If you’re an artist or crafter currently on Etsy or considering becoming a seller on the e-commerce platform, chances are you have probably heard of digital downloads. Now you may be wondering whether digital downloads are the right course of action or you may be questioning whether or not you have what it takes to make it. Don’t worry because we are here to answer all of your questions!

Etsy’s Digital Downloads: A Guide for Artists and Crafters. Digital downloads are an easy and creative way for artists and crafters alike to make a sustainable income, especially with the right listing optimization and market research.

Let’s go over exactly what it takes to make digital downloads and how to successfully sell them on Etsy. We are also going to cover how artists and crafters like yourselves, perhaps without any prior business knowledge or even digital art experience can start and scale in record time!

What Are Digital Downloads And Do I Need to Be Selling Them?

Digital downloads are essentially virtual products that you upload and sell, in this case on Etsy which has a growing demand for digital listings.

Customers can then purchase and download these products and then print them or use them for personal reasons. The best part is that because it is a non-physical product you can sell it over and over again.

Once you’ve made a digital product it can bring in passive income for years to come!

That should be reason enough for anyone with a spark of creativity to get started with digital downloads on Etsy.

Digital downloads include anything from clipart to invitations, planners, journal inserts, calendars, and wall art.

Of course, this begs the question of whether digital downloads are right for creatives or is it just for entrepreneurs.

Digital Downloads for Artists and Crafters

Etsy is specifically an e-commerce platform for handmakers, creatives, artists, and crafters.

So just because you see the word “digital” doesn’t mean this space is for coders or computer-savvy folk. If anything this is where your creative efforts can make the most profitable strides.

Let’s go over how you can actually create digital downloads, how you can sell them on Etsy, and product ideas to help you get started.

Creating Digital Downloads

Chances are if you are an artist and creative you have dabbled with graphic design tools like Photoshop and Illustrator so this part will be a faster learning curve for you.

If not, don’t worry because there are plenty of self-explanatory tools out there that are inexpensive and easy to work with.

If you are familiar with Adobe you can just skip this part and go to the product ideas and marketing part of this article.

Say you are an artist and you just created an abstract art piece. Now you can create a digital version of that work and allow people to download your art and print it to be placed in their homes and offices.

How fantastic is that!

So after you have actually created your work all you have to do is scan it and upload it to design software.

You can take your work to a professional print and scanning facility like FedEx or you can use apps on your phone to create high-quality pdf scans.

At this point, that file can already become a digital product but if you want to rework it a bit then keep reading.

Now, all you have to do is upload your work to something like Canva or Pixlr in order to edit it a bit, rework it, play with the colors, and resize your file.

Canva is particularly fantastic because it has a free version and its drag-and-drop feature is super easy to use!

On the other hand, if you don’t create fine art and instead want to focus on party decorations both Canva and Pixlr will allow you to do so. Truthfully, a 15 min tutorial on YouTube is more than enough to virtually master these design platforms for your Etsy shop.

Digital Products For Artists and Crafters

While planners, to-do lists, journals, and business cards do really well on Etsy artists and crafters alike are finding unique ways to take advantage of niches and sell incredibly creative and original digital products on Etsy!

Let’s take a look at just a few of the things you can sell.

1. Wall Art

This is an obvious one but you’d be surprised how well art pieces like these are selling on Etsy. Just make sure you make it clear in your product description that you aren’t selling the art piece itself with the frame and everything but just an art file.

2. Sewing and Crochet Patterns

Yes you read that right! You don’t just have to sell these as physical products because people on Etsy will happily buy digital downloads of sewing and crochet patterns.

These products include things like templates, visual instructions, diagrams, and a step-by-step guide for aspiring designers who love your design patterns.

3. Fonts

Etsy’s customer base seems to really appreciate fonts especially because they use them for their own graphic design and handmade pieces.

Here are a few more self-explanatory ideas:

• Coloring Pages/Books
• Custom Portraits
• Wrapping Paper
• Tissue Paper
• Logos
• Iron-on Transfers
• Clipart
• Photography

The possibilities for artists and crafters are endless!

Marketing And Selling Digital Downloads On Etsy

Here’s where things get slightly more challenging if you don’t have the right information from the get-go.

No matter how talented of an artist you are, digital downloads on Etsy rarely sell themselves.

In other words, if your product images don’t convert well, if your title isn’t engaging, and if your listings aren’t optimized chances are you won’t make much money.

That being said, the right keyword, competitor, and niche research along with listing optimization and killer SEO will increase your chances of success tenfold with every product you upload to Etsy!

If you want to find out how you can find high-search and low-competition keywords as well as understand your particular niche in more detail get in touch with us today to exponentially grow your Etsy digital downloads business.

We will help you with all the technical information so that all you have to do is focus on perfecting your art! Contact us today.