I have been selling products on etsy for the last three years. I have so few sales because I do custom pieces for people, so I know how to benefit from a niche. Even though my talent is limited to painting, I have had alot of amazing ideas for people that also might have a talent! Digital products to sell on etsy is growing quickly, hop on while you can!
With the internet on the rise, and platforms like etsy retiring people at early ages, it only makes sense you want something to sell. If you are an artist, you already have a talent that you can profit off. Here are some great ideas for you to brainstorm digital products to sell on etsy.
Etsy is an online marketplace that focuses on handmade, vintage, and unique goods. It was founded in 2005 and has grown to become one of the most popular e-commerce platforms for independent creators and small businesses.
Here is a link to a Guide for Figuring out how to upload your products (I used procreate in this example)
Something important to note is these are all digital products. Of course you are able to create physical products as well. Another in between alternative to expand on your artwork is turning physical products to digital ones!
Here are some of the best ideas I came up with:
1.) Digital Handmade Portraits (of people or pets!)
Selling a digital portrait on Etsy can be relatively straightforward, especially if you follow some key steps and best practices. Here’s a guide to help you navigate the process:
- Offer Customization:
- Consider offering customization options for your digital portraits, such as creating portraits based on customer photos or accommodating specific requests. Also, this can make your listings more appealing.
- Memorable Keepsake:
- A digital portrait serves as a lasting and memorable keepsake. First, it captures a moment in time and can be cherished.
- Digital Versatility:
- Digital portraits are versatile and can be easily shared and reproduced. You can use the digital file for various purposes. Also, sharing on social media. You can use it as a profile picture, or printing it for display in your home.
- Branching/Brainstorming from there
- There are so many avenues that this could take you! Here are some I came up with:
- Advertising for deceased family members portraits
- Advertising for deceased pets portraits
- “Then and now” portraits of people and their younger self portraits
- Advertising the subject in royal or medieval attire
- There are so many avenues that this could take you! Here are some I came up with:
Dont know where to start? I have a guide on making digital prints for etsy already on my page!
2.) Custom Digital Invitations:
Making digital invitations can go one of two ways:
You can make the invitations individually, or you can make a template for your customer to use. Both are very easy to navigate.
When choosing a software for creating digital invitation templates, consider factors such as your design preferences. Such as the level of customization you need, ease of use, and your familiarity with the software. Many of these tools offer free trials or free versions:
Procreate
Adobe Illustrator or Photoshop
Canva
Inkscape
Even MicrosoftWord!
There are many reasons why people prefer digital invitations (in which you should advertise):
- Ease of Tracking RSVPs:
- Digital invitations often come with built-in RSVP tracking features. Hosts can easily monitor who has responded, track guest numbers, and manage event logistics more efficiently.
- Accessibility:
- Digital invitations are accessible to a broader audience, as they can be sent to people across the globe with just a few clicks. This is especially important for events with international guests.
- Integration with Calendars:
- Many digital invitation platforms allow recipients to add the event to their digital calendars with a single click. This feature helps ensure that guests don’t forget about the event and have all the necessary details readily available.
- Reduced Physical Clutter:
- Digital invitations contribute to a clutter-free environment. Unlike physical invitations, digital ones don’t take up physical space or contribute to paper waste after the event.
- Ease of Sharing:
- Recipients can easily forward or share digital invitations with others, simplifying the process of spreading the word about an event. This can contribute to a higher attendance rate.
3.) Brush Lettering or Calligraphy:
Selling brush lettering calligraphy sets digitally on Etsy can be a rewarding venture. Here’s a guide to help you get started:
- Provide Clear Usage Instructions:
- Clearly outline how customers can use your brush lettering calligraphy files. Include any terms of use, restrictions, or licensing information. This helps customers understand what they can and cannot do with the digital files.
- This is a very important step to display on your listing. Otherwise, you will have a lot of messages asking questions that could be easily answered. And, even worse, have reviews saying that you need to be clearer.
- Create your calligraphy sets in an organized fashion on a good software
- Here are some softwares I would recommend:
- Adobe Illustrator:
- Illustrator is a powerful vector-based graphic design software by Adobe. It’s widely used for creating detailed and scalable calligraphy designs. The vector format ensures that your designs can be resized without loss of quality.
- Procreate:
- Procreate is a popular digital painting app designed for the iPad. It’s known for its natural brush feel and responsiveness. Procreate is an excellent choice for artists who want to create calligraphy sets using a tablet.
- Affinity Designer:
- Affinity Designer is a professional-grade vector graphic design software. It’s an alternative to Adobe Illustrator and offers a range of features for creating intricate calligraphy designs.
- CorelDRAW:
- CorelDRAW is a vector graphic design software that provides a comprehensive set of tools for creating detailed and precise calligraphy. It’s suitable for both beginners and experienced designers.
- Adobe Illustrator:
- Here are some softwares I would recommend:
4.) Printable Planners and Organizers:
A printable planner is something that can be so diversified very easily. This is a great idea for someone that wants to make any kind of theme for their digital products to sell on Etsy. For example: Star Wars, Floral, Christmas, etc. The options are really endless and so customizable.
