You’ve created your digital product! Now, all you need is to display it somewhere where people can browse and buy it. Which storefront option should you choose?

Alright, let’s break this down. There are two types of storefront options and, truthfully, knowing where you are on your journey is really going to help you determine which of these two options is right for you.

Option 1: Pre-made storefronts

Pre-made storefronts are shops like Etsy or Creative Market, where you have a built-in market of buyers who are seeking products like yours. There are some pros and cons to this type of storefront. 

Pros to pre-made storefronts

• Beginner-friendly. If you are just getting your feet wet with digital products, a pre-made storefront is a great option. Many of the technical aspects are already automated or simplified for you, so you can focus on making your storefront as clean and attractive as possible. 
• Clean design. The templates in pre-made storefronts are already designed to be crisp, clean, and attractive.
• Built-in traffic. These sites have their own traffic because they’re established and reputable. They also pop up first in search, so your products can get in front of more people.

Cons to pre-made storefronts

• Limited revenue. Because these sites are a conglomerate of many products, it can be hard to price your products for what they’re worth. You often have to cut prices to remain competitive.
• Lack of data. You can’t always tell who buys your products or what type of person is seeking out your products. While you can make more money with higher traffic, it’s hard to gather valuable data for better messaging, retargeting, etc.

Option 2: Custom storefronts

A custom storefront is ideal for product sellers who already have a handful of followers and potential customers, as well as those who have more expensive digital products.

You have a lot of room for creativity here since you’re not limited by the presets in other storefronts. That means you can create a completely branded experience and charge as much as you want. This is a great match for more expensive digital products, like in-depth templates or guides (or even courses!)

In some cases, however, there’s TOO much room for creativity on a custom shop platform. There’s also a huge learning curve to set up this type of shop, and you have to attract the buyers yourself. That’s a big hurdle ON TOP of creating your digital products.

How do you choose the right platform?

As you can tell, both options have their upsides. Before diving in, you should ask a few questions first:

• Is my audience/potential buyer more likely to buy a product from a common storefront, or are they looking for something specific and selective?
• Do I have background knowledge in creating (and marketing) my own website? 
• Will a premade storefront help me stay in my zone of genius, instead of getting distracted by a learning curve? 
• Am I offering specialized knowledge or an easy solution to a problem my ideal buyer has?

These questions aren’t going to cover ALL your bases, but they’ll help you get a better idea on what storefront may fit your product (and your brand) better. 

Let’s open up shop!

Choosing the right shop option for you will depend on where you are in your journey and where you’re trying to go. I’d love to help you out along your journey so be sure to check out my Shop Launch Checklist, where I give you the exact steps you need to launch your shop in 30 days or less!