Printables are digital files that are created with the intention of being printed. They are designed digitally, saved as a PDF or picture file and can be printed at home or at a print shop. If you are new to creating digital products, printables are the best place to start. They are simple to create and can provide substantial side hustle income. You only need to create the product once and you can sell it unlimited times with no additional costs.
Examples of printable items
- Calendars
- Budget trackers
- Lifestyle organisational charts
- Wall art
- Printable games
- Wedding and event invitations
- Thank you notes
- Business cards and invoice templates
Why sell printables on Etsy?
Established platform with existing customers – Founded in 2005, Etsy has become the primary ecommerce marketplace for independent craft sellers with an emphasis on selling handmade craft supplies. Recognised and trusted by buyers, Etsy provides an effective and affordable option if you are looking to sell printables. Since Etsy is a niche website focused on craft supplies, it provides you with the opportunity to place your products in front of your ideal customers.
User-friendly ecommerce website – Etsy makes it easy list your products. Etsy provides a comprehensive guide to help you create your Etsy store and start selling items. Best practice guidelines include selecting a relevant and memorable shop name, developing a professional logo and creating shop policies including returning or exchanging orders and cancellation rules. Additional recommendations include uploading high-quality images of your items and adding detailed descriptions to provide customers with sufficient information about your printables.
Advertising opportunities – Etsy has advertising products to help you sell your products once you have created your Etsy store. The adverts work on a pay-per-click basis, so you only pay when someone clicks on one of your adverts. You choose your budget and which listings to advertise and Esty will optimise your budget to promote your products and help you reach your target audience.
Interested in selling printables on Etsy? Follow this guide to help you get started
Interested in selling printables on Etsy?
Choose a niche. If you are interested in selling printables on Etsy, you will need to determine your niche. Your niche is the specific market segment to focus on. Consider your interests in certain industries and conduct market research to determine various opportunities. Search digital products on Etsy to understand which printables have the highest demand. Also review competitors to decide an appropriate price point for your items.
Design your printables. Next steps are to start designing your printables. Consider colours, fonts and layout options as your start creating your printables. If you are using images source high-quality images to drive engagement with your Etsy store and distinguish your items from competitors. With regards to the best file formats for printables, PDF is the most common format. You can also use JPEG and PNG and file types.
There are various software and design tools that can be used to create printables. Canva is online graphic design and publishing platform that provides design features and templates specifically for printables. Canva templates can be used to create captivating designs without design expertise. Photoshop is a more sophisticated platform than Canva. Photoshop can be used for enhanced colour editing, retouching photos and more detailed editing. If you are including images in your printables it is important to source royalty-free images. Free Images provides over 300,000 free stock images under their own license. The license allows a broad range of uses, however it does list several restrictions. Unsplash has its own licence which lets you use the images for free, without limitations, except for using them to create a competing website.
Optimise your printables store on Etsy
Creating beautiful images for your Etsy store is essential for attracting customers. Select an eye-catching first listing photo. This image will be displayed in search results, so it is crucial to use this image to inspire customers to click and find out more about your products. Etsy allows you to add 10 images per listing. Utilise all 10 image slots to showcase product features and provide buyers with information about your printables. Etsy also allows you to add short videos to your listings. These can be used to inspire, clarify and contextualise your items and show customers how to download and use your printable designs. Since Etsy is an ecommerce website, customers search for products using keywords. Using relevant keywords and descriptions for your Etsy store is crucial for increasing visibility. The first five words used in your listing title are the most important and these should be used to accurately describe your item. Review the Etsy Seller Handbook for detailed information about how to maximise opportunities on Etsy and receive essential advice on getting started and growing your business.
Launch and manage your printables side hustle
To successfully sell printables on Etsy, choose a product niche, create original designs and price your product competitively. Start by designing ten digital downloads and create a plan for when you will be able to work on designing new content for your printables business. Promote your Esty store on social media to increase awareness and generate interest in your products and utilise advertising tools provided by Esty.
Inspired? Read about Miri Campbell’s Etsy success story: how to be profitable selling printables