If you have ever wanted to learn how to make and sell printables online for beginners, than this article is for you.
Last year, my friend Sarah was struggling to make ends meet as a part-time graphic designer. With mounting bills and limited client work, she needed a sustainable income stream that wouldn’t require constant hustle. On a whim, she created a set of simple budget trackers and listed them on Etsy. Within three months, these printables were generating $2,000 monthly in passive income. Today, I’m going to show you exactly how to make and sell printables online for beginners, so you can potentially create your own success story.
The digital printables market has exploded in recent years, with the global digital stationery market projected to reach $206.60 billion by 2027, according to Transparency Market Research. This growth represents an incredible opportunity for beginners looking to generate income online without significant startup costs or technical expertise.
In this comprehensive guide, you’ll discover everything you need to know about how to make and sell printables online for beginners, from identifying profitable niches to designing beautiful products and marketing them effectively.
Understanding the Printables Market
Before diving into creating your own printables, it’s crucial to understand what they are and why they’re so popular. Printables are digital files designed to be downloaded and printed by customers. They include everything from planners and worksheets to wall art and greeting cards.
The appeal of making and selling printables online for beginners is obvious:
- Low startup costs: No inventory, shipping, or manufacturing expenses
- Passive income potential: Create once, sell indefinitely
- Minimal technical skills required: User-friendly design tools make creation accessible
- Flexibility: Work from anywhere on your own schedule
- Scalability: Easily expand your product line with minimal additional effort
According to Etsy’s 2023 Annual Report, digital downloads, including printables, were among the fastest-growing categories on their platform, with a 63% increase in sales compared to the previous year.
Types of Printables with Highest Search Volume and Lowest Competition
When learning how to make and sell printables online for beginners, choosing the right niche is crucial. Here’s analysis of the most profitable printable categories based on search volume and competition:
High-Demand, Low-Competition Printables
- Budget and Financial Planners With economic uncertainty driving interest in personal finance, budget planners consistently show high search volume (74,000 monthly searches according to Ahrefs) with relatively modest competition. Specific niches like “debt payoff trackers” and “sinking funds templates” have even better opportunity ratios.
- Educational Worksheets Homeschooling and supplemental education materials see steady demand year-round with dramatic spikes during back-to-school seasons. Specialized educational printables like “montessori activities” or “middle school math worksheets” often have dedicated audiences willing to pay premium prices.
- Specialized Planners While general planners face stiff competition, highly specialized planners targeting specific lifestyles or needs show excellent potential. Examples include “chronic illness symptom trackers,” “ADHD executive function planners,” and “intermittent fasting logs.”
- Holiday and Seasonal Printables Seasonal items like “Halloween scavenger hunts” or “Christmas budget trackers” have distinct selling windows with reduced competition outside peak seasons, making them perfect for beginners learning how to make and sell printables online.
- Home Management Systems Cleaning schedules, meal planners, and home inventory systems consistently perform well with relatively low competition, especially when bundled as complete home management kits.
According to printables expert Michelle Rohr, founder of Secret Owl Society: “The most successful printables solve specific problems for specific people. Rather than creating a generic planner, create the ultimate planner for busy moms of toddlers or for entrepreneurs launching their first business.”
Design Tools and Resources for Non-Designers
You don’t need to be a professional designer to create attractive printables. Here are the best tools and resources for beginners learning how to make and sell printables online:
User-Friendly Design Software
- Canva Canva’s intuitive drag-and-drop interface makes it the top choice for beginners. The free version offers plenty of functionality, while Canva Pro ($12.99/month) provides additional templates, elements, and commercial usage rights.
- PicMonkey With a focus on ease of use, PicMonkey ($7.99/month) offers excellent photo editing capabilities alongside design tools, making it perfect for creating image-heavy printables.
- Affinity Publisher For a one-time purchase of $54.99, Affinity Publisher offers professional-grade design features without the monthly subscription of Adobe programs.
- Google Slides Completely free and surprisingly versatile, Google Slides is an excellent option for creating simple, grid-based printables like planners and worksheets.
