If you’re thinking about selling digital products on Etsy, you’ve probably heard of printables.
But what are they, and how do you start creating and selling them? This guide covers everything you need to know, including how to sell printables on Etsy, the best printables to sell on Etsy, and how to create printables on Canva to turn around and sell on Etsy!
What is a Printable?
A printable is a digital file that customers can purchase, download, and print themselves.
Common examples include:
- Planners: These can range from daily and weekly planners to niche-specific ones like fitness trackers, meal planners, or budget organizers. Customers love customizable and visually appealing layouts that help them stay organized.
- Calendars: Monthly or yearly calendars, often decorated with themes like floral designs, motivational quotes, or minimalist styles, are highly sought after.
- Wall Art: Printable wall art includes typography prints, abstract designs, and themed decor for specific rooms, such as nursery art or kitchen quotes.
- Invitations: From wedding invitations to birthday parties and baby showers, digital invitations save time and are easily personalized by customers.
- Worksheets: Educational printables for kids, like alphabet tracing or math practice sheets, are popular, as well as productivity tools for adults, such as goal-setting templates or brainstorming sheets.
- Checklists and Trackers: Habit trackers, cleaning schedules, and event planning checklists are practical tools that buyers frequently look for.
- Gift Cards & Holiday cards: These are popular on Etsy to sell as well given how exceptionally easy they can be to create and how in demand they are during a variety of different seasons year round.
Look at this variety of printables from Etsy in this image alone for reference to see the potential. In this image alone you can see a wide variety of invitations, worksheets, custom signs, games, planners and more.
Printables are among the easiest things to sell on Etsy because they require no inventory or shipping, making them a highly attractive option for sellers exploring Etsy digital products.
Imagine just making something ONE time and then reaping the benefits of that same product selling over and over again. It’s a pretty incredible feeling.
By focusing on creating versatile and unique designs, you can tap into the growing demand for digital products to sell on Etsy, particularly printables.
Granted, it’s not an entirely effortless process, but I’d argue it’s one of the easiest strategies for selling digital products on Etsy effectively and profitably.
Speaking of Etsy profitability, let’s carry on.
Is Selling Digital Products on Etsy Profitable?
Absolutely! Selling digital products on Etsy can be incredibly profitable due to the low upfront costs and the ability to scale.
Here are some key benefits:
- Low Overhead Costs: Unlike physical products, there’s no need for inventory, packaging, or shipping. Your only expenses might be design tools and listing fees.
- Scalability: You create the product once and sell it an unlimited number of times, allowing for exponential income growth.
- Global Reach: Etsy’s platform connects you with buyers from all over the world, giving your shop instant visibility.
- Flexibility: Selling digital products lets you work from anywhere and adjust your schedule to fit your lifestyle. It’s perfect for side hustlers and full-time entrepreneurs alike.
- Diverse Market: Etsy buyers are often looking for unique and niche products. This means you can find a profitable audience for almost any printable idea.
Popular Etsy digital products, like printables, templates, and planners, often have high-profit margins. It costs you virtually nothing to generate, and you get to sell them time and time again. For this reason, I believe they are among the best digital products to sell on Etsy.
Top selling digital products on Etsy often include these categories because they cater to various niches and customer needs, demonstrating what sells the most on Etsy.
So, if you’ve been wondering, “Can you make money on Etsy?”… the answer is a resounding yes—especially with digital products.
Watch this free training to see how you can earn big selling printables on Etsy.
How to Create Printables on Canva
Canva is one of the best tools for creating printables to sell on Etsy.
Its user-friendly interface and vast library of templates make it accessible for beginners and experienced designers alike. Here’s how to get started:
- Sign Up for Canva: Create a free account at Canva.com. A Pro account unlocks more features, but you can create beautiful designs with the free version.
- Choose a Size: Canva offers a wide variety of size options, which you can use as guidelines or come up with your own for planners, calendars, wall art, and more. Pick a size that fits your design properly.
- Customize the Design: Use Canva’s drag-and-drop tools to change colors, fonts, and layouts. Add your branding or tailor the design to your target audience.
- Download Your File: Save your printable as a high-quality PDF for easy printing. This is the file that you'll provide to your buyers on Etsy!
Using Templates to Save Time Creating Printables to Sell on Etsy
Templates can dramatically cut down the time it takes to create printables for your Etsy shop.
You can purchase pre-designed templates from marketplaces like Creative Market or Etsy itself. Check out all of my ready to sell templates as well.
