Objective: By the end of this tutorial, you’ll know how to set up an online store to sell your printables, whether through Etsy, your own website, or other platforms. You’ll also learn the ins and outs of pricing, optimizing your listings, and creating descriptions and images that sell.

Selling digital printables online is a fantastic way to earn passive income. You create a product once, and it can sell again and again with no inventory or shipping hassles. But the first step in making those sales is setting up a place where people can actually buy your products.

Let’s dive into the nuts and bolts of how to set up your printable shop, choose the right platform, and optimize your listings for maximum sales!

1. Where to Sell Your Printables

When it comes to selling your printables online, you have several options. Let’s break down the pros and cons of different platforms so you can choose the best one for your business.

1. Etsy

Etsy is probably the most popular marketplace for printables, and for good reason. It’s a well-established platform with millions of visitors each month, and many of those visitors are specifically looking for printables. Etsy also handles the technical side of selling, like processing payments and delivering digital downloads, so you don’t have to worry about the back-end logistics.

Pros:

• Huge built-in audience that’s already shopping for printables.
• Easy to set up and manage your shop.
• Etsy handles payments and digital file delivery.

Cons:

• You’re competing with thousands of other sellers, so it can be hard to stand out.
• Etsy takes a percentage of your sales (5% of each sale + listing fees).
• You don’t own the platform, so you have less control over your business.

2. Your Own Website (Shopify, WordPress + WooCommerce, etc.)

If you want more control over your brand and higher profit margins, setting up your own website might be the way to go. Shopify is a popular platform for building e-commerce sites, but you can also use WordPress with WooCommerce for a more customizable option. Having your own website means you own your customer list and you won’t have to compete with other sellers on the same platform.

Pros:

• Complete control over your brand and website.
• No marketplace fees (though you’ll pay hosting or subscription fees).
• You own your customer list, which is valuable for building long-term relationships.

Cons:

• It takes more time and effort to set up and maintain your own website.
• You won’t have access to a built-in audience, so you’ll need to drive traffic through marketing.
• May require more technical knowledge.

3. Gumroad

Gumroad is a simple platform designed specifically for selling digital products, including printables. It’s user-friendly and allows you to set up a store with minimal effort. One of the main advantages is that it handles all the payment processing and file delivery for you, similar to Etsy.

Pros:

• Easy to set up and perfect for selling digital products.
• Lower fees than Etsy (Gumroad takes a 5% fee per transaction).
• You can offer both individual products and subscription options.

Cons:

• Limited customization options for your storefront.
• No built-in audience, so you’ll have to market your products yourself.

4. Selling on Social Media

You can also sell your printables directly on platforms like Instagram, Facebook, or Pinterest. By using social media, you can reach your audience where they’re already spending their time. While these platforms don’t offer built-in e-commerce functionality (except for Facebook Shops), you can link to your store or use platforms like Gumroad to handle transactions.

Pros:

• Free to set up and use.
• Great for building a personal connection with your audience.
• You can market directly to your followers.

Cons:

• No built-in checkout system, so you’ll need to link to an external store.
• Requires consistent social media engagement and marketing to drive traffic.

2. Setting Up Your Etsy Shop

If you’ve decided that Etsy is the best place for you to sell your printables, let’s walk through how to set up your shop. Don’t worry—it’s easier than you think!

1. Create an Etsy Account

First, head over to Etsy and sign up for an account if you don’t have one already. You’ll need to provide your email address, name, and create a password. Once you’re signed in, click on “Sell on Etsy” to start setting up your shop.

2. Choose Your Shop Name

Your shop name is important—it’s the first impression customers will have of your brand. Choose something memorable and easy to spell. If the name you want is taken, try adding words like “Studio,” “Designs,” or “Printables” to make it unique.

Pro Tip: Make sure your shop name reflects what you sell. If your focus is on minimalistic planners, for example, a name like “MinimalPrints” instantly tells customers what they can expect from your shop.

3. Create Your Shop Policies

Etsy requires you to set shop policies, including shipping and returns. Since you’re selling digital products, you won’t have shipping costs, but you should still have a clear policy about refunds. Many sellers don’t offer refunds on digital downloads since they can’t be “returned,” but it’s up to you to decide what works best for your business.

4. Write a Killer Shop Description

Your shop description is where you get to tell customers who you are, what you sell, and why they should buy from you. Keep it concise but engaging. Think of it like a mini sales pitch for your brand.

Pro Tip: Use keywords in your shop description to help with Etsy’s search ranking. For example, if you’re selling printable planners, mention that in your description. This helps Etsy’s algorithm understand what your shop is about and match it with relevant searches.

