In this guide, we’ll show you how you can start creating PDFs and selling them online with Shopify!

What are downloadable PDF products?

Downloadable PDF products are digital files in the Portable Document Format (PDF) that consumers can purchase and download directly from the internet. These digital products encompass a wide range of content — including e-books, reports, manuals, worksheets, templates, printables, guides, and more. PDFs are favored for their versatility, as they maintain consistent formatting across various devices and operating systems, ensuring that the document appears as intended by the creator. They’re also popular among buyers and sellers for their convenient, instantaneous availability to customers (upon purchase) and their simple, low-cost storage, sales, and delivery for sellers. These attributes make downloadable PDF products a big hit among consumers and businesses seeking to (respectively) buy and sell portable digital content.

Benefits of selling PDFs online

High profit margins

Unlike physical goods that require materials, manufacturing, and inventory management, PDFs are purely digital. So the initial investment in creating the content is generally the most significant expense, by far. This allows for a substantial profit margin, as every sale thereafter is virtually pure profit. Additionally, the ability to easily update and revise PDFs means that sellers can continue to keep their products current and valuable — further enhancing their profitability over time.

No physical product storage or shipping

Another significant advantage of selling PDFs online is the elimination of physical product storage and shipping. With no need for physical storage space, like a warehouse, sellers save a ton on overhead costs related to maintaining and managing physical inventory. Digital storage and distribution also removes the logistical complexities and expenses of packing and shipping physical products — which can be time-consuming, labor-intensive, and costly. Meanwhile, customers benefit from instant access to their purchases through a digital download, enhancing the overall buying experience and encouraging repeat business. By moving the shopping experience into the digital sphere, selling PDFs online removes traditional barriers and friction — enabling smooth and effortless transactions. This allows sellers to eliminate the drudgery of physical order fulfillment and to focus, instead, on what they do best (and enjoy most) — creating valuable content. Even better — users can buy multiple files with just as much ease, which means more sales for you!

Setting up your Shopify Online store

To get started selling PDFs on Shopify, you'll first need to set up your Shopify Online store and integrate it with SendOwl — a platform that specializes in digital product delivery.

First, create your account on SendOwl

You’ll want to create your SendOwl account first to ensure you have access to all the features we offer — from a streamlined online shopping experience to secure digital delivery. You can get started for free here! Next, add your products to your SendOwl item list by following this guide.

Now, onto Shopify!

To start selling your digital products on your Shopify online site, you first need to have (or create) a Shopify account. If you don’t have one, visit the Shopify website, and follow the prompts to sign up for an account. Be sure to look at the different plans, and select the one that best suits the needs of your business. You’ll want to use a dedicated email address for your Shopify account, so that you can more easily identify business emails and notifications and take timely action in response to any important messages. 

You can customize your store by choosing a theme, and set up your payment methods through the "Payments" section. Configure your shipping settings, even if you're selling only digital products, to manage any geographical restrictions or delivery details. Purchase or connect a domain under the "Domains" section, and set up essential store policies, like refund and privacy policies, under "Settings." Make sure you download the Shopify app to keep up to date on all notifications.

Adding digital products to your Shopify online store

The first thing you want to do after setting up your Shopify account is to connect it with your SendOwl account. Head to the “Settings” page in your SendOwl account, and click the "Shopify settings'' link. Next, hit the “connect” button. Make sure to read the permissions that SendOwl requires for you to sync with your Shopify orders and securely deliver your digital content. Now, if you want to link SendOwl and Shopify products, head to your SendOwl dashboard and hit the “sell” button on one of your products — you’ll be met with a list of ways to sell your item. Click on “Shopify” and select the product you want to link. Now, when someone purchases the linked product from your Shopify checkout, SendOwl will safely deliver the digital file to your buyer.

Depending on the type of product, some formats generally work better than others. So make sure to do your research on different item types, so you can make sure your digital products are always in the best formats for their types.

How you name and price your digital products can have a significant impact on sales. It’s best to name your products using clear, concise descriptors that provide customers with the “at-a-glance” information they need to decide whether to consider buying.

To launch your store, remove password protection in the "Preferences" section, and make sure all customizations and product details are complete.

Customizing your Shopify storefront

Branding 

As you begin to build your Shopify Online store, you’ll want to check out other stores that sell similar products — and those with designs or layouts that you like. Select a theme on Shopify that aligns with your brand identity and enhances your storefront’s visual appeal to customers. Think about the kinds of online stores that you like to shop at, and try to create a similar experience for your own shoppers.

You’ll also want to incorporate your logo, color scheme, and other branding elements to personalize your Shopify storefront. You can customize all of these on your Shopify Online overview page. Make sure that all these elements are consistent across all your social accounts, too, so that your brand is easily recognizable to buyers.

