How To Make Money With Printables (5 Genius Ways!)

Are you looking for creative ways to boost your income? Have you ever thought about making money with printables? If you have not, then you should definitely consider this option.

Making money with printables is a genius way to turn your creativity into profit and generate some passive income.

In this article, I will explore five genius ways to monetize your printables and provide you with valuable tips and insights on how to succeed with this side hustle.

Whether you’re a graphic designer or someone with a knack for creating beautiful and useful printables, there are various platforms and strategies you can utilize to sell your products and reach a larger audience.

So, if you’re ready to learn how to make money with printables and take your financial goals to the next level, keep reading!

What are printables?

Printables are digital files or documents that are designed to be printed by individuals for personal use. They are typically created in popular file formats such as PDF, JPEG, or PNG.

Printables can serve a wide range of purposes, including organization, education, entertainment, and decoration.

Examples of printables include planners, to-do lists, coloring pages, party invitations, meal planners, and more. They are convenient and cost-effective solutions for individuals looking to enhance their productivity or add a personal touch to their everyday lives.

How to Design Printables

Designing printables requires a combination of creativity and technical skills. Here are some tips to help you design good printables:

1. Brainstorm Ideas: Start by brainstorming ideas for your printables. Consider the interests and needs of your target audience. Identify the types of printables that will resonate with them.
2. Use Graphic Design Tools: You can use graphic design tools like Canva, Adobe Creative Cloud, or PicMonkey to design your printables. These tools offer a wide range of features and templates that can assist you in creating professional-looking printables.
3. Explore Pre-Made Templates: If you’re short on time or want to simplify the design process, explore pre-made templates available on platforms like Canva or Etsy. You can easily make them your own with  some tweaks. These templates provide a solid foundation for creating printable products.
4. Choose attractive colors, fonts, and layouts. Select colors, fonts, and layouts that align with the purpose and theme of your printables. Ensure that they are visually appealing and easy to read.
5. Enhance Aesthetic Appeal: Consider incorporating elements like illustrations, icons, and patterns to enhance the overall aesthetic appeal of your printables. These additions can make your designs more engaging and visually interesting.

Now, let’s talk about the types of printables you should design to make money!

Printables that can make you money:

1. Printables for Etsy:
   • Printables such as planners, calendars, art prints, and organizational tools.
2. Custom Printables:
   • Provide personalized or custom printable designs for events like weddings, parties, or special occasions.
3. Printable Calendars and Planners:
   • Design and sell printable calendars, daily planners, or goal-setting organizers for different niches (e.g., fitness, productivity, finance).
4. Educational Printables:
   • Create educational printables for teachers, parents, or homeschoolers. This could include worksheets, flashcards, or learning games.
5. Digital Wall Art:
   • Design printable wall art, quotes, or illustrations and sell them as digital downloads for home decor.
6. Printable Stickers and Labels:
   • Design printable stickers or labels for various purposes, such as organizing, scrapbooking, or planning.
7. Party Printables:
   • Create printable party decorations, invitations, and other items for birthdays, weddings, or special events.
8. Meal Planners and Recipe Cards:
   • Design meal planners, grocery lists, and recipe cards to help people with meal preparation and organization.
9. Budgeting and Finance Printables:
   • Create printable budgeting templates, expense trackers, or financial planning sheets to help your customers manage their finances.
10. Printable Coloring Pages:
    • Design coloring pages for different themes and age groups. Market them as digital downloads for relaxation and creativity.
11. Home Organization Printables:
    • Offer printables for home organization, including cleaning schedules, decluttering checklists, and storage labels.
12. Wedding and Event Printables:
    • Design printable wedding invitations, seating charts, and other event-related materials for customers to download and print.
13. Health and Fitness Printables:
    • Create workout logs, fitness trackers, or meal planning sheets to help customers track their health and wellness goals.
14. Language Learning Printables:
    • Develop printables for language learners, including vocabulary lists, flashcards, and grammar exercises.
15. Printable Ebooks or Guides:
    • Compile your printables into comprehensive ebooks or guides and sell them as digital products. This could be something like an ebook or guide teaching your customers how to do something (e.g an ebook on how to start a blogging side hustle)
16. Holiday and Seasonal Items
    •  Design printables related to specific holidays or seasons, like Christmas cards, Halloween decorations, etc.

How to actually Make Money with Printables

Now that you know what printables are, how to make them, where you can design them, and the various types of printables you can make, here’s how you can make money selling them!

Sell Pre-Made Printables on Etsy

Etsy, the popular online marketplace for handmade and digital products, offers an excellent platform to sell your pre-made printables. Create a shop on Etsy and list your printables for sale.

Make sure to optimize your listings with relevant keywords, attractive images, and detailed descriptions to attract potential buyers.

To cater to a broader audience, consider offering a variety of printables in different categories.

Also, promote your Etsy shop through social media platforms like Pinterest (read about how to make money pinning on Pinterest here), email marketing, and collaborations to increase your visibility and drive more sales.

There are a wide range of printables that you can design to make good money on Etsy. Do a quick search for printables on Etsy to see ideas of what you can make to sell there.

Also, search for the keyword printables on Etsy to see examples of the types of printables that the buyers there enjoy. Below is a popular example of a planner printable on Etsy that buyers like.

Sell Printable Templates on Etsy

In addition to selling pre-made printables, you can also monetize your skills by offering printable templates on Etsy.

