need to be able to market it effectively. Here are some strategies to boost your sales:

1. Social media marketing: Platforms like Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook can be great for promoting your digital products. With these platforms, you can create a pipeline from your social media accounts to your digital store. You can do this by creating and sharing engaging and educational content, running ads, and collaborate with influencers to reach a broader audience. With social media, a lot of trial error is involved, so be patient, and switch strategies when something isn’t working. 
2. SEO best practices: On your landing page, online store, and social media channels, pay attention to search engine optimization best practices. Optimize your online store and product descriptions by using keywords relating to the product. This will help improve your search engine rankings and make it easier for potential customers to find you on the web. Read this article to find out more ways to improve SEO. 
3. Influencer collaborations: Partnering with influencers has always been a great way to connect with new audiences and sell to a different audience. Be sure that these influencers align with your brand. They can help promote your products to their followers, increasing your visibility and credibility.

Once you start making sales, you might consider scaling. Here are some ways to grow:

1. Expand your product range: Based on customer feedback, consider adding new products or variations of already existing ones. If you have an E-book, you can decide to make a workbook that can be more practical for readers, or make the e-book into a course for your audience to follow along. People consume information in different ways, so you can always try new things to cater to different audiences. 
2. Automation: The life of a creator can get really busy, so using tools and platforms that automate sales, marketing, and customer service processes can save you time and allow you to focus on other aspects of your business, like marketing and creating new products. Selar allows you to automate reminders when leads come on your sales page, and forget to complete purchases. This way you’re a step closer to getting sales. 
3. International sales: If your products have universal appeal, consider expanding to international markets. Platforms like Selar make it easy to sell globally, as it supports over eight currencies and can be used from anywhere in the world.

To inspire your journey, let’s look at this success story from a Kenyan entrepreneur who have made money selling digital products.

Millicent Bundi (makemoneywithmillie), is a digital marketer, and online business coach who creates digital products that empowers other online creators and entrepreneurs. She teaches African women how to start earning online income through affiliate marketing and selling digital products in various niches. Below is an example of one of her products that she sells on Selar. 

In conclusion

Selling digital products offers a lucrative opportunity for entrepreneurs in Kenya. By identifying a profitable niche, creating high-quality products, and effectively marketing them, you can start making money by selling you digital products. As Kenya’s digital economy continues to grow, now is the perfect time to get started. So why wait? Begin your digital product journey today and unlock the potential for financial freedom.