Simple and Affordable Ways To Build a Creative Online Business



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What Are Printables?

Printables are digital files that can be downloaded and printed by customers for personal or professional use. They cover a wide range of products, including planners, calendars, wall art, worksheets, greeting cards, invitations, organizational tools, party decorations, educational materials, and more.


The appeal of printables lies in their convenience and versatility. Customers can instantly access them online, print them at home or at a professional print shop, and use them as needed. Printables are also highly customizable, which makes them popular for personal and business use alike.

How to Create Printables

1. Select a Niche or Theme:

  • Popular Niches: Planners and organizers (daily, weekly, or monthly), meal planners, budgeting templates, educational worksheets for kids, motivational wall art, party decor, or wedding printables (invitations, signs, seating charts).
  • Consider your target audience. For example, parents might look for kids’ educational activities, while entrepreneurs might search for business planning templates.


2. Choose Design Software:

  • Beginner-Friendly Tools: Canva, which offers templates and easy-to-use design tools, is great for beginners. For more control over design, you can use professional graphic design software like Adobe Illustrator, Adobe InDesign, or Affinity Designer.
  • Many printables are simple designs that rely on clean layouts, attractive typography, and functional elements. Tools like PowerPoint or Google Slides can also work for basic printable designs.


3. Design for Functionality and Aesthetics:

  • Planners and Organizational Printables: Include clearly marked sections for tasks, notes, dates, or categories. Keep the design minimal but visually appealing to ensure it’s both functional and pleasant to use.
  • Wall Art or Motivational Prints: Focus on typography and imagery. Use bold, decorative fonts, inspiring quotes, and eye-catching color schemes. Keep in mind that printables meant for wall art should be created at high resolution and standard frame sizes (e.g., 8x10 inches).
  • Educational and Kids Printables: These should be engaging and age-appropriate. Use vibrant colors, fun fonts, and interactive elements (such as puzzles, mazes, or learning worksheets).


4. Test and Export Your Designs:

  • Test your printable designs by printing them out to ensure everything looks as intended and aligns properly. If you are selling planners, check that sections are sized correctly for writing and that print elements aren’t too faint.
  • Export your designs as high-resolution PDF files (the preferred format for printables) or other formats such as JPEG or PNG for wall art or visual pieces. Make sure the resolution is at least 300 dpi for crisp, clear prints.


5. Offer Customization (Optional):

  • Some customers prefer printables that can be customized, like invitations or business cards. Consider offering editable files (using tools like Canva, which allows for customization) or creating templates in Word or Google Docs for easy personalization.

Where to Share and Sell Printables

1. Etsy:

Etsy is one of the most popular platforms for selling printables. With a large customer base looking for creative downloads, you can sell everything from planners and educational materials to wall art and party decor. Etsy handles transactions and digital file delivery, making it easy to manage.


2. Creative Market and Design Bundles:

These platforms are tailored for digital creators and designers. Creative Market is known for high-quality creative products, while Design Bundles offers a wide range of printable resources and design assets.


3. Creative Fabrica:

Creative Fabrica is a growing platform that caters to crafters and designers, offering a subscription model where users can access unlimited digital files, including printables. It’s a great place to sell planners, worksheets, wall art, and other downloadable items.


4. Gumroad:

Gumroad is a user-friendly platform that allows creators to sell digital products directly to customers. You can set up a storefront, offer free and paid printables, and create pricing tiers for different types of downloads. It’s simple to use and popular with creatives for selling digital files like printables, ebooks, and more.


5. Payhip:

Payhip is another easy-to-use platform for selling digital products. It allows creators to sell directly to their audience, offering instant downloads and multiple pricing options. Payhip is great for selling digital planners, wall art, worksheets, and other printable materials.


6. Teachers Pay Teachers:

If you create educational printables, Teachers Pay Teachers is a dedicated marketplace for selling resources like lesson plans, worksheets, and activities for students.


7. Your Own Website:

Use platforms like Shopify, WooCommerce, or Squarespace to create an online store and sell printables directly to your audience. Having your own website allows for more control over pricing, design, and branding.


8. Social Media Platforms:

Promote your printables on social media platforms like Pinterest, Instagram, and Facebook. Pinterest, in particular, is a powerful platform for promoting planners, organizational tools, and educational resources.


9. Subscription Platforms:

Offer exclusive printables to your followers through subscription platforms like Patreon or Ko-fi. This model is ideal for creators who consistently produce fresh content, such as new planners, wall art, or worksheets each month.


10. Print-on-Demand Services (for Physical Products):

Platforms like Printful, Redbubble, or Society6 can help you offer physical versions of printables, such as art prints, greeting cards, and invitations. These services handle the printing and shipping, allowing you to focus on design.


Printables are a versatile and highly popular category of digital products that appeal to a wide range of audiences. Whether you are creating planners, wall art, or educational worksheets, the demand for beautiful and functional designs is growing. Platforms like Etsy, Gumroad, Payhip, Creative Fabrica, and your own website provide excellent opportunities to share and sell your creations.


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Hello, I'm Janet.

I’m a disciple and servant of Jesus Christ. I’m also a wife, mom, teacher, author, Christian Life Coach, Creative Entrepreneur, and Online Business Coach.

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