If you are looking to start an online business with little money, selling printables on Etsy might be the perfect side hustle. Whether you’re an experienced designer or just love being creative, Etsy is a great place to sell digital products. Printables like planners, calendars, wall art, greeting cards, and more are really popular right now, and many people are looking to buy them to add something special to their lives.
So, if you’re wondering how to get started and make your first sale, here’s a complete guide on how to sell printables on Etsy for beginners.
What Are Printables?
Printables are digital products that people can download and print at home. These can include things like planners, to-do lists, art, quotes, and calendars. The best part is that once you create a printable, you can sell it over and over again without having to make any physical items. It’s a great way to start a business with low costs.
Why Sell Printables on Etsy?
Etsy is a fantastic platform for selling printables, and here’s why:
- Low Startup Costs: You don’t need to invest in physical products or inventory. You only need your time and creativity to make the digital files.
- Huge Audience: Etsy has millions of shoppers looking for unique and creative products. Printables have become one of the most popular categories, so there’s a big potential market.
- Scalability: Once you create a printable, it can be sold to an unlimited number of customers without extra effort on your part. It’s passive income in action!
- Creative Flexibility: You can create a wide range of printables, from home décor to educational resources, all based on your interests and skills.
1: Set Up Your Etsy Shop
Before you start creating printables, you’ll need to set up an Etsy shop. Here’s how to get going:
- Sign Up for Etsy: If you don’t have an Etsy account yet, go to Etsy.com and sign up. If you already have one, just log in.
- Pick a Shop Name: Choose a name that reflects your style or the products you plan to sell. Keep it short, catchy, and easy to remember.
- Complete Your Shop Profile: Add a bio and your shop policies (like returns and refunds) to build trust with customers. A profile picture or logo can make your shop feel more personal and professional.
- Set Shop Preferences: Choose your currency, country, and whether you want Etsy to calculate taxes for you automatically.
2: Create Your Printables
Now that your Etsy shop is set up, it’s time to start creating your printables. You don’t need to be a professional designer, but there are a few things to consider as you design:
First, choose your niche. Focus on a specific area that matches your strengths and interests. Some popular printable ideas are planners and organizers, like daily, weekly, or monthly planners, habit trackers, and meal planners. You could also make wall art with inspirational quotes, custom prints, or nursery art.
Another option is stationery, such as greeting cards, invitations, and thank you notes. If you enjoy working with kids, you could create educational materials like worksheets, flashcards, or study guides.
You don’t need fancy software to get started. Many beginners use tools like Canva, which is free and easy to use, with plenty of templates to customize. If you’re more experienced, Adobe Illustrator offers more advanced features. You can also try Inkscape, a free tool for creating vector art.
When saving your printables, use high-quality, easy-to-print file formats like PDF, JPEG, or PNG. PDF is often the best choice because it’s easy for customers to download and print.
Offering your printables in different sizes can help attract more buyers. For example, you could provide 8×10 sizes for wall art or A4 sizes for planners. You can list these sizes separately or offer them as options in one listing.
Lastly, make sure your design is simple to use. It should be easy for customers to download and print. If your printable requires special instructions or tips, be sure to include those as well.
3: List Your Printables on Etsy
Once you’ve created your printable, it’s time to list it on Etsy. Here’s how you can do it:
Pick a Great Title: Use a clear and detailed title with keywords people might search for. For example, instead of just calling it “Planner,” try something like “2025 Undated Daily Planner – Printable PDF to Organize Your Day – Instant Download.” This makes it easier for shoppers to find your product.
Write a Clear Description: Explain what your printable is, how it works, and what makes it special. Show how it can help your customers or make their lives easier. Also, list exactly what they’ll get in the download, like one PDF file or a set of designs.
Set Your Price: Pricing is important when selling printables. For beginners, most printables sell for $3 to $15, depending on how detailed or large they are. Check out other sellers in your niche to see what they’re charging.
Upload Clear, High-Quality Images: Since your product is digital, the pictures you upload are key to attracting buyers. Make sure the images are clear, well-lit, and of good quality. Show how the printable looks in use, like a piece of wall art on a wall or a planner page filled out.
Choose Tags and Categories: Etsy lets you add tags and choose a category for your product. Use keywords that your customers might search for. For example, if you’re selling a weekly planner, use tags like “printable planner,” “weekly planner,” “digital download,” and “organizer.”
4: Optimize Your Listings
Once your printable is listed, the work doesn’t end there. To increase your chances of making a sale, you need to optimize your Etsy shop and listings.
Start by using relevant keywords in your title, tags, and description. Etsy’s search system will show your products to potential buyers based on the keywords they use.
Next, make sure your product photos are clear and professional. It helps to show how your printable can be used in real life, like a calendar on a wall or a planner on a desk.
You can also offer discounts or coupons for first-time buyers or during special promotions. This can encourage more people to buy from your shop.
Finally, positive reviews help build trust and show that your products are reliable. Encourage satisfied customers to leave reviews by offering great service and high-quality products.
5: Market Your Printables
To get more people to see your Etsy shop and boost sales, you need to promote it outside of Etsy. A great way to do this is through social media. Sharing your designs on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook can help you reach more people. These platforms love visual content, so showing your printables in real-life situations, like planners or wall art in a home, works really well.
Etsy Ads is an option you might want to consider. By running paid ads for your products on Etsy, you can give your listings a visibility boost. While this does require a bit of investment, Etsy Ads can drive more traffic to your shop, helping you increase sales and grow your business.
6: Provide Excellent Customer Service
Even though you’re selling digital products, good customer service is still important. Respond quickly to customer questions and make sure your products are easy to download and use. If you sell customizable printables, be quick to handle requests and make any changes.
7: Keep Improving and Growing
Growing your business takes time and effort. Watch how your shop is doing and try new ideas to keep it exciting. Add new types of printables to your product line or run seasonal promotions to increase sales. Pay attention to customer feedback and improve your designs as you go.
Conclusion
Selling printables on Etsy is a fun and profitable side hustle. It doesn’t take much to get started, and it can bring in regular income. Just follow these steps: set up your shop, create quality printables, improve your listings, and promote your products. Soon, you’ll be on your way to running a successful Etsy business.
To succeed, stay consistent, be creative, and offer excellent customer service. Keep learning, try new designs, and promote your shop. You’ll see your sales grow quickly. Happy selling!