I elevate my Gumroad earnings when I do this

If you follow me on Medium and on YouTube, you’ll know that one of my income streams is Gumroad.

I run several newsletters on Gumroad, and I also sell courses, ebooks, and services there.

Each month, I analyze my earnings and decide how to improve them for the upcoming month. Most recently, I looked over all my earnings for the past year and realized that my earnings increase when I do certain things.

So, here are some of the things I do to boost my Gumroad earnings:

Challenge Myself

I set myself a new challenge every month, and in 2023, I’ve done three Gumroad power challenges where I published newsletter content every day on my main newsletter. Throughout these challenges, I noticed an increase in earnings.

I published value-packed content for my subscribers, and every week, I’d promote a service or special offer. This helped increase my earnings for the month.

Respond to messages from subscribers

I receive at least 20 messages a day from my newsletter subscribers, and previously, I would reply to one or two, but I found it difficult to reply to all messages. When I reply to all messages, I see a huge uptick in my earnings. These days, I make a conscious effort to reply to all messages, not for the money but to help as many people as I can.

Reply to comments on Medium about Gumroad products and services

I also try my best to reply to comments on Medium. Last month, I replied to at least 80 percent of the comments on my articles, and again, I noticed an increase in my Gumroad earnings.

Discounts

Gumroad offers a discount code feature, and every week I send an offer email out to my subscribers; this always brings in at least ten sales for the week.

Write more on Medium

I received my first Gumroad sale from a Medium reader, and when I publish more on Medium, I make more money on Gumroad. In the months where I publish twice a day on Medium, I double my Gumroad earnings.

My next challenge to boost my Gumroad earnings

For my next experiment, I’m going to focus on producing as much YouTube content as possible. I also plan to add my main Gumroad page link to my bio.

Recently, YouTube made a huge change where they removed the ability to add links in the comments for YouTube Shorts videos.

Most creators would use this section to add their website links or affiliate links. Now there is a new feature that allows creators to add up to 14 external links to their YouTube channel page.

How to use YouTube to make more money on Gumroad

1. Create Value-Packed Content That Naturally Leads to Your Products

Use your videos to solve specific problems your audience faces — but don’t give everything away. Teach a key concept, share a tip, or walk through a process that ties directly to your digital product. Then, at the end or in the middle of the video, invite them to take the next step by purchasing your product.

> 💡 Example: If you sell a digital planner, make a video titled *“How I Plan My Week as a Busy Mom (using this planner)”* and link to your planner in the description.

2. Add Direct Product Links in the Description and Pinned Comment

Always include clear, clickable links to your product pages (e.g., Gumroad, Payhip, your website) in the description box and pin it as the top comment . Mention these links verbally during the video and on-screen with callouts like “Link in the description.”

> 🔗 Bonus Tip: Use trackable links (like Bit.ly or Gumroad’s UTM parameters) to see how much traffic YouTube brings

3. Use Evergreen Videos That Sell for You 24/7

Make videos around search-friendly topics that people are looking for year-round. YouTube is a *search engine* — if you title your videos like “How to Start Freelancing with No Experience” and your digital product is a freelance starter kit, you’ll have a long-term income stream from a single upload.

> 📈 These types of videos continue working for you months (even years) after publishing.

4. Show Behind-the-Scenes of Your Digital Products

People love seeing the process behind a product. Record how you created it, what’s included, and how to use it. These videos build trust and curiosity. You’re not “selling” in a pushy way — you're simply sharing, and that’s powerful.

> 🖥️ For example, if you created an e-guide, show a page flip, explain what’s inside, and share a success story of someone who used it.

5. Monetize with Affiliate Links + Cross-Promote Your Ecosystem

You can add **affiliate links** for tools you use to make your products (like Canva, Notion, etc.) and get paid when people sign up. Plus, invite viewers to your email list, where you can promote your products repeatedly via newsletters.

What strategies do you use to boost your earnings on Gumroad and other platforms like it?

🚨Want to make money on Gumroad and build a profitable digital product business? Download Gumroad Blueprint guide here.