Tag: business

The Best Print on Demand Automation Tools

best print on demand automation tools software
~ Julie ~ 2 Comments
the best print on demand automation software tools

Are you looking to scale your print on demand art business with automation tools and software?

As artists and entrepreneurs we are usually the sole employee of our business, and can only do so much. At some point we must turn to automation tools (or else hire someone) to take away some of the busy work, like uploading to marketplaces like Etsy, Redbubble, Society6 etc. This gives us back more time to create designs, which is what you’d rather be doing right?!

So if you’re ready to take your print on demand business to the next level, keep reading for a list of tools that might work for you!


Flying Upload

Flying Upload is a versatile automation software which integrates with Redbubble, Printful, Society6, Teepublic, Zazzle and several other marketplaces. It also includes keyword suggestions, trademark / copyright checks, and more. You can upload images and then fill in the design information right in the software. It’s fairly easy to learn and user friendly compared with some of the others in this list.

Best for: Artists who sell on many different platforms and do artistic / pattern work as well as t-shirt designers.

Cost: Free version available, Pro from $7.95 per month, (JULIE10 for 10% off)

print on demand automation with flying upload

Pod Connect

Pod Connect is another automation software which integrates with Printful and other marketplaces like Redbubble, Zazzle etc. Through Printful you can easily sell on Etsy, or even on your own website with a Shopify or Woocommerce storefront. The easiest way to upload your designs to the software is by creating a “CSV file” or spreadsheet with all of the design data. This requires a bit of work upfront but saves time in the long run.

Best for: Artists who use Printful with their own website or Etsy and do t-shirt designs.

Cost: Free trial, then $19.99 per month (JULIE20 for 20% off lifetime)

Book Bolt

Book Bolt is an all-in-one Amazon KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing) low content book creation tool, which works in the browser so you don’t have to download anything. It allows you to make lots of KDP interiors quickly and easily. There is also a built-in design tool which is pretty intuitive and you can upload your own images to pair with text and shapes. Keyword and niche research tools are also available in the tool. Upgrade to get access to PuzzleWiz which allows you to create all sorts of puzzle interiors, sudoku and more!

Learn more about selling your art on books through Amazon KDP.

Best for: Artists and designers who want to make book covers and sell “low content” books through Amazon KDP.

Cost: Some free interiors available, free trial then starts at $9.99 per month (20% off with code JULIE20).

Merch Informer

Merch Informer is an all-in-one Merch by Amazon selling platform which includes upload automation to Amazon but also other print on demand platforms like Redbubble, Teespring etc. It also includes niche research, keyword suggestion tools and a built-in design tool for those who don’t have access to design software.

Best for: Artists and designers who focus on Merch by Amazon as their main selling platform.

Cost: Free trial, starts at $9.99 per month.

print on demand automation software merch informer

Merch Titans

Like Merch Informer, Merch Titans is more geared towards folks who sell mainly on Merch by Amazon, but it can also upload to other marketplaces like Redbubble, Society6, Teepublic etc. There is also a separate tool for KDP, and tag (keyword) generators.

Best for: Artists and designers who focus on Merch by Amazon and make t-shirt designs.

Cost: Starts at $9.99 per month.

merch titans amazon

Productor Chrome Extension

Productor is a Google chrome extension which works on your Merch by Amazon dashboard. It gives you lots of analytics and also includes easy product copy and relisting functions. It’s not a 100% automated upload process since you still have to do some clicking, but it is very quick to relist designs and translate into other languages for international marketplaces.

Best for: Merch by Amazon sellers who want more analytics, translation and relisting tools.

Cost: Free!

So what are the best print on demand automation tools?

There are several different automation tools that have come available for print on demand in the last couple of years, and they’re all a little different. Your needs will vary depending on the style of art you do and the marketplaces you mainly sell on. I suggest using the free trials where available to test them out before making a decision.

Personally I’m using Flying Upload at this time. I also use the Productor Chrome Extension a lot and Book Bolt for KDP.

In the end, the best tool is the one that works for you, and is in your price range!

I hope you’ve found this post useful, feel free to leave any questions or other tools you use for your print on demand business in the comments below.

Cheers,

julie signing off

NOTE: If you’re having issues with a particular software, please contact their support, as I don’t work for them.

*Please note: Some of the tools listed include an affiliate link. When you make a purchase through the links I may earn a commission, which helps me create more content :)

6 Tips to Increase Your Sales on Society6

selling on society 6 tips
~ Julie ~ 7 Comments
tips increase sales on society6

Hey guys, today I’m sharing my top 6 tips to help you increase sales on the print on demand website Society6.

I’ve been selling on Society6 since 2014 and have made some decent passive income with it alongside my other Print on Demand shops.

