If you’re a mom looking for a flexible way to earn income without adding more chaos to your schedule, selling digital products might be your dream side hustle. With no inventory to manage, no shipping required, and the ability to work on your own time, digital products are one of the easiest ways to make money online—even if you’re not tech-savvy.
Without knowing how to get started, you might waste time spinning your wheels and never get that first product out there. You might feel stuck wondering what to create, or overwhelmed by all the tools and tutorials. But once you understand the process, it becomes simple and doable.
You’re in the right place! I created this 5-step process to help you start selling digital products from home—a method based on trial, error, and a lot of mom-tested hustle.
We’ll cover everything from choosing your product to getting it into the hands of your first customer. I’ll also share tips to help you avoid the most common mistakes I see other moms make when they’re just starting out.
By the time you finish Step 5, you’ll feel confident, capable, and excited to finally have a digital product out in the world.
Let’s go!
Step #1: Pick a Profitable Product Idea
Before you can design anything or set up a shop, you need to know what you’re going to sell. This step is all about choosing a product that solves a real problem for someone.
Here’s how to come up with a great product idea:
- Think about what you already know or use: Are you amazing at organizing, meal planning, homeschooling, budgeting, or simplifying your morning routine?
- Look at what people are already buying: Go on Etsy or Creative Market and search for digital downloads in your niche.
- Ask your audience (even if it’s just a few Instagram followers or Facebook friends): What do they struggle with?
For example: If you’re a homeschool mom, you could create printable learning games or a simple weekly schedule template. If you’re into meal planning, maybe you create a digital meal tracker or a grocery list bundle.
What to look out for: Avoid trying to make something perfect or totally original. Your version, your voice, and your style are what make it valuable. Just start with one idea and build from there.
All done? Great job! Let’s move on to Step 2.
Step #2: Create Your Product Using Canva
You do not need to be a designer or learn complicated software. Canva is a beginner-friendly design tool that makes it easy to create beautiful digital products.
Here’s what to do:
- Sign up for a free (or Pro) Canva account
- Use a template to save time (Canva has templates for planners, calendars, checklists, and more)
- Customize fonts, colors, and layout to match your style
- Keep it simple and easy to use
Pro tip: Always download your product as a high-quality PDF (or PNG if it’s an image-based product).
What to look out for: Don’t overdesign or make it complicated. Clarity and usefulness matter more than fancy fonts. If your printable solves a real problem, people will buy it.
Step #3: Set Up a Simple Online Shop
Now that you have your product, it’s time to get it online so people can buy it!
You can start selling your product using platforms like:
- Etsy (perfect for beginners and moms)
- Gumroad (great for digital downloads)
- Payhip (easy to use with zero upfront cost)
To list your product:
- Create a product title with keywords people would search (e.g., “Weekly Homeschool Schedule Printable”)
- Write a clear, benefits-focused description
- Upload your product and set your price (start simple, like $5-$15)
- Add mockup images using Canva (showing your product in use)
What to look out for: Don’t wait until you have a full shop. You can start selling with just one listing. Done is better than perfect.
Step #4: Share It With the World (Without Feeling Salesy)
Now that your product is live, you need to let people know it exists!
Ways to promote your product:
- Share it on Instagram or in Facebook groups (if allowed)
- Create a simple Pinterest pin that links to your product
- Email your friends and let them know what you’ve made
- Offer a freebie that leads to your paid product
You don’t need to be an influencer to make sales. Just start sharing your product consistently and talk about how it helps.
What to look out for: Don’t be afraid to talk about your product more than once. Most people need to see something a few times before they buy.
Step #5: Rinse, Refine, and Repeat
You did it! You launched your first digital product. Now it’s time to look at what worked, what didn’t, and plan your next move.
Here’s what to do next:
- Track your sales (how many, when, where they came from)
- Ask buyers for feedback or reviews
- Tweak your listing if it’s not converting (title, price, images)
- Plan your next product or create a bundle
What to look out for: Don’t give up if your first product doesn’t sell instantly. It takes time, tweaking, and consistency. Every product teaches you something new.
Bonus Tip: Create a system that works with your life. Set a “design hour” once a week or batch create when you feel most creative. It’s your business—you get to set the pace.
Key Takeaways
You don’t need a big following, fancy tech skills, or a business degree to start selling digital products from home. You just need a simple system, a helpful idea, and a willingness to start messy.
Follow these 5 steps to:
- Create something valuable from your own experience
- Sell it in a way that feels natural
- Grow a business that works around your life
Ready to Start Your Digital Product Journey?
Download my free guide, “50 Side Hustle Ideas for Moms,” to help you brainstorm your first product and get inspired by what other moms are doing.
👉 Click here to grab the free guide and get started!
You got this!
