Selling printables on Etsy: A complete guide to making money
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What empowers creatives to make money on their designs but also eliminates the need to repeatedly hand-create each order? Selling printables on Etsy.
The Etsy marketplace is an ideal platform to sell designs in digital form. And with millions of active buyers, you can sell printables on Etsy to fast-track a stream of passive income into a full-fledged side hustle.
However, to unlock the full money-making capabilities of Etsy, there are a few crucial steps independent creators and ecommerce entrepreneurs must take. From signing up for an Etsy shop and selecting a print on demand (POD) provider to creating and marketing your own custom designs, following certain best practices can help you make money selling printables in no time.
Main takeaways from this article:
Etsy printables are digital products your customers can buy, download, and print at home.
To successfully sell printables on Etsy, choose a specific product niche, create original and useful designs, and price your product competitively.
You can turn your digital designs into physical products by leveraging the print on demand (POD) business model to offer a wide range of products with your design without holding any inventory.
What are printables?
Printables, also called digital downloads, are popular digital products on the Etsy marketplace that customers can purchase, download, and print at home. There are countless printable digital products available across Etsy storefronts, including, but not limited to, wall art, gift tags, labels, wristbands, daily planner templates, and greeting cards. It might interest you to know that the global thermal printable wristband market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 6.27% from 2023 to 2030.
While many Etsy printables are sold as is, quite a few Etsy sellers create printables that customers can edit themselves or have the seller edit for them. Editable printables, such as wedding and birthday invitations, are frequently sold in template form to allow customers to personalize their purchases with specific text, photography, and graphics.
Other Etsy sellers choose to fulfill printable orders through a print on demand (POD) service. By integrating a POD service with an Etsy shop, customers can purchase their digital download printed onto various merchandise, from premium paper to apparel. POD providers like Gelato have millions of readily available printables for Etsy creators to customize and sell.
Can you make money selling printables on Etsy?
Selling printables on Etsy can be a fantastic source of income — and not just any income, but passive income that requires minimal effort to drive maximum profit. Those just getting started selling printables on Etsy can make upwards of $400 per month, whereas those who have an established Etsy storefront can earn more than $4,000 per month, or even up to $10,000, according to CNBC – all from digital printables.
Of course, the amount of money you make selling printables on Etsy will vary based on factors like your niche, digital marketing efforts, and general consumer demand. Likewise, the price point for your printables can influence your profit margins. Etsy sellers with print on demand functionality can set higher prices for premium items, whereas pure digital downloads are often cheaper in price.
How to start selling printables on Etsy in five steps
Design, download, and print: It can’t be too hard to sell printables on Etsy, right? Well, while the aspect of selling printables on Etsy may seem pretty straightforward, there are a few steps independent creators and ecommerce entrepreneurs must take to start making money. Follow these six crucial steps when looking to start selling printables through your Etsy business.
1. Choose a niche
When looking for digital printables to sell on Etsy, the first step you’ll need to take is choosing your niche. A niche is just a fancy way of referring to your specific market segment. A simple ‘printables’ search in the Etsy marketplace will populate well over 5,000,000 products, demonstrating just how many niches exist for the vast printable market. A few digital product and niche examples to consider are:
Home decor and Airbnb printables, including photographic prints and canvas prints.
Wedding and baby shower-related printables, including invitations and wall art.
Educational printables, including educational posters and worksheets.
Daily organization of printables, including planners and calendars.
Business printables, including business cards and invoice templates.
Seasonal printables, including holiday greeting cards and gift tags.
As you contemplate the right niche and accompanying products for your Etsy business, it’s important to consider your own personal interests. Whether your decision is based on personal graphic design capabilities or a passion for certain industries, select a niche that resonates with you personally. Then, conduct some general market research to understand your best opportunities.
Simple Etsy searches can help sellers understand which printable product types have the highest customer ratings (and demand!) across the site. Additional keyword research tools, like Google Trends, can also help sellers view current online search volumes for relevant terms, such as “educational printables,” to understand trends in the printables market. From here, assess any competitors in your printables niche to understand an appropriate price point for your items.
