How to Start Your Art Business: A Beginner’s Guide with Actionable Steps

an artist working on her art business

Are you a budding artist ready to turn your passion into a business? Whether you’re dreaming of selling your art online, licensing your designs, or showcasing your creations in galleries, getting started can feel overwhelming. But don’t worry—I’ve got you covered! Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you lay the foundation for a successful art business.

1. Define Your Artistic Style and Niche

Before you start marketing your work, it’s important to identify what makes your art unique. Ask yourself:

  • What kind of art do I love to create the most? (e.g., patterns, illustrations, portraits)
  • What themes or subjects are common in my work? (e.g., nature, abstract, bright colors)
  • Who would I love to create art for? (e.g., interior decorators, gift buyers, parents, eco-conscious consumers)

Take some time to explore your strengths and what sets your art apart. Don’t worry if your style isn’t 100% developed yet; it evolves as you create more!

Actionable Step: Create a portfolio of 10–15 pieces that reflect your current style. This will be the backbone of your marketing efforts.

2. Choose Your Platform(s)

Decide how you want to sell or showcase your art. Here are a few options:

  • Print-on-Demand Platforms: Sites like Redbubble, Spoonflower, or Zazzle are great for selling your art on products like mugs, fabric, and phone cases.
  • Online Marketplaces: Etsy allows you to sell both digital and physical products directly to customers.
  • Your Own Website: Platforms like Shopify or Squarespace give you complete control over your branding and customer experience. You can sell physical products, or use a print on demand service like Printful.
  • Social Media: Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest are excellent for building an audience and driving traffic to your shop.

Actionable Step: Pick one platform to start with. You can always expand later! For example, if you love the idea of selling products, try uploading a few designs to a print-on-demand site and test the waters.

photo of woman writing on tablet computer while using laptop

3. Start Building Your Online Presence

In today’s digital world, your online presence is everything. Even if you’re not ready to sell yet, start building an audience for your art.

  • Social Media: Post regularly on platforms like Instagram or TikTok. Share your process, finished work, and even behind-the-scenes glimpses of your studio.
  • Portfolio Website: Create a simple site to showcase your work. Include an “About Me” page, a gallery of your best pieces, and contact information. Use SEO to drive traffic through search engines to your website.
  • Email List: Begin collecting emails from people who like your work. Email marketing is one of the most effective ways to sell your art directly.

Actionable Step: Choose one social media platform to focus on and commit to posting 3–4 times a week. Use hashtags and keyword optimized captions to reach new audiences and engage with your followers in the comments.

4. Price Your Artwork

One of the trickiest parts of starting an art business is pricing your work. Your prices should reflect the time, materials, and effort you put into your creations, but also align with what your audience is willing to pay.

For physical artwork:

  • Calculate your cost of materials and how long the piece took to create.
  • Add a profit margin that feels fair for your time and skill.

For digital art or print-on-demand:

  • Research the pricing trends on platforms like Etsy or Redbubble for similar products.
  • Consider the royalty rates and fees of the platform you’re using.

Actionable Step: Write down the costs associated with your art and come up with pricing that feels fair and sustainable.

art supples in stainless steel bucket

5. Create a Consistent Brand

Your brand is how customers recognize and connect with your art. Think about:

  • Your visual style: Is your work colorful and fun, or sleek and minimalist?
  • Your tone and messaging: Are you playful and lighthearted, or thoughtful and inspiring?
  • Your logo and packaging: If you’re selling physical products, think about how you’ll package them to match your brand.

Actionable Step: Choose 2–3 colors and fonts to use consistently across your social media, website, and marketing materials. Canva is a great free tool for creating branded content!

6. Start Marketing Your Art

Marketing is essential to growing your business. Thankfully, you don’t need a huge budget to get started. Here are a few simple strategies:

  • Share Your Story: People love connecting with the person behind the art. Share why you create, what inspires you, and your creative journey.
  • Leverage Social Media: Use Instagram Stories, Reels, or TikTok to showcase your work. Don’t forget to engage with your audience!
  • Collaborate: Partner with other creators or brands to expand your reach.
  • Offer Freebies: Create free phone wallpapers, printable art, or tutorials to attract new followers.

Actionable Step: Choose one marketing strategy to try this week. For example, post a time-lapse video of you creating your art and share it with your audience.

silver lg smartphone beside black pen on white paper

7. Test, Learn, and Adapt

Starting an art business is a process of trial and error. Some things will work, and some won’t—and that’s okay! The important thing is to stay flexible and learn as you go.

