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In the early days of COVID, I locked myself in the house and started spending my time creating art. After covering every inch of wall space with moss walls, quilled pictures, air plant frames and paintings of my kids\u2019 favorite characters, I needed to find something else to do with my creations. Enter Etsy<\/a>.<\/p>\n I started my hobby business (which I named The Graphite Pencil<\/a>) in 2020. After trying a few different mediums, I noticed that shipping costs for my physical creations really ate into my profits. Instead of continuing to increase my prices I decided to shift into digital downloads, which are also known as printables.\u00a0<\/p>\n My decision came right around the time I sold a painting that I had created of a pixelated wolf. It had been hanging in my son\u2019s room. He had grown attached to it and wasn\u2019t thrilled when I told him I sold it (mom fail). Although the plan had always been to paint something new to take its place, he seemed skeptical that he would like the replacement as much as the original.<\/p>\n So I offered him a bit of an insurance policy. I told him I would take a picture of the wolf painting and, if he didn\u2019t like the new painting, I would have the wolf picture printed and framed for his wall.\u00a0<\/p>\n He agreed to the offer. I didn\u2019t end up needing to frame the older print for his wall, but I did decide to post it on Etsy to see if others would want to. The resulting listing explains to potential customers that, in exchange for their $5 purchase, they will receive five digital images that they can download and print on their own.\u00a0<\/p>\n Pro<\/a> tip:<\/strong> The reason why there are five files available for download is because the dimensions are slightly different for each. This allows the buyer to use the file that matches their preferred size. Otherwise, if the ratio you offer is different from what the buyer wants, some portion of the image will be cropped by the printer.<\/p>\n At the time this article was written, the digital image above had been listed at a price of $5 for nearly three years. In that time, I sold the image to 41 people. My cost for each sale was $0.93 (20 cent listing fee, 33 cent transaction fee, and a 40 cent fee for accepting credit card payments).\u00a0<\/p>\n Here\u2019s the breakdown:<\/p>\n By contrast, I sold the original painting for $55. My costs for that sale were significantly higher at $14.79:<\/p>\n Note that I included the materials costs in both calculations. Because my digital prints were created from an original painting, I need to include the costs of those materials ($5 for the stretched canvas and an estimated $3 of paint) in my analysis.\u00a0<\/p>\n People buy digital downloads primarily because they\u2019re less expensive than purchasing original works of art.\u00a0<\/p>\n Let\u2019s revisit my example above. The person who purchased my 18\u201d x 24\u201d wolf painting paid $55. Alternatively, someone could purchase the digital print for only $5, have it printed locally for less than $10, and pick up a frame for a few dollars more. All in all, a framed digital <\/em>print would cost less than half the amount of an original.<\/p>\n Depending on the size and complexity of the original work, that difference could be substantially greater. (My $55 wolf painting is on the low end of the cost spectrum for original artwork.)<\/p>\n Plus, low-cost printables allow people to change their decor over time. I\u2019ve wanted to change up my art in the past, but have hesitated because of the value of the pieces. While I don\u2019t have a problem selling or giving away the art I\u2019ve made, pieces that I\u2019ve purchased are a different story. Although I know that what I\u2019ve paid for artwork is a sunk cost, I\u2019m too frugal to get rid of hundreds of dollars worth of wall hangings for something I like a bit more.\u00a0<\/p>\n However, if I had only spent $15 to buy and print something, I know I\u2019d be more open to updating what\u2019s in my frames.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Just about everyone has decorations of some kind in their home. Because of that large market, printable decor can sell very well. Additionally, these prints (which may have been designed for the wall) can be used for more than just hanging art. Digital files can be used to create unique gifts like ornaments, mugs, tote bags, mouse pads, puzzles, shirts and more.\u00a0<\/p>\n Printable sales don\u2019t end with decor. Some listings sell well because buyers can find a design they like, and then use a separate service to print in bulk. A few great examples are coloring pages (children\/adult activity or classroom or home-school learning), cards (wedding invitations, baby shower invites, thank yous and Christmas cards), and stickers (for coloring, kids\u2019 birthday party invites, favors, cupcake toppers or general crafting).<\/p>\n Then there are one-off printables that may not be top of mind, but which have niche audiences. Etsy is a great source for patterns (sewing, knitting and crocheting), planners (school, work, relaxation\/meditation and exercise workouts) and other calendars.\u00a0<\/p>\n When I decided to make my first printables listing, I had never used any kind of online digital studio. In fact, most of my printables were created from photos of paintings I had made. So, first things first: decide whether you\u2019d prefer to photograph your original pieces or create digital art from scratch.