161: From Idea to $100K: How to Sell Printables on Etsy & Shopify

From Idea to $100K: How to Sell Printables on Etsy and Shopify

If you want a low-cost side hustle with no inventory and 24/7 sales potential, printables are a smart place to start. In this episode, Becky Beach explained step by step how she built a six-figure printables income. Below is a practical summary of her approach so you can apply the same process to sell printables on Etsy and Shopify.

Why Printables Make a Strong First Income Stream

• Low barrier to entry: Becky uses beginner-friendly tools like Canva and PowerPoint.
• Scalable: One design can sell unlimited times.
• Flexible: Work from anywhere; products deliver instantly.
• Real demand: Her surprise top seller is a Final Wishes Planner, which sells daily because it solves a real problem.

Step 1: Start With a Simple, Useful Idea

Becky recommends starting small. Your first product can be a one-page tracker or checklist. Think in terms of usefulness and quick wins, not complexity. Examples she mentioned include a “Dear Santa” letter for kids, vacation packing checklists (inspired by a hot and humid Florida trip), bucket lists, and planners/journals.

Step 2: Validate Demand and Check Competition

Before designing, Becky validates ideas so she’s not paying recurring listing fees for products that won’t sell. She uses:

• ERank to see Etsy search volume, competition, and trending products.
• Sale Samurai for a cleaner look at Etsy + Google trends data.

Her rule of thumb: aim for high demand with relatively low competition. She also reads competitor reviews to learn what customers liked and disliked, then bakes the wins into her product and avoids the misses.

Step 3: Create the Printable (and Customize Templates)

Becky builds printables in Canva and PowerPoint. She cautions against selling Canva templates “as-is.” Customize fonts, layouts, graphics, and structure so your product is distinct and not flagged as duplicate content. Export as a PDF for easy printing.

• Begin with one page and iterate.
• Add value versus competitors (extra pages, clearer layout).
• Keep the design clean and easy to use.

Step 4: Open Your Shop(s) and List Your First Product

Becky notes you need a product ready to list before you can open an Etsy shop. Her platform guidance:

• Etsy: Low startup cost and built-in traffic. There’s a monthly $0.20 listing fee and transaction/processing fees; unsold listings renew. Etsy may also show competing products alongside yours.
• Shopify: A standalone store (basic plan cost applies) with only your products visible and direct email list growth potential. Becky started on Etsy, then added Shopify after gaining traction.

Step 5: Create Strong Mockups and Keyword-Rich Listings

Presentation drives clicks. Becky builds mockups in Canva that show pages “in use” (e.g., a planner on a desk). She recommends:

• Use as many listing images as the platform allows (Etsy offers up to 10).
• Show different features across images (e.g., calendar spread, checklist page).
• Add your store name/URL on images to deter theft.

For titles/descriptions/tags, Becky looks at competitor keywords and incorporates relevant terms naturally so the listing can surface in search.

Step 6: Drive Traffic to Sell Printables on Etsy and Shopify

Becky combines marketplace visibility with content and email:

• Etsy SEO: Use relevant keywords in titles, descriptions, and tags.
• Etsy Ads: She typically runs ads during promotions (e.g., ~$3/day) to boost visibility in search results.
• Blog & Freebie Funnel: Her articles (e.g., budgeting topics) offer a free related printable. After signup, readers see an immediate offer for a larger, paid product (e.g., a fuller planner or spreadsheet).
• Email List Growth: Printables include a link or QR code to a freebie opt-in, so buyers can join her list and receive future offers.

This blend of Etsy discovery, helpful content, and email follow-up has been a major driver of her sales.

Step 7: Be Patient and Stay Consistent

Becky considered quitting in year one. Results turned a corner around month 15 (approximately $1K), then grew to $5K and $10K months with continued effort. Her mantra: no zero days. Even small daily actions compound over time.

Practical Notes Becky Emphasizes

• Research first: Validate demand to avoid paying to renew listings that don’t sell.
• Customize templates: Make designs your own to prevent duplicate-content issues.
• Use both platforms wisely: Start on Etsy; add Shopify for control and email list building.
• Leverage reviews: Let competitor feedback inform better features in your product.
• Build systems: Mockups, keywording, and simple funnels help repeat results.

A Real-World Example: The Unexpected Bestseller

Becky’s Final Wishes Planner is her top seller. It wouldn’t be most people’s first guess, but it consistently sells because it makes a difficult task easier for families. That’s a useful lesson: solving a meaningful problem beats chasing trends.

Putting It All Together

To sell printables on Etsy and Shopify the way Becky does: start with one helpful idea, validate demand, design a clear and customized product, present it well with strong mockups, and support it with marketplace SEO, modest ads, helpful content, and email follow-up. Be patient. As your first product sells, add more. That’s how skills and sales compound.