Also read: How to Sell Your Art Online – The Definitive Guide

Watch the video below for my tips, or scroll down to read them.

6 Tips to Increase your Society6 Sales

1. Create more Designs (Increase volume)

To make more sales, you need to make more artwork. I recommend having at least 100 designs in your shop. This will take time. Try not to get discouraged or overwhelmed by this number. Find ways to speed up your design process if you can.

If you already have 100 designs, then make more of what is already selling for you. This includes re-colours of the same design, but be strategic.

Don’t just throw everything on there and hope for the best. You don’t want to waste your time uploading sub-par designs that won’t sell anyway. Quality is always better than quantity.

2. Sign up for the Society6 Blog and especially the Creative Brief

Take a look at the Society6 blog and read the advice they provide. I also like to get the Creative Brief in my e-mail. This quarterly brief includes valuable information such as trending topics, design styles, keywords people are searching for, product types to promote and upcoming holidays to hit with your promotions.

3. Use proper keywords and tags for your designs

I can’t stress this enough, to get found on Society6 you must use good titles and tags.

Use the search bar on the Society6 homepage to research keywords for your design.

They recommend using single words rather than phrases, and if you do use multiple words put a dash in between them (ex. pineapple-pattern).

society6 backpack

4. Have all your assets ready before you upload new designs

I create 3-4 different assets per design. One for t-shirts and stickers with a transparent background, one that looks good as a print, and sometimes a pattern to cover furniture and larger items. 10,000 x 10,000 pixels is what I use for the larger sized items.

The yoga mat has a special size so I usually make one specifically for that product.

I like to have all 3 or 4 images ready to go before I start uploading so it can go as quickly as possible.

5. Promote your products on Pinterest

Marketing can be difficult for artists. The simplest way I’ve found is to use Pinterest. You can pin your products straight from the product page by clicking on Pinterest sharing icon.

You can also use a mockup generating service like Place It to create fun and unique mockups of your designs to share on Pinterest and other social media.

Read more about my Pinterest marketing strategy here.

6. Experiment with different storefront layouts

You can change the layout of your Society6 shop to showcase different things like your latest designs, specific product types etc.

I recommend experimenting with the different store front layouts and give it a month or so to see if it helps with your sales, then switch it up to see if anything changes.

Bonus

Conclusion

I hope you’ve found these tips helpful and learned something new.

Make sure to follow my blog so you never miss my latest print on demand tips and tricks! I’m always sharing new strategies I learn along my journey of making an income from my art with print on demand websites like Society6.


Let me know what you thought of this post by leaving a comment below!

Cheers,

julie signing off

5 Tips to Increase your Redbubble Sales

increase sales on redbubble
~ Julie ~ 2 Comments
5 tips to increase redbubble sales

Are you an artist looking to increase your sales on Rebubble? Well then you’re in the right place because today I’m sharing 5 tips I’ve recently learned to help increase your sales. I’ve seen a 3x increase in sales since implementing these tips.

Also read: How to Sell Your Art Online – The Definitive Guide

You can either watch the video below or scroll down further to read my 5 tips to help increase your sales on Redbubble.

How to Increase your Redbubble Sales

1. Create Trending Designs

You can click in the search bar on Redbubble and “trending searches” comes up. You can also type in a letter or multiple letters and trending searches come up for those too.

Create designs inspired by these trending searches and make sure to use it in the tags. Don’t create copyright designs though unless it’s part of the Fan Art program.

2. Add Your Store Name or Social Media Handle in Tags

People may search Redbubble for your name or Instagram name rather than typing in your store link. This is especially important if your name is different on social media vs. Redbubble. For example, my name is slightly different due to the character limit, so while I’m julieerindesigns in most places, my username is julieerindesign for my Redbubble store. I put both names in my tags to cover everything.

3. Add Your Store Link to the Description

This may help increase multiple sales, if someone likes your design and sees the link in the description it is easy for them to copy and paste it into the browser bar and come to your shop. I’ve seen an increase in sales of multiple products such as stickers since implementing this strategy.

increase redbubble sales

4. Make Sure Every Product Looks Nice

You want your store to look professional, so make sure every single product looks good with your design. If it doesn’t you should either modify the design, or disable that product. For example, use a clear background for stickers and t-shirts. Make sure the image covers the entire product and there is no white space surrounding it.

Having a nice, professional looking store front will increase the customer’s trust in you which increases the likelihood that they will purchase from you.

5. Share your Products to Pinterest

After you’ve submitted your design there is an option to share your products to a few social media channels. I recommend using this feature to Pin your product to Pinterest.

You can also go to the product page and share from there for additional mock up options, or use a mockup service like Place It to create fun and unique mockups to share across all social media.

