How To Sell Printables on Etsy for Beginners (Complete Guide)
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Are you looking for ways to supplement your regular income? If so, selling printables on Etsy might be a good idea.
Printables are always in demand, mainly because they can easily be tailored to users’ needs and current trends.
Plus, it’s a fantastic passive income source, as you can generate recurring revenue without recreating the printables from scratch.
By now, you’re probably wondering how to get into this promising side hustle if you don’t know anything about Etsy.
Worry not because I’ve done the legwork for you. This article is a step-by-step guide on how to sell printables on Etsy.
I’ll cover everything from choosing your products, the income potential, and how to maximize your earnings and turn this venture into the profitable gig you need it to be.
What Are Printables?
Printables are digital products that people can purchase and print from the comfort of their homes. There are many types of printables, including these:
- Stickers
- Budget planners
- Greeting cards
- Meal planners
- Art prints
- Coloring pages
- Planner templates
You can sell printables in their original form or make a provision for customers to edit them based on their needs.
For instance, you can make your wedding invitation printables customizable so that clients can edit the names of the people invited.
You can also link your printables business with a POD manufacturer to print them on items like t-shirts, mugs, and hoodies as a customer requires.
Generally, printables can be resold severally without constantly recreating them, making this the perfect side hustle if you’re seeking a passive income source.
How Much Can You Make Selling Printables on Etsy
The income potential of selling printables on Etsy depends on several factors:
- Quality of products
- Demand
- Marketing strategies
- Your pricing strategy
You can easily make $500 to $1000 within your first month if you employ the right strategies and market your e-commerce shop effectively.
Remember that Etsy charges seller fees, which may impact your profits. You must factor this cost into your pricing model to avoid losses.
Many sellers on Etsy make millions of dollars annually from selling printables. However, you must be willing to invest the required effort, time, and money to hit such a milestone.
Is It Profitable To Sell Printables on Etsy?
Selling printables on Etsy can be profitable if you play your cards right. Many sellers have made thousands of dollars. There’s no reason you shouldn’t, too!
For instance, Cody, the co-founder of Gold City Ventures, made $800 a week just a few months after starting his Etsy store.
His co-founder, Julie, is also a successful printables seller on Etsy. Her store generates over $1,000 monthly.
Julie and Cody started from somewhere, so don’t be afraid to launch your e-commerce store. With hard work and perseverance, you may become a success story in no time.
What Printables Sell Best on Etsy?
There are extensive niches and products to venture into if you want to start selling printables on Etsy.
While this is an advantage, you may get confused trying to choose a niche to focus on. The list below will help you determine the best action if you’re in this situation.
- Wedding invitations
- Schedules
- Posters
- Wall art
- Business cards
- Stickers
- Bridal shower games
- Games
- Meal planners
- Self-improvement templates
- Bookmarks
- Habit trackers
- Budgeting templates
- Gift tags
- Calendars
- Crotchet patterns
- Grocery lists
- Bible study printables
- Fitness trackers
- Checklists
- Party banners
- Greeting cards
- Coloring pages
- Day planners
You can focus on one niche to cater to a specific target audience or stack several to widen your audience and increase sales.
If you’re still unsure what to sell on Etsy, consider exploring several niches to determine the one that suits your needs and aligns with your interests.
How To Sell Printables on Etsy
Like any other business venture, selling printables on Etsy requires dedication and consistency, especially in the beginning.
You can make money on Etsy through the following simple steps:
1. Choose a Niche
The first step to succeeding in this venture is choosing a profitable niche. Focusing on a specific niche helps you gain expertise and improve your designs.
On the other hand, juggling different niches may divide your focus. You can select multiple niches, but don’t get carried away.
Don’t worry if you’re still unsure of what to sell. The best way to discover is by exploring different niches and seeing which works.
I like that you don’t have to be creative or have prior experience to succeed in selling printables. You can always opt for pre-made designs if you can’t make your own.
You can find lovely designs on Canva and customize them to fit your target audience’s needs.
However, if you choose this road, you must check for trade limitations before using a product.
2. Research
Once you’ve narrowed it down to a niche or two, do your due diligence to determine the most profitable printables.
