How to Sell Fonts Online with WordPress (Step-by-Step)
By Naveed Ahmed | Reviewed by Syed Balkhi | May 15, 2024 | Reader Disclosure
Are you a font designer looking to monetize your creative skills? Selling fonts online can be a lucrative business, offering a unique way to tap into a growing market of graphic designers, bloggers, marketers, and business owners who are always seeking eye-catching typography for their projects.
In this comprehensive guide, I’ll walk you through the process of setting up your own font store using WordPress, the world’s most popular website builder, and Easy Digital Downloads (EDD), a powerful eCommerce plugin designed specifically for selling digital products.
With 15 years of experience in the digital realm, I’ve witnessed firsthand the power of WordPress and EDD in helping entrepreneurs establish successful online businesses. This step-by-step guide incorporates my expertise and best practices to ensure you have everything you need to start selling your fonts online with confidence.
Why Sell Fonts Online with WordPress?
The demand for fonts is continuously on the rise, presenting a golden opportunity for font designers. Here’s why selling fonts online with WordPress makes perfect sense:
- High Demand: Businesses and creatives alike are constantly searching for unique and visually appealing fonts to enhance their brand identity and captivate their audiences. This consistent demand ensures a steady stream of potential customers for your font store.
- Low Investment: Compared to other businesses, selling fonts online requires minimal upfront investment. You only need a web hosting platform, a domain name, and an eCommerce platform, making it an accessible and cost-effective business venture.
- Digital Product Advantages: Digital products, like fonts, offer several advantages over physical goods. You don’t need to worry about storage, shipping, or restocking, simplifying your operations and reducing overhead costs.
- Complete Control: By setting up your own website, you gain complete control over your font store and its branding, pricing, and marketing strategies. Unlike third-party platforms, you don’t have to share a percentage of your earnings.
- Niche Targeting: You can focus your marketing efforts on specific niches, targeting designers who specialize in logo creation or creative artists who create digital art. This targeted approach allows you to reach the most relevant audience and maximize your chances of success.
Which Platforms Should You Use to Sell Fonts Online?
When it comes to selling fonts, you’ll need a reliable eCommerce platform that streamlines your sales process. WordPress, coupled with the Easy Digital Downloads plugin, is the ideal combination for building a successful online font store.
WordPress: The Powerhouse Website Builder
WordPress powers over 43% of websites worldwide, making it the undisputed champion of website building. Its intuitive interface, vast customization options, and extensive plugin ecosystem make it the perfect platform for creating a professional and user-friendly font store.
Easy Digital Downloads (EDD): The Best eCommerce Plugin for Digital Products
Easy Digital Downloads is specifically designed for selling digital products, including fonts. It offers a range of features to streamline your sales process, including:
- Shopping Cart: A seamless checkout experience for your customers.
- Multiple Payment Gateways: Accept payments from Stripe, PayPal, and credit cards.
- Download Management: Securely manage and deliver font files to your customers.
- Sales Reports and Analytics: Track your store’s performance and make data-driven decisions.
Remember, there are two versions of WordPress: WordPress.com and WordPress.org. For complete control over your website and to sell fonts online, you’ll need the self-hosted WordPress.org platform.
Step 1: Setting Up a WordPress Website
Before you can start selling fonts, you need a foundation: a WordPress website. This involves securing a domain name, choosing a web hosting provider, and setting up an SSL certificate.
Domain Name: Your Online Address
A domain name is your website’s address on the internet, like wpbeginner.com. It’s how people will find and access your font store. Choose a domain name that’s memorable, relevant to your brand, and easy to spell.
Web Hosting: Where Your Website Lives
Web hosting provides storage space for your website files, including fonts, images, and other content. It also ensures your website is accessible to visitors around the globe.
I recommend choosing a WordPress-optimized hosting provider like SiteGround, which offers managed WordPress hosting specifically designed for Easy Digital Downloads (EDD). It comes with a free SSL certificate, pre-installed EDD, and all the optimization features you need for a fast and reliable website.
SSL Certificate: Security and Trust
An SSL certificate encrypts the communication between your website and visitors, ensuring their data is secure. This builds trust with your customers and improves your website’s search engine ranking.
SiteGround includes a free SSL certificate with its managed WordPress hosting plans.
Step 2: Setting Up Easy Digital Downloads in WordPress
With your WordPress website in place, it’s time to install and configure Easy Digital Downloads.
Installing Easy Digital Downloads
If you opted for SiteGround’s EDD hosting, Easy Digital Downloads will come pre-installed. If you’re using another WordPress hosting provider, you’ll need to install it manually.