Read more about How to Use Pinterest to Increase your Art Sales

Or watch my video below explaining my Pinterest strategy for Redbubble and other POD sites.

Conclusion

I hope some of these tips are new and helpful to you. Try implementing them next time you upload to Redbubble and see what happens! Nothing is guaranteed but it never hurts to try. Always be thinking about how you can optimize your products, designs, tags, etc.

I’m always sharing new strategies I learn along my journey of making an income from my art with print on demand websites like Redbubble. Check out my Resources page for more information!

And make sure to follow my blog so you never miss my latest print on demand tips and tricks.


I hope you found this post useful. Please share any other Redbubble tips you have in the comments below!

Cheers,

julie signing off

Where to Sell Your Art Online in 2024

where to sell your art online 2024
~ Julie ~ 10 Comments
where to sell your art online 2024

This post was updated in 2024 to reflect the most current information. Some affiliate links are included.

If you’re looking for where to sell your art online in 2024, it can be overwhelming! Things have changed a lot in the last few years in the online art space. With the explosion of AI art on the scene, to major Print on Demand companies introducing paid tiers and plan structures, finding the right platform to showcase and sell your art requires careful consideration.

But it’s not all bad news… there are still plenty of places out there for you to sell your art online and even make a living from it. So, what are they? Read on to find out.

Pro Tip: Do your research before giving away any personal information or uploading your original artwork to any website or company.

Also read: Common Scams for Artists to Watch out for.

Where to Sell your Art Online in 2024

1. Zazzle 

Zazzle is where I first started my journey of selling my art online. It’s a “print on demand” (POD) platform, meaning they create the product after someone buys it. They take care of the manufacturing, shipping, and customer service for you. You earn a share of the sale (royalties), and your customer receives a unique product featuring your art.

Most of the websites in this list function similarly unless otherwise noted.

Zazzle is a great option for artists looking to sell their art online for several reasons.

  • It’s free to open multiple stores under the same account and upload unlimited designs to their marketplace.
  • There’s a helpful forum with supportive members which is a great place to share and get tips and feedback.
  • They have everything. Like literally everything you can imagine to put your art on. Even brownies! I recommend sticking to a few product types to start.
  • A huge part of Zazzle are their customize-able products. Things like invitations and business cards.

Learn how to set up your own Zazzle store step by step in my Skillshare class: Sell Your Art Online with Zazzle: A Complete Guide to Setting up Your Zazzle Store

2. Redbubble

Redbubble is still one of my most successful online art shops. They have recently introduced Artist Tiers and take a nominal fee from your earnings for hosting your shop. However, once you get past the first tier, they no longer charge you any fees.

Here are some of the benefits of Redbubble:

  • Great for beginners due to ease of use.
  • You can upload unlimited designs to sell on their marketplace.
  • Beyond art prints, Redbubble offers some unique products including scarves, dresses and mini skirts.
  • They are artist focused, and do a lot of free advertising for you.
  • Their uploading tool is easy to use and you can “copy” settings from your other designs to speed up the process.
galaxy betta fish sticker from Redbubble
Betta fish sticker from Redbubble

3. TeePublic

TeePublic focuses on t-shirts, as the name suggests, but they do carry other products including home décor and tech accessories. 

Benefits of TeePublic include:

  • The uploading process is quick and easy, making it a great choice for beginners.
  • It’s free to create a store and add unlimited designs to their marketplace.
  • Transparent .png images work best so graphic and vector styles do well here.
  • Owned by Redbubble (as of 2019).
  • They have a fan art program you can design for (also on Redbubble).
tie dye hummingbird t-shirt
Tie dye Hummingbird T-shirt on Teepublic

4. Spoonflower

If you specialize in seamless pattern design then Spoonflower is a great place to sell your art online!

  • Mainly sells fabrics and caters to the DIY community, but they also have a variety of home décor products like wallpaper and bedding.
  • Their design challenges are great for both exposure and inspiration!
  • Unlimited uploads to their marketplace.
where to sell your art online spoonflower

5. Threadless

Threadless is a great platform for more seasoned artists, as it does take a bit more time to upload your designs (if you want them enabled on all the products they offer). However, they have a unique range of products including shoes and skateboards!

Other benefits of selling your designs on Threadless include:

  • Fun design challenges.
  • Emails about promotions and marketing assets.
  • You can sell in both their marketplace and on your own customizable storefront.
  • The ability to select a cause to donate your royalties to for specific designs.
butterfly pattern shoes from Threadless
Butterfly pattern shoes on Threadless

6. CafePress

CafePress is another print on demand marketplace that has existed for quite some time (since 1999!). They have a decent range of products to customize, and other benefits include:

  • You can list unlimited designs for free in their marketplace.
  • You can create a custom store front
  • They have a fan art program so you can create design inspired by your favourite shows, celebrities and more.