<\/p>\n You\u2019ll need the original artwork or whatever paint, canvas, pencils, papers, clay or other medium are needed to create it. If you have a quality camera<\/a> that provides high resolution photos, use that to take pictures of the art. Alternatively, a relatively new smartphone should work just fine. (I took my photos with an iPhone<\/a> SE.)<\/p>\n When taking photos, do so in a well-light room and avoid creating shadows on your photographed piece. Take multiple shots (the first one is rarely the one you\u2019ll end up using) and ensure you get the full piece of art in the shot (you can always crop the picture afterwards).\u00a0<\/p>\n To create art digitally, you\u2019ll need software. Before deciding to spend $20 or more per month for a standalone app like Adobe Photoshop<\/a>, consider a free service. Canva<\/a> and GIMP<\/a> are two of many free platforms to get you started.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Before you even create your first piece, think about your lifestyle, how much free time you have to dedicate to your shop, and how involved you want to be in its day-to-day operations. This will help you determine whether you\u2019re willing to offer custom pieces.<\/p>\n When listing a printable, you\u2019ll need to choose \u201cdigital download\u201d or \u201cmade to order.\u201d For a truly passive seller experience, where you set up your listing once and allow Etsy to pass the files along to the customer upon a sale, opt for digital downloads.<\/p>\n If customization is required before sending a file to a customer (e.g., adding a customer\u2019s name or creating a print using the customer\u2019s pet as a model), you\u2019ll want to select \u201cMade to Order.\u201d Made to order sales will require you to upload the final file for your customer to download.<\/p>\n After you\u2019ve signed up for your account, you\u2019ll need to create your shop. A few details to consider are the name, your logo, and your shop design.<\/p>\n Once you\u2019ve set up a professional-looking shop and have created your digital art (or have created digital files of your physical art), you\u2019re ready to list.\u00a0<\/p>\n Here\u2019s a short list of tips for creating your listings.<\/p>\n 1.<\/strong> Offer multiple dimensions<\/strong>. Some buyers may want a small print while others want a huge poster. You don\u2019t need to offer a file in every possible size, but offering prints with the most common aspect ratios will give the buyer plenty of printing options.\u00a0<\/p>\n An aspect ratio is the ratio of the image\u2019s width to its height. Offering various ratios will allow buyers to print in whatever size they want without having to worry about part of the design getting chopped off at the printer. Etsy allows sellers to include five digital downloads. I recommend including one of each of the following ratios:<\/p>\n To change the aspect ratio of your original without cropping it, you can use an editing suite. I use the \u201cscale image\u201d option in GIMP<\/a> to alter my files. <\/p>\n Enter your desired width and height (see the options above) for the aspect ratio you\u2019re seeking. Note that although the image won\u2019t be cropped, altering the aspect ratio does change the image\u2019s appearance. This is most noticeable in the 1\u00d71 ratio, as shown below.<\/p>\n 2. Choose the right DPI<\/strong>. <\/strong>One measure of print resolution is dots per inch, or DPI. DPI is the number of ink droplets a printer produces per inch; the higher the DPI number, the higher the print quality. Aim for at least 300 DPI. You can increase that number, but keep in mind that the higher the DPI, the bigger the file size. Etsy\u2019s max file size is 20 MB.<\/p>\n 3. Include multiple photos (and maybe even a video<\/a>)<\/strong>. <\/strong>When listing your digital downloads, you\u2019ll want to include photos. Consider showing your prospective buyers what your printable would look like in someone\u2019s living room (or on a bag, water bottle, in a planner, etc.).<\/p>\n Adding a product video can be extremely valuable to buyers. Check out the Etsy seller handbook<\/a> for tips (and sample videos). A video offers you the ability to show buyers how well your printables turn out and what they really look like when used.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n 4.<\/strong> Use keywords<\/strong>. You may have the best design out there, but no one will find it (or buy it) without keywords. You\u2019re allowed 13 \u201ctags\u201d (keywords) for each listing. Be specific; a keyword of \u201cprint\u201d may be accurate, but \u201cwolf bedroom print\u201d is more likely to bring buyers who will be interested in that type of offering.\u00a0I also recommend learning the basics of SEO (search engine optimization) so you know how to use the right terms in your listing title and description.<\/p>\n 5. Remember to update your availability<\/strong>. Once you have customers, you want to make sure you\u2019re available to help them! If you don\u2019t often receive questions about your prints, you might be fine to leave your shop for a few days at a time. However, if you plan to offer customized prints, you need to be available to fulfill your orders. Add information in the description about how long buyers can expect to wait to receive their files. Additionally, when you\u2019ll be away from your computer for a few days, or if you just need a break from your shop, you\u2019ll need to let your buyers know. The easiest way to do that is to turn on vacation mode in your shop\u2019s settings<\/a>.