Everywhere you go, you will see articles or videos from people who claim to be pulling in the cash using what are nowadays referred to as " side hustles."
The truth is that getting started with any online venture requires time, patience, and, of course, a little effort. Also, even so-called "free" to-start businesses will always need some funding, even if that means funding to use a pre-built system.
Etsy is one such pre-built system that makes life easy for would-be entrepreneurs.
It's an easy and affordable way to create your own mini-store. Once you understand Etsy and decide what you could bring to such a store, you will attain knowledge that you can use for years to come.
Also, always remember this:
"When you have a popular product to sell, you will always have a second product in time."
That second product is the knowledge and skill to teach others how to do what you are or have been doing.
Many years ago, I helped a friend start a small home-based business. The idea was that people would send her memorable photos that they cherished, and she would put them in a framed form, add some unique information like birthdays, horoscopes and personal interests, and send them back.
She charged a little for the "artistic input" and, of course, made a little on the materials used.
One particular "off-shoot" of this she did was putting together a summary of the biggest news events that occurred in the year the subject person was born. These proved particularly popular and profitable.
This was long before Etsy; back then, she had to source all the materials and tools herself.
Because of Etsy and similar sites, that type of business is now simple because it can be hands-off. You don't even need to create the product yourself anymore.
How to Create and Sell Printable Products on Etsy
Overview:
Etsy is a fantastic platform for selling digital products like printables, such as planners, calendars, wall art, or budget trackers. Once created, these products can be sold repeatedly with no additional effort.
Steps to Get Started:
Research trending niches on Etsy (e.g., wedding planners, budgeting tools, meal planners).
Use free tools like Canva (free design software) to create professional-looking digital products.
Open an Etsy shop (the setup fee is low: £0.15 per listing or $0.20 in the US).
Upload your designs, write detailed product descriptions, and optimize them for keywords.
Promote your shop on social media platforms like Pinterest, where digital products are popular.
Spend time looking at the items that are selling well, examining the graphics and images used, and understanding what makes something stand out from the others. If you do this, you will have a better chance of succeeding.
If possible, make this a family effort. Working with your nearest and dearest can help keep you motivated, and shared ideas are always useful.
Why It Works:
Once your printables are uploaded, you can sell them passively for years. For example, a well-designed budget planner could sell hundreds of copies at £5 each with little ongoing effort.
If one doesn't work and people don't buy, add another product and build a range of products. In time, one may take off, and this helps you focus on the best sellers.
Free Resources:
Here's To Unleashing The Artist Inside!
John Duncan
NB: The biggest block to getting into this is often, "What could I design that isn't already being sold?" Let me tell you, no matter how big you think a market could be, there is always room for another player.
And even if you can't think of a good idea at the beginning, it doesn't matter. Copy another concept already selling (change it a little, obviously). When the sales start being made, you can put your brain to work on something original.