Actionable Step: Reflect on what’s working for your business at the end of each month. Did a specific social media post get a lot of engagement? Did you sell more on a particular platform? Use this data to plan your next steps.

8. Stay Consistent and Patient

Building an art business takes time, but consistency is key. Keep creating, sharing, and engaging with your audience—even if things feel slow at first. Remember, every successful artist started where you are now!

Actionable Step: Set realistic goals for yourself. For example, aim to post twice a week, upload one new product a month, or reach out to one potential collaborator.

Final Thoughts

Starting an art business may seem daunting, but by taking it step by step, you’ll find your rhythm. The most important thing is to stay true to your artistic voice, be patient with yourself, and enjoy the journey. Your art is unique, and there are people out there waiting to connect with it—so go out there and share it with the world!

Good luck, and happy creating! ✨

Cheers,

julie signing off

How to Make a Half Drop Repeat Pattern in Procreate

half drop repeat pattern procreate
half drop repeat pattern procreate

Are you an aspiring digital artist or designer looking to master the art of creating seamless and visually appealing patterns on your iPad? In this step-by-step guide, we’ll explore how to design a half drop repeat pattern using the Procreate app, turning your ideas into beautifully tiled masterpieces.

You can watch my video below, or keep scrolling for a written guide.

How to Make a Half Drop Repeat Pattern in Procreate

Step 1: Set Up Your Canvas

Open Procreate on your iPad and create a new canvas. For pattern design, it’s crucial to choose a square canvas to ensure symmetry. A standard size like 3000×3000 pixels works well, but you can adjust according to your preference and needs.

Step 2: Draw your Motifs

Use the Procreate brushes to sketch your motifs on the canvas. Whether it’s florals, geometrics, or abstract shapes, this is the stage to let your imagination run wild. Make sure your motifs are drawn or merged onto a single layer with a transparent background. Once you’re satisfied with the design, duplicate this layer and lock it so you preserve the original artwork.

how to make a half drop repeat pattern procreate

Step 3: Add Color to all 4 Corners of the Canvas

After finalizing your design, choose any color and apply it to each of the four corners of your duplicate layer, without overlapping your motifs. Ensure that you’re working on the same layer as your design. This will be erased later, but will enable us to use Snapping to create our half drop repeat pattern.

procreate repeat pattern tutorial

Step 4: Duplicate and Turn Snapping and Magnetics on

Duplicate this layer 4 times, so you should now have 5 copies in total. To do this, select the layer and swipe to the left, then select “Duplicate.”

Next, go to the move tool (arrow) and into the Snapping settings. Turn Magnetics and Snapping on and have the Distance and Velocity turned up all the way as high as they can go.

repeating pattern tutorial procreate

Step 4: Shrink and Snap the Layers into Place

Now, turn off all other layers except for the one you’re working on. Using the move tool to shrink it down from the corner until it snaps into place into the bottom left corner of the canvas, exactly 1/4 of the canvas.

Turn on the next layer, and snap it to the top left corner of the canvas, right above the first layer. Do the same with the next layer, shrinking it down to the bottom right corner of the canvas.

Now we will create our half drop by dragging this layer to the center of the right side of the canvas. You should see yellow lines in the center of your canvas which indicates you’ve snapped it to the right place.

half drop repeat pattern procreate

Step 5: Finish off Your Half Drop Pattern

Shrink your next layer down into the bottom right corner and drag it down until it’s half way off the canvas and snaps to the bottom of your centered layer. The bottom half will get cut off, and that’s fine, it’s what we want.

Do the same thing with your final layer, but snap it to the top right of the canvas, then drag it up above that middle layer. The top half will get cut off, which again is what we want. Then, pinch all of the layers together. Finally, go in and erase those triangle markers, as they were simply to facilitate Snapping, and not part of our design.

finishing the half drop repeat

Step 6: Finalize the design

From here, you can go in and refine your pattern by adding some elements in between your motifs, or even moving your original motifs around a little bit. Just be careful not to go over any of the edges or move any of your motifs that spill over the edges.

Step 7: Test Your Repeat Pattern

Before finishing our design, it’s essential to make sure the repeat pattern is working correctly. To do this, first create a copy of your pattern tile. Then, add a new layer below this and fill it with a solid color, ideally one that you want to use as your pattern’s background. Pinch the 2 layers together into a single layer.

repeating patterns in procreate

Duplicate this layer 3 times, so you have 4 copies in total. Using the move tool, with Snapping and Magnetics on, shrink each layer down and snap them to each of the 4 corners of the canvas. Make sure to snap them to the yellow lines, to ensure they line up correctly.

testing the repeat pattern procreate

Step 8: Finishing Touches

From here, you can zoom in and check the attachment points to ensure that your repeat is working correctly. You can go back to the original pattern tile and make adjustments If necessary, but you now have the basis for your half drop repeat pattern!