7. Fine Art America

As the name suggests, this platform is focused on fine art, so canvas prints of paintings and photography do well here. 

  • You can sell both print on demand and original artworks through their platform.
  • It’s free to open a store and upload 25 designs to sell on their marketplace.
  • They have an active community with contests and other ways to participate.

8. Merch by Amazon

You can sell your designs on T-shirts and a handful of other products on Amazon! They have their own print on demand service which is linked to the Amazon marketplace.

Some things to know about selling through Merch by Amazon include:

  • You have to apply, but the earnings potential is huge.
  • Products only ship to the U.S., U.K., Spain, Italy, Germany and Japan (as of January 2024), but anyone can sell.
  • Curated product range. Various tops, phone cases, pillows, tote bags, and Popsockets at the time of this writing.

Read more about my first year experience selling on Merch by Amazon.

purple daisy pattern popsocket magsafe
Magsafe Popsocket on Merch by Amazon

9. Etsy

Etsy is a well known marketplace for hand-made goods like original art, jewelry and pottery, but also digital products and more. It’s not a print on demand store, like many of the others listed here, but a platform to sell your existing products through.

  • The right place for you if you make hand-made clothing, accessories, jewelry, candles, or want to sell original artworks or even digital products.
  • There is a small fee to upload, 20 cents per listing, but you can get 40 free Etsy listings using this link.
  • You can integrate Etsy with a print on demand service like Printful (more on this below) to sell these types of products on their marketplace.

10. Society6

Society6 is another well known print on demand website with a heavy artist focus and community.

They have recently introduced fees like shipping fees and paid Artist Plans (if you want to upload more than 10 designs to your shop). We will see what the future holds for Society6, but I’m keeping on the list for now because it has been good to me in the past, and may still be.

Benefits include:

  • A similar range of products as Redbubble with a few extras like yoga mats and furniture.
  • A helpful blog with tips for artists and sales templates e-mailed ahead of time.
yoga mat on society6 where to sell you art online
Yoga mats on Society6

11. On your own website

If you already have a pretty solid fan base then selling art through your own website could be the way to go.

You can use a print on demand service like Printful to sell print on demand products through your own shop on your website. You can also create listings for original paintings, digital downloads or other goods using a shop builder like Woocommerce or Shopify.

Benefits include:

  • Full control over your brand, the look and feel of your store and check out process.
  • Ability to schedule promotions and create promo codes.
  • Set your own prices and shipping costs.
  • Ability to sell a variety of product types in once place like original artworks, print on demand products and digital products.

Downsides include:

  • Costs some money to set up: Domain name, hosting, possibly a premium theme or platform to use for your shop (Woocommerce is free).
  • More initial work to set up your shop and a steep learning curve if you don’t have any website building experience.
  • You will have to market the store yourself which is why I recommend it for those who have a strong brand and fan base already established.

Bonus Tip: Use PodConnect to upload to multiple stores at once.

I recently learned about a software called PodConnect which allows you to upload your art to multiple print on demand websites at once! There is a free trial, and if you decide to buy a subscription use my promo code julie20 for 20% off!

podconnect print on demand multi uploader

Well that’s it guys, thank you so much for taking the time to read all this information I’ve compiled for you.  I hope you find the right place to sell your art online and I wish you the best of luck with your business!

If you have any questions or comments feel free to leave them below.

Cheers,

julie signing off

Redbubble vs Society6 – Which One is Better for Selling Your Art Online?

redbubble vs society6
~ Julie ~ 3 Comments
redbubble vs society6

Today I’m sharing a comprehensive guide on Redbubble vs Society6 for selling your art online.

These two popular Print on Demand websites are great options if you want to generate an income from your art and designs online without paying for inventory, shipping etc.

You can watch my video below, or read on to learn more about selling your art through Redbubble vs Society6 and determine which one is best for you!

Artist Store Front

Rebubble and Society6’s store fronts are visually quite similar. 

The most obvious difference is the custom header on Redbubble is a lot larger. Both store fronts feature custom logo or bio pic, a small bio section, and can be slightly customized to show specific item categories on Society6 or feature a collection on Redbubble.

Your Redbubble storefront shows your products sorted by most relevant by default. On Society6 you can choose whether to showcase your products in order of most popular items, most recent, or random.

There store front layouts have apparently been optimized for shoppers and to increase sales based on marketing research by the respective companies.

Type of Audience

Both Society6 and Redbubble cater towards a young, hip, and trendy audience.  Think festival gear, college dorm or first apartment decor, stickers, and unique accessories.