Templates provide your customers with the option to personalize their printables, making them more appealing for people who like customized printables.

Offer various templates such as planners, calendars and worksheets allowing buyers to customize them to suit their needs. Many people who use this method use platforms like Canva.com to create editable printables that customers can pay for and edit at their own convenience. 

Similar to pre-made printables, optimize your listings and promote your shop to maximize your sales potential.

If this sounds interesting to you, here is an example of a listing for editable Christmas tag on Etsy that is sold using this method:

Sell Pre-Made Printables using a blog and a shopify store

Selling pre-made printables using your website and a Shopify store can be a lucrative way to generate income. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you get started:

1. Choose a Niche:
   • Identify a specific niche or target audience for your printables. This can help you create products that cater to a particular need or interest.
2. Set Up Your Website or Blog:
   • If you don’t have a website or blog, choose a platform such as WordPress, Shopify, or Squarespace to create your online presence. Ensure it’s user-friendly and visually appealing. You can see how to start a blog or website here. 
3. Select an E-commerce Platform:
   • Choose an e-commerce platform or plugin that integrates seamlessly with your website. Options include WooCommerce (for WordPress), Shopify, BigCommerce, or Gumroad.
4. Create High-Quality Printables:
   • Design visually appealing and high-quality printables that provide value to your target audience. Use graphic design tools like Canva or Adobe Creative Cloud if you don’t have professional design skills.
5. Convert to PDF Format:
   • Convert your printables to PDF format, which is widely accepted for digital downloads.
6. Set Pricing:
   • Determine the pricing strategy for your printables. Consider the value you’re providing, competitor pricing, and what your target audience is willing to pay.
7. Create a Product Page:
   • Set up individual product pages for each printable on your website. Include a clear and compelling description and images, and, if possible, showcase the printables in use.
8. Implement a Secure Payment System:
   • Choose a secure payment gateway to handle transactions. Common options include PayPal, Stripe, or other payment processors compatible with your chosen e-commerce platform.
9. Optimize for Search Engines:
   • Use relevant keywords in your product descriptions and meta tags to optimize your website for search engines. This will help potential customers find your products through online searches.
10. Set Up a Download System:
    • Implement a secure and automated system for delivering the printables to customers after purchase. This might involve creating download links or integrating with a digital delivery service.
11. Create a Marketing Plan:
    • Develop a marketing strategy to promote your printables. Utilize social media, email marketing, and any other channels. For selling printables, I highly recommend using Pinterest to drive free traffic. I have a detailed guide on how to use Pinterest to get traffic to your printable shop or etsy that you should read later. 

Successful example

Sarah Titus is a successful example of how a person can make money selling printables through a website and a Shopify store.

Through her website, Sarah focuses on a niche market, offering a variety of printables that cater to the needs of busy moms, homemakers, Christians, and individuals looking for organizational tools.

Her content includes planners, home management binders, coloring books, and budgeting sheets and aligns with the interests and challenges of her target audience.

By providing high-quality and visually appealing printables, Sarah has built a dedicated following.

She has established a seamless strategy of taking her blog readers to shop on her e-commerce platform for printables that will benefit them.

The Shopify store handles secure transactions through payment gateways like PayPal or Stripe, and ensures a smooth and trustworthy purchasing process for her customers.

Additionally, Sarah employs effective marketing techniques, leveraging social media like Pinterest and email newsletters to drive traffic to her Shopify store.

By continually expanding her product offerings and adapting to customer feedback, Sarah Titus exemplifies how a website, combined with a well-optimized Shopify store, can be a powerful platform for making money selling printables.

She claims to make more than six figures selling printables on Shopify every month!

Offer Custom Printables on Fiverr

If you prefer a more personalized approach, consider offering custom printables on Fiverr. Fiverr is a well-known freelance platform where you can offer your creative services to a wide range of clients.

Set up a gig offering custom printables, such as personalized invitations, planners, cleaning sheets, or even custom-designed wall art.

Highlight your unique selling propositions and showcase your portfolio to attract potential customers. Provide exceptional customer service and deliver high-quality printables to build a positive reputation and generate repeat business.

Make and Sell Digital Wall Art

Another profitable way to make money with printables is by creating and selling digital wall art. With the rising popularity of online interior design, there is a demand for downloadable artwork that can be printed and displayed at home.

Create visually stunning designs, such as inspirational quotes, abstract art, or botanical prints, and offer them as digital downloads.

Market your digital wall art on platforms like Etsy, your website, or social media to target art enthusiasts and home decor enthusiasts.

Sell Printable e-books or Guides

If you have valuable knowledge or expertise in a particular area, consider packaging it into printable ebooks or guides.

Create comprehensive and well-designed guides that provide valuable information or offer step-by-step instructions. You can sell these digital products on your website or through platforms like Etsy, catering to individuals seeking information on specific topics or looking for guides to simplify their lives.

Promote your ebooks or guides through content marketing, social media, and collaborations to increase your visibility and attract potential buyers.

Over the years, I’ve bought many informational ebook printables to learn new skills. For example, I’ve published a printable ebook about SEO for beginners. I’ve also gotten a printable ebook called Cracking the Code of Amazon Associates where I learned techniques on how to promote Amazon products on my blog.

The sky is the limit with these sorts of information guides and ebooks!

If you’ve ever wanted to know how to make money selling printables, these are some of the best ideas listed above! Give this side hustle a try to make money in 2024!