4 Lessons I’ve Learned After Crossing my First 100 Sales on Gumroad!

7 min readJun 3, 2024

(Read this if you don’t want to make the same mistakes.)

Selling digital products has become the favorite side hustle for creators.

Not only creators, but it seems like everyone nowadays is planning to create and sell a digital product with the hope of adding an extra income stream to their portfolio.

But there are numerous questions related to this :

Does it actually work?
Can you seriously make money by selling these digital products?
Is it sustainable?

I was also pondering over these questions when I first heard about Gumroad.

For those who don’t know about Gumroad :

Gumroad is an online platform that allows creators to sell digital products directly to their audience.

You only need to create your store on this platform and once you’re done with the initial setup, you can list your digital products (like e-books, courses, software, etc.), and start selling.

The only thing is you’ll be charged a 10% fee on each sale.

I watched some reference videos, read some blog posts and finally decided to give a try to this platform.

Now, the question is what would I sell on Gumroad?

Since I began my online journey as a Pinterest creator and know the ins and outs of the platform, I thought why not leverage my expertise by creating and selling something related to Pinterest.

I created the Pinterest Master Guide with the objective to provide a step-by-step roadmap to anyone who wants to make it on Pinterest.

I’ve also created a bunch of other products just to see how it goes.

The results?

I’ve already crossed 100 sales on this platform😊

Here’re the 4 lessons that I’ve learnt after starting this new side hustle⬇️.

Lesson 1 : Identify your USP

USP i.e. Unique Selling Proposition is a must if you actually want to stand out in a crowded marketplace.

In fact, not only in a marketplace but generally on any platform.

This is one of the most common mistakes that people make.

When I started selling my digital products, let’s say the Pinterest Master Guide on Gumroad, I needed to figure out what made it different or what its USP was.

Turns out, my practical knowledge and insider tips from growing my Pinterest account were what made it stand out.

I’ve actually started from scratch on this platform, that too with my 9–5 and I’m able to cross over 70 Million Impressions without spending a single $ in ads.

That’s my USP and I can use it to help people who’re struggling to grow their Pinterest account🙌

So, first identify your USP.

Think what’re the things which you know better than others and then turn your knowledge into a product.

Also, make sure it has a Product-Market Fit, which means that your product or service perfectly matches the needs and preferences of your target audience.

Lesson 2 :Quality is your Biggest Promoter

You know what, when you’re starting afresh on any platform, what’s the one thing that compels strangers to trust you and give a look at what you’re creating?

It’s Quality!

When something is really good, it naturally grabs people’s attention.

That’s why giving your best is so important.

Think about it like this: would you rather have a short but super helpful PDF with just 10 pages, or a long 100-page one that doesn’t say much?

I guess you’d go with the first option, if you really care about the end customer.

Remember : Quality beats quantity every time.

People like stuff that’s really useful, even if it’s not super long.

So, make sure what you’re giving them is packed with value.

Lesson 3 : Presentation Matters!

The way you present yourself or your work can significantly impact how others perceive it.

That’s why the presentation of your product matters so much!

When potential customers visit websites like Gumroad, they often judge a product based on how it’s presented — things like its description, visuals, and overall appeal.

This initial impression can determine whether they decide to make a purchase or not.

To ensure that people are drawn in by your product, it’s crucial to use all these elements of presentation to demonstrate how your product can truly solve their problem or meet their needs.

You can use these key points to create a compelling product:

Personalized Description with Social Proof

When describing your product, make it personal and authentic.

Share your story and why you’re passionate about what you’re offering.

Additionally, if you have testimonials include them as social proof.

This helps build trust and credibility.

You can check out my product description, if you want to take a reference.

Visuals Speak Louder Than Words

Visuals can actually hook people more than text.

On Gumroad, you can include visuals in two forms — Product Thumbnail and Product Banner.

For my Pinterest Master Guide I’ve created this banner.

It lays out exactly what’s inside the guide and why it’s worth checking out.

I’ve included real results I’ve achieved and how others can benefit from it too.

You should also include details like these in your visuals.

Lesson 4 : Out of Sight, Out of Mind

This is a vital lesson when it comes to promoting & selling your products.

Essentially, it means that if you’re not consistently showcasing your products to your audience, they’ll forget about them.

And, the reason is very clear :

In the fast-paced online world, people are bombarded with information constantly.

To avoid getting lost in the crowd, it’s crucial to keep your products visible to your audience.

That’s why I always make sure they’re right in front of my community.

I promote my digital products on my Medium profile and all my social media accounts.

Whenever I get the chance, I include links to my products to make them super easy to find.

You can also give a try to this trick and see the impact yourself🙌

Final Thoughts🎯

Use the 4 lessons I’ve shared as a guide, stay consistent and you’ll definitely see success on Gumroad.

See you in the next value-packed article.

Till then, keep learning, keep growing!

Note: Just a friendly heads-up — This blog contains affiliate link. If you’re up for it, click away, and we can both share in the goodness together! By the way, the content is absolutely free and by using these links you’re supporting my work, which means a lot to me.