Trendy pattern designs and quotes are popular on both websites, but I think Redbubble is more on the trendy side while on Society6 you will find more abstract art and modern art based designs.

The audience on Redbubble is slightly younger though than Society6 as they focus more on stickers which are popular with teenagers and young adults.  However, Society6 has stickers too which can be popular with the right design.

Overall I think the target audience for both of these sites are young adults (20s and 30s) and their parents buying gifts for them.

Ease of Uploading Artwork

Redbubble’s uploading tool is easier and more efficent than Society6, hands down.

Not to say you shouldn’t spend the time uploading your art on Society6, just expect it to take longer. Their current uploading tool is an improvement on what it used to be, and they are planning further changes for the future.

What is better about Redbubble’s uploading process?

  • You can upload one image for all products, and individual images as needed.
  • You can set a background colour for all products.
  • The ability to create square or offset patterns.
  • The “Copy” tool which allows you to copy all of the settings from an existing artwork, great to quickly upload recolours.
Products from Redbubble featuring my designs

Redbubble vs Society6 Products

Society6 and Redbubble offer a similar range of print on demand products including apparel, tech cases, home decor items, and accessories. But both have some unique products as well.

For example:

Myself, family and friends have purchased items from both sites. The quality has been good overall, and any time there was an issue it was resolved promptly.

Both websites add new types of products from time to time, which is fun.

Reviews of different Redbubble and Society6 products I own:

Earnings and Payment

Redbubble earnings are paid automatically around the 15th of every month (to Paypal, or direct deposit), and there is a $20 minimum threshold. If you don’ t meet the threshold by the end of the year they pay you out in December.

Similarly, Society6 pays automatically to Paypal, with whatever balance you have on usually on the 1st of every month.

Both are reliable and I haven’t had any issues getting paid from either.

society6 can cooler review
Can coolers from Society6

Product Marketing

Redbubble and Society6 have their own marketing departments who are professionals and good at driving traffic to their own websites. However, until your designs get their attention they probably won’t be promoting them. You will have to do some of your own marketing as well.

They do have re-targeting ads which means if someone views your design on their site a “cookie” will make it so they will see ads for your design on Facebook and Google etc.

Tips for Marketing your Print on Demand Products:

Most products have nice mockups that are easy to share or take a screenshot for social media, blogs and other marketing initiatives. 

You can also find some nice Photoshop mockups on the Redbubble blog.

throw pillow mock up template selling art redbubble
Redbubble throw pillow mockup

Society6 sends out e-mail notices to artists prior to upcoming sales. They will often provide a link to download a .png overlay to use for your ads. Usually it’s just text containing the discount amount and promo code.

Redbubble sends an e-mail to their subscribers when there’s a sale. It’s useful to be signed up for their newsletter to get these notifications so you can promote these.

Shipping and Packaging

Redbubble and Society6 both have pretty reasonable shipping costs which vary depending on your location, the product size and weight.

Redbubble has manufaturers worldwide and products are shipped from the closest one to your location. They usually add in a free sticker with your purchase, and the packaging is cute and fun to open.

Society6 works with manufacturers in the U.S. and they often have free shipping worldwide promotions.

Both companies work with different manufacturers for different products. So, for example if you ordered a t-shirt and coasters, they might come in separate packages and at different times.

Note: Some products take longer to manufacture than others so it could take longer to ship and receive!

Summary

I hope you’ve found this breakdown of Redbubble vs Society6 helpful. Society6 and Redbubble are both great options for selling your artwork online, but overall I prefer Redbubble, mainly because of their streamlined uploading process. I think it’s better for beginners.

However, both have great things to offer including unique products and audiences, so it really depends on what you like and what works for you.

I use both because, as they say, don’t put all of your eggs in one basket.


Want to learn more about selling your art online?  Here are some more great posts to check out!

Cheers,

julie signing off

[Editor’s note: This post was originally published in March 2018 and has been updated in 2023 for clarity and accuracy.]

How to Sell Your Art Online – The Definitive Guide

how to sell you art online definitive guide
~ Julie ~ 10 Comments
how to sell your art online - definitive guide

Are you an artist wanting to learn how to sell your art online? You’ve come to the right place! I’ve been selling art online for over 6 years now and have written many blog posts on the topic, sharing what I’ve learned along the way.

Today I’ve created this definitive guide to round up many of those posts in a new, and hopefully helpful way.

If you want to get a crash course on how to sell your art online, don’t miss my Skillshare class: From Design to Product: Sell Your Art Online Through Print on Demand

Otherwise, read on to learn more about how to sell your art online.

Getting Started

To get started selling your art online you’ll need to have a collection of designs to start off with, decide on a platform for selling your art, and optimize your artwork for the web.