I’m a big believer in templates because why reinvent the wheel?
Many templates can be used as-is or customized to match your brand and niche. So if you can save a bunch of time starting with an outline, you’re winning.
I love using templates because I can take 1 template and turn it into an infinite number of products.
Don’t miss this blog and video that shows how you can turn 1 template into a variety of products so easily. You’ll be itching to get your hands on templates when you see!
Templates are especially helpful if you don’t have advanced design skills. They allow you to focus on creating unique, marketable products without spending hours on the design process. They’ll make you feel like a pro designer even if you aren’t one.
Leveraging Creative Fabrica for Enhanced Designs
Creative Fabrica is another fantastic resource to help you add more flare to your designs. It offers an extensive library of fonts, graphics, SVGs, and more that can elevate the quality of your printables. Whether you’re looking for a unique typeface or a decorative element to make your product stand out, Creative Fabrica has you covered. This platform can save you time and inspire new ideas, making it an essential tool for anyone serious about selling printables on Etsy.
Alternatives to Canva: Other Software to Create Printables
While Canva is a favorite for many, myself included, there are other tools you can use to create printables:
- Adobe Illustrator: A professional-grade tool for detailed designs.
- Microsoft PowerPoint: Surprisingly versatile for creating simple layouts.
- Affinity Designer: A cost-effective alternative to Adobe Illustrator.
- Google Slides: Free and easy to use for basic designs.
Experiment with different tools to find what works best for you and your creative process.
How to Come Up with Ideas for Printables Through Data and Research
To create the best printables to sell on Etsy, start by researching what sells the most on Etsy. Remember, the best products aren't simply the ones you want to make, they are the ones that people are searching for.
People come to Etsy because they are ready to buy something. They'll enter what they are looking for into the search bar and results related to what they typed will appear in the results. Your goal as a seller is to increase the chances that your creation ends up in those search results.
Use these strategies:
- Keyword Research: Use tools like Marmalead or ERank to find popular search terms that will help you begin brainstorming awesome products.
- Check Bestsellers: Browse Etsy’s bestseller lists in categories like planners, wall art, and templates.
- Survey Your Audience: If you have a social media following, ask them what types of printables they’d find useful.
- Study Trends: Keep an eye on seasonal trends and events, such as back-to-school season or holiday planning.
- Stick with Seasonal: Seasonal products are amazing since you KNOW they are going to be searched. Get this seasonal product ebook to give you a jumpstart (it's basically a secret list of best-selling products by month and teach you how to capitalize on seasonal trends to make sales)
How to Sell Printables on Etsy
Once you’ve created your printables, follow these steps to start selling:
- Start an Etsy Shop:
- Sign up for an Etsy account and create your shop.
- Choose a memorable shop name that reflects your niche.
- Starting an Etsy shop is actually an easy thing that just takes a few clicks but it isn't complete until you create your first listing, so make sure your first product is ready before you start this process!!
- Create a Listing:
- This is actually part of the previous step. Now, you aren't able to simply start a shop, you must list your first product which currently costs 20 cents.
- Be ready with your product name, product description, mockup images/video, product fulfillment details (this is the actual product – how you're going to give it to the buyer) and the list price
- Use high-quality images or mockups to showcase your printable creation
- Write a compelling title and description using keywords relevant to your product
- Set a competitive price and offer multiple file formats if possible and if relevant
- Fulfillment: I usually create a compressed file that includes multiple versions of the printable plus a PDF that says thank you for their purchase and offers a coupon for future purchases.
- Get Traffic to Your Shop and Listings:
- Promote your products on social media platforms like Pinterest and Instagram.
- Use Etsy Ads to increase visibility if you'd like (not necessary but an option no less)
- Optimize your listings with SEO to rank higher in Etsy search results – this is the key!!
- Also don't forget to check out this blog post all about how to increase traffic to your Etsy Shop
Selling Digital Products on Etsy: Final Tips
Selling printables on Etsy is a rewarding way to turn your creativity into income. If you like efficiency, there's pretty much nothing more efficient than spending a bit of time once to create a product that you can sell over and over again.
Remember to focus on popular niches and create things people are actually looking to buy (KEYWORD RESEARCH!). Use tools like Canva and leverage templates so you can streamline the creation process and maximize your profits. With consistent effort and smart marketing, your Etsy shop can become a thriving source of passive income. Yes, there's leg work in the beginning, but it is OH SO worth it!!
