Article #58
Introduction :
Etsy is one of the world’s largest marketplaces where independent artists, collectors, and crafters sell their unique handmade or vintage items or any physical product to interested buyers. This giant American-based e-commerce platform is ideal for creative minds who love vintage and homemade products. A lot of people around the world make thousands of dollars each month by selling digital products or digital files or digital items on their own Etsy shop. You can also make good money if you learn how to sell digital downloads on Etsy.
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Selling digital downloads on Etsy is becoming more and more popular because they are in high demand, highly profitable, and are very easy to create. More so, selling digital downloads on Etsy means you don’t have to worry about shipping because once someone purchases the product, it will be automatically sent to the customer. All you need to do is create a unique digital download that appeals to your target customers, list it on your Etsy store, then wait for it to be purchased.
So do you want to learn how to sell digital downloads on Etsy? If yes, then you have come to the right place. We have made your work easy by explaining in detail step by step process of how to sell digital products on Etsy. Make sure you read until the end so that you don’t miss any crucial information. Now, without further ado, let’s get started.
What exactly is Etsy?
It will be a great injustice to give you steps on how to sell digital downloads on Etsy without telling you what Etsy is. As mentioned earlier, Etsy is an American-based eCommerce marketplace where independent artists, crafters, collectors, and much more can sell handmade, vintage, and custom-made items to customers around the globe. Products sold on Etsy include artisan foods, jewelry, arts, paper goods, housewares, handmade personal care items, clothing and accessories, small-batch cosmetics, and much more. Many people sell digital downloads such as stationery designs, art prints, and planners among other printable products on this giant eCommerce store. If you plan to sell vintage items, then they must be at least 20 years for them to qualify.
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Etsy was founded way back in 2005 and its main goal was to connect small talents, creators, artists, and collectors with customers who are looking for collectibles, or gifts that are unique and with a more personalized touch.
Just two years after this eCommerce platform was launched it had nearly half a million users and made sales of $26 million. Today, Etsy has more than 2.5 million sellers and over 50 million unique products. According to the company, this success has not been achieved through marketing but because of their highly talented and independent sellers who never disappoint when it comes to the quality and uniqueness of their products. Unlike other similar platforms such as Walmart and Amazon, every item sold on Etsy is collected, made, curated, and sold by its independent sellers. The sellers not only make their own products but they manage their orders and inventory. Etsy only acts as a middleman and that is connecting sellers to buyers.
What are digital downloads?
Now that you know what Etsy is, probably, the next question in your mind is what are digital downloads. In simple words, a digital download is any form of acquiring a product, including a file or document via electronic means. Digital download can occur via the internet, a USB device, or through a network. All that is needed to transfer a file or document through digital download is a click from your end and it will be transferred automatically to your client.
Now, on Etsy, a digital download is any item or product that you purchase and download electronically without a physical copy. Once a customer purchases a digital download, it will come in many files formats such as PDF, DOC, JPEG, SVG, or PNG. Examples of digital downloads include things like Thank You cards, cosmetic labels, digital planners, logos, business cards, social media templates, eBooks, custom portraits, zoom backgrounds, class schedule templates, digital prints, digital art, and much more. The good thing about digital downloads is that they are quite easy to create using a web free tool or adobe photoshop or adobe illustrator or any other software for personal use or commercial use and they don’t require shipping as is the case with other products.
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How much can you make when you sell digital downloads on Etsy?
How much you can make when selling digital downloads on Etsy varies depending on various factors including the quality and uniqueness of your digital downloads, your niche, experience, and pricing. For instance, if you choose a profitable niche, then you will make more money in the long run. But on average, people make between $1000 and $5000 per month. Some people make up to $70,000 per month selling digital downloads on this eCommerce platform. Your niche and marketing strategy will play a huge role in determining how much money you make.
Step-by-step process on how to sell digital downloads on Etsy
Now that you know what Etsy and digital downloads are, and how much you can make, let’s now go to the main topic of the day. One of the best ways to generate passive income is by selling downloadable products on Etsy. With digital downloads, you only need to create the download one time and then sell it to hundreds of customers. More so, you don’t have to worry about product storage, shipping, or returns as is the case with other products. But the secret to being a success in selling digital downloads on Etsy is knowing how to sell them. In this section, we will give you a step-by-step process on how to sell digital downloads on Etsy.