Then, you’ll need to upload your art or list your products on the platform you’ve chosen. Finally, you’ll need to market those products to your customers.

To dive deeper into some of these topics, check out the following posts:

how to sell your art online

Where to Sell Your Art Online

The website you choose to sell your art online will depend on factors like your artistic medium, and what you want to sell. If you want to sell original paintings or screen printed t-shirts you could try Etsy.

On the other hand, if you don’t want to carry an inventory or ship physical goods yourself, then a Print on Demand marketplace like Society6 might be better for you.

If you want to sell your art through your own website (best if you already have a large following), then you might consider Printful, which integrates with e-commerce platforms on your own site.

There are a lot of different options which I’ve discussed in depth in other posts on this site, which are listed below.


How to Market Your Art Online

Marketing your art can mean handing out business cards to your network, sharing on social media or even blogging. You can try all of these, or just focus on a few like sharing on Instagram and Pinterest.

One thing I recommend is having consistent branding across all of your stores and social media channels. This includes having the same or similar headers, logo and profile photo. These can be changed and improved over time so just start with something simple and go from there.

I have several in depth posts about the different marketing platforms I’ve experimented with. You should do your own experimenting, or take some marketing courses (many are free!) if it is not your strong suit.

Running an Art Business

If you want to make money from your art then you need to think about it as your business.

You may already have a career or full time job, but that doesn’t mean you can’t also be an artist or business owner. Thinking about it this way can really help you reach your goals in the long run.

As with any business there are risks and responsibilities, like paying taxes! It’s best practice to keep a log sheet in Google Sheets or Excel to track your business expenses and income. This will help you determine where your money is going, and where it is coming from.

Most large businesses have an accountant, a marketing person, a CEO, and other roles. As a small business owner, you are all of these. As a result, there is a lot to learn, but you should strive to continue learning and filling in your knowledge gaps.

Below are some posts I’ve written on topics related to the business side of things:

Resources

Now that you have a handle on how to sell your art online, you may be wondering what the quality of the products are like. And how to optimize your shops to increase sales.

Below are some posts including product reviews, conducting keyword research, and other things you can do to improve your stores and reach.

Find even more resources in the Artist Resources section of my website!

My Print on Demand Stores

Below are links to my different print on demand storefronts. I’ve also got a shop on my own website you can take a look at for inspiration.

julie erin designs redbubble
julie erin designs threadless shop logo
society6
julie erin designs spoonflower
zazzle
teepublic

I hope this guide will be useful for all of you artists out there who are trying to make some extra money by selling your art online through Print on Demand websites.

Be sure to subscribe to my blog so you don’t miss any new posts, and bookmark this guide so you can come back to it whenever new information is added.

If you want a more in depth crash course, don’t miss my Skillshare class: From Design to Product: Sell Your Art Online Through Print on Demand.

You can watch the intro below:

Let’s do this!

Cheers,

julie signing off

How to Grow Your Instagram Art Account

how to grow your instagram for artists
~ Julie ~ 16 Comments
how to grow your instagram art account

Hey guys! Today I’d like to share with you some tips for growing your art account on Instagram.

If you’re an artist and not using Instagram, get on it! I find it’s better than Facebook or Twitter for artists because it’s more visual based.

In fact, many artists today use Instagram as their art portfolio instead of having a website. While I don’t recommend that, as having your own space on the internet is always best practice, it can be a great place to connect with fans and other artists.

Keep in mind that no one really knows how the algorithm works except the folks who work at Instagram. People will tell you to do this or that or don’t do this or that, but they really don’t know either, so take it with a grain of salt.

These tips are just things that have worked for me personally, and are not guaranteed to work for you. Don’t focus too much on your follower count. Being authentic, focusing on creating quality content, and engaging meaningfully with your fans and followers should be your main focus.

Tips for growing your Instagram art account

  • Find your niche: what kind of art do you want to share with the world? Whether it’s painting, sketches, or digital art, make sure your content is focused and consistent.
  • Post high-quality photos. Make sure your photos are clear and of high quality. People are more likely to follow an account that posts beautiful photos.
  • Post daily, if not to your feed at least to stories.
  • Create fun and interactive stories using polls, stickers etc.
  • Respond to comments on your posts.
  • Respond to other people‘s stories.
  • Use relevant hashtags when you post. Use a mix of broad and smaller hashtags with less than 1 million posts. For example, use #art and #artistsoninstagram, but also use smaller hashtags that are relevant to your specific style of art or the subject of your post.
  • Switch up hashtags from post to post, don’t use the same ones every time.
  • Experiment with posting at different times of the day.
  • Experiment with Reels.
  • Add a location to your posts. It could be the location you actually are, or a different location depending on the post subject or target audience.
  • Create content that isn’t pushing people to buy anything, but simply showing your work or offering something of value to your followers.
brunette girl selfie pink mandala design
Selfies with or wearing your designs get a lot of engagement.
  • Post selfies. Even as an artist, selfies get high engagement on Instagram. Take photos of yourself holding your art or wearing and using your products if you sell through print on demand.
  • Engage daily by liking and commenting on posts in your home feed.
  • Follow hashtags that are relevant to your niche or art style and they will show up on your home feed.
  • Check out the top posts and use them for inspiration, but don’t copy.
  • Every day, if you can, go through a few hashtags relevant to your work or style and like/comment/follow accounts using that hashtag.
  • Add Alt Text to your posts.
  • Tell a story. Your captions should be more than just a description of the photo. Tell a story about your art, or share your creative process with your followers.

