16 Best Digital Asset Ideas for Online Monetization
Are you looking for creative ways to monetize your digital assets? With the rise of digital products and services, there are endless possibilities for creating and building up digital assets. In this blog post, we will explore the best digital asset ideas that you can use to monetize your skills, talents, and passions. Whether you are a graphic designer, web developer, writer, or musician, there is a digital asset that can work for you. So, let’s dive in and discover some exciting opportunities for leveraging digital assets!
What is a Digital Asset?
A digital asset is anything that is stored digitally and is uniquely identifiable that organizations, businesses, and people can use to realize value. Examples of digital assets include social media profiles, email lists, videos, logos, music publishing accounts, podcasts and websites.
Digital assets are managed and used to generate income and hold significant value typically on an ongoing basis. Keep in mind that it’s the management and usage to realize value that makes something an asset, not always complete ownership.
Difference Between Digital Assets and Digital Products.
When it comes to monetizing your digital skills, it’s important to understand the difference between a digital product and a digital asset. While the two terms are often used interchangeably, they actually refer to different things.
A digital product is something that you create once and then sell multiple times. This could be an ebook, a course, a software program, or any other type of digital content that can be downloaded or accessed online. With a digital product, you are essentially creating a product that can be sold over and over again, without the need for additional work on your part.
On the other hand, a digital asset is something that you create once and then leverage multiple times to generate revenue and build your brand. This could be a website, a social media profile, an email list, or any other type of digital property that you own and control. With a digital asset, you are essentially creating a platform that can be used to promote your digital products and services, as well as other products and services that you may be affiliated with.
The key difference between a digital product and a digital asset is that a digital product is a one-time sale, while a digital asset is an ongoing source of revenue. While it’s certainly possible to make a lot of money selling digital products, the real power comes from building a strong digital asset that can be used to promote those products and generate passive income over time.
So, if you’re looking to monetize your digital skills, it’s important to focus not just on creating great products, but also on building a strong digital asset that can help you sell those products and build your brand over the long term.
Remember that some digital products can also be digital assets ( i.e. music or films) but not all digital assets can be considered digital products ( i.e. social media account or websites). I like to think of digital assets like containers or folders for digital products. Consider things like a high ranking website, an amazon seller account , or email list as things that give you the ability to sell products repeatedly. Imagine how much more powerful a digital asset is versus a digital product.
The digital asset is the store and the digital product is what the store sells.
Why Sell Digital Products Utilizing Digital Assets?
Selling digital products using your digital assets is a great way to monetize your skills and passions. Unlike physical products, digital products have low overhead costs and can be produced and distributed easily. This means that you can produce and sell digital products without having to worry about inventory, shipping, or storage costs. Additionally, because digital products are often delivered instantly, you can generate revenue quickly through the use and optimization of digital assets like websites or social media profiles.
Pros of Selling Digital Products
- Low overhead costs: As mentioned earlier, digital products have low overhead costs, making it easier for you to start selling without a large investment.
- Flexible pricing: Digital products can be sold at a wide range of prices, making it easier to cater to different audiences and price points.
- Easy to distribute: Digital products can be easily distributed through online marketplaces, social media, and email, allowing you to reach a broader audience.
- Passive income potential: Once you have created and marketed your digital products, they can continue to generate income without much additional effort on your part.
Cons of Selling Digital Products
- Lower perceived value: Some consumers may perceive digital products as having less value than physical products, which could affect their willingness to pay a higher price.
- Increased competition: With the rise of digital products and online marketplaces, the competition for digital products has increased, making it harder to stand out.
- Potential for piracy: Digital products can be easily copied and shared, making it harder to control who has access to your products and potentially leading to lost revenue.
Despite these potential drawbacks, selling digital products remains a lucrative and accessible way to monetize your digital assets.
Types of Digital Assets for Selling Digital Products
When it comes to monetizing your digital assets, there are many different types of assets you can create and use to sell digital products. Here are some of the most popular types of digital assets that can be used to sell digital products:
1. Websites
A website can be a powerful digital asset for selling digital products. By creating a website that showcases your products and provides an easy way for customers to purchase them, you can generate revenue while also building a brand and attracting new customers. Your website can also be used to create a blog or other content that will attract visitors and help establish you as an authority in your niche.
2. Email Lists
An email list is a powerful digital asset that can help you build a loyal following and promote your digital products and services. By collecting email addresses from interested individuals, you can send them regular updates, newsletters, and promotional messages. This allows you to establish a direct line of communication with your audience and build a relationship with them over time.
By building a list of subscribers who are interested in your products, you can market to them directly and generate sales. You can also use your email list to provide valuable content and nurture relationships with your subscribers, which will help build trust and increase sales over time.
3. Social Media Profiles
Social media profiles, such as Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Twitter, can be used to promote your digital products and drive traffic to your website or other sales channels. By building a following on social media, you can reach a wider audience and generate more sales. You can also use social media to engage with your customers and build relationships with them.
4. Sales Funnels
A sales funnel is a series of steps that a customer goes through before making a purchase. By creating a sales funnel that is optimized for your digital products, you can increase conversions and generate more revenue. Your sales funnel can include landing pages, email marketing, and other tactics that are designed to move customers closer to making a purchase.
5. Product Descriptions and Marketing Materials
High-quality product descriptions and marketing materials are essential for selling digital products. By creating compelling copy and visuals that highlight the benefits of your products, you can attract more customers and generate more sales. Your product descriptions and marketing materials can be used on your website, social media profiles, and other sales channels.
