Digital goods, also known as electronic goods, e-goods and downloadable products, are an integral part of e-commerce. People are getting used to buying tangible goods online, but e-goods are quickly gaining ground too. These terms all refer to products that are stored, downloaded and used in an electronic format. Such products include but are not limited to e-books, software, music files, digital images, e-tickets and html templates. These items can be downloaded via a link either on the ecommerce site itself or in an email. The buying and selling of digital goods are turning into a very profitable business with huge potential for more growth in the next few years. People are getting accustomed to buying and using egoods and often like it better than physical goods. There are a few main differences between tangible goods and e-goods. Not to say that digital goods are better than physical goods, but there are a few distinct advantages. Here are just a few to consider:

• No inventory• No shipping• Little to no startup cost• Consumers receive instant gratification• Transaction is completed in seconds• Costs the same to sell one or thousands

If you are interested in starting an ecommerce business and have no money to invest then you should start to sell downloadable e-goods. If you already have an e-commerce business and want to offer your customers more choices then sell some downloadable goods alongside your other products. There is such a wide variety of digital goods which makes including them into an existing e-commerce business very easy. An ecommerce solution that provides its users the ability to sell downloadable e-goods should have some of these basic functions:

• Automatic product download• Multiple file download for one product• Customized download criteria that allow you to select # of clicks or # of days the link is valid

until and also the option of identifying customer IP addresses for product downloads• Shipping is optional• Product option and product variable specifications• Checkout that accomodates both tangible and electronic goods• Encrypted URL for added security

Just listing downloadable products on your ecommerce site is not enough to really boost your sales figures. You have to market your egoods as much as you would your physical products. There are several ways to promote downloadable goods on the internet. One of the best ways is to start an affiliate program, which is actually a lot easier than starting an affiliate program for physical goods. One of the biggest marketplaces for electronic goods on the internet is ClickBank, they feature primarily e-books and software. You will be able to access thousands of affiliates by becoming a member. Another effective technique is to search for product directories specializing in the form of egoods that you are selling and get your items listed there. There are many more creative ways to promote your digital goods, just try to think outside the box.

There are special tools that are needed to successfully sell digital downloads on the internet. It begins with using the right ecommerce solution. Only when you are equipped with the proper tools are you able to sell as many egoods to as many people as possible. Sell it by itself or with other products, the choice is up to you.

What you need is a full service all-in-one hosting, design, and marketing software made specifically for e-commerce businesses. One that lets you set up your store in minutes, and provides powerful tools to help with not only selling digital goods, but also SEO, product marketing and mobile commerce. Check out the best possible e-commerce solutions available at http://www.makeanonlinestore.com and try them out yourself absolutely free, no credit card required!