Did you know you can make a full-time income selling printables on Etsy?
Seriously! Some Etsy sellers are bringing in thousands of dollars every month just by selling printables.
If you find it hard to believe, just check out these stories by real sellers on Etsy who have built profitable online businesses by selling printables. Most of them now earn over $5000 a month from their Etsy stores.
- Selling Printables On Etsy: Make Over $7,000 A Month! (2024)
- How to Make Money Selling Printables on Etsy ($8,000/Month!)
- Selling Etsy Printables: My WILD journey to 1,000 sales
It’s pretty cool when you think about it.
Digital printables are one of the **easiest products** to sell.
All you gotta do is design something people will like and upload it as a digital file.
And hey, if you’re not confident in your design skills, no worries!
Tools like Canva (even the free version) can help you make awesome printables that look totally legit. Plus, there are tons of free resources online to teach you how to design printables that people actually want to buy.
If you’re thinking about making some extra cash online, selling printables on Etsy is the way to go! I mean, seriously, check out all the awesome perks that make it super easy to earn money.
- No Shipping Hassles: Since it’s all digital, there’s no need to stress about shipping or items getting damaged in transit. People get their stuff instantly, which is super convenient!
- Passive Income: Once you’ve made and listed your digital printables, they can keep bringing in money with hardly any extra work from you. It’s like having an online shop that’s open 24/7!
- Wide Range of Niches: Whether you’re into art, planners, stickers, or educational stuff, there’s a big market for digital printables. You can find what you love and make products that match your interests.
- Quick to Market: Making digital products can be way faster than physical ones. You can jump on trends or seasonal demands in no time!
How to be successful on Etsy selling Digital printables?
If you’re looking for a get-rich-quick scheme, Etsy (or any similar platform) probably isn’t the answer.
People who try to make money on Etsy with minimal effort will not succeed for many reasons.
- Competition is fierce: Etsy is a popular platform for printables, so standing out requires high-quality, unique designs.
- Building a brand takes time: You need to establish yourself as a reliable seller with a consistent style and positive customer reviews.
- Marketing is crucial: Just uploading your printables isn’t enough. You need to promote them through social media, and SEO optimization to reach potential buyers.
However, a dedicated seller can make good money on Etsy and eventually turn that side hustle into a business that earns a full-time income
Here are some key steps to set yourself up for success selling digital printables on Etsy:
1. Find Your Niche:
- Don’t try to be everything to everyone. Choose a specific niche of printables to focus on. This could be anything from planners and checklists to wall art or educational materials for kids.
- Consider your own strengths and interests. What kind of printables are you passionate about creating?
- Research popular niches on Etsy to understand what’s in demand.
2. Create High-Quality Printables:
- Invest time in creating original, useful, and visually appealing designs.
- Use high-quality software like Canva or Adobe to create your printables.
- Ensure your printables are high-resolution for clear printing.
3. Optimize Your Etsy Shop:
- Product Listings: Write clear and informative descriptions that include relevant keywords to help people find your printables in Etsy searches.
- Eye-Catching Images: Use high-quality mockups to showcase your printables in a styled setting.
- SEO: Include relevant keywords throughout your shop title, descriptions, tags, and categories.
Digital Marketing QuickStart Guide is an e-book I highly recommend to anyone who wants to learn how to reach more people searching for Etsy printables online, how to target the right audience, improve your shop’s visibility in search results, and use social media to connect with potential buyers.
4. Pricing and Promotion:
- Research what other sellers in your niche are charging for similar printables.
- Price your printables competitively while considering the value you’re offering.
- Promote your shop on social media, Pinterest, and other online platforms.
- Regularly add new printables to your shop to keep customers coming back.
Table of Contents
Daily/Weekly/Monthly Planners
People will always need ways to stay organized, so there’s a consistent market for printable planners on Etsy.
You can offer various planner styles (dated, undated, hourly, etc.) for different preferences.
As a seller, you should focus on creating digital printables that are easy to customize. It is advisable to have more than one version of the same printable planner design in your store with different aesthetics. (Dark Academia, THAT girl, Minimalist)
Checklists
People really like checking things off lists, especially on Etsy.
Etsy shoppers love using printable checklists for all sorts of things like daily tasks, travel, or projects. It helps them keep track of what they need to do.
These checklists are not just plain to-do lists. They come in different styles and themes.
