Sell on Etsy with confidence now that you've got your shop set up and maybe even your first product ready! It’s time to focus on creating items that people will actually buy. If you're like me, the idea of designing something and sharing it with the world might feel a little intimidating. But trust me, with the right strategies, you can create digital products that not only look great but also sell well.
In this post, I’ll break down the key steps to designing digital printables, planners, and journals that attract buyers. Plus, I’ll share some of my personal experiences and what’s worked for me.
1. Research Popular Product Ideas To Sell On Etsy
Before you start designing, it’s important to know what’s already working in the market. When I first started, I spent a lot of time browsing Etsy, paying close attention to popular shops and what they were selling. This helped me understand what people were looking for and how I could bring my own twist to those products.
Here are a few ways to find popular product ideas:
- Browse Etsy’s Bestsellers: Search for categories like “planners” or “printables” and check out the listings that are marked as bestsellers. Pay attention to the design, pricing, and keywords they’re using.
- Look for Trends: Keep an eye on social media (especially Pinterest and Instagram) to see what types of planners or journals are trending. For example, during certain times of the year, people may be searching for budget planners (hello, New Year resolutions!) or holiday gift planners.
- Read Reviews: One of my favorite tricks is to read the reviews of popular products. This will give you insight into what customers love about those products and what they wish was different. You can use this info to make your products even better!
My Tip: Start with something you’re passionate about or already use in your own life. I began by creating simple daily planners because I’m a huge fan of organization, and it made the process more enjoyable. Plus, it helps if you truly believe in the value of what you’re selling!
2. Focus on Quality and Functionality
When it comes to digital products, people are looking for both beauty and function. Your printable, planner, or journal needs to be visually appealing but also easy to use. Think about how the product will help your customer solve a problem or improve their life.
For example:
- A daily planner should have clear sections for to-do lists, priorities, and time management.
- A budget planner needs to have easy-to-read tables for tracking expenses and income.
- A journal could include prompts or spaces for reflection to help guide the user.
When I started creating my own products, I made sure to ask myself, “Would I use this? Is this actually helpful?” This mindset helped me create items that not only looked good but also served a real purpose.
3. Design Tips for Creating Beautiful Products
You don’t need to be a professional designer to create beautiful products. As I mentioned before, tools like Canva are perfect for beginners. Here are a few design tips to help your products stand out:
- Keep It Simple: Don’t overcomplicate your designs. Clean lines, readable fonts, and plenty of white space make your printables more user-friendly.
- Use Consistent Branding: Choose a color scheme, fonts, and style that reflect your brand. Consistency helps you build a recognizable shop.
- Tip: When I started, I chose 2-3 colors that I stuck with for all my products. It helped create a cohesive look for my shop.
- Make It Customizable: Customers love being able to personalize their planners and journals. Leave space for them to add their own notes or choose designs that are easy to adapt for different uses.
- Use Free Resources: Websites like Canva, Pexels, and Unsplash offer free design elements (photos, icons, etc.) that you can use to enhance your products. Just make sure any elements you use are licensed for commercial use.
Pro Tip: Create a few different styles of the same product to test what resonates best with your audience. When I first listed my daily planners, I made three versions: a minimalist one, a colorful one, and one with motivational quotes. This helped me see what style my audience preferred.
4. Price Your Products Right
Pricing your products can be tricky, especially when you’re just starting out. You don’t want to underprice your items, but you also need to be competitive. Here’s how I figured out my pricing strategy:
- Research Similar Products: Look at what other sellers are charging for similar items. This will give you a baseline for pricing.
- Consider the Time and Effort: Factor in how much time you spent designing the product, as well as any costs for tools or resources (like Canva Pro or paid fonts).
- Test Different Price Points: Don’t be afraid to experiment with pricing. You can always adjust your prices later based on how well your products are selling. I started by pricing my products a little lower than average, then gradually increased them as I gained more sales and reviews.
Pro Tip: Offering product bundles or discounted multi-packs is a great way to increase your average order value. For example, I created a bundle of three different daily planners, which gave customers more value and helped boost my sales.
5. Optimize Your Listings for Etsy SEO
One of the biggest challenges for new Etsy sellers is getting their products seen by potential buyers. That’s where Etsy SEO (search engine optimization) comes in. It’s how you make sure your listings show up when people search for items like yours.
Here’s how to optimize your listings:
- Use Relevant Keywords: Think about what someone might type into Etsy’s search bar to find your product. For example, if you’re selling a printable meal planner, your keywords might include “meal planner printable,” “weekly meal planner,” and “digital meal planner.” Make sure these keywords are in your product title, description, and tags.
- Write a Clear and Detailed Product Description: Explain exactly what the customer is getting, how they can use the product, and why it will benefit them. Be as specific as possible.
- Example: When I list a daily planner, I include details like “This printable daily planner includes sections for your top 3 priorities, a to-do list, time blocking, and space for notes.”
- Use High-Quality Photos: Even though you’re selling a digital product, high-quality images are crucial. Create mock-ups that show your printable in use. For example, show your planner filled out on a desk or styled in a flat lay.
- Offer a Great Customer Experience: Encourage reviews by providing excellent customer service. Quick responses, clear communication, and following up on orders can make a big difference in your shop’s success. Positive reviews will help you rank higher in Etsy’s search results.
Ready to Start Creating?
You now have everything you need to create printables, planners, and journals that sell on Etsy. The key is to focus on quality, design, and offering something valuable to your customers. Start by doing some research, and then let your creativity flow. Remember, your first products don’t have to be perfect—they just need to be useful and visually appealing.
In the next post, we’ll dive deeper into how to price your digital products and find that sweet spot between affordability and profit. I’ll share what I learned from trial and error, and how you can avoid common pricing mistakes.
Remember: You don’t have to get it all right the first time. The most important thing is to start. Good luck, and happy designing!
