eBay is a popular e-commerce platform that enables sellers to offer various digital products to millions of active buyers worldwide. So, whether you’re an artist, musician, software developer, or author, eBay provides a platform for you to showcase your work and reach global audiences.
Selling Downloadables/Digital Items on eBay: Basic Knowhow
Not everyone can sell on eBay, only verified sellers can list digital products, and they must adhere to our rules. They take extra precautions with digital goods to avoid plagiarism and protect.
For further details, follow eBay’s policies on how to sell digital products on their site.
3 Steps Of Selling Digital Items On eBay
Selling digital products on eBay is permissible if you legally own and hold the rights to the item. However, engaging in the sale of digital codes and movies is prohibited by eBay to prevent piracy issues.
To comply with the policy and avoid legal complications, it is crucial to only sell the physical disk associated with the digital content rather than the digital files themselves. Always ensure that your actions align with copyright laws to monetize digital items on the eBay platform safely.
Step 1: Create an Account
To create an account on eBay:
- Navigate to any eBay page and click the ‘Selling’ tab in the top menu.
- Decide between Personal or Business, fill out the form, and hit “create Account’ or sign up with Google, Facebook, or Apple. Then add your contact details and click ‘Continue’. Choose a Personal account if you are selling on eBay as an individual and choose a Business account if you sell on eBay as an organization.
- Once you’re in ‘My eBay’, click ‘Selling’ in the My eBay menu again.
- Click ‘List an item’ on the Selling Overview page and you’ll be whisked away to the ‘Sell your item’ form.
- Enter the name of your item and click Get Started to unlock listing magic.
- Complete the ‘Sell Your Item’ form, click Submit, and your listing will be safely saved as a draft.
- Then click Get Started on the seller account registration page.
- Ensure account security by entering your telephone number and verifying it using eBay’s unique code. Once your number’s verified, you can change your account type later.
Step 2: List Your Products
eBay allows the sale of certain approved digital items, but they must be listed under the Information Products > Everything Else > Classified Ad format.
The Classified Ad format differs from standard auctions and ‘Buy It Now’ options because eBay sellers will directly receive the personal details of potential buyers.
While Classified Ads on eBay connect you with potential buyers, the actual purchase and delivery of the digital product must happen completely outside of eBay’s platform. This means:
- No completing the transaction through eBay checkout.
- No using eBay messaging to finalize the sale or share personal contact information.
- Sticking purely to communication related to completing the digital sale within ebay’s Classified Ad format.
- When you sell digital products through Classified on eBay, a key trade-off is sacrificing the ability to receive feedback.
eBay has another route. If the Classified Ads format isn’t your cup of tea, become an approved digital seller on eBay.
- Get access to wider categories: Showcase your digital products beyond ‘Everything Else’.
- More control over listings: Craft detailed descriptions and reach the right audience.
However, to get pre-approved, the first step is PayPal verification. But clearly disclose that eBay’s Money Back Guarantee won’t cover purchases.
Also, local pickup isn’t an option so you have to opt for online delivery. Moreover, make sure that your digital goods are harmless to buyers’ computers.
Step 3: Fulfill eBay Policy Requirements
Explicitly mention and state your ownership of the digital product you want to sell on eBay. Mention that you are the intellectual or legal owner or have permission to sell on the owner’s behalf.
In your listing, state clearly:
- Your league or intellectual property rights.
- Proof of ownership, like certificates or licenses.
Step 4: Set the Payment Method
After you have listed your items, eBay automatically adds payment options like Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal, credit cards, and debit card at checkout. However, you can also add payment methods in some categories.
Step 5: Set Up the Delivery Process
Mention the delivery procedure for the digital items. There are many tools and services available. You should:
- Invest in automated distribution and fraud screening services.
- Spell out your chosen method in the item description.
- Keep buyers informed and expectations aligned.
- When sending download links, ensure they’re safe and won’t harm anyone’s computer.
Best Digital Items To Sell At eBay
Here are the best-selling digital items on eBay:
eBooks
From practical guides to fantasy escapes, eBooks reign supreme among digital bestsellers on eBay. You can sell any genre- fiction, non-fiction, self-help, or niche expertise- and find your next literary fix.