Organizing 

Arrange your product listings in a logical order, and create navigation menus to help customers find what they're looking for quickly. As a user, you know you never want to shop a messy or unnavigable website when you’re trying to buy something. To help make sure that shoppers who visit your online store find what they want and complete a purchase, make it as easy as possible for them to do so!

Tools for creating PDFs

You don’t need to be a graphic design professional to create PDFs online. You can start by using one of these beginner-friendly tools to craft your first products:

  • Adobe Creative Cloud: Industry-standard design software for creating professional-quality printables and many other item types

  • Canva: A user-friendly graphic design platform with templates for various printable products

  • Microsoft Word or Google Docs:  Simply download your documents as PDF files!

  • Free workshops and YouTube tutorials: Resources for honing your design skills and learning new techniques to create the most unique digital products possible

You’ll want to spend some time thinking about the PDFs that you want to create. Maybe you’re interested in putting together an online course, unique wedding invitations, or custom scheduling printouts. There are an unlimited number of things that you can turn into digital assets to sell — generating passive income for you. Check out this list of easy digital products to start selling today! 

Uploading and listing your PDFs

Uploading files to SendOwl

Upload your PDF files to SendOwl from your dashboard, ensuring they’re correctly formatted and ready to be downloaded by customers. 

Creating product listings on Shopify

In your Shopify dashboard, create product listings for each of your PDFs, providing detailed descriptions and engaging images to entice potential buyers. Make sure they’re connected with the correct products in SendOwl. Follow the instructions from the “Linking SendOwl products to Shopify products” section above, so they’re safely delivered to your buyers. And download the Shopify app, so that you never miss a notification!

Setting prices and descriptions

Once your items are in your Shopify item library, set appropriate prices for your PDFs, based on factors such as production costs, market demand, and perceived value. Craft compelling descriptions that highlight the unique aspects and values of the PDFs you’re offering. Do a little research on similar products and their price points, so you can list the most competitive prices in your store.

Marketing your PDFs

Now that your PDFs are live on your Shopify store, it's time to drive traffic that generates sales through effective marketing tools and strategies.

Optimizing listings with relevant keywords and SEO

Research keywords related to your PDFs, and incorporate them into your product titles, descriptions, and tags, to improve visibility in search results.

Promoting on social media platforms

Utilize social media platforms — like Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook — to showcase your PDFs, engage with your audience, and drive traffic to your Shopify Online store. Check out these resources on how to promote and sell digital products on TikTok and Instagram to get some ideas on content creation.

Utilizing SendOwl data for informed marketing decisions

Monitor sales data and customer behavior within SendOwl to identify trends, track the performance of your marketing efforts, and make data-driven decisions to optimize your strategy. Your Shopify dashboard will also provide you with valuable user metrics that will help you make data-informed decisions. 

Delivering your PDFs securely

Ensuring the security of your digital downloads is crucial for protecting your products and customers' information. Here's how SendOwl helps you deliver PDFs securely:

Unique, secure download links for each purchase

SendOwl generates unique downloadable links for each customer, preventing unauthorized access and sharing of your digital files.

Customizable link expiration and usage limits

You can set expiration dates and usage limits on download links, to encourage timely downloads of purchases and prevent abuse of your products.

PDF stamping to prevent unauthorized sharing

SendOwl offers PDF-stamping functionality, which adds a watermark or other personalized information to each downloaded file, discouraging piracy and unauthorized sharing.

Start your PDF-selling journey today!

Selling PDFs on Shopify can be a great way to generate passive income by using your expertise to create high-value digital products. By following this step-by-step guide, you can set up your store, create unique PDFs that people want to buy, and market those PDFs effectively to reach your target audience. Here’s a quick recap to help you get started:

  1. Set up your Shopify account, integrate SendOwl, and download the Shopify app.

  2. Design attractive, high-quality PDFs using tools like Adobe Creative Cloud and Canva.

  3. Upload your PDFs to SendOwl, and create product listings on your Shopify dashboard. 

  4. Implement marketing strategies to drive traffic and generate sales.

  5. Deliver your PDFs securely using SendOwl's customizable features.

With the right tools, resources, and mindset, you have everything you need to succeed in selling PDFs on Shopify. Get started today, and turn your passion into a thriving online business!

Paul Tomes
Written by Paul Tomes

Paul Tomes is a highly experienced leader with a special talent for understanding both the product and the customer. Throughout his career, Paul has been a key player in successful startups and has also transformed the product and support experience for organizations with over 100,000 existing customers. His passion for enhancing the user experience has taken it to new heights. By making the product user-friendly and providing timely and relevant information, Paul empowers customers to become the heroes in their own journey.

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