2. Design your printables
With a niche in mind and a quality print on demand service ready to go, now would be the time to begin diving into your printable designs. When brainstorming the best printables to sell on Etsy, think about what you witnessed when conducting Etsy competitor research to understand what general designs, colors, and styles of printables seem to be trending the most.
If you plan to use imagery in your designs, start by sourcing high-quality images and graphics, as this will help support conversion rates. Using quality images and graphics in your designs helps your brand stand out from the competition while better capturing the attention of Etsy buyers.
Font selection is also a critical component of designing profitable Etsy printables. Whether your text stands alone or accompanies imagery, fonts must be easy to read and follow visually appealing color choices. We recommend sticking to two to three general fonts and colors across your entire brand to avoid creating cluttered designs that may be viewed as poor quality by potential customers.
Keep in mind if you are struggling to lay out your printable ideas or if design simply isn't your strong suit, using templates or partnering up with a graphic designer can be beneficial. Many graphic design experts can help you develop a few ideas and draft a few printables to help you nail down the exact printable products you desire.
(Tip: Unlock hundreds of free graphics, millions of stock images, and premium fonts to effortlessly create your own eye-catching designs with a Gelato+ subscription!)
3. Set up your Etsy store
Once you’ve finalized and laid out your printable design, you must launch your Etsy shop.
After signing up for a general account, head over to etsy.com/sell and enroll in an Etsy seller account to begin this process. Here, you will then be asked to create a shop name that should be catchy and relevant to the niche you plan to follow. With the help of a graphic designer or design tools such as Canva, you can develop a professional logo and store banner reflective of your brand.
When the design part is complete, establish shop policies, including order return, exchange, and cancellation rules.
With the foundation of your Etsy shop laid out, now is a good time to integrate your print on demand service with your storefront. According to Etsy policy, sellers will need to first list their print on demand provider as a production partner. Once completed, Etsy sellers can migrate their storefront with their POD service provider and begin uploading printable products.
When uploading printables to sell on your Etsy store, start by uploading high-quality images of your printable products. Along with high-quality images, you will also need to provide consumers with high-quality product descriptions. To write effective product descriptions, discuss product features, materials, dimensions, and relevant product keywords to help boost discoverability.
4. Price your printables
To successfully sell printables on Etsy, you’ll need to price your products appropriately. Whether you’re selling digital products, print on demand products, or both, it’s essential to consider the time, effort, and money that goes into developing each of your products. Also, consider the overall value of your printables and how unique they are compared to the total Etsy marketplace.
If you are having difficulties setting your product prices, it may also be helpful to look at what competitors are charging for similar items. Just make sure that you charge a case cost that covers both the costs and desired profit margin without excessively surpassing your competition's product prices.
In addition to general product pricing, it’s quite common for Etsy sellers to offer discounts and promotions in the early phase of their operation to help attract customers. The Etsy platform allows sellers to run timed sales on specific items or create promo codes for a percentage off their total purchase. It also allows sellers to send targeted offers directly to shoppers who have abandoned carts, recently favorited your item, or made a previous purchase.
5. Promote your Etsy printables business
Effectively driving traffic to your Etsy printables business relies heavily on your promotion efforts. Etsy shop owners can use many paid and free tools to market their businesses, including their existing social media platforms. Sellers with existing Instagram, Pinterest, and TikTok pages must advertise their printable product offerings to followers.
Likewise, sellers with an existing business website and social media following can encourage users to sign up for a monthly newsletter. Building an email list is an excellent way to inform your followers about the various things happening within your businesses and the printable products you have to offer.
With a loyal following, it’s important to show customer appreciation through special offers. This can be done by offering free printables as a preview of your products or by offering a special promo code they can use to save on their purchase. Special giveaways are also great for capturing the attention of followers while also encouraging long-term brand loyalty.