Design Resources for Non-Designers
When making and selling printables online for beginners, these resources can elevate your designs:
- Font Sources
- Google Fonts (free, web-based)
- Creative Market (paid, commercial license included)
- Font Bundles (discounted font collections)
- Graphics and Elements
- Freepik (free and premium options)
- Creative Fabrica (subscription-based graphics)
- Pixabay (free stock photos)
- Color Palette Tools
- Coolors (free color scheme generator)
- Color Hunt (curated color palettes)
- Adobe Color (trend-based color suggestions)
A survey by Creative Bloq found that 68% of successful printable sellers use Canva as their primary design tool, with Adobe products coming in second at 23%.
Step-by-Step Guide: How to Make and Sell Printables Online for Beginners
Now that you understand the market and have access to the right tools, let’s walk through the process of creating and selling your first printables:
Step 1: Research and Identify Your Niche
- Analyze market demand
- Use tools like Erank, Marmalead, or Google Keyword Planner to identify search volume
- Browse bestselling printables on platforms like Etsy and Creative Market
- Join Facebook groups related to printables to understand customer needs
- Assess competition
- Study top sellers in your chosen niche
- Identify gaps in the market you could fill
- Look for ways to differentiate your offerings
- Validate your ideas
- Use Pinterest to gauge interest in specific printable concepts
- Create simple surveys in relevant Facebook groups
- Consider creating a free sample to test response
Sarah Howard, who generates $8,500 monthly selling printables, advises: “Don’t just follow trends. Look for persistent problems people are trying to solve. The most profitable printables are those that help people organize their lives, save money, or achieve specific goals.”
Step 2: Design Your Printables
When learning how to make and sell printables online for beginners, following these design principles will help your products stand out:
- Create a cohesive visual identity
- Develop a consistent color palette (3-5 colors)
- Select 2-3 complementary fonts (one for headings, one for body text)
- Use consistent design elements across your products
- Optimize for printing
- Design in standard sizes (8.5″x11″, 5″x7″, etc.)
- Use CMYK color mode for accurate printing
- Include trim marks and bleed if necessary
- Test print yourself before listing
- Consider user experience
- Include clear instructions
- Provide adequate writing space
- Ensure text is readable when printed
- Design for both color and black-and-white printing
- Create product bundles
- Individual products priced at $2-5
- Bundles priced at $10-25 for higher average order value
According to a study by Printable Publishers Association, printables with clean, minimalist designs outsell busy, ornate designs by 37%, particularly in categories like planners and organizational tools.
Step 3: Prepare Your Files for Sale
- Convert to appropriate formats
- PDF (universal, preserves formatting)
- JPG/PNG (for art prints)
- Editable formats (PowerPoint, Canva templates) as premium options
- Create mockups and preview images
- Show your printables in use
- Create lifestyle photos or digital mockups
- Include close-ups of important features
- Write compelling product descriptions
- Highlight the problems your printable solves
- Include specific details (dimensions, pages, formats)
- Add keywords for searchability
- Set up usage terms
- Specify personal use only or commercial license
- Include copyright information
- Establish clear terms of use
Platform Comparison: Where to Sell Your Printables
When figuring out how to make and sell printables online for beginners, choosing the right platform is crucial. Here’s a detailed comparison:
Etsy
Pros:
- Built-in traffic (82 million active buyers)
- Simple shop setup process
- Established trust with customers
- Integrated payment processing
Cons:
- Platform fees (listing fees + 6.5% transaction fee)
- Increasing competition
- Limited customization options
- Subject to Etsy’s policy changes
According to Etsy’s financial reports, the platform saw $13.3 billion in gross merchandise sales in 2022, with digital downloads among the fastest-growing categories.
Your Own Website
Pros:
- Complete control over branding and design
- Higher profit margins (no platform fees)
- Ability to build email list
- Unlimited product offerings
Cons:
- Requires technical setup (WordPress + WooCommerce or Shopify)
- Need to drive your own traffic
- Higher startup costs ($29-$299/month depending on platform)
- Responsibility for customer service infrastructure
Website platform Shopify reports that merchants selling digital products see 70% higher profit margins than those selling physical goods.
