Step-by-step guide: Selling PDFs on Square
Selling PDFs online is an excellent way to generate passive income, because it allows creators to leverage their expertise and content without the need for continuous effort once the product is developed. PDFs — whose content can run the entire gamut of what we used to call “print media” — can be created and distributed to various target audiences at very low cost. The easy scalability and low-cost distribution of PDFs make their sales an efficient — and potentially very profitable — venture. Additionally, the global reach of the internet ensures a broad potential audience, increasing the opportunities for sales. As long as the offered content remains relevant and valuable, it can generate income over an extended period — providing a steady revenue stream with minimal maintenance.
In this guide, we’ll show you how you can start creating PDFs and selling them online with Square!
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 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, 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.Setting up your Square Online store
To get started selling PDFs on Square, you'll first need to set up your Square Online store and integrate it with SendOwl — a platform that specializes in digital product delivery.
Creating a Square account
Creating a Square Online account is a straightforward process: just sign up on the Square website, and follow the prompts to set up your store. It’s a good idea to dedicate a special email address to this new account, to help you keep track of Square-specific messages. And make sure you download the Square app to keep up to date on your notifications.
Integrating SendOwl with your Square account
SendOwl seamlessly integrates with Square, providing a robust solution for selling digital products. Here's how to get started:
Connecting Square and SendOwl accounts
Head to the settings page in your SendOwl account, and click the "Square settings'' link. Next, hit the “connect” button. Make sure to read the permissions that SendOwl requires to sync with your Square orders and securely deliver your digital content.
Linking SendOwl products to Square products
Once your accounts are connected, you can easily link your SendOwl products to corresponding products in your Square Online store. Head to your SendOwl dashboard and hit the “sell” button on one of your products — you’ll then see a list of ways to sell your item. Click on “Square” and select the product you want to link. Now, when someone purchases the linked product from your Square checkout, SendOwl will safely deliver the digital file to your buyer.
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
Uploading and listing your PDFs
Uploading files to SendOwl
Upload your PDF files to SendOwl on your dashboard, ensuring they’re correctly formatted and ready to be downloaded by customers.
Creating product listings on Square
In your online Square 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 under the “Linking SendOwl products to Square products” section above, so they’re safely delivered to your buyers. And download the Square app so that you never miss a notification!
Setting prices and descriptions
Once your items are in your Square 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 Square store, it's time to drive traffic and generate 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 Square 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 Square online 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 download 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.
Conclusion
Selling PDFs on Square 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:
Set up your Square account, integrate SendOwl, and download the Square app.
Design attractive, high-quality PDFs using tools like Adobe Creative Cloud and Canva.
Upload your PDFs to SendOwl, and create product listings on your online Square dashboard.
Implement marketing strategies to drive traffic and generate sales.
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 Square. Get started today, and turn your passion into a thriving online business!
Matt Wells is the Head of Operations at SendOwl, a digital product delivery and access solutions for creators, solopreneurs and SMBs. An accomplished entrepreneur and technologist, he has founded multiple companies, including Virtual Value and Shujinko. Throughout Matt's career, he has built and led high-performing teams that consistently deliver world-class software solutions. With deep expertise in cloud engineering, infrastructure, and security, Matt has held impactful roles at Starbucks, CARDFREE.
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