How To Make Money Selling Printables Online
There are countless ways to make money online, and one of the simplest ways is by selling printables. It’s incredibly easy to create something once and sell it over and over again—making it a perfect business model for beginners. Make money selling printables online is the perfect semi-passive income model.
Whether you’re creating a product or selling a template, you can quickly start generating income without needing a website or social media presence. Platforms like Etsy make it simple to list and sell your creations to a wide audience.
Selling printables is one of the easiest ways to make money in the blogging business. The best part? You create the product just once, and it can generate revenue every time someone purchases it.
It’s a semi-passive income stream, allowing you to focus on creating and selling, while the earnings continue to roll in.
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How can You Make Money Online?
The opportunities to make money online are endless—and they’re growing every day as more people explore the potential of running a business from anywhere. Here are just a few examples of ways you can earn money online:
- Blogger
- PDF Creator
- Social Media Influencer
- Online store for a bricks and mortar company
- Business Coach
- Social Media expert
- Email Marketing expert
- Organizing Specialists
- Cleaning Enthusiastic
These are just some of the many ways you can turn your skills or passions into a profitable online business. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to expand, the possibilities are endless!
Why Are Printables A Great Choice For A Side-Hustle?
They are relatively simple to make and you can make them once and sell the same thing over and over again.
Printables are pre-designed templates that people purchase to save time and effort instead of creating their own from scratch.
They’re an easy way to get things done efficiently—whether it’s a planner, worksheet, or checklist.
These can be printed out, or, for added convenience, you can use PDF software on your tablet or computer to fill them in digitally with a stylus or pen.
Have you ever used:
Printables are incredibly versatile and can range from a single page to hundreds of pages, depending on your customers needs.
With the statistics coming out that online spending is growing it’s not too late to jump on the band wagon. Sales on e-commerce was $4.4 trillion meaning that 20% of all sales are now online.
How To Use Printables To Make Money On Etsy
There’s a growing demand for templates and pre-designed items, as many people prefer to purchase ready-made solutions instead of creating them from scratch.
Buying printables saves time and money, especially for those who may not have the skills or the time to design the item themselves. For many, purchasing a printable is the most convenient and cost-effective option.
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
What’s even better? Many people don’t realize just how easy it is to create printables—and just as importantly, they often lack the desire to create something when high-quality options are already available, ready to use.
I’m not saying it’s going to be easy, there is some hard work, especially in the beginning.
You will need to learn:
- Optimizing product descriptions
- Keywords and where to place them
- Finding the right pricing point (sometimes too low looks cheap rather than valuable)
- Learning the software to create your printables
Once you master these skills, selling printables becomes a great option.
Related article: Easy Money From A Side Hustle: Passive Income From Etsy Printables
Why Do People Buy Printables?
People buy printables because they’re looking for solutions to specific problems, and if your PDF addresses that need, they’ll be eager to purchase it.
Take planners, for example. Everyone plans differently, and people are constantly searching for a planner that fits their unique style.
This is why there are so many different planners out there—each designed to help people organize their day in a way that works best for them.
While many planners serve the same purpose—helping people plan their day—they do it in various ways, tailored to the preferences of those who need them.
How To Design A Printable
When you are going to make your printable there are a lot of things to consider.
Choosing The Right Design Tool
There are many design tools available, but most have free and paid versions with different features. You can get some free versions of some products but you are limited as to what you can do.
- Canva – Beginner-friendly and great for templates (I personally use this!)
- PicMonkey – This is very similar to Canva and a lot of people use one of these two
- Adobe Illustrator – This one is for more advanced users
Pick A Printable Type
You are going to get overwhelmed with what you can create as a printable.
- Planners and calendars – daily, weekly, monthly, or yearly
- Checklists and trackers – budgeting, fitness, or meal planning
- Wall art and quotes – seasonal, inspirational, or nursery
- Worksheets and templates – teachers, training, and business
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Choose the Right Size & File Format
You are going to have to know what size you are going to make and how it’s going to look on the paper. This is why it’s important before you start to learn the size, the resolution and how to export it from your building platform.
- Use A4 or US Letter for planners and worksheets
- Resolution should be 300 DPI for sharp printing
- Export in a PDF (for printing) or PNG (for digital use) for the best quality
Testing Before Selling
It’s important that you test every aspect before you start selling.
- Print a sample before selling to check that it looks good
- Check spelling
- Check colors, fonts, and spacing for consistency
- Add water mark to your design to prevent unauthorized use.
Top 5 Printables That Will Sell
Do you need some inspiration as to what to make and sell?
These items always sell!
- Budgeting planners
- Daily planners
- Wedding invitations
- Kids’ activity sheets (think any holiday or event)
- Habit trackers
These items are always top sellers.
What Training Do I Need To Make Printables And Sell Them Online
If you’re serious about creating and selling printables, the best training you can find is from Gold City Ventures.
Their comprehensive course on creating and selling printables covers everything from:
- Designing your printables
- Canva optimizing
- Etsy descriptions
- Finding the right keywords
It’s a step-by-step guide that ensures you understand not only how to create your products but also how to market them effectively to make sales. It teaches you how to create printables for Etsy that will sell and hopefully make you a side-income.
Check out my full review: My Review of the E-Printables Course by Gold City Ventures.
This course also offers a supportive community, where you’ll celebrate your successes with fellow creators in their Facebook group when you make your first sale. It’s an incredible resource, and I highly recommend it for anyone looking to dive into the world of printables!
Other People Make Money Why Shouldn’t You?
There are so many people making good money online, why shouldn’t it be you making the money too?
Check out this article on how this mom makes a passive income selling printables on Etsy.
She is making $10,000 per month selling printables on Etsy. I’m not saying that this is going to be easy and even practical for many people, especially in the beginning. But what it does show is hope that if someone else can do this why can’t you?
So, what are you waiting for, start creating printables and make your side-hustle a semi-passive income all from the comfort of your home. Tell me in the comments what your first printable you are going to create.