Some of the best-selling types of printables include;
- Games
- Daily planners
- Budgeting templates
- Greeting cards
- Meal planners
- Invitations
Search relevant keywords on Etsy to find out what other sellers within the niche are doing and how to improve your designs.
Many people are drawn to the aesthetic nature of Pinterest, making it another perfect option for sourcing printable ideas. You can use this site to inspire your designs if you aren’t artistic.
3. Create Your Printables
Now that you’ve settled on one niche and printable type, it’s time to create the products you’ll sell on Etsy.
There are numerous graphic design tools you can use to create your printables. Some are free, while others require a small fee.
I recommend Canva if you’re a complete beginner in graphic design. Canva is free and has lots of pre-designed printables you can sell as is or tweak to make it more appealing to clients.
You must pay $1 to remove the watermark on Pro templates on Canva. However, that may not be necessary as there are many free options.
The only problem with using the free Canva version is the commercial limitations associated with the templates. Ensure you comply with terms and conditions to avoid legal implications.
Julie and Cody from Gold City Ventures offer a course on creating printables to sell on Etsy. This course is worth taking if you want step-to-step guidance on how to succeed in this venture.
Overall, there are many software applications you can use to design your printables, and the free ones are as good as the paid ones. Free software helps you save money, especially before your store gains footing.
4. Sign Up on Etsy
Once your designs are ready, sign up for a seller account on Etsy and create your store.
Customizing your storefront to fit your niche helps attract more customers. Your store’s name should also describe what you’re selling.
For instance, you can use “DailyPlannerStore” if you’re focusing on selling daily planners. On the other hand, if you’ve narrowed it down to multiple niches, choose a name that isn’t specific to one niche.
A good example is Julie’s Etsy store. She calls it “The Swag Elephant” since the store deals in different types of printables.
5. List Your Printables
The next step to selling printables on Etsy is showing potential customers what you’re selling. You must list at least one item to keep your Etsy store running.
Here are some essential things to include in your listing:
- Product title
- Photos
- Product description
- Price
Just like with physical products, uploading high-quality designs increases your chances of making sales.
The product description needs to be detailed and informative. Consider the questions a buyer would have and answer them in the description.
You should also optimize your product descriptions for SEO to make your printables more visible to customers when they search particular keywords.
Etsy charges a $0.20 fee per listing and a 6.5% transaction fee on every sale. They deduct the transaction fee when you make a sale, but you must pay the listing fee upfront.
Familiarizing yourself with Etsy’s fees helps you determine how to price your printables. You must factor in any design costs and platform fees into your pricing model to avoid making losses.
Most printables cost $2 to $10, but you can increase this amount based on the cost and complexity of your design.
If you’re unsure how to price your printables, check what other buyers within the niche are pricing theirs.
From there, set your printables to automatic renewal so you can sell them repeatedly. If you don’t turn this feature on, the printables will be out of stock after one purchase.
6. Market Your Etsy Store
I can’t fully emphasize how marketing your Etsy store is beneficial. Practical marketing skills are as essential as producing high-quality printables.
There are several ways to promote your Etsy store:
- Etsy ads: You can pay for promotional ads to widen your reach and retain current customers. I like that the platform lets you set a budget for how much you spend daily on ads.
- Use social media: Social media is your friend if you want to attract more customers to your printables shop. Integrate your Etsy store with social media platforms like Pinterest, Instagram, and Facebook to engage with potential customers and showcase your printables.
- Blog: Another effective way to engage with potential customers and boost sales is starting a blog. You can build an email list and host giveaways to attract potential customers through blogging.
- Word of mouth: This is the easiest and cheapest way to market your Etsy store. Tell your friends, neighbors, and family about your printables and encourage them to buy.
Remember that the success of your store depends on whether you’ve identified your target audience and tailored your printables towards their needs.
Marketing will be useless if you’re not focused on the right group of people.
7. Make Money
Once you’ve done all you can on your shop, it’s time to sit back and enjoy your passive income. Etsy has a messaging feature that lets you communicate with buyers directly.
