Did you know Etsy has an Instant Digital Download feature? Etsy has become well known as the handmade marketplace. Â
But it has also become a popular place for all kinds of printables. Â You can sell these printables as passive income products.
While this doesn’t mean you can just set it and forget it but it does mean you can start earning extra money with less effort once you create your initial digital products.
25 Passive Income Products
You Can Sell On Etsy
With the Instant Download feature, you can upload your product right into your listing. Â This makes Etsy great for passive income!
Now you just need some awesome products to sell. Â So here are 25 popular ideas that buyers are constantly searching for on Etsy.
Printable Planners
Etsy has a big market of shoppers who love all things planners. You can sell entire planner kits, or just individual pieces. Planners can range from everyday planners to specialty planners.
Here are some ideas:
- Monthly Calendars
- Weekly Planners
- Daily Sheets
- Wedding Planner
- Blog Content Planner
- Budget Planners
- Meal Planners
- Fitness Trackers
This list could go on. You could create some kind of planner or organizational worksheet for most any interest.
Art And Decor Printables
Wall decor printables have become popular on Etsy. People love quotes or unique decor they don’t mind printing themselves.
Wall printables range from beautiful illustrations, to simple word art. Â Here are some popular examples:
- Inspirational Wall Quotes
- Bible Verses
- Funny Quotes
- Nursery Artwork
- Bathroom Artwork
- Laundry Room Art
- Kitchen Art
Creative Templates
These are templates that buyers can fill in themselves. Sometimes people just need a starting point. Â Or they want to save time with something that they can just fill in the banks with.
With programs like Photoshop, or Adobe Reader, you can make editable templates.
- Resumes
- Invitations
- Holiday Cards
- Announcement Cards
- Photo Albums
- Marketing Material
Other fantastic printable ideas include:
- Wedding Signs
- Party Signs
- Greeting Cards
- Coloring Pages
There are so many ways you can take one of these ideas and fit it into your own niche. Just think about a way you can help or inspire someone with a planning or organizational tool or a quote that people in your niche or hobby would love.Â
Which one of these ideas makes you excited? What is holding you back from getting started?
My Tips for Choosing What Digital Product to Sell on Esty:
Brainstorm Things You Would Enjoy Creating and Selling
Get a blank sheet of paper and your favorite drink. Then start wiring any idea that comes to mind. Then pick one to start and stick with it.
Stick to What You Know
If you already have an established niche online create some downloadable tools that compliment that. If you have a blog that targets moms think about tools or creative prints that your audience would love. If you love essential oils create some essential oil cheat sheets or recipe cards.Â
Do Some Research
Once you have a few ideas in mind do some searching on Etsy and Pinterest. If you find something like your idea that’s a good thing! Let me repeat… it is good to find listings for the things you want to create because that means there is likely a demand for it.Â
This post may contain affiliate links with my honest opinion.Â
LEARN TO
Design Printables in Canva
Packed full of tutorials, Pretty Printables is what you need to tap into your creativity, develop your style, and master creating opt-ins, workbooks, and other printable products.Â
Love this post!! I sell graphics on Etsy, but I want to freshen up my shop and start offering other items. This might just be the kick I need to get that started 🙂
Thank You! What is the Name of Your Shop? I would love to check it out.
Sorry it took so long. I was never notified of your response 🙂 My shop is Rhoda Design Studio (http://etsy.com/shop/rhodadesignstudio) and I have started a printables shop since my last comment!! Lemony Fizz (https://etsy.com/shop/LemonyFizz).
I was reading posts on your blog today to figure out how to boost my printables traffic. I have a collection now…I just need to get it selling!!
Please somebody help me understand the copyright idea so many people are selling almost the exact same pictures on. Canvas and stuff if your ideas include Alice in wonderland do you have to contact someone for permission what about the quotes if the quoter is dead you can use it for free and if they are alive you should pay them That is a question I hope you understand what I’m asking and can help me I’m am currently making 0$ off anything because I don’t really know the rules of what is allowed and not aloud I love photography and pictures of the universe I would love to make planners and things with those kinda photos can I
Hi Rebecca, What you’ll see on Etsy unfortunately is a lot of sellers ripping off other sellers or copyrighted material, from characters to slogans to cartoon graphics. Yes permission should be sought however, as it’s unlikely a multinational would give approval to an Etsy seller, the seller doesn’t bother – knowing they are doing wrong but also knowing it’s unlikely they’ll be stopped. A random example that i just looked at was a seller who was bundling cartoon type donut images…it’s not difficut to find the true creator and source of the item along with a ton of sellers who have ripped the same person off…not took inspiration from a design, but actually used the exact same design and promoted it as their own. Looking at the site of the creator they have images to use for personal or commercial use, neither of which allows a buyer to re-sell the item, in addition there’s no credit given. Additionally Etsy requires sellers to list if they outsource anything (Print on demand partners for example) however many don’t do this. I create some items myself and use print on demand for other items and note this in every listing and on my shop page. When buying from Etsy, particularly if buying digital products, I always search to see if the item is for sale anywhere else, if it is then i don’t buy from either store – tough as possibly the creator is one of those stores however it’s very hard to tell so neither get my business. Additinally if i locate the image offsite and note the Etsy seller is not the original creator I also don’t buy from them.