Design Layouts and Pages:
- Create layouts for each section of your planner. Include a cover page, year-at-a-glance, monthly calendars, weekly and daily layouts, goal-setting pages, and any other relevant sections.
- Try organizing your layouts based on things that you wish you had for your planners. This is usually the best mode of creation. Whenever I am looking to create something, I like to make it what I would be looking for as a consumer!
5.) eBooks and Guides:
There are so many angles to take with eBooks and Guides. As long as you have a software, you dont need to be a part of any specific art community to create a guide or planner. Any random thing that you have an extended amount of information on, you should make a digital guide for people to download and purchase!
Here are just a few ideas for how you can get started:
Digital Guide Ideas:
- Online Marketing Strategies:
- Create a comprehensive guide on effective online marketing strategies. This can cover social media, content marketing, SEO, and email marketing.
- Photography Tips and Techniques:
- Craft a guide for photographers. Offer tips on composition, lighting, and post-processing techniques.
- Personal Finance and Budgeting:
- Develop a guide on personal finance, budgeting tips, and money management strategies.
- Healthy Living and Wellness:
- Offer a wellness guide with tips on maintaining a healthy lifestyle. This can include fitness routines, nutrition advice, and stress management techniques.
- DIY Home Improvement:
- Create a step-by-step guide for DIY home improvement projects. You can provide instructions and tips for various tasks.
- Travel Planning and Tips:
- Craft a travel guide with tips on planning trips, packing efficiently, and discovering hidden gems at various destinations.
How to Get Started
- Identify Your Niche:
- Choose a niche that aligns with your expertise and interests. Consider the specific needs of your target audience.
- Create High-Quality Content:
- Craft your digital guide with a focus on high-quality, valuable content. Use a clean and visually appealing design.
- Choose Design Software:
- Select a graphic design or document creation software. Tools like Adobe InDesign, Canva, or Microsoft Word can be suitable for creating digital guides.
- Design a Cover:
- Design an eye-catching cover for your digital guide. The cover is crucial for attracting potential buyers.
- Optimize for Etsy:
- Set up an Etsy seller account if you don’t have one. Optimize your shop with banners, a logo, and a compelling shop description.
6.) Digital Art Brushes or Procreate Brushes:
I wish that I knew how to better utilize this type of digital product. This is one of the most clever digital products to sell on Etsy. Making your own brushes is something that could work for you well if you are familiar with coding as well!
Etsy makes the digital product process incredibly easy, and your clients can just download it through a zip file.
Here are a few random ideas for brush sets to sell:
- Renaissance ink sets
- Animal skin textures set
- Cloud textures set (multiple types of different clouds)
- Paper finishing sets (pulp-ey papers, rugged old papers, you can use the brush to paint on the texture of the desired paper, etc)
- 3D brush sets
1. Sketch Your Brush Ideas:
- Plan your brushes by sketching how you want them to behave and appear. Consider the textures, strokes, and effects you want to achieve with your brushes.
2. Gather Resources:
- Collect reference materials, textures, or samples that inspire the type of brushes you want to create. This will help you understand the visual characteristics you want to achieve.
3. Open Procreate and Create a New Brush Set:
- Open Procreate and create a new brush set. You can do this by going to the brush library and tapping the “+” icon to add a new set.
4. Create a New Brush:
- Within your new brush set, tap the “+” icon again to create a new brush. This will open the brush editor where you can customize various settings.
5. Adjust Brush Settings:
- Experiment with the brush settings to achieve the desired effects. Adjust shape, dynamics, grain, and other settings to create a brush that matches your vision.
6. Test Your Brush:
- Test your brush on a canvas to see how it performs. Make adjustments as needed to refine the brush until you’re satisfied with the results.
7. Create Multiple Brushes:
- Consider creating a set of brushes with variations to offer more versatility. Include brushes with different sizes, opacities, or textures within the same theme.
7.) Digital Photography Presets:
Once again, this is something that is very profitable for digital products to sell on Etsy. However, if you are in tune with the niche that it services.
Creating digital photography presets is a common practice among photographers to achieve a consistent and desired look across their images. Here are some popular software options for making digital photography presets:
- Adobe Lightroom:
- Lightroom is one of the most widely used tools for photo editing and preset creation. It offers a comprehensive set of editing tools, and photographers can save their adjustments as presets for quick and consistent editing.
- Adobe Photoshop:
- Photoshop allows for advanced photo editing and the creation of actions, which are similar to presets. Actions in Photoshop can automate a series of editing steps, providing a way to apply a consistent look to multiple images.
- Capture One:
- Capture One is a professional-grade photo editing software known for its powerful color grading and tethering capabilities. It enables photographers to create and apply styles, which are equivalent to presets in other software.
- ON1 Photo RAW:
- ON1 Photo RAW is a comprehensive photo editing software that includes tools for creating and applying presets. It provides a range of editing capabilities and is suitable for photographers who want an all-in-one solution.
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