Once a buyer purchases a printable, the product becomes available for download on the Etsy platform or delivered to them through email.
From there, they’re free to print the product or modify it in some cases before printing. Etsy takes 6.5% of your earnings.
You can cash out your earnings through PayPal or bank transfer.
Where To Sell Printables Other Than Etsy
Etsy is an excellent starting point for beginners who want to sell printables. However, you can try your luck on similar sites, too.
Exploring several apps helps you discover the one best suited for your needs and target audience. Moreover, cross-posting your printables on multiple platforms is a superb way to maximize sales.
Here are some of the Etsy alternatives to try:
- Amazon: The best part about selling on Amazon is you work in the background while the platform handles customer service.
- Shopify: This platform is the best option if you want to be more independent and have more control over your e-commerce store.
- Sendowl: Sendowl might work for you if you’re an avid blogger. I like that you can set up an affiliate program to get other people to promote your products.
- Gumroad: This is another Etsy alternative that lets you make money by selling printables. It also enables you to accept tips and donations from your customers.
- WordPress: WordPress’s integration with WooCommerce makes it an excellent way to sell printables.
Is There a Course I Can Take To Help Me Start Selling Printables on Etsy?
I understand if you want to navigate the Etsy waters while minimizing upfront costs. However, taking a course guides you on how to handle things and the best ways to maximize your income.
Julie and Cody from Gold City Venture offer an E-printables course to guide you on beginning and scaling your printables business.
While they clearly state that taking their course doesn’t guarantee sales, there are numerous testimonies from people who’ve succeeded on Etsy after taking the E-printables course.
Most of their students boast over 500 sales within the first few months of taking the course. You can read some of their student testimonials.
Let’s dive deeper into the course content to determine if it’s worth your time.
The E-printables course by the Gold City Ventures founders is divided into 14 modules. The founders recommend completing them in about four weeks, but the course is 100% self-paced.
Module 1: Getting Started
The first module gives a general overview of the course and what Gold City Ventures is about. You’ll be introduced to the VIP membership with over 100 informative videos.
If you’re wondering whether you must be artistic to take this course, the answer is no. The first module gives you access to free templates which you can modify to suit your target audience.
There’s an assignment at the end of the module to help you evaluate yourself.
Module 2: What Should You Sell?
You’ll find this module helpful if you’re still unsure what printables are. This module effectively introduces you to selling printables as a side hustle.
It offers over 50 inspirations to help you determine the best printables to sell in line with your interests and target audience.
You’ll also focus on how to take advantage of seasonal products to maximize your income.
Module 3: Getting Started Making Printables
After familiarizing yourself with printables, this module helps you pick the best fonts, graphics, and colors for your products.
It also includes a seller handbook, which is a comprehensive guide to creating printables.
Module 4: Canva Overview
Canva is the best tool for upcoming graphic designers. It’s free, and its interface is beginner-friendly.
Module 4 of the E-Printables course covers Canva navigation. You’ll learn how to create designs, add effects and tables to your printables, and how to download templates.
Module 5: How To Make Printables With Canva
Module 5 contains tutorial examples that help you hone your Canva skills. Julie and Cody also offer their free Canva templates here to make this a more fulfilling experience.
Module 6: How To Make Canva Templates
In this module, Julie and Cody will teach you how to make Canva templates focusing on what sells and what doesn’t.
They also take you through the rules and considerations on Canva to avoid legal issues since not everything on Canva is free.
You also learn how to share your templates and create a PDF you can quickly deliver to customers after the sale.
Module 7: Creating Editable Printables With Corjl
Corjl is valuable to Etsy sellers since it lets you create editable templates. In this module, Julie and Cody cover Corjl in detail and how to use it to improve your printables.
You also learn how to upload your Corjl designs to Etsy to showcase them to potential customers.
Module 8: Packaging Your Printable
This module covers the best practices to employ, resizing your printables, and printing multiple designs on one page.
Module 9: Making Listing Images
Module 9 covers listing images that stand out against the competition on Etsy. It delves into good and bad listing images so that you know what to do and not do.
It also covers listing image sizing, creating listing images from scratch, and creating custom Mockups with GIMP.