I had this issue too but the crux of the situation is yes, you need permission of the person who designed, or who owns the copyright, of the item. Many copy the designs of other Etsy sellers which is a real shame, best to just not buy from them.
Rebecca, always check TESS to see if a phrase is trademarked. For images, if you’re in canvas just click the 3 dots in the corner and it’ll say if you can use that image commercially.
Fantastic post, thank you! I’ve been wanting to get into the digital download-market for a while now, and this great post has just given me the confidence to do it!
This is great! I had no idea digital even existed on etsy! I have a few holiday-specific planners that I can dust off and pop up there. Why not leverage the power of their huge platform? Thank you!
If I already put my design on Zazzle, can I also post on ETSY?
Thanks for the list of goodies. I love graphic design and now that I have retired from teaching, this would be a fun way to supplement income.
Dorthy,
I am not sure if Zazzle has any kind of clause about this but I know on Etsy you can list and sell in multiple places. I use to sell on both Amazon Handmade and Etsy. Most Platforms are the same but I have never sold on Zazzle so I cannot say for sure.
What program do you use to create printables?
I personally use the Adobe Design Suite for my work but I do teach using Canva for Printables.
I enjoyed reading this article. Thanks for the great ideas!
I make printable artwork. You can see my work here.
http://www.etsy.com/shop/TheWisdomStudio
I have visited Your store. It’s Amazing. What is the tool do you use to create those printable artwork? Canva or Photoshop?
I’m so excited that I happened to stumble upon this amazing idea. Thank you so much! I am revamping my business and I found so much inspiration from reading your post!!! I can not wait to start creating my interior design planners and worksheets! You are the best!!!
Amy, thank you so much for commenting! Your planners will be great. If you haven’t yet you should check out my Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/creativeincome/ Be sure to say hi!
Thanks for the post! I’m definitely inspired. My only question is, what are the rules associated with using fonts on your designs? I’ll most likely use Photoshop or Sketch, but I’m not much of a font designer. Are Google fonts ok to use on products you make a profit on?
You need to check to see if commercial use is allowed. I believe all of the Google fonts are but you should double check. You can also buy fonts for commercial use, mu favorite place is Creative Market: http://www.creativemarketing.com/?u=kate.danielle
This has really set me thinking. I list my downloadable quilt patterns on Etsy, but they take a very long time to make (both the quilt and the pattern!), so I love the idea of creating pages from some of my fabric design art-work for a slightly quicker win, hopefully. Thank you for a really helpful suggestion and a good post. Much appreciated
how’s the premade logos market on etsy?
Great idea! I don’t know why I never thought of doing this myself. I already do direct to garment printing for my self and other t-shirt sellers here on etsy, so it will be a nice additional income stream
Thank You so much for this amazing post !! I am a new seller on Etsy and just created my shop last week. I am a graphic designer by profession and was planning to create and sell Photoshop Mock-ups exclusively for Etsy, but this post made me think there is a lot more I can do !!
Please have a look at my shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/NYCreatives
Hi Kate, thanks for the great list. I am fairly new to Etsy and was looking to add more listings and now I surely will. If you have more advice about selling on Etsy, I am all ears.
Please check out my shop at https://www.etsy.com/shop/TheHandwritingStudio
I wish I had read this before I started! In the beginning I tried selling a wide assortment of digital downloads from clipart sets to patterns to party and cards printable. Not all sell so overtime I just let the renewal expire and limit the shop to the best selling items. I think the key is to find your niche and have unique search words that will match your product to your customer =)
https://www.etsy.com/shop/JujuSprinkles
Juju
Thank you for a great post! I have an etsy shop but I needed more digital products to sell and this post opened up some new ideas for me to create.
Awewome, thanks for the advice!!! Looking to off more at my art store.
This is fantastic! I’ve been trying to come up with ideas for printables because I absolutely love graphic design. Your list has been very helpful 🙂 Thanks!
Hello, thank you for this useful article but I want to ask if I can sell affiliate products???
Awesome ideas that are still relevant! Thanks!
https://www.etsy.com/shop/antonthemove
Great info. So can I have my Etsy handcrafted jewellery shop and digital ‘ D.I.Y printable necklace etc patterns’?? all in one shop. (Preferably). Or should I have separate Shops. My idea is to have a design that can be sold complete OR download digital instructions to make your own Thank you
ChristelleCreations jewellery🌸