Software and apps
There is a significant demand for digital tools such as software applications, mobile apps, and game codes on eBay. Users frequently search for productivity software, antivirus programs, and popular game titles.
Digital Art
Visual content in the form of digital art, encompassing illustrations, graphics, and templates, attracts creative individuals, businesses, and anyone seeking distinctive visual material.
Sell digital artwork using Crowdfundly
Music and audio files
eBay provides a marketplace for musicians, podcasters, and audiobook creators to sell their audio products, such as songs, albums, and sound effects.
Video content
Among content creators, marketers, and videographers, video content stock footage, video tutorials, and animations enjoy significant popularity on platforms like eBay.
Photography
Digital photo collections, wallpapers, and image bundles are frequently sought after by photography enthusiasts and businesses alike.
Printables
Individuals and businesses can benefit from printable planners, invitation templates, and educational printables.
Courses and guides
For eBay users seeking knowledge or skill acquisition, valuable digital products include online courses, guides, and educational materials.
Website templates
Individuals and businesses seeking to improve their online presence often seek website templates, WordPress themes, and website design assets.
Custom services
Providing custom services such as graphic design, content writing, or website development can prove to be a lucrative opportunity on eBay.
Is eBay Good For Selling Digital Items?
Yes, eBay is a good e-commerce platform to sell digital products. However, there are some initial complexities due to eBay’s policies. Once you grasp these policies and objectives, you can effectively sell your digital items on eBay.
eBay is worthwhile because here you will find:
- A dedicated community from all around the world of more than 132 million shoppers.
- Effective management of selling functionality
- Useful marketing tools to increase sells
- Transparent fees
However, selling digital items on eBay can be a hassle at times. Because-
- eBay charges you $9.95 for each listing in the Classified Ad category.
- There are also other fees that eBay charges apart from listing fees like final fees and optional upgrade fees.
- The listing of your items isn’t permanent. It is only for 30 days.
- eBay doesn’t allow digital delivery of products. For instance, you can’t send a PDF through email, so you have to send it through postal mail.
- The eBay marketplace is very competitive so it gets really hard to stand out among other sellers.
Alternative to eBay (and marketplaces) to Sell Digital Products: Crowdfundly
Crowdfundly is a tool exclusively for creators to earn donations, sell memberships, and sell any digital items to fans.
Crowdfundly should be your go-to tool if you are a content creator and looking for a place to sell your digital products. Here, you can sell any type of digital product- ebooks, music, audio files, photos, videos, and so on.
Why Do We Recommend Crowdfundly?
Here’s why we recommend you use Crowdfundly:
You can build and customize your digital shop and sell digital items to your fans in 4 easy steps. Here are the steps to create a shop and sell your digital products on Crowdfundly:
- Create an account and set the payment getaway from ‘Settings’.
- Go to ‘Shop’ in the sidebar and then choose ‘Digital Art’.
- Fill up the required details and set the pricing of your artwork.
- Choose ‘Create and voila you will have your shop in these steps.
Now enlist all the digital items you would like to sell to your community. You can even create different categories of the items you would like to sell.
Share your shop link to your social media platforms to reach out to more consumers. To get the link, go to ‘View My Page’ from the menu bar on the topmost right corner, go to ‘Shop’, and click on the art you want to share.
FAQ
Can You Sell In-Game Items On eBay?
No, you can’t sell in-game items on eBay. Selling digital content related to games, such as digital currency, accounts, or in-game items, constitutes a violation of the terms of service for the respective game. Therefore listing such items is prohibited in your eBay online business.
Can You Sell Digital Codes On eBay?
No, you cannot sell digital codes on eBay. Prohibited electronically delivered items encompass software keys that the seller lacks authorization to sell and digital copies or codes of movies that were originally obtained as part of a physical movie item purchase. For the sale of digital copies or codes, the inclusion of the corresponding physical disk is mandatory.
What To Avoid While Selling On eBay?
Refrain from selling digital items like movies or CDs unless they come with accompanying physical disks. Also, exercise caution when listing digital goods to prevent potential harm to the buyer’s computer or violations of copyright laws.
Concluding Words
Now that you know how to sell digital items on eBay, follow this guide and sell what you like. Refer to the provided information when considering selling digital products on eBay. However, closely follow the specific policies governing your listings to prevent suspension.