If you’re new to selling on Etsy, think about making checklists that different kinds of people would like. For example, make simple ones for professionals or colorful ones for families.
Habit trackers
Many people are looking for ways to build and maintain habits, making habit trackers a popular Etsy printables category.
There’s a competitive market for habit trackers, but there’s still space to make money if you have a unique approach.
Instead of targeting everyone, focus on a specific niche with unmet needs. For example, students, athletes, or people with ADHD.
Goal-Setting Etsy Printables
Goal-setting printables can be a helpful tool for those who want to get organized and achieve their goals.
You’ll need to find a way to make yours stand out, whether that’s through design, specific goals you target (e.g., financial goals, fitness goals), or interactive elements.
Workout Planners
If you’re passionate about fitness and willing to put in the work, selling workout planners can be a great way to earn money.
General fitness plans are a good starting point, but you can also create plans for specific goals (weight loss, muscle building, etc.) or target specific demographics (beginners, athletes, seniors).
Printable Budgeting Templates
Your budgeting templates should be customizable, so your customers can tailor them to their specific needs and financial goals.
For instance, you should sell templates designed for different budgeting methods like the 50/30/20 rule.
Expense Trackers
A lot of people want to know where their money is going. Expense trackers help them to do this more effectively.
To become successful in selling expense tracker printables on Etsy, see what other expense tracker printables are available and identify any gaps you can fill.
Debt Payoff Planners
Your Debt payoff planner should help your customers organize their debts, track progress, and stay motivated.
Include popular debt payoff methods like the debt snowball or avalanche and highlight how they can customize it depending on their situation.
Journal Inserts
Do you know those extra pages or sections you can add to your journal?
They’re called journal inserts – things like daily pages, goal-setting sections, habit trackers, and more.
Guess what? A lot of people prefer buying journal insert printables because they’re way cheaper than buying traditional journals.
With more and more people getting into journaling, there’s a huge demand for journal insert printables.
Meal Planners
People want to buy meal planners with specific themes, dietary needs, or aesthetics that they wouldn’t find in a generic store-bought planner.
For example, someone following a keto diet might be looking to find a planner on Etsy that has specifically designed sections for tracking macros alongside their meals.
Your aim as a seller should be to help your customers save time and money on groceries and plan nutritious meals.
Printable chore charts
You can sell chore charts to help kids (or even adults!) track chores.
Maybe it has cute monster icons or a sparkly unicorn theme. People can download and print this chart at home, instead of buying a bulky paper version at the store.
There’s always competition, so make sure your charts stand out. Maybe offer different sizes or bundle them with other printable goodies.
Printable Labels
Printable labels are basically sticker sheets you can design and print yourself using your regular printer! They come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, like squares, circles, rectangles, and even stars.
You will sell more if you can target a specific audience with your labels (e.g., planners, home organization).
Calendars
Printable calendars on Etsy are digital downloads that you can purchase and print yourself. They are a great way to add a personal touch to your organization and décor.
A lot of people find it easier to see a whole month at a glance on a physical calendar.
So there are endless possibilities to earn money selling printable calendars.
Design calendars with stunning landscapes, adorable animals, motivational quotes, or anything that suits your target audience.
And don’t just stick to dates. Include useful information like holidays, inspirational quotes, or habit trackers on each month’s page
Flashcard Printables
Flashcards are popular because they help with studying languages, getting ready for tests, and more.
You should focus on selling printable flashcards that are easy to use and can be changed to fit different subjects and ways of learning.
Also, if you’re a student and want to sell things on Etsy, selling flashcards can help you stand out because you know what learners need firsthand.
Study Material
Studying is much more fun with Etsy printables!
That’s why things like study guides, cheat sheets, and a variety of other resources are popular among the student crowd on Etsy.
If you love teaching/learning and can make cool and useful study materials, you should think about making them for Etsy.
Coloring Pages for Kids and Adults
Do you love to draw and color? You can turn that talent into a fun side hustle by selling printable coloring pages on Etsy!
You can design coloring pages for kids (think animals, cartoons, fairytales) and for adults (mandalas, intricate patterns, stress-relieving themes).
Sewing Patterns
Anyone with a passion for sewing and a knack for creating patterns can sell sewing patterns.
This includes experienced seamstresses, designers, crafters, and anyone else with expertise in creating patterns for clothing, accessories, or other sewn items
As long as you have the skills to design patterns and the ability to market them effectively, you can be successful in selling sewing patterns on Etsy.
