July 9, 2024
3
mins read
Are you curious to learn how to make printables to sell online and improve your earning potential? If you’re reading this post, then you most likely are - and for good reason.
Minting and selling printables online can be a lucrative business opportunity. It allows you to monetize your creativity with relative ease.
Thanks to the ultra-lean business model provided by print-on-demand (POD) services, you don’t have to worry about inventory management or order fulfillment. You just need to learn how to create digital printables to sell.
However, how exactly does it work and how can you get started?
In this blog post, we'll break down the process of selling printables online, from ideation to marketing. Stick around to get all the information you’ll need about how to start a printables business.
Without taking any more time, let’s jump right in.
Printables are high-resolution digital files that customers can download, print, and use in different settings. When learning how to create digital printables to sell, you should also think about which products they can be printed on. For instance, digital printables can be printed on a variety of surfaces like paper, fabric, glass, plastic, and so on.
The possibilities are virtually limitless, including:
Artists create attractive printables like these labels that users can download and print on their desired surface.
Image via Pinterest
From a consumer’s perspective, printables offer a versatile, cost-effective solution for instant access to physical versions of digital designs. This makes them appealing to a broad customer base.
That said, creating and selling printables online has numerous benefits for entrepreneurs and creatives alike. Some of these benefits include:
One good reason for learning how to start a printables business is that it can be promising and sustainable. However, you’ll need to know which market to target to boost sales.
This will help you create designs according to the preferences and needs of your target audience, increasing the likelihood of purchases. This will also help you create effective marketing strategies based on where your audience is most active.
For example, if you plan to design planners and organizers, your target audience might be busy professionals, students, or productivity enthusiasts.
Once you've identified your niche, the next step is to conduct thorough market research to understand trends, popular categories, and customer preferences within the printables space.
Moreover, you must evaluate your competition to find out what types of printables are selling fast and which ones are less popular.
Researching these factors should give you valuable insights into the current market demands and how to make printables to sell.
When researching trends and popular categories, look into:
To succeed in this business, you must learn how to make printables to sell — ones that your audience will find appealing and usable. Here are some basic design principles to keep in mind.
Now that you know the basic design principles involved in learning how to make printables to sell, let’s look at some of the tools you’ll need to create attractive designs.
Here are some free tools you can use:
On the other hand, these paid tools might be helpful:
To maximize the use of these tools in designing your printables, we recommend the following guidelines:
Once you've created your printable designs using these tools, it's time to leverage the power of print-on-demand services like Podbase to streamline order fulfillment. Podbase also allows integration with your online storefront like Etsy and Shopify.
POD platforms print and ship your printables directly to customers, eliminating the need for inventory management or handling shipping logistics from your end. This allows you to run a lean and streamlined business where all you have to worry about is designing and uploading your digital files.
That said, here’s a summary of the benefits of print-on-demand services:
The next logical step is to learn where to sell printables online. There are several platforms and marketplaces you can use, including:
Aside from mastering how to make printables to sell, you also need the following tips to create an effective online storefront setup:
After setting up your storefront, you should be able to efficiently promote your printables to reach new customers and boost sales.
Here are some ways to market your printables:
Printables provide a slew of avenues for creators to monetize their skills and boost their earnings. Now that you have a pretty good idea of how to make printables to sell, let’s move on to discuss the types of printables you can make.
Image via Canva
These printables are perfect for parents, teachers, and students of all ages. The cost of this printable type can range from a few dollars for simple worksheets to $10–$20 for comprehensive study guides or workbooks. Some examples include:
Image via Canva
These are ideal for busy professionals, students, or anyone looking to boost productivity. Prices for these printables typically range from $5–$25. Examples include:
Image via Etsy
This is a popular option for creative individuals learning how to make printables to sell online. Costs vary widely, from $5 for simple prints to over $50 for large, high-quality wall art. Art and decor printable types are:
Image via Etsy
These are targeted at party hosts, event planners, and DIY enthusiasts. Prices generally range from $5–$20. Some samples in this category are:
Image via Etsy
Because of its simplicity, labels and stickers are a great starting point for newbies learning how to make printables to sell online. They’re useful for households, small businesses, and craft sellers and are sold for $2–$10 per sheet or set. Some examples of this printable type include:
Image via Etsy
Aimed at different seasons and holidays, these printables cost anywhere from $3 to $15 on average. Some examples are:
Image via Canva
This type of printable is perfect for those interested in self-care, personal growth, and mental well-being. Prices can range from $5–$20 for:
Image via Etsy
These are typically designed for professionals and businesses. Examples include:
Other types of printables you can sell online include games and activities printables, such as mazes and crosswords, and digital stamps and clipart for cardmaking and graphic design projects.
Now that you’ve made it to the end of this guide, we hope you’ve learned a thing or two about how to make printables to sell online.
From targeting the right market to designing and creating printables to sell, this business idea is a great income opportunity for entrepreneurs and creatives alike.
If you’re ready to take the next step, consider using a print-on-demand service like Pobase. This leading POD platform empowers creators to sell their printables with minimal effort.
Thanks to seamless integrations, global reach, and hands-off fulfillment, Podbase allows you to focus on the design process, giving you more time to hone your craft.
Interested? Give Podbase a try today.
Dive into our blog for expert insights, tips, and resources. Whether you're just starting out or looking to scale your business, our knowledge base is here to support your success.
With Podbase, you can achieve profit margins that are up to 100% higher compared to any other POD providers.
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