Here’s how to install a WordPress plugin:
- Log in to your WordPress dashboard.
- Go to **Plugins > Add New**.
- Search for “Easy Digital Downloads”.
- Click **Install Now**.
- Click **Activate** once the installation is complete.
I recommend using the Easy Digital Downloads Pro version, which offers advanced features, payment gateways, and extensions. However, you can get started for free with the Easy Digital Downloads Lite version.
Configuring Easy Digital Downloads
- Go to **Downloads > Settings**.
- Under the **General** tab, enter your license key, which you’ll find in your Easy Digital Downloads account area.
- Scroll down and enter your business information, including your business name, type, address, and region. This helps EDD determine your business location and automatically fill in relevant fields.
- Click **Save Changes**.
Step 3: Adding a Payment Method to Sell Fonts
To accept payments from your customers, you’ll need to set up a payment gateway. Easy Digital Downloads comes with built-in support for Stripe, PayPal, and credit cards.
Choosing a Payment Gateway
I recommend using Stripe, which is a popular and versatile payment gateway that accepts credit cards, Apple Pay, and Google Pay. This gives your customers multiple payment options, making it convenient for them to purchase your fonts.
Configuring Payment Gateways
- Go to **Downloads > Settings > Payments > General**.
- Check the box next to each payment gateway you want to use on your website.
- Select your default gateway from the dropdown menu.
- Click the **Stripe** tab under **Payments**.
- Click **Connect with Stripe**.
- Follow the on-screen instructions in the setup wizard to connect your Stripe account with Easy Digital Downloads.
- Repeat these steps for any other payment gateways you’ve selected.
- Under the **General** tab, select your **Currency**.
- Click **Save Changes**.
Step 4: Adding Fonts as Digital Products
Now that your payment gateway is set up, it’s time to add your fonts as digital products to your store.
Creating a New Digital Product
- Go to **Downloads > Add New**.
- Enter the name of your font. This will appear at the top of the product page, so use a clear and descriptive name.
- Add a brief description of the font, highlighting its features, style, weights, variations, and other relevant details.
- Scroll down to the **Download Details** section.
- Under **Pricing Options**, enter the price for your font.
- If you have different variations of the font with varying prices, enable the **Enable variable pricing** option.
- Go to the **Download Files** section.
- Enter a name for your file and upload the font zip file.
- If you have multiple files, click **Add New File** and upload each variation.
- Click **Set Download Image** and upload a picture of your font. This helps users visualize the font before purchasing.
- Click **Publish**.
Repeat this process for each font you want to sell.
Step 5: Customize Your Font Download Emails
Easy Digital Downloads sends default emails to customers who purchase your fonts. While these emails are functional, they lack branding and personalization.
Adding Branding and Personalization
To create a more professional and engaging experience for your customers, customize these emails with your brand name and logo.
- Go to **Downloads > Settings > Emails**.
- Click **Attach File** to upload your logo.
- Edit the **from** name and email address.
- Enable **WP Mail SMTP**, the best SMTP plugin for WordPress, to ensure your emails reach your customers’ inboxes and prevent them from landing in spam folders.
- Click **Save Changes**.
- Go to the **Purchase Receipts** tab.
- Edit the purchase email subject, heading, and text.
- Click **Save Changes**.
- Click **Send Test Email** to preview your changes and ensure everything is working correctly.
Step 6: Promote Your Online Font Store
With your font store ready to go, it’s time to promote it and attract customers. Here are some effective strategies:
Create a Sales Page
Create a dedicated sales page that showcases your different font offerings. Include clear descriptions, pricing, and high-quality images of each font. Make sure to add the sales page to your website’s navigation menu for easy access.
Display Fonts on Your Homepage
Highlight your fonts on your homepage to grab visitors’ attention. Use captivating font displays, showcasing their versatility and visual appeal.
Start a WordPress Blog
A blog is a powerful tool for building a community and generating organic traffic to your font store. Write articles about different fonts, covering topics like when to use certain fonts, design trends, and your personal experiences with typography.
Use Purchase Buttons
Easy Digital Downloads allows you to create purchase buttons that you can add anywhere on your website. These buttons simplify the buying process, making it easier for customers to purchase your fonts with a single click.
- Go to **Downloads** and edit one of your font products.
- Scroll down to the **Purchase Shortcode** section.
- Copy the shortcode.
- Paste the shortcode into any page or post where you want to display the purchase button.