That’s it! I hope you’ve found some helpful tips here. If you have more to add feel free to leave them in the comments below. You can also check out my artist resources page for even more tips!

Oh and make sure you follow me on Instagram!

Cheers,

julie signing off

You may also find the following posts helpful:

Common Scams for Artists to Watch Out For

common scams for artists to look out for
~ Julie ~ 6 Comments
scams for artists to watch out for

Hey guys! If you’ve been online pretty much ever, you’ve probably seen a scammer in action. But did you know there are scams that specifically target artists and creatives?

I have personally encountered some of these scams and they can be very difficult to identify. I created this post in order to share them with you so you don’t fall prey to them!

Scammers are always coming up with new ways to take your money or intellectual property, so I’m sure this list will be outdated as soon as it’s published. However, I’ve also provided some tips on how to weed out a scam if you think you’ve encountered one.

scam alert letting text on black background

How to Identify a Scam

It’s always exciting as an artist when people reach out to you and recognize your talent. Many people and companies prey on this and find ways to disguise their scams as “opportunities” for artists.

Read every e-mail or message thoroughly. If the language and grammar is very poor and sentences don’t make sense, it’s likely not worth your time and could even just be an automated message.

Whenever you are approached by a person or company find out as much as you can about them before proceeding. Google the company, and read reviews about them on websites like Better Business Bureau. Ask friends or other artists if they have experience with this company. If you can’t find anything about them online that’s usually a red flag.

When a company sends you an offer or contract, thoroughly read the fine print because there could be a catch. If you have to spend any of your own money up front, it’s probably a scam.

Always consider what’s in it for them. Why are they interested in you and your art? What do they get out of the partnership? Not to say your art isn’t good, but no one works for free or without motive.

a red flag on the beach, artist scams

Here are some common scams for Artists to watch out for

  • Companies reaching out to you for a “media feature” – Don’t waste your time. You will later learn you have to pay upwards of $5000 for this feature that probably doesn’t reach your target audience at all.
  • People asking to “collaborate” only to get free content from you, such as a photo of yourself using their product. Unless it is a big company which aligns with your brand, don’t give away your content for free.
  • Someone asking to use your art for their website or logo. Be very wary and do your research before sending them anything. Do not give it to them for free either. At least create some sort of contract saying they cannot re-sell your art and only use it for a specific purpose so you could take legal action if needed.
  • People asking for free art or products in exchange for a social media shout-out. I strongly encourage you never to give your art away for free. If the person is a legitimate social media influencer they probably would not be approaching you.
  • Amateur art shows that are paid for by the artists. These art shows sound exciting but you should not be forced to sell tickets or pay to fund the show yourself. Always research the company, read reviews, and consider what they are getting out of it.
  • So-called “gurus” trying to you sell you expensive courses to “help your business”. Some of them ask for $20,000 or more! Don’t give up your life savings for the same things you can learn online for free.
  • People asking to buy your artwork, but want to pay through non-traditional payment methods. ONLY accept payment through Paypal, Cards or E-transfer. Do not accept cheques. Never send files or ship art until after you’ve received payment and it’s in your bank account.
  • Sellers ripping off your designs to sell on websites like Amazon, AliExpress, TeeSpring etc. Google the keywords of your most popular works every few months to see if it shows up on websites that are not your own. Then submit take-down notices.

Have you ever been scammed or encountered an artist-specific scam? Leave your experience below for others to learn from!

Cheers,

julie signing off

Want to learn some legit ways to sell your art online? Start here!

What to do When Sales are Slow in Your Print on Demand Store

what to do when sales are slow on print on demand
~ Julie ~ 2 Comments
What to do when sales are slow print on demand stores

Today I’m sharing my thoughts on what to do when sales are slow in your Print on Demand stores.

In retail, whether online or brick and mortar, there are sales cycles.  This means that sales slow down at certain times of the year and peak during other times, like at Christmas.