Step 1: Choose the right niche
The first important thing to do if you want to sell digital downloads on Etsy is to identify the right niche to focus on. This is a very crucial step because the niche that you choose will determine how much money you will make. Don’t just choose a niche because your friend has made a lot of money from it. Instead, choose a niche that you are well conversant and passionate about.
Remember that the key selling point is the uniqueness and quality of your products. So if you choose a niche that you are not familiar with, you may not make good money even if it is profitable because you will not create a great product that will impress your target client. So when choosing a niche to focus on, ensure that it will enable you to provide value to your target customers.
Step 2: Conduct an extensive research
Once you have identified the right niche to focus on, the next crucial step is to conduct extensive market research. This will help you know what is going on in the market and the gaps available.
The trick to making money on Etsy is by identifying the market gaps and filling them with your unique products. Market research will help you know if people are looking for the digital download that you are planning to sell, your current competition, and things you should do to differentiate yourself from your competitors. You need to be certain that there is a market for digital products that you are planning to sell before you invest your valuable time, energy, and resources in them.
Take a close look at similar shops on Etsy that sell similar products and how they are performing. Also check what their product description includes, whether there is any customization and how they have priced their products. Also, read reviews to know what buyers are saying and things they want the seller to improve. Also, try to find people who are part of your target audience and ask them some questions to know what they like.
Market research is a very crucial step that most sellers on Etsy usually overlook. If you want to be a successful seller in your niche, then you need to conduct extensive market research to identify the gaps and know what your target customers are looking for.
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Step 3: Create your brand
Once you have identified your niche and have a general idea of your target market, the next step is to create your own brand. Branding is essential for the success of your business.
Branding is essentially coming up with a unique way of presenting yourself to your target customers. Most people usually think that branding is just about making a mood board and creating a logo. However, that is not true. There is so much that goes into branding.
The most important thing when it comes to branding is identifying ways of making your business appealing to your target customers. When coming up with branding strategies, think like a customer rather than a seller. This way, you will come up with great branding strategies that will propel your business to success.
Step 4: Create your digital products and set prices
The next process is to create your digital downloads and then set the price. Remember that the only way to price your products effectively is by knowing how much they cost to produce them. That is why you need to create the product first before you price them.
Some of the crucial things you need to consider when determining the price of your products include how much you have spent on materials, the size of the product, and the amount of time it has taken to create the product.
Your digital downloads need to be profitable. So, don’t just sell your product at a very low price just because your competitors are selling them at a certain price. It is good to be competitive but don’t go too low. There is no advantage to selling your products at the second lowest price. If your digital products are of high quality and unique, then people will buy them even if their prices are higher than the prevailing market price. Don’t sell your digital downloads at a price that is not profitable.
Step 5: Create your own shop on Etsy
Once everything is set, the next step is to create your own shop on Etsy. Fortunately, creating a shop on Etsy is simple and straightforward. All you need to do is click “open your own Etsy shop”, then create your account by entering your name, email, and other basic information such as shop name and currency. Also, complete your profile to help people know more about your shop and your products.
Step 6: Post your digital downloads in your shop
Once you have opened your shop, the next step is to post your digital downloads in that particular shop. Make sure you post high-quality images that are well-visible. Also, use the right keywords and describe your products in detail to convince customers to buy your products.
Using the right keywords is important because it will help make your digital products more visible, thus increasing the chances of getting more customers. Don’t forget to create policies for returns and exchanges. This way, your customers will know what to expect and that will help prevent conflicts.
Step 7: Market your digital downloads
Once your digital downloads are up, the final step is to market them to your target audience. The biggest mistake that most sellers make is assuming that people will magically find their products on Etsy and start buying. That is not usually the case.
If you want people to buy your digital downloads, you need to market them to make people know about them. You don’t have to use a lot of money to market your digital products. You can use cost-effective ways such as promoting your product on your social media accounts. SEO Search engine optimization is also recommended.
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Final thoughts
Selling digital downloads on Etsy is not difficult as many people think. The good news is that Etsy is a great place to start selling your new products physical item or digital download of any file format. Make sure you list your items at a affordable price and it may become your full-time job!
Etsy has made the process of opening a shop very easy even for beginners. If you follow the steps given above, then you will have an easy time opening your own shop and selling digital downloads on Etsy. However, if you want to be successful in your business, then you must create unique products that will impress your target audience. You should also market your products to make your target customers know about them.
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