Starting a digital product shop on Etsy is exciting, but the market is getting crowded.
The biggest problem I see is creators guessing what will sell, which leads to wasted time and zero sales. You need a better strategy than just throwing a product up and hoping for the best.
I’m here to show you the secret sauce: knowing how to find best-selling digital products for Etsy by using data. This casual guide will walk you through my “Reverse Engineer” method, show you the best-performing categories like printable planners and social media templates, and reveal the simple tools I use to find those golden, low-competition niches.
I’ll help you stop guessing and start creating products that people are actively searching for.
How to Find Best-Selling Digital Products for Etsy Without Guessing
I’m a big believer in working smarter, not harder. Throwing a random product up on Etsy and hoping it sells is like throwing darts blindfolded—you might hit something, but the odds are stacked against you. My strategy is all about using data and a little bit of common sense to find those sweet spots.
Step 1: Look at the Big Picture (and the Big Numbers)
Before diving into specific products, I like to remind myself why Etsy is such a goldmine for digital goods. It’s huge! In 2024, Etsy generated over $2.8 billion in revenue. That’s a massive audience with their wallets open, and a significant portion of that is going toward digital downloads like printables and templates.
The key is to look at the top-level categories that consistently perform well. I’m talking about things like:
- Printable Planners & Trackers: Think budget planners, fitness trackers, or even niche-specific planners like wedding or garden planners.
- Digital Art & Wall Art: This is huge, especially for seasonal decor or specific aesthetic trends (e.g., minimalist, maximalist, dark academia).
- Social Media Templates: Instagram story templates, Pinterest pin templates, or even Canva templates for small business owners.
- SVG/Cutting Files: These are essential for crafters using machines like Cricut or Silhouette.
Step 2: The “Reverse Engineer” Method
This is my favorite trick, and it’s super casual. I call it reverse engineering the best sellers. Instead of trying to guess what people want, I look at what’s already selling well and figure out how to make it better or more specific.
The Analogy: Think of it like a popular restaurant. Everyone loves their burger, but instead of opening a burger joint right next door, you open a gourmet truffle burger joint. You take a proven concept and add a unique, high-value twist.
Here’s how I do it:
- Search the Top Sellers: I go to Etsy and search for a broad category, like “Digital Planner.”
- Filter and Observe: I filter the results by “Top Customer Reviews” or “Best Seller.” I then look at the shops with thousands of sales.
- Find the Gap: I look at the reviews and the product listings. What are people asking for that the seller doesn’t offer? Maybe the planner is great, but people keep asking for a specific “teacher edition” or a “left-handed version.” That specific request is your low-competition niche!
Real Example: I noticed a lot of general “budget planners” selling well. But I saw a gap for a “Debt Snowball Tracker for Nurses.” It’s hyper-specific, targeting a high-income, high-debt demographic. That specificity is what makes it a best-seller.
Step 3: Use the Right Tools (My Secret Weapons)
You don’t have to spend hours manually scrolling. There are some fantastic, easy-to-use tools that do the heavy lifting for you. I use these to validate my ideas and make sure I’m not wasting my time.
| Tool | Utility (How I Use It) |
|---|---|
| Etsy Search Bar | I use the auto-suggest feature. If I type “digital planner for…” and Etsy suggests “teachers,” “students,” and “small business,” I know those are high-volume search terms. |
| eRank or Everbee | These are my go-to SEO tools. I use them to check the search volume for my niche idea (e.g., “teacher planner”) and, more importantly, the competition score. I’m looking for high search volume and low competition. |
| Pinterest Trends | I check Pinterest to see what’s visually trending. If I see a surge in “cottagecore aesthetic,” I know to create digital wall art or templates in that style. |
I always look for the “sweet spot” where the search volume is high enough to bring in traffic, but the competition is low enough that my new listing can actually rank.
Step 4: Follow the Seasons and Holidays
This is a no-brainer, but it’s often overlooked. I always plan my digital products around the calendar. Digital products related to holidays and seasons are a constant source of best-sellers.
- January: New Year’s resolutions, fitness trackers, budget planners.
- February: Valentine’s Day cards, romantic coupons, date night printables.
- May/June: Graduation announcements, wedding planners, teacher appreciation gifts.
- October/November: Halloween party invitations, Thanksgiving planner checklists, Christmas budget trackers.
I start creating and listing these products 2-3 months in advance. If I wait until October to list my Halloween products, I’ve missed the boat! This proactive approach is what gives me that positive feeling of being ahead of the curve.
My Final Casual Advice
If you want to know how to find best-selling digital products for Etsy, the answer is simple: stop guessing and start researching. I’ve seen so many people succeed by finding a small, specific problem and creating a simple, beautiful digital solution for it. The market is there, the tools are available, and the potential for passive income is real. Now go find your niche and start creating!
We’ve barely scratched the surface of how to find best-selling digital products for Etsy, with it having much more going on. There’s a reason it made it onto our digital product guide and we highly recommend you check it out.
