Do you ever scroll through Etsy and think “That’s not cute! Who’s buying that?” Well, I’ve been there! And as it turns out, a TON of people are buying that! Which makes someone like you and me consider making something to sell on Etsy that we KNOW we could do better! Amiright? I mean, if there are people making money off of printables you completely disapprove of, just think of how many people would buy YOUR printables! You might already know that I took my party decorations business digital, so I know a thing or two about this idea. So let’s talk about how to Design & Sell Printables With No Design Background!
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Design Printables to Sell Regardless of Your Background
How do I know that you can design printables without a design background?
Well, my first itch to make things pretty (professionally) was when I got my first marketing job. Before that, I was in sales and account management. I had no real need to design anything in those roles except for my cubical walls! Furthermore, I didn’t have a design degree. My degrees are in Journalism and Psychology.
I got my break by volunteering to work on an internal engagement poster to improve sales. Not only was I thrilled to not be focused on selling, but I got to make something pretty using Adobe! Did I know how to use Adobe at the time? Hell to the no.
Flex Your Creative Muscle Consistently to Design Printables
Have you ever tried teaching yourself Adobe? Just a tad intimidating, right? I have been there my friend! But, with a lot of trial and error, and consistency, I was able to master a handful of skills that actually led to my new career in corporate communications. I was so excited to use my new “design skills” and get paid for it! But it wasn’t enough.
I realized self-expression by creating my own designs was really where I needed to put more of my energy. More specifically, creating party decorations. This way, I was able to combine the best of both crafting and party planning!
Fast forward a year and I realized I was working A LOT and not making very much profit. I had to face the fact that my Cricut handmade business wasn’t scalable. As it turns out, transitioning to digital was the perfect way to continue my crafting business. All the design skills I taught myself were still useful and crucial. I had gained a handful of more skills along the way and all it really took was consistency.
Can I Design Printables with Canva?
Yes, you can design printables with Canva, but when it comes to selling, them I highly recommend using Adobe. I go into details in my blog, Why I Use Photoshop to Create Printables For Etsy.
So, when you tell your friends that you want to sell printables on Etsy, they might respond with “Why don’t you just use Canva! It’s free!” Well you get what you pay for with a free tool. You get limitations. And if you are willing to upgrade to the paid version, it actually costs more than Adobe. Shocking right?
Ultimately, your printables business, and life, will thrive by embracing Adobe. Designing printables to sell on Etsy is the most satisfying way for creatives to make passive income.
How to Get Started Selling Printables
I taught myself how to use Adobe, but I don’t recommend it! Like I said earlier, there was a lot of trial and error. I want to teach you the exact skills you need to design your own printables and sell them on Etsy.
I have sold over 6,000 printables to date and I want to save you from the frustrations I went through. Over the course of a few years I have helped others sell printables only to find out they gave up early on or basically quit before they quit. I realized they all had one thing in common. They all said things like “I just wasn’t techy enough,” or “I am not meant to be a business owner,” or my fav, “There isn’t that much money in it.”
You know what I call all those things they said? Limiting beliefs. They are thoughts or things you say to yourself that keep you from taking action. Overcoming limiting beliefs is a huge component of success.
So in order to start a printables business, you’re going to need to remove those first! I offer a free masterclass addressing what the most common fears are about starting a printables side hustle and how to remove them. If you missed it, get on the waitlist, or take the quiz to find out what printables are best for your personality.
For more tips, Subscribe to the YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/143cw9G9cTg
Related Articles
You might also be interested in the following articles:
How to Start a Business with Your Cricut
The Best Ways to Make Passive Income On Etsy
The Best Printer for an Etsy Business
How I Turned My Cricut Business Into Passive Income
How to Edit and Print Editable PDF Files With Adobe Reader
Thanks for reading about starting a printables business!
Lastly, thank you so much for taking the time to read about how to Design & Sell Printables With No Design Background. I hope this gives you some inspiration to start a creative side hustle! I love to help you celebrate life through party decorations and personal development! But above all, I’d love to connect with you. Reach out to me on Instagram and let’s chat!
xox
Lindsay
