Etsy is one of the largest global online marketplaces, with an audience of 95 million potential buyers. It allows creatives to let their art do the talking – connecting independent crafters, makers, artists and designers with audiences across the globe.

Learning how to sell digital prints on Etsy can be a great way to reach potential customers and advertise your creations. The world’s your oyster on Etsy – you can sell posters, collages, art prints and more.

This Adobe Express article will explain more about what Etsy is, what you can sell and top tips on how to sell art prints on Etsy.

What is Etsy?

Etsy is a digital marketplace where people can buy and sell handmade items. In fact, it’s one of the biggest in the world, with 5.9 million sellers and makers. It’s the go-to place for personalised presents and unique items, from homeware to gifts. Customers can filter by location, price, category and rating to scroll through over 100 million active listings.

It’s a great platform for independent artists to share and sell their handmade work with the world. From crafts like macrame and pottery to digital prints and more, Etsy is a treasure trove of unique creatives. Learn how to start selling on Etsy and join a platform of likeminded artists today.

What prints can you sell on Etsy?

Prints are reproductions of art pieces that involve transferring the original art onto a printing surface, which can include anything from posters and canvases to even mugs and t-shirts.

You may decide to offer custom canvas prints to encourage your customers to make a statement and add a touch of luxury to their homes. Or if you’re looking to sell photography prints on Etsy, consider whether you’d like to offer a matt or glossy finish – or both. You can send a physical print to your customer or a digital version that they can download and print themselves.

You may also decide to offer to add frames or borders to your pieces. Not only will this help your prints to stand out, but it’s a handy bit of upselling, too. It also makes it easier to sell your prints as gifts.

How to sell art prints on Etsy – step by step.

Getting started on Etsy may appear complicated, but it’s simpler than you think. Look through this step-by-step guide on how to sell prints on Etsy and elevate your small design business.

1. Create your own Etsy shop.

If you don’t already have an Etsy account, you’ll need to set one up. On the Etsy homepage, head to the ‘Sign in’ button and enter your details. You can also connect your Google, Facebook or Apple profiles.

To launch your shop, click on your profile in the top right corner and navigate to ‘Sell on Etsy’. Then follow the instructions to start selling prints on Etsy.

2. Find your niche.

Next, you need to find a niche that mirrors your art style. Focusing on a specific theme, like minimalist fine art or groovy vintage prints, can help you build a brand identity and grow a base of loyal customers who resonate with your style. To refine your niche, highlight your USP and envision your target audience.

3. Craft your prints and poster designs.

Now for the creative part – start designing your digital prints to sell on Etsy. Use Adobe Express design tools to craft a creative poster using the customisable templates. Remember to complete market research to establish the designs your target audience is interested in and tailor them to reflect your niche and unique style.

4. List your prints on Etsy.

It’s now time to list your items on Etsy. To do so, you’ll need to craft a detailed description to attract potential buyers and help your prints stand out. You also need compelling product titles that harness your Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) skills. Think like a customer – what search terms are they likely to use?

Next, add as many photos as you like to make sure your buyers can see exactly what they’re purchasing. There’s no limit – the more, the better!

5. Set the right prices.

When it comes to pricing your prints, consider the competition. Research similar prints and competitor designers, and then adjust your price accordingly. Make sure to factor in production costs – like printing, shipping and raw materials – as well as time and labour, profit margin and Etsy fees.

6. Market your products.

Develop a marketing plan around your Etsy shop. You may decide to promote your products on social media to get the word out about your prints – you could use Facebook or Instagram to expand your reach. You may also implement sales incentives like free shopping to motivate customers.

7. Sold something? Time to print.

Success! You’ve made a sale. But the fun doesn’t stop there. Now you need to print and send it to the customer. Consider the most cost-effective and high-quality methods to print your designs.

Remember to post it promptly so you don’t keep your buyers waiting, as this will help to secure good reviews and repeat purchases in the future.