The Etsy platform itself additionally offers paid advertisement tools like Etsy ads for those looking to enhance their product's discoverability. With Etsy ads, sellers can advertise their products in search results or other general pages across the marketplace. Users will just need to select a budget and specific product listings they wish to promote, and Etsy handles the rest.
Turn your digital products into physical products with Gelato
Selling printables on Etsy can be a streamlined and profitable process if you take the right steps to set up your business. When you are ready to get started, remember to follow the steps outlined above, including selecting a niche, signing up for an Etsy storefront, designing your printables, and promoting your business to help get your business out there.
To take your Etsy printables business to the next level, consider partnering with a print on demand provider to create physical printed products from your digital designs. Gelato offers an excellent selection for those selling printables on Etsy — including calendars, wall art, photo books, and stationery.
POD services are a cost-effective solution, as you only pay for what you sell. When your customers place their orders, Gelato swings into action and handles the entire order fulfillment process, from creating the product to shipping it to customers. Even better, Gelato POD services offer simple Etsy store integration to ensure every order is quickly processed and placed into production as soon as it is received.
Many consumers also prefer to work with print on demand providers that follow a sustainable business model. Unlike the traditional POD model, which centralizes production and delivery, Gelato leverages a global network of production partners and entrepreneurs. This allows us to generate your products in locations closest to your customers, streamline delivery, and reduce carbon emissions on every product we produce!
To learn more about how Gelato can elevate your Etsy printable business to the next level, connect your Etsy store today and check out just how easy order fulfillment can be.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are printables on Etsy?
Printables on Etsy are digital designs that customers can purchase, download, and print themselves. These can include various items such as wall art, planners, invitations, and educational resources. When you sell printables on Etsy, you offer buyers the flexibility to customize and produce their desired products instantly. With Gelato’s support, you can enhance your printable offerings by ensuring high-quality designs that resonate with Etsy shoppers looking for unique and customizable digital products.
How do I create printables for Etsy?
Creating printables to sell on Etsy starts with identifying a niche that aligns with your creative strengths and market demand. Begin by brainstorming ideas for appealing and valuable designs, such as planners, wall art, or invitations. Use graphic design software like Adobe Illustrator or Canva to bring your ideas to life while ensuring your files are high-resolution and easy to download. Gelato can assist by providing resources and tools to refine your designs and prepare them for digital distribution.
How do I set up my Etsy shop to sell printables?
Setting up your Etsy shop to sell printables involves the following key steps:
First, create an Etsy account and choose a memorable shop name that reflects your brand.
Next, design a compelling shop banner and logo to make a solid first impression. When listing your printables, use clear, high-quality images and detailed descriptions to showcase your products effectively.
Incorporate relevant keywords, such as "digital printables to sell on Etsy," to improve your shop’s visibility in search results.
Gelato’s platform can integrate seamlessly with your Etsy shop to help you manage your digital products and ensure smooth delivery to your customers.
How do I promote my printable products on Etsy?
Promoting your printable products on Etsy involves a combination of strategic marketing tactics. Start optimizing your product listings with relevant keywords to improve searchability. Use social media platforms like Instagram and Pinterest to showcase your designs and attract potential buyers. You may also consider running Etsy ads to increase visibility for your top printables to sell on Etsy.
Moreover, collaborating with influencers or bloggers in the creative space can also help spread the word about your unique printables, which drives more traffic to your Etsy shop.
What are the best printables to sell on Etsy?
The best printables to sell on Etsy are those that cater to current trends and address the needs of your target audience. Popular options include wall art, planners, calendars, invitations, wristbands, and educational worksheets. Seasonal items, such as holiday-themed prints or event-specific invitations, also perform well. Customizable printables, like personalized planners or monogrammed wall art, attract buyers looking for unique and tailored products.
Leveraging Gelato’s resources can help you design high-quality, attractive printables that stand out in the competitive Etsy marketplace.