<\/p>\n 1. Don\u2019t over (or under) price<\/strong>. You\u2019re offering a copy <\/em>of an original, not the original itself. Buyers will still need to pay to print. You may be offering a unique item, but there is still a limit to what people will be willing to pay. On the flip side, don\u2019t sell yourself short. You don\u2019t want to be in a race to the bottom with all the other Etsy sellers out there. Do your research by reviewing other, similar, printables and let that guide you to what is reasonable.<\/p>\n 2. Don\u2019t be stingy with directions<\/strong>. Some buyers will have had experience with digital downloads in the past but others will be first timers. Including as much information in your product description as possible will not only help buyers with a smoother experience, it will reduce the number of questions you get before and after the sale. I cover the following topics in my listing descriptions:<\/p>\n 3. Don\u2019t forget to protect your image from theft<\/strong>. When adding photos to your listing, you want prospective buyers to be able to see the details of your graphics without giving them the opportunity to right click and \u201csave image as\u201d and skip the whole process of paying you for the image. Consider adding a watermark or a logo to the file before uploading it. Alternatively (or additionally), use a photo of the image printed and hanging on a wall, or printed on an item, instead of uploading the image itself.<\/p>\n 4.<\/strong> Don\u2019t neglect the \u201cabout\u201d section of your shop<\/strong>. Sharing information about yourself and your work will help people relate to you. Many Etsy shoppers are looking to support artists while picking up unique pieces. Showing that you\u2019re an actual human helps your cause, especially when you\u2019re just starting out and don\u2019t have previous sales and five star reviews on your side.<\/p>\n 5.<\/strong> Don\u2019t skimp on customer service<\/strong>. You\u2019re likely to experience a few hiccups on your printables journey. Providing quick responses to customer questions and helping to resolve any issues will keep your customers happy, and hopefully get you some positive reviews to help you secure future sales.\u00a0<\/p>\n While I\u2019ve read about people who were able to quit their day jobs because of their Etsy printables business, I haven\u2019t been quite as lucky. I\u2019ve sold anywhere between one and 41 copies of 12 different printables over the last three years. I\u2019ve also created, listed and not <\/em>sold any <\/em>copies of at least 10 others.\u00a0<\/p>\n If I account for the fact that not all of my printables required painting materials (some were digital creations), the fact that I\u2019ve paid to list items that never sold, and the fact that I\u2019ve paid relisting fees for items that have only sold sparingly, I\u2019d estimate that I\u2019ve made approximately $450 selling printables on Etsy.<\/p>\n $450 certainly isn\u2019t an earth-shattering profit. However, I continue to (slowly) grow this amount over time despite the fact that I haven\u2019t created any new printable content for several years.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Selling printables is one of the best ways to make money on Etsy and can be a legit source of (mostly) passive income. It\u2019s not as easy as taking pictures and uploading them for sale, but if you\u2019re dedicated to your collection and are willing to add and remove the content that does\/doesn\u2019t sell, you can make money.<\/p>\n The amount you\u2019ll make will largely depend on your creativity, the effort you\u2019re willing to extend to find what sells, how successful your keywords are at bringing in buyers, and how easy you make the process for your customers.<\/p>\n![\"Pixelated](\"https:\/\/wikidollar.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/How-I-Sell-Digital-Downloads-of-My-Artwork-on-Etsy.jpeg\")
![\"Pixelated](\"https:\/\/wikidollar.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/1701202960_672_How-I-Sell-Digital-Downloads-of-My-Artwork-on-Etsy.jpeg\")
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The Basics of Selling Digital Downloads on Etsy<\/h2>\n
Why People Buy Digital Downloads and Printables<\/h3>\n
Types of Digital Downloads and Printables That Sell Well<\/h3>\n
Skills and Tools You Need to Get Started<\/h3>\n
Photographs of Originals<\/h4>\n
Digital Art<\/h4>\n
Four Steps for Getting Started<\/h2>\n
Step #1: Decide Whether to Offer \u201cMade to Order\u201d or \u201cDigital Download\u201d<\/h3>\n
Step #2: Make a Professional-Looking Shop<\/h3>\n
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Five Tips and Five Common Mistakes<\/h2>\n
What to Do<\/h3>\n
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![\"An](\"https:\/\/wikidollar.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/1701202961_189_How-I-Sell-Digital-Downloads-of-My-Artwork-on-Etsy.png\")
What Not to Do<\/h3>\n
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![\"A](\"https:\/\/wikidollar.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/1701202962_308_How-I-Sell-Digital-Downloads-of-My-Artwork-on-Etsy.png\")
How Much Money Can You Make Selling Digital Downloads?<\/h2>\n
Summary and Final Thoughts<\/h2>\n
![\"Vanessa](\"https:\/\/wikidollar.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/1701202962_663_How-I-Sell-Digital-Downloads-of-My-Artwork-on-Etsy.png\")
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