8. Learn from traffic and sales data.

Some of the most helpful insights come from your own sales data. Track what does and doesn’t sell well to learn from your customers and improve your offering. You can access your Stats in Etsy’s Shop Manager, view your metrics overview and learn how shoppers found you. This will help you identify where to focus future marketing efforts.

Tips on how to make art prints for Etsy.

Making and selling art prints online can open opportunities for creatives to showcase and make money from their art. Here are five top tips on how to sell physical or downloadable prints on Etsy:

• Create a brand for your Etsy store. Build your brand identity so customers can recognise your signature style and know what to expect from your store. You can also advertise your Etsy brand on social media to encourage customers to check out your art for sale.
• Use photos and videos to raise your store’s profile. Add interest to your Etsy profile and encourage customers to purchase your products using exciting imagery and video content.
• Engage with your customers. Remember – customer service is key! If your customers have a good experience at your store, they’re more likely to shop again or recommend your business to others. Be sure to respond to any queries promptly and keep customers updated with when they can expect their item.
• Boost trust by showing your customer reviews. Show off good customer reviews to present your Etsy brand as trustworthy. This may help encourage potential customers to take the leap.
• Try promotions and limited editions. Keep your art fresh by offering limited editions to increase exclusivity. You could also implement promotions to try and entice customers and sell more prints.

How can Adobe Express help you make Etsy prints?

Adobe Express has all the tools you need to design art prints to promote and sell on Etsy. Here’s just a glimpse at what you can do:

1. Make the most of editable poster templates.

Start your creation with editable poster templates. Get the basics sorted, then add your branding and signature flare. Design your poster using art-inspired templates, from Art Deco styles to Pop Art prints.

2. Create a poster or print from scratch.

At Adobe Express, we encourage users to harness their own creativity. Design and create posters to print from scratch. Apply filters, change the colour palette and more with the in-app tools.

3. Print your posters on demand.

With Adobe Express, you can even print your posters on demand. Once you’ve finished designing, choose a suitable poster size and place your order. Added bonus – each design is printed on sustainable paper.

4. Use free editing tools to perfect your print.

Unleash your creativity with editing tools from Adobe Express. Animate your images, remove the background or make photo collages in just a few clicks to create a masterpiece to sell on Etsy.

5. Experiment with different text effects.

Add another layer to your creation by testing different text effects with generative AI. The more creative, the better. Craft letters using funky animation, incredible textures and stunning imagery.

Find digital print inspiration with the Adobe Express AI poster generator.

Looking to stoke your creative fire? Or do you have a poster design in mind, but you’re not sure how to get started? The Adobe Express AI poster generator has everything you need to create unique, stunning templates – in just a few seconds.

Just type in your short prompt and watch as the tool generates a variety of template options for you to choose from. Go into as little or as much detail as you want, depending on the project, and then build and edit your posters until you’ve got the perfect print. Go from initial idea to template to final product in minutes – ready to print and sell on Etsy.

Try Adobe Express for free now

Good to know.

Is selling prints on Etsy profitable?

Selling prints on Etsy can be very profitable if you have unique designs and use promotional strategies to engage customers. If you’re an artist specialising in prints, it’s worth learning how to sell print-on-demand or downloadable art on Etsy so you can use the platform to generate sales and build a customer base.

What size prints sell best on Etsy?

In order to appeal to a wide range of customers, you may consider offering a range of sizes at different price points – from smaller prints of five to seven inches to larger 30 to 40-inch designs. This helps to expand your pool of potential buyers and increase your versatility as a business.

Why are my prints not selling on Etsy?

If you find your art prints aren’t selling as well as you expected, it might be because your listings aren’t ranking high enough on Etsy search. As search traffic is the main traffic for many Etsy shops, it’s important to have optimised product titles and descriptions that match what your customers will be searching for.

Is Adobe Express free?

Yes, our free plan offers many core features including thousands of templates, photo editing and effects, animation, and 5 GB of storage. See our pricing page for details and to compare plans.