Bible Study worksheets
You can help your customers nurture their faith and understanding with Bible study worksheets.
These printable materials can include devotionals and reflections on scripture to help your buyers grow spiritually and think deeply about their beliefs.
Your designs could be the tools that help people explore their faith and learn more about themselves.
Board Game Printables
These are complete games designed to be printed at home. They often include all the components you need, like the board, cards, and tokens.
Use a clear layout, nice fonts, and maybe even some pictures or graphics. There are lots of free, high-quality templates online you can use.
But be mindful of copyright infringement. If your game uses elements from existing games, make sure you have permission or it falls under fair use.
Baby shower games
Visually appealing printables are key. Use clear fonts, and eye-catching graphics, and keep it themed for baby showers (adorable animals, onesies, soft colors).
Offer a range of games! Popular options include Bingo, “What’s in your purse?”, Price is Right guessing games for baby products, and funny predictions for the baby.
Bridal Shower Printables
Bridal showers are a big deal, and there’s always a demand for unique bridal shower printables.
It’s a good idea to offer a range of printables – invitations, games, signs, favor tags, food labels – the more options, the better.
Make your printables editable in popular programs like Adobe or Canva. This allows people to personalize details like names and dates.
Wedding Invitations
Printable invitations are a hot trend because they let couples personalize their big day while saving money.
Choose a profitable niche (whimsical, rustic, vintage) and offer a range of designs within your niche. This gives customers more options and increases your chances of a sale.
High-quality photos are essential if you want to turn this side hustle into a full-time business. Use mockups to showcase how the invitations will look printed. Also make sure to clearly describe what’s included (e.g., invitation template, file format).
Printable party Decorations
Printable party decorations are a hot commodity for busy parents and party planners.
To make a good profit, offer a range of decorations – like banners, cupcake toppers, favor boxes, signs, and anything else a party might need.
Gift Tags and Wrapping papers
People love adding a special touch to gifts.
And People are drawn to eye-catching visuals. Use attractive fonts, creative layouts, and high-quality graphics for your gift tags and wrapping papers. Consider different styles – classic, modern, minimalist, or quirky – to cater to a wider audience.
Greeting Cards
In the online world, there’s something special about a handwritten greeting card, and Etsy’s most popular printable cards really capture that feeling.
Whether it’s for a birthday or a holiday, these printable cards give a sincere way to show love, thanks, and joy.
You should have different designs, so your customers can pick from lots of options, write their own message, and then print out cards that really mean something to their loved ones.
Printable bookmarks
Printable bookmarks are all about the design. You can illustrate them yourself, use free or paid design resources, or even focus on typography with cool fonts and text layouts.
There are many themes you can explore – inspirational quotes, beautiful patterns, illustrations, or photos related to hobbies like reading or fantasy.
Stickers
People love to personalize their belongings, and stickers are a fun and affordable way to do that. Laptops, water bottles, notebooks, phone cases – you name it, there’s a sticker for it.
You can draw your own illustrations, use graphic design software, or even edit photos. There are free and paid options available, depending on your skill level.
Wall Decor
People can now make their living spaces look amazing with Etsy’s best-selling wall decor printables without spending a lot of money.
You can monetize this opportunity by designing printables that include inspiring quotes and stunning landscapes, giving your buyers endless options to make their homes unique and beautiful.
FAQ’s
How much money can you earn by selling printables on Etsy?
For beginners: You can expect to earn somewhere between $10 and $100 per week at the start.
For established shops: Shops with a good reputation and consistent sales can bring in $1,000 or more per month.
There are even some sellers who make significantly more, but that usually comes with experience and a strong brand.
How long will it take to earn Money after setting up an Etsy Store?
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer to how long it takes to make your first sale on Etsy, but here’s the reality:
It could be days, or it could take months. Some shops see quick success, while others take time to build an audience.
An approximate answer for seeing your first sale on Etsy would be between 1 month to 3 months.
This is considering an average scenario where you have a decent product, put in some effort on your shop presentation, and do some basic marketing.
Here’s a rough breakdown:
Faster (1 month): This is possible if you have a niche product with high demand and low competition, and actively promote it on relevant platforms.
Slower (3 months): This is a more realistic timeframe for many sellers. It allows time for building an audience organically through Etsy SEO and attracting potential customers.