3. Optimizing Your Etsy Listings

Once your shop is set up, it’s time to start listing your printables for sale. But just listing them isn’t enough—you need to optimize your listings to make sure they show up in search results. This is where SEO (Search Engine Optimization) comes in.

1. Use Keywords in Your Titles

When customers search for printables on Etsy, the platform’s algorithm looks for relevant keywords in the product title. Think about what people might type into the search bar when looking for a product like yours, and use those keywords in your title.

Example: Instead of naming your product “Daily Planner,” which is too generic, try something like “Minimalist Daily Planner Printable | Instant Download | To-Do List & Productivity Template.” This title includes important keywords like “daily planner,” “printable,” and “instant download,” which will help your product show up in relevant searches.

2. Write Detailed Descriptions

Your product description isn’t just a place to explain what your printable does—it’s also an opportunity to use more keywords. Think about the benefits of your product and how it can solve your customer’s problems.

Example: “Stay organized and productive with this minimalist daily planner printable. This instant download includes space for daily to-dos, appointments, and notes. Perfect for busy professionals, students, and anyone looking to streamline their schedule. Print as many copies as you need!”

3. Use Tags Wisely

Etsy allows you to add tags to your listings. These are keywords that help Etsy match your products with searches. You can add up to 13 tags per listing, so make sure to use all of them! Think about variations of your main keywords, as well as synonyms.

Example Tags:

• Daily planner
• Printable planner
• Minimalist planner
• Productivity planner
• Digital download

4. Pricing Your Printables

One of the most common questions new sellers ask is, “How should I price my printables?” It’s tempting to start low, but undervaluing your work can make it hard to turn a profit—and it sends the wrong message to your customers about the value of your product.

1. Consider the Time You Spent

Pricing your printables should take into account the time and effort you put into creating them. Even though digital products don’t have material costs like physical products do, your time is still valuable. Think about how long it took you to design your product, and factor that into your pricing.

2. Check Competitor Pricing

Look at what other sellers in your niche are charging for similar products. You don’t want to price yourself too far above or below the competition. If your product is more detailed or has extra features, it’s okay to charge more—but make sure you can justify the higher price with additional value.

3. Offer Discounts and Bundles

Offering discounts and product bundles can encourage more sales, especially if someone is buying multiple printables. For example, you could offer a 10% discount for purchasing three or more items, or bundle several printables together for a lower price than buying each one individually.

Pro Tip: Limited-time discounts (like “20% off for the first week”) can create a sense of urgency and encourage customers to buy now instead of waiting.

5. Creating Listing Images That Sell

The listing image is the first thing people see when they browse Etsy or other platforms. It needs to grab attention and clearly show what your product is. Even if your printable is beautifully designed, if the listing image isn’t eye-catching, potential buyers might scroll right past it.

1. Use Mockups to Show Your Printable in Action

Mockups are digital images that show what your printable will look like once it’s printed out. You can create mockups using free tools like Canva or Placeit. For example, if you’re selling a planner, create a mockup that shows it printed out and filled in with handwriting. This helps potential customers visualize how they’ll use the product.

2. Make Sure Your Image is Clear

Your listing image should be high-quality and easy to read, even when viewed as a thumbnail. Avoid clutter and focus on showing the key features of your printable. Use bold fonts and colors that stand out, and make sure your product name is clearly visible in the image.

3. Highlight Key Features

If your printable has multiple pages or different sections, use your listing images to show them off. For example, you could include additional images that highlight specific features, like a close-up of the to-do list section or the notes area of your planner.

6. Writing Product Descriptions That Convert

Your product description isn’t just a list of features—it’s a sales pitch. You need to convince potential customers that your printable is the solution they’ve been looking for.

1. Focus on Benefits, Not Just Features

When writing your product description, think about what your customer really wants. For example, someone buying a daily planner isn’t just looking for a place to write their appointments—they’re looking for a way to stay organized and reduce stress.

Example: “Feeling overwhelmed by your to-do list? This minimalist daily planner printable will help you organize your tasks, appointments, and goals in one easy-to-use layout. With plenty of space for notes and to-dos, you’ll feel more focused and in control of your day.”

2. Address Common Pain Points

Think about the challenges your customer is facing and how your printable can help. Are they struggling to keep track of their budget? Do they need help meal planning for the week? Address those pain points in your description and show how your product can solve their problem.

Example: “Tired of forgetting what’s in your fridge or overspending at the grocery store? Our weekly meal planner printable will help you plan your meals and grocery lists in advance, so you can save time, money, and reduce food waste.”

Conclusion

In this tutorial, we’ve covered everything you need to know about setting up your online shop and listing your printables for sale. From choosing the right platform and pricing your products to creating eye-catching images and writing descriptions that convert, you now have all the tools to launch your printable business successfully.