Your 2023 guide to selling printables online

Digital printables are becoming increasingly popular among online shoppers. From clipart to digital planners to e-cards, adding printables to your inventory is an easy way to increase your sales potential, especially on Etsy.

If you’re a creative entrepreneur, selling digital printables online can be a lucrative business. So in this post, you’ll learn everything you need to know about selling printables online in 2023.

Let’s take a look…

How to choose an Etsy niche for print-on-demand 

Choosing a niche for your printables involves finding a specific area of interest or expertise that you can create designs around. Here are some steps to help you choose a niche…

Identify your interests: Think about things you enjoy doing or are passionate about. For example, if you love cooking, you could create printables related to recipes, meal planning, or kitchen organization.

Do market research: Look at what other sellers  offer in your potential niche. See if there is much demand for the type of printables you want to create and if there is room for competition.

Find a gap in the market: Look for a gap in the market that you can fill. Is there something missing that you can provide? Or can you offer a unique perspective or design?

Test your ideas: Try creating a few printables in different niches. Then, see which ones get the most traffic and sales. This can help you determine which niches to focus on.

How to come up with printables to sell on Etsy

Coming up with designs for your printables can be a fun and creative process. Here are some steps you can take to help you create designs…

Research popular trends: Look for popular trends in your niche by browsing through other Etsy shops or Pinterest boards. This can give you inspiration for your designs.

Brainstorm ideas: Sit down and brainstorm ideas based on your niche and what you think people might be interested in. Write down all your ideas, even if they seem silly or far-fetched.

Use customer feedback: Look at customer feedback on your existing products or products from other Etsy shops. See what people are looking for or what they like about certain designs.

Check out social media: Look at social media platforms, such as Instagram and TikTok, to see what types of designs and aesthetics are trending in your niche.

Use design software: Use design software, like Canva, to create your designs. You can also use free resources, like Unsplash, to find images and graphics to use with your designs.

We’ve also got a ton of options listed in our Printable Profits Course.

Here is a list of the types of printables you might want to create…

BINGO games (traditional or themed versions)

Here is a sample of a description you might use with your BINGO printables:

This listing is for an instant download of a BINGO game. Play with friends or family in person or virtually over Zoom or Skype!

Your download includes 6 unique playing cards and 1 call-out list sheet. More playing cards are available upon request (up to 10) for no additional charge.

All you have to do is complete your payment and then your printable BINGO game cards will be ready to be downloaded (no physical item will be shipped to you). This printable comes with 1 ZIP file.

How the process works:

1. Purchase the listing.
2. Once payment has been confirmed, you will be directed to the download page.
3. Click “Download” and save the files to your computer.
4. When you’re ready, print the images, and enjoy!

NOTE: This is a digital download ONLY. Also, the final print quality will depend on the type of printer and paper used.

Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns about your download. Your satisfaction is 100% guaranteed.

Greeting cards (birthday, anniversary, thank you, get well)

Here is a sample of a description you might use with your greeting card printables:

This listing is for a download of a [card type – e.g. birthday] card that comes in 2 sizes – 5? X 7? and 5.5? X 8.5.”

How the process works:

1. Purchase the listing.
2. Once payment has been confirmed, you will be directed to the download page.
3. Click “Download” and save the files to your computer.
4. When you’re ready, print the images, fold and/or cut them, and enjoy!

NOTE: This is a digital download ONLY. Your purchase does NOT include any extra materials, such as stamps or envelopes. Also, the final print quality will depend on the type of printer and paper used. For best results, have your printable printed at your local photo center.

Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns about your [card type – e.g. birthday] card download. Your satisfaction is 100% guaranteed.

Themed clipart (four seasons, major holidays, back-to-school, florals, etc.)

Here is a sample of a description you might use with your clipart printables:

This listing is for an instant download of [clipart theme – e.g. Hanukkah] clipart.

All you have to do is complete your payment. Then, your printable [clipart theme – e.g. Hanukkah] clip art will be ready to be downloaded (no physical item will be shipped to you). This printable comes with 1 ZIP file (with [number – e.g. 15] unique PNG files).

How the process works:

1. Purchase the listing.
2. Once payment has been confirmed, you will be directed to the download page.
3. Click “Download” and save the ZIP file to your computer.
4. When you’re ready, print the images, and enjoy!

NOTE: This is a digital download ONLY. Your purchase does NOT include any framing materials. Also, the final print quality will depend on the type of printer and paper used. For best results, have your printable printed at your local photo center.

CLIPART TERMS OF USE:

We hope you love this clipart! Please feel free to use these images in personal or small commercial projects (fewer than 500 sales) for yourself or a client. Attribution is welcomed and appreciated, but it is not necessary.