Digital Marketplaces
Options include: Teachers Pay Teachers, Creative Market, SendOwl, Gumroad
Pros:
- Targeted audience depending on marketplace
- Easier to stand out in specialized marketplaces
- Often include helpful seller tools
- Some offer higher royalty rates than Etsy
Cons:
- Smaller customer base than Etsy
- Specific requirements and restrictions
- Variable fee structures
- Less name recognition with general public
A 2023 survey of 500 printable sellers found that those using multiple platforms earned 43% more than single-platform sellers, with the most profitable combination being Etsy plus a personal website.
Marketing Strategies for Printable Success
Once you’ve learned how to make and sell printables online for beginners and created your products, effective marketing becomes essential:
Pinterest Marketing
Pinterest is particularly effective for printables, with users actively searching for organizational and planning tools. Implement these strategies:
- Create tall, visually appealing pins (1000px x 1500px)
- Join relevant group boards
- Use rich keywords in pin descriptions
- Pin consistently (10-15 pins daily)
- Create multiple pin designs for each product
According to Tailwind, Pinterest drives 33% of all social media traffic to printable shops.
Email Marketing
Building an email list is crucial for sustainable printable sales:
- Offer a free printable in exchange for email addresses
- Send regular newsletters with valuable content
- Notify subscribers of new products and sales
- Create exclusive offers for subscribers
Email marketing platform ConvertKit reports that printable sellers with active email lists earn 32% more than those without.
Social Media Strategy
While Pinterest is key, other platforms can boost visibility:
- Instagram: Share printable mockups and customer testimonials
- Facebook: Join groups where your target audience hangs out
- TikTok: Create short tutorials or “plan with me” videos
- YouTube: Develop in-depth guides on using your printables
Digital product seller Emily Counts credits 40% of her $12,000 monthly printable income to strategic social media marketing across multiple platforms.
Scaling Your Printables Business
As you become more comfortable with how to make and sell printables online for beginners, consider these strategies for growth:
- Expand your product line
- Create seasonal variations of popular products
- Develop complementary printables
- Offer premium versions with additional features
- Create product bundles
- Package related printables together
- Offer discounted bundles for higher average order value
- Create “complete systems” commanding premium prices
- Explore print-on-demand services
- Offer physical versions of your bestselling printables
- Partner with companies like Printify or Printful
- Expand into related products like stickers or notebooks
- Develop passive marketing systems
- Create an SEO-optimized blog driving traffic to your products
- Develop affiliate programs
- Automate social media posting with scheduling tools
According to business coach Meredith Marsh, “The average printable seller who strategically scales their business sees a 300% increase in revenue within 18 months without a proportional increase in working hours.”
Common Mistakes to Avoid
When learning how to make and sell printables online for beginners, steer clear of these pitfalls:
- Ignoring copyright laws
- Never use licensed characters or copyrighted elements
- Purchase commercial-use fonts and graphics
- Create original designs or use properly licensed elements
- Underpricing your products
- Research market rates for similar items
- Consider the value your printable provides
- Factor in all platform fees when setting prices
- Creating without research
- Develop products based on validated demand
- Test concepts before investing significant time
- Ask for feedback before finalizing designs
- Neglecting customer service
- Provide clear usage instructions
- Respond promptly to questions
- Address technical issues courteously
- Failing to diversify platforms
- Don’t rely exclusively on a single marketplace
- Build your own audience through email and social media
- Create multiple income streams
Conclusion: Your Printables Success Roadmap
Learning how to make and sell printables online for beginners opens up incredible opportunities for creative entrepreneurs. By following this comprehensive guide, you’re well-positioned to create a successful printables business with minimal startup costs and maximum flexibility.
Remember that success in the printables market comes from solving specific problems for specific audiences. Focus on creating high-quality, user-friendly designs that address real needs, and market them strategically across multiple platforms.
Whether you’re looking for a side hustle or dreaming of full-time passive income, the printables market offers endless possibilities. Start small, learn from each product launch, and continuously refine your offerings based on customer feedback.
Ready to transform your creative skills into a profitable business? Begin your printables journey today, and don’t forget to share this guide with fellow entrepreneurs you know, love, and trust who might benefit from learning how to make and sell printables online for beginners.
Have you created printables before? What types have been most successful for you? Share your experiences in the comments below!
