In today’s digital age, selling digital downloads of your art is a fantastic way to generate income without dealing with the hassle of shipping physical products. Platforms like Etsy and Creative Market make it easy for artists to sell digital art and designs to customers worldwide. If you’ve been looking to monetize your creative skills, here’s a comprehensive guide on how to successfully sell digital downloads on Etsy or Creative Market.
1. Why Sell Digital Downloads?
Selling digital art offers several key advantages, especially for artists looking to diversify their income and reach more customers.
Benefits of selling digital downloads:
- Scalable income: Once you’ve created the art, you can sell it an unlimited number of times without needing to create new inventory.
- No shipping costs: Since the product is delivered digitally, you avoid the costs and complications of shipping, making it easier for international customers to purchase your work.
- Passive income: After setting up your listings, sales can continue with minimal effort, allowing you to focus on creating more art or pursuing other ventures.
- Global reach: Platforms like Etsy and Creative Market allow you to reach customers worldwide, giving your art exposure to a much larger audience.
2. Choosing Between Goknack.io, Etsy, and Creative Market
Both Etsy and Creative Market are popular platforms for selling digital art, but they cater to slightly different audiences. Goknack.io pays you per view for the art that is uploaded to your profile. Understanding their differences will help you decide which platform is the best fit for your business.
Goknack.io:
- Best for: Artists that want to make passive income from fans viewing their art. Goknac.io pays per view and starts at $0.05.
- Product examples: AI Art, Photography, Print, and any other type of art.
- Seller fees: Goknack.io only requires a listing fee per item which starts at $0.65. There are no transaction fees. A fee to withdraw your funds is required when using PayPal.
Etsy:
- Best for: Artists and crafters selling a variety of handmade or digital goods. Etsy is known for its personalized and handmade marketplace, with a large audience looking for creative, unique items.
- Product examples: Printable wall art, invitations, digital planners, clip art, and digital patterns.
- Seller fees: Etsy charges a $0.20 listing fee per item, a 6.5% transaction fee, and payment processing fees.
Creative Market:
- Best for: Designers and artists selling high-quality digital assets. Creative Market focuses more on design elements and resources for creatives, like fonts, graphic templates, and design bundles.
- Product examples: Digital illustrations, textures, mockups, fonts, and design templates.
- Seller fees: Creative Market takes a 30% commission on sales but does not charge upfront listing fees.
Ultimately, you can sell on both platforms if your art and designs fit both audiences, expanding your reach.
3. Preparing Your Digital Art for Sale
Once you’ve chosen a platform, it’s time to prepare your digital artwork for sale. This involves creating high-quality files that are ready for customers to download and use.
Key steps:
- Create high-resolution files: Ensure your digital artwork is high-resolution (at least 300 DPI) so that customers receive professional-quality images. File types should be widely usable, such as JPEGs, PNGs, or PDFs.
- Offer multiple sizes or formats: Some digital art, like wall prints, may need to be offered in various sizes to suit different customer needs (e.g., 8×10, 11×14, 16×20). Make it easier for customers to print your artwork by providing different options.
- Bundle products: Offering collections or bundles of related designs is a great way to increase the perceived value of your products. For example, sell a set of coordinating printable wall art rather than just a single piece.
- Add usage licenses if needed: For designs like patterns or clip art, consider providing clear usage rights (e.g., personal use only, commercial use allowed). Including a usage license helps clarify how customers can use your artwork.
4. Setting Up Your Shop and Listings
Now that your art is ready, it’s time to set up your shop and start listing your digital products. Both Etsy and Creative Market make the setup process straightforward, but there are a few things to keep in mind to optimize your success.
Etsy setup tips:
- Create a cohesive shop aesthetic: Your shop’s branding should reflect your art style. This includes a shop banner, profile photo, and logo that all tie into your creative vision.
- SEO-friendly titles and descriptions: Use relevant keywords in your titles and product descriptions to help customers find your listings. Research popular search terms within your niche to improve visibility.
- Tags and categories: Etsy allows you to use up to 13 tags per listing, so use them to cover a variety of relevant search terms. Also, choose the appropriate categories for your products to increase visibility.
- Pricing: Research similar products on Etsy to get an idea of pricing. Digital downloads typically range from $5 to $50, depending on the complexity of the design and whether you’re selling single pieces or bundles.
Creative Market setup tips:
- Curate your product listings: Creative Market customers often look for professional design assets, so focus on quality over quantity when creating your listings.
- Use high-quality previews: Show your designs in context (e.g., as mockups on a poster or business card). This helps customers envision how they might use your product.
- Offer extended licenses: If you’re selling items that other designers or business owners might want to use commercially, provide options for extended licenses that allow broader usage.
5. Marketing and Driving Traffic to Your Shop
After setting up your shop and listings, the next step is attracting customers. Marketing is essential to building a steady stream of traffic and sales.
Social media marketing:
- Instagram and Pinterest: Visual platforms like Instagram and Pinterest are ideal for promoting your digital art. Post eye-catching images of your designs, showcase customer photos, and create Pinterest pins linking back to your shop.
- TikTok tutorials or process videos: Share short videos of your creative process or tips on how customers can use your digital downloads. This content is engaging and encourages potential buyers to visit your shop.
- Hashtags and keywords: Use relevant hashtags and keywords to help users discover your work on social media platforms. For example, use #digitalartprints or #printablewallart for products like posters.
Blogging or email marketing:
- Start a blog: A blog can help you attract organic traffic through SEO. Write articles related to digital art trends, home decor ideas, or design tips that incorporate your products.
- Email newsletters: Build an email list to keep customers updated on new products, promotions, and sales. Offering a discount code for new subscribers can incentivize signups and boost your initial sales.
Collaborations and partnerships:
- Partner with influencers or bloggers: Reach out to influencers or bloggers in your niche who may be interested in featuring your art in their content. This can help you reach new audiences.
- Collaborate with other Etsy or Creative Market sellers: Consider teaming up with complementary sellers for cross-promotions or bundled products. For example, you could partner with a font designer to offer a complete digital design package.
6. Managing Sales and Customer Satisfaction
Once you start making sales, it’s important to manage your business efficiently and ensure customer satisfaction to encourage repeat buyers.
Automate delivery:
- Both Etsy and Creative Market automatically deliver digital files after purchase, so you don’t have to manually send files to customers. Make sure your files are uploaded correctly and clearly labeled for easy access.
Customer communication:
- Respond promptly to any customer questions or concerns. Providing excellent customer service can lead to positive reviews, which are crucial for building trust and attracting more buyers.
Handling refunds or issues:
- Clearly outline your refund policy in your shop. Since digital downloads are non-returnable, it’s common to state that all sales are final, but you may offer a refund in cases of technical issues or accidental purchases.
Conclusion
Selling digital downloads of your art on platforms like Etsy or Creative Market is a fantastic way to create passive income and expand your audience. By preparing high-quality digital files, setting up optimized shop listings, and effectively marketing your products, you can build a successful online business. With a little effort and creativity, you’ll be well on your way to turning your artistic passion into a thriving income stream!