Why is info products better than physical products?

Sellers prefer info products because of the cheap cost, and buyers prefer them because they want to dive right into the product, and not wait for shipping IMO...

I don't see why you'd have to set them apart... Do both if you prefer!

Do like me and transform your digital product into a physical one for the markets where digital products don't fit
That's what I do on eBay now, since you're not allowed to deliver digitally there, I have found a company that produces my CDs or DVDs one by one and drop-ships them directly to my customers... Simple and neat. I don't even have to go to the post office!

By today's standards information products do better than physical ones since most people want something that is more immediate than having to wait on something to be delivered. Therefore, info products fit the bill nicely.

Not only that, but digital information products cost very little if anything at all to create because more than likely you already ahve what you need right on your own computer to begin creating your digital products to sell online.

I don't agree with that. I think it's just as easy for a physical product or digital product to go viral. In fact I would probably say easier for a digital product.

Why do people prefer selling digital products? Well, you are only talking about our marketplace. There are lots of other marketplaces online that prefer to only deal in physical products. Musical instruments, sporting equipment, supplements, etc.

Internet Marketing is all about using the Internet to market products and services and so it's only natural that all of the products are going to be digital in that they are courses or tools to help with online marketing. What physical products would you sell in this market apart from cds or dvds (which are basically just digital files and products presented in a different format)?

Look at itunes. Why did they decide to scrap physical cds and dvds and instead just use digital medai? Because it's what people want and the profit margins are much better. We also live in an instant gratification society where people want access to their purchases as soon as possible. Digital delivery plays into that big time.

Hello stolpioni,

We live in the "Technology, Information Age," where people want instantaneous information all of the time on all sorts of topics. And, how do most people gain access to that information? Via the Internet - look at the Wi-Fi networks and 4G coverage spreading across the globe - that's why smartphone and tablet sales are skyrocketing and why desktops and laptops have significantly slowed down - people want to have instantaneous access on the go to whatever information they want.

Additionally, they want people who can put the information they're searching for into a "neat little package" that they can access right away. Why do you think music files (iTunes) and video files (NetFlix) are so popular today? Because they can access them immediately - they don't need to wait for USPS, FedEx, UPS to deliver CDs, DVDs, and/or Blu-Rays in the mail or to the store - people can access and enjoy their purchases immediately.

The same thing with digital products, and I agree with Will that digital products are easier to go viral than physical products. Why? Because it's easy to spread the word about a digital product by just passing along an ebook that promotes a digital product (a.k.a. viral marketing). The link to check out the product and order it yourself is right within the book they are passing around, and again, the person can access the product right away.

While you could do the same with a physical product, the person couldn't access the product until after the product arrived at the store or in the mailbox. This is why digital products have advantages over physical products; heck, you even see where Newegg and other online retailers that specialize in physical products to offer digital downloads of the same products (especially software titles).

Additionally, I seen an H&R Block advertised tweet earlier today that talked about how "tax time is upon us" and that "you need to get started on your taxes right away." They also mentioned about "downloading the software and getting started immediately." Then, they offer a link to the page where you can purchase and download the software to begin using the software immediately to figure out and file your taxes.

In the old days before digital, this wouldn't be possible because tax day is tomorrow, and mail delivery doesn't occur on Sundays. Therefore, the only option people would have is to head to the store and purchase the tax software on-site (presuming you were going to use tax software, of course).

This is why digital products will trump physical products - IMMEDIACY, and that's EXACTLY what the public wants in this age of information and technology.

Hope this helps!

Take care,

Joe Chengery

I highly agree with WillR.
It is very easy to produce a digital info product and make it viral.
Since we are in the information age info products are definitely in need.
You just need to have a good feasibility studies specially the marketplace of the product that you want to produce.

In Internet Marketing world most product are informational.
So if you're trying to sell a digital product you don't need to worry because you're in the right track.

Info products are easy to sell.
You don't need to stock, you only sell a lot of copies as many as you want.
Profit margin is high.
The info products are good way in making money fast.

But... if you want to build a stable online business for long term, consider physical products.

But remember the high competitive of info product. Sometime you can notice of the info that you sell might be giving free from other source. Just like a insurance and selling a info or physical product, the is a huge margin there.

What is your niche? I think it very much depends on it. Also, what are your target customers?
In the end, depending on what you are selling, you can do both.

I agree with WillR, although obviously there is space for physical product aswell. Agian, it depends on your niche.

For example: JHealth n Fitness - yes there are digital product like workout videos, nut there are also physical products that compliment such as: weights or protein powder!

Food for thought!

Agreeing with some of the guys here. You niche may play a part in this, but Physical or Info related, customers will buy all sorts so there's often a market for both. With relation to actually selling more of something, I suppose info products have a slight upper hand but anyone could do a big launch for a product with promotions and sell a high amount.

The biggest advantages is that there is practically no COGS (Cost of goods sold), no delays in receiving stock, no shipping and handling fee, no fee's for storage and the cost of keep stock.
There are many advantages over traditional products sold by a brick and mortar business, much higher profit margins.

Info products are also easier to get from the consumer point of view (rather than waiting for it to be shipped) and also they take more time and effort to duplicate (reducing pirating).

been there, done that, works.

Some great answers here. I don't have the time to answer all of you at this moment but will try to do later.

I got something more for you to bite on: Consider the level of entry. For a unique physical product, it is MUCH higher than on an info product.
Consider every 15-year-old nerd all over the world is sitting right now creating info products.

Also, my feeling is that most people still havn't arrived to a spot where they would consider paying for an info product, but would much rather have something more tangible.
But I might be completley wrong here.

But the level of entry = how easy it is to enter the market (more competition), is defenatley one of the weak spots in information marketing, and it seems to be growing every day as more information is spread and it becomes cheaper and easier to create an IM business.

You just answered your own question, so what's the point of this thread?

Selling info-products is the ultimate lifestyle business... well, i guess residual income affiliate programs is the ultimate lifestyle business, but selling your own info-products come next.

Depending on your niche, you can sell high ticket items ($500 and above) with ease - with little duplication and fulfillment costs. If you sold a physical product for $500, you'd have to part ways with alot of the profits because of production costs, middlemen, fulfillment, shipping, and the cost to purchase and sell the product.

Info Products - Pros

- Info products don't require shipping costs or the headache of physically shipping.
- Info products take up no physical space.
- Info products allow instant delivery, great for the buyer and seller.
- Info products can be created out of thin-air.
- Info products allow a ton of different mediums to sell the product.
- Info products can be created with a number of different methods like PDF, Video etc.
- Info products are in high demand in various niche markets.

I don't know that I would agree with your listed downsides.
Knowledge is power, and everything in creation stems from a thought.
With that you can create an info product around anything, and I do mean anything. You are only limited by your own imagination. The pitfalls and downsides only exist if you think they do.

In my opinion

advantages:
- Cheaper to develop and produce (easier too, can do it yourself)
- Can work from home entirely

disadvantages:
- Can be harder to sell an intangible product