Bonus: Use Plugins and Tools to Promote Your Digital Downloads Store
To further enhance your font store’s success, consider using these powerful WordPress plugins and tools:
OptinMonster
OptinMonster is the leading conversion optimization software. Create targeted campaigns to grow your email list, convert visitors into customers, and reduce cart abandonment. Having a strong email list allows you to nurture leads and promote new fonts to your most engaged audience.
All in One SEO (AIOSEO)
AIOSEO is the best SEO plugin for WordPress. It helps optimize your website for search engines, making it easier for potential customers to find your font store.
MonsterInsights
MonsterInsights allows you to set up Google Analytics on your WordPress website without writing code. Track user behavior, see where your visitors are coming from, and analyze your site’s performance. This data provides valuable insights for improving your store’s design, content, and marketing strategies.
PushEngage
PushEngage is a top-rated push notification software for WordPress. Send personalized web push notifications to your website visitors, alerting them to new fonts, sales, discounts, and other promotions.
RafflePress
RafflePress helps you run viral giveaways. This is a great way to build social followers, grow your email list, increase brand awareness, and promote your fonts.
Conclusion
Selling fonts online with WordPress is a rewarding and potentially profitable venture. This guide provides a comprehensive framework for setting up your own font store, from choosing the right platform to promoting your offerings to the world.
By following these steps, you’ll be well on your way to establishing a successful online business that showcases your unique font designs and connects you with a global audience.
FAQs
How do I create fonts to sell?
Creating fonts requires specialized software and skills. You can use programs like Adobe Illustrator, FontForge, or Glyphs to design your fonts. There are also online font creation tools available, such as FontStruct and Fontastic. It’s essential to familiarize yourself with the principles of typography and font design to create high-quality and visually appealing fonts.
What are the different font formats?
Common font formats include:
- TrueType Font (TTF): A popular and widely compatible format.
- OpenType Font (OTF): Offers more flexibility and advanced features than TrueType.
- Web Open Font Format (WOFF): Optimized for web browsers.
- Web Open Font Format 2 (WOFF2): An updated version of WOFF, offering better compression and performance.
How do I price my fonts?
Font pricing depends on factors like your experience, font complexity, and target market. Consider researching similar fonts and their pricing to get a sense of the market value. Offer different pricing tiers, such as individual fonts, font bundles, or subscription plans.
How do I protect my fonts from copyright infringement?
You can protect your fonts by registering them with a copyright office, such as the U.S. Copyright Office. This establishes your ownership and allows you to pursue legal action against any unauthorized use of your fonts.
How do I promote my fonts on social media?
Showcase your fonts on platforms like Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter. Use eye-catching visuals, share design tips, and highlight the unique features of your fonts. Collaborate with other designers and influencers to reach a wider audience.
What are some essential font design tips?
Here are some essential tips for designing high-quality fonts:
- Clarity and Legibility: Ensure your fonts are easy to read in various sizes and contexts.
- Visual Appeal: Create a unique and visually appealing style that stands out from other fonts.
- Versatility: Design fonts that are suitable for a wide range of applications, including websites, print materials, and digital designs.
- Consistency: Maintain consistency in the font’s spacing, kerning, and character proportions.
How do I handle font licensing?
Offer different font licenses that define the rights and restrictions of using your fonts. Common font licenses include:
- Personal Use License: Allows users to use the font for personal projects, but not for commercial purposes.
- Commercial Use License: Grants users the right to use the font for commercial projects, but may have limitations on distribution or modification.
- Extended License: Provides broader usage rights, often with additional fees.
How do I create a professional font website?
Choose a visually appealing WordPress theme that showcases your fonts effectively. Use a professional font display plugin to present your fonts in various sizes and contexts. Include a portfolio section to showcase your best font designs and testimonials from satisfied customers.
What are some font marketing strategies?
Here are some effective font marketing strategies:
- Content Marketing: Create blog posts, articles, and tutorials that feature your fonts and offer valuable design insights.
- Social Media Marketing: Engage with designers on social media, sharing your work and participating in industry conversations.
- Email Marketing: Build an email list and send newsletters showcasing new fonts, design tips, and promotions.
- Font Marketplace Listings: List your fonts on popular font marketplaces, such as Creative Market, FontShop, and MyFonts.
How do I handle customer support for font sales?
Provide comprehensive documentation for your fonts, including usage instructions, licensing details, and troubleshooting tips. Respond promptly to customer inquiries and address any issues they may have. Consider offering live chat or email support for a more personalized experience.
If you’re interested in learning more about tech news, feel free to visit my website: www.naveedahmed.me.