It can be frustrating and confusing to go from making several sales in a month to barely any, but that is totally normal and just the reality of retail. It does not mean you’ve failed, so don’t get down!

Think about how you personally shop. What times of the year do you spend the most money and when do you save? You will most likely find this reflected in your sales.

Here you can easily see the cycle peaks and lows during the year from my Redbubble analytics:

sales cycles on print on demand online retail stores

You can see my sales peak in November and December and drop down in the spring. Then they steadily climb back up until August when people shop for Back to School.

This sales cycle is totally normal and something you will need to get used to and prepare for, especially if your sole income is through online retail shops.

Instead of getting frustrated and throwing in the towel, there are lots of things you can do during these low times to get your shops ready for when the sales start to rise again!

Here is a list of things you can do when sales are slow in your print on demand stores:

  • Update your website or blog. Start creating one if you haven’t yet.
  • Create and add new designs to your shops.
  • Find new ways to promote your shops. Start using Pinterest for example.
  • Grow your social media followings.
  • Go through your stores and update or delete under-performing designs.
  • Go through your designs and update titles and keywords to be more SEO friendly.
  • Enable new products you haven’t offered before.
  • Do a brand overhaul: refresh your logo, banners, etc.
  • Create designs for upcoming holidays or other themed days of the year.
  • Promote sales going on in your shops. If your sales are slow, so are the websites you sell on and they will often have really good sales during slow times to get people to buy.
  • Ask others for feedback. You could ask friends or other Print on Demand artists for feedback on your stores and/or designs.
  • Network. Find and join support groups with like-minded individuals. There are lots of Print on Demand groups on Facebook.
  • Learn new business and marketing strategies through YouTube, Skillshare or other sources.
  • Take a break. Sometimes we need some time away to replenish our creativity.  Go on a holiday or spend time with friends and family and come back with new ideas.
  • Open a new print on demand store. There are lots of print on demand sites out there, perhaps there is one more suited to your style. Here is a list of Print on Demand sites to try.
  • And most importantly don’t give up!

Looking for more print on demand tips? You can find lots more tips about selling your art through Print on Demand websites in the resources section of my blog.

Happy selling!


Cheers,

julie signing off

How to Fill Out the W-8BEN Tax Form for Print on Demand Royalties

print on demand tax forms and information
~ Julie ~ 7 Comments
print on demand tax forms and information

Ah, tax forms. They’re one of those tedious administrative tasks that we simply can’t avoid when it comes to selling artwork online through Print on Demand websites. If you’re using a U.S.-based Print on Demand company like Zazzle, you’ll likely need to fill out and submit a W-8BEN tax form to ensure your payments are processed correctly.

**This post was updated to reflect the most current information available in July 2023.

Let’s dive in and explore the importance of the W-8BEN tax form specifically for royalties on Print on Demand platforms.

Now, this form can be quite confusing, and here’s the kicker: if you fail to submit it or fill it out properly, you might find yourself facing a hefty 30% withholding tax on your royalties. Ouch!

Fortunately, there’s good news for individuals residing in countries that have an income tax treaty with the U.S., like Canada. You may be exempt from paying this hefty withholding tax or, in some cases, eligible for a reduced withholding tax rate. To determine the specific withholding amounts based on your country, refer to the comprehensive list available on the IRS website.

To get started on your tax journey, head over to the IRS website and download the W-8BEN tax form. Now, filling out this form correctly is crucial to ensure your royalties are processed smoothly. Here’s an example of how to complete the form as a Canadian artist.

w8-ben royalties for print on demand websites canada

Let’s go over a few key points to remember:

  • The Foreign Tax identifying number (Box 6a) is equivalent to a U.S. Social Security Number and serves as your personal identification number for tax purposes in your country.
  • To find the correct Article and Paragraph number you will need to consult the tax document for your Country, which is provided on the IRS website.
  • The ____% rate of withholding (Line 10) will vary based on the withholding tax rate of your resident country. Remember to consult the same list provided on the IRS website for the specific rate applicable to you.

In conclusion, dealing with tax forms may be a bit of a hassle, but when it comes to selling your art and earning royalties through Print on Demand websites, it’s crucial to understand and comply with the W-8BEN tax form requirements.

By properly filling out this form and ensuring your eligibility for tax treaty benefits, you can avoid unnecessary withholding taxes and receive your hard-earned royalties in full.

I hope this guide has shed some light on the importance of the W-8BEN tax form for royalty payments on Print on Demand platforms. If you have any thoughts or questions, feel free to leave a comment below.

Cheers to a successful and tax-compliant art-selling journey!

julie signing off

Looking for more information about selling your art through Print on Demand sites? Check out the resources section of my website.

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