Module 10: Listing Your Product
Generally, you’ll learn how to launch your Etsy store and list your products. The module also covers pricing your printables.
Customizing your storefront can be a deal-maker or breaker. Choosing a theme that resonates with your niche and target audience is crucial. This is precisely what module 10 will teach you to do.
Module 11: Keyword Research
In this module, you’ll learn how to find bestselling printables and analyze Google Trends to improve your products.
You’ll also cover eRank Pro, a valuable tool for researching keywords and optimizing your listings for SEO.
Module 12: Marketing and Advertising
In this module, you’ll learn how to leverage coupons, Etsy Ads, videos, and Pinterest to promote your printables and boost sales.
Module 13: Optimizing Your Shop
Here, you’ll learn how to use Google Analytics for your Etsy shop, capture customers’ interest, boost sales, and call to action ideas.
The 13th module also covers five common traps for new sellers and finding a niche.
Module 14: Etsy Sellers App
This last module involves navigating the Etsy app, monitoring orders, and improving customer conversations.
How Much Does the E-Printables Course Cost?
The E-Printables course by Julie and Cody costs $249. Once you purchase the course, you get lifetime access.
Spending $249 on an online course as a beginner may seem too much, but judging from the testimonials, the comprehensive guide is worth it.
Remember that the course isn’t a guarantee you’ll make sales. However, it equips you with the necessary skills to succeed in this passive income idea.
Enrolling in the E-Printables course gives you access to a Facebook forum where you can connect and interact with other Etsy sellers.
Julie and Cody are also invested in this Facebook group and take time to answer your questions personally.
Are you still trying to figure out how to sell printables on Etsy? Julie and Cody offer a free workshop that provides an overview of their course to help you determine if selling printables is a good idea.
The free workshop covers ideas for printables, launching an Etsy store, and making sales on the platform.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I Use Canva To Create Printables To Sell on Etsy?
Yes, Canva is a helpful tool when it comes to creating printables. The free site contains many templates you can modify to create your printables.
However, not everything on Canva is free. You must also avoid violating any laws by selling someone else’s work.
Always do your due diligence to find out if there are any commercial constraints on a template before using it.
Do You Need a License To Sell Printables on Etsy?
The need for a license on Etsy depends on the type of printables you’re selling. You don’t need to acquire a permit to sell original work.
On the other hand, you need a license to sell third-party content. Content creators usually develop licenses to dictate the distribution of their work.
Always review and comply with license requirements to avoid legal implications.
Is It Worth It Selling Printables on Etsy?
Selling printables on Etsy is worth it. It may be confusing initially, but you can succeed if you play your cards right.
Many people on Gold City Ventures give testimonies on their journey as printables sellers on Etsy. They have made over 500 sales and thousands of dollars on the platform.
Most of them attribute their success to the E-Printables course offered by Julie and Cody. You don’t have to take the course to succeed, but it provides excellent insight into navigating Etsy and boosting sales.
How Much Should I Charge for Printables?
You must consider several factors before settling on a pricing model for your printables. Firstly, consider the capital you need to create your printables.
Capital includes design software and tools and online courses. You must also consider Etsy fees to avoid losses.
Another factor worth considering is the complexity of your design. It makes sense to charge more for a design that takes longer.
Failing to consider your costs may lead to underpricing your products. You must also research sellers with similar products to avoid overpricing your printables.
Final Thoughts
I hope this guide helps you figure out how to sell printables on Etsy and start earning passive income. A significant perk of this side hustle is you can sell an item repeatedly without investing additional time and money.
Selling on Etsy might seem like an uphill task, but it’s doable with the right strategies. You’re good to go as long as you know what to sell, how to sell it, and how to market your store.
Many people are getting into selling printables these days. Therefore, you must figure out how to stand out by creating high-quality products, good customer service, and effective marketing.
Whether you want to supplement your income or have more money to channel towards your savings, selling printables on Etsy is a fantastic idea.
And if you don’t want to waste time figuring out everything yourself, I recommend the E-Printables course offered by Julie and Cody from Gold City Ventures.
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