6. Branding and Design Assets
Branding and design assets, such as logos, color schemes, and graphics, are important for creating a cohesive and professional brand identity. By creating high-quality branding and design assets, you can establish a strong brand that will help you stand out from your competitors and attract more customers.
By leveraging these and other digital assets, you can create a powerful ecosystem that is optimized for selling digital products. With the right strategy and execution, you can turn your digital assets into a lucrative source of income.
7. Amazon KDP Account
Amazon KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing) is a platform that allows you to self-publish digital books and sell them on Amazon. By publishing your own books, you can generate passive income. The power of an Amazon KDP account as a digital asset lies in you operating as your own publishing house with the ability to generate sales over and over again with various products .
8. Etsy Store
Etsy is an online marketplace for handmade and vintage goods. By opening an Etsy store and selling your digital products on the platform, you can reach a large audience of buyers who are interested in unique and handmade items. When you understand the platform more effectively the store and the information you have gained becomes profitable. Think of shifting focus from just moving product to also educating and branding this asset to the max.
9. YouTube Channel
YouTube is the world’s largest video-sharing platform, and it can be a powerful tool for promoting your digital products and building a following. By creating high-quality videos that showcase your products and provide value to your audience, you can attract more viewers and generate more sales. This is easily one of the most powerful digital assets you can own for any business model.
Many popular YouTubers understand the expansive reach of the platform and create multiple channels while leveraging their knowledge into courses extracting maximum earnings from this powerful digital asset.
10. Advertising Account (i.e., Google, Amazon)
Advertising platforms like Google Ads and Amazon Advertising can be used to promote your digital products and drive traffic to your website or sales channels. By targeting your ads to the right audience and optimizing your campaigns, you can generate more sales and increase your return on investment (ROI).
A ads account in good standing can prove to be a powerful asset for e-commerce brands and digital agencies to generate repeat revenue.
11. Shopify Store
Shopify is an all-in-one e-commerce platform that allows you to create an online store and sell your digital products directly to customers. With features like built-in payment processing and shipping integration, Shopify makes it easy to manage your online business and generate revenue.
12. Distro Kid Account
Considering that a digital asset is something you can mange and operate to bring repeat sales and hold value , you could consider a music publishing account with a site like Distro Kid a very valuable digital asset. It’s with this account that you can publish multiple songs, albums, and videos in digital format for streams and sales the come back to this centralized account.
13. Podcast
The hallmark of a good digital asset is the ability to generate revenue repeatedly at scale, which really checks out with podcasting . There is significantly less competition with podcasting in comparison to platforms like Instagram and YouTube with a longer retention rate. Monetization is primarily achieved through advertising other brands and your own personal products or services. Major players like Joe Rogan shed light on the massive heights that can be achieved through podcasting as a digital asset. Even on a smaller scale, a podcast is a great lead generation tool and a good alternative to folks less drawn to newsletters that can operated anywhere with the right equipment.
14. Substack
One popular variation on an email list with community features is Substack. Substack is a platform that allows writers to create and send newsletters to their subscribers. In addition to the newsletter, Substack also provides community features, such as the ability to create discussion threads and host live events. This turns the email list into a more interactive and engaging space for the community, which can help to build a stronger relationship between the writer and their subscribers.
By building an email list or using a platform like Substack, you can create a valuable digital asset that can help you promote your products and services, establish yourself as a thought leader, and build a strong relationship with your audience.
15. Mobile App
Mobile apps are a powerful digital asset idea that can generate revenue in a number of ways. By developing a mobile app that solves a problem or meets a need in your target market, you can create a valuable asset that can be used to promote your other digital products and services.
If you’re new to mobile app development, there are a number of resources available to help you get started. Here are a few websites that can help beginners create mobile applications:
- Appy Pie: Appy Pie is a no-code platform that allows you to create mobile apps without any programming knowledge. With a drag-and-drop interface and a variety of templates to choose from, Appy Pie makes it easy to create a professional-looking mobile app in just a few hours.
- BuildFire: BuildFire is another no-code platform that makes it easy to create mobile apps. With a variety of design options and integrations with popular services like Shopify and Mailchimp, BuildFire is a great option for beginners who want to create a mobile app quickly and easily.
- Thunkable: Thunkable is a drag-and-drop platform for creating mobile apps that allows you to build apps for both iOS and Android devices. With a variety of templates and design options, Thunkable makes it easy to create a mobile app that looks and functions just the way you want it to.
Try using these resources and others like them, to create a mobile app that meets the needs of your target market and generates revenue for your business. Whether you’re looking to sell your app directly to consumers or use it to promote your other digital products and services, a mobile app can be a powerful asset that helps you succeed in the digital marketplace.
16. Affiliate Marketing Accounts
While this may seem like a stretch, when you consider that an asset can be defined as something a person or business can use for an extended period to leverage for revenue repeatedly, then accounts in good standing with affiliate platforms would be a fit.
Spaces like PartnerStack, ClickBank, Rakuten, and CJ Affiliate are where you can find offers to diversify the monetization of social media platforms, websites, and various online content.
So the idea is that the affiliate account in good standing and with solid metrics would attract more brands to connect thus improving earnings overall. This sounds like an asset to me.
By leveraging these and other digital assets, you can create a powerful ecosystem that is optimized for selling digital products. With the right strategy and execution, you can turn your digital assets into a lucrative source of income.