Please note that these images cannot be resold or redistributed on their own. They also cannot be used on products offered for sale where the clipart constitutes the main value of the products.

For example, these images cannot be featured as the main design on items such as coffee mugs, t-shirts, or canvases, and sold as such.

Goal trackers (diet and exercise, career, financial, etc.)

Here is a sample of a description you might use with your goal tracker printables:

This listing is for an instant download of [goal tracker type – e.g. fitness] goal tracker. 

All you have to do is complete your payment. Then, your printable [goal tracker type – e.g. fitness] goal tracker will be ready to be downloaded (no physical item will be shipped to you). This printable comes with 1 PNG file.

How the process works:

1. Purchase the listing.
2. Once payment has been confirmed, you will be directed to the download page.
3. Click “Download” and save the PNG file to your computer.
4. When you’re ready, print the tracker, and enjoy!

NOTE: This is a digital download ONLY. Also, the final print quality will depend on the type of printer and paper used. For best results, have your printable printed at your local photo center.

Image Source

Printable coupons (one-hour massage, home-cooked meal, game night in, picnic lunch, etc.) 

Here is a sample of a description you might use with your printable coupons:

This listing is for an instant download of one pack of printable coupons to give to friends or family. 

All you have to do is complete your payment. Then, your printable coupons will be ready to be downloaded (no physical item will be shipped to you). This printable comes with 1 zip file containing [number of coupons – e.g. 10] PNG files.

How the process works:

1. Purchase the listing.
2. Once payment has been confirmed, you will be directed to the download page.
3. Click “Download” and save the zip file to your computer.
4. When you’re ready, open the zip file, print the PNGs, and enjoy!

NOTE: This is a digital download ONLY. Also, the final print quality will depend on the type of printer and paper used. For best results, have your printable printed at your local photo center.

Image Source

How to price your printables

When you price your printables, you want to make a profit while still being competitive. Here are some tips to help you set the right price for your printables…

Determine your costs: Before setting your prices, you need to determine your costs. This includes the cost of materials, design software, Etsy listing fees, and any other expenses associated with creating and selling your printables.

Calculate your labor: Determine how much time you spent creating each printable and multiply that by your desired hourly wage. This will give you an idea of the labor costs associated with each design.

Research competitors: Look at what other sellers are charging for similar products in your niche. This will give you an idea of what the market will bear and help you price your products competitively.

Consider your target audience: Think about your target audience and what they are willing to pay for your printables. If your target audience is budget-conscious, you may need to price your products lower.

Determine your profit margin: Decide how much profit you want to make from each sale. This will depend on your business goals and how much you need to make to cover your costs and make a profit.

Test different price points: Consider testing different price points for your printables to see what works best. You can always adjust your prices based on customer feedback and sales.

How to effectively market your printables

Marketing your printables on Etsy is an important part of building a successful shop. Here are some steps you can take to create a marketing plan…

Optimize your Etsy shop: Optimize your Etsy shop by using keywords in your shop title, product titles, and descriptions to improve your visibility in search results. Use high-quality photos of your products to showcase your designs.

Use social media: Use social media platforms, like Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest, to promote your printables. Share images of your products and link back to your Etsy shop. Engage with your followers and respond to comments and messages.

Offer freebies: Consider offering free printables or samples to attract new customers and drive traffic to your Etsy shop. This can be a great way to showcase your designs and encourage people to make a purchase.

Collaborate with influencers: Reach out to influencers in your niche and offer to collaborate with them. You can provide them with free printables in exchange for promoting your shop on their social media platforms.

How to provide excellent customer service on Etsy 

Providing excellent customer service is essential for building a successful shop and maintaining happy customers. Here are some tips to help you provide top-notch customer service:

Respond promptly: Respond to customer messages and inquiries within 24 hours. This shows that you value their business and are committed to providing good service.

Be friendly and professional: Be friendly and professional in your communication with customers. Use a friendly tone and address them by name.

Provide accurate information: Provide accurate information about your products, shipping times, and policies. This helps customers make informed decisions about their purchases.

Ship on time: Ship your products on time and provide tracking information if possible. This helps customers know when to expect their order and reduces the risk of lost packages.

Resolve issues promptly: If a customer has an issue with their order, address it promptly and professionally. Offer solutions such as a refund or replacement.

Follow up with customers: Follow up with customers after their purchase to ensure they’re happy with their orders. This can help build long-term relationships with your customers.

…To learn even more about selling printables online, check out my course Printable Profits!

I hope you found this post about selling printables useful! If you have any other tips or advice you’d like to share, please leave a comment below. And if you enjoyed this post, please share it with your friends and followers.