Creating a half drop repeat pattern in Procreate is a rewarding journey that allows you to unleash your artistic vision and apply your designs to an even wider array of products through Print on Demand websites. Remember, practice makes perfect, so don’t hesitate to experiment with different techniques and styles. With Procreate’s intuitive interface and powerful features, you’ll be crafting stunning patterns in no time. Happy creating!

Cheers,

julie signing off

10 Ways for Artists to Make Passive Income

While many people think of selling original artwork and taking commissions as the only ways to make money as an artist, there are actually many different ways to make passive income from your art. This can include selling products with your artwork on them, teaching classes, or even blogging. In this post, I’m sharing 10 different ways that artists can make passive income, many of which I’ve tried myself!

ways for artists to make passive income online

* Please note, some links in this blog post are affiliate links. If you make a purchase using these links I may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. I appreciate your support and it helps me create more great content for you to enjoy!

Here are just a few of the many ways that artists can make passive income:

1. Print on Demand

Leverage Print on Demand services like Zazzle, Redbubble, and Threadless to showcase your art on merchandise like t-shirts, phone cases and more. Mitigate logistical concerns as these platforms handle all of the printing, shipping, and inventory management, allowing artists to concentrate on their craft – making art!

tie dye hummingbird t-shirt

2. Blogging

Blogging serves as an effective platform for artists to establish their niche, showcase their artwork, and connect with their audience by delivering engaging content. Optimize the blog for search engines, promote it through social media channels, and monetize through advertisements, affiliate marketing, or product sales. A strategically managed blog can transform into a consistent revenue source.

3. Affiliate Marketing

Related to blogging, incorporating affiliate marketing into your online presence can increase your earning potential by promoting products you already use and love. Promote art-related products or tools and earn commissions for every sale made through your affiliate links. This requires minimal effort once set up.

4. Online Courses

Capitalize on your expertise by developing an online course. Select a subject of personal passion, structure it into comprehensible segments, and ensure an engaging presentation. You can use Youtube to get started and then branch out into platforms like Skillshare and Udemy to monetize your courses. You can also consider selling them through your own website or blog if you already have a dedicated following.

mandala coloring book cover

5. Books and E-Books

Design and sell printed books and e-books related to your area of expertise. Platforms such as Amazon KDP and Gumroad enable independent distribution. Crafting a series enhances visibility and ensures a sustained source of passive income. You can create things like colouring books, step-by-step “how to draw” or paint series, and more.

6. Digital Art Downloads

Monetize your digital artwork by selling instant digital downloads of art prints, patterns, illustrations, SVGs, and other types of digital art files. Platforms like Creative Fabrica and Gumroad allow artists to showcase and sell their digital creations without the need for physical production or shipping. You can also sell these through your own website.

7. Art Subscription Services

Launch a subscription service where subscribers receive exclusive digital art content regularly. Platforms like Patreon or specialized subscription services enable artists to generate recurring revenue.

8. Patreon

Establishing a Patreon account allows artists to convert loyal supporters into patrons. Offering exclusive content, ranging from behind-the-scenes material to early access, creates an incentive for patrons to contribute. Regular updates and occasional perks maintain patron engagement, ensuring a reliable income source.

photo of a woman researching Ways for Artists to Make Passive Income

9. Art Licensing

Explore licensing agreements with companies that want to use your art on various products. Earn royalties without the need for hands-on involvement in the production or distribution process. This requires some upfront research, and pitching your portfolio to companies and art directors, but if you can get a deal art licensing can be extremely lucrative.

10. Virtual Art Exhibitions

Organize virtual art exhibitions or galleries, either by yourself or with a group of other artists. Charge entrance fees or partner with sponsors to monetize the events without the need for physical set-up or maintenance.

There are an endless number of ways for artists to make passive income, and these are just a few ideas to get you started. The best way to find the right method for you is to experiment and find what works best for you and your art. The most important thing is to have fun and enjoy the process!


Cheers,

julie signing off

How to Design Your Own Wedding Invitation Suite

Hey there, welcome to my blog! In this post, I’m excited to share with you how to design your own wedding invitation suite with Zazzle.


It was an incredible opportunity as Zazzle reached out to me to create a video for their YouTube channel, where I could showcase the process of creating my own wedding invitations that beautifully represent my wedding theme.

Join me as I walk you through the steps, tools, and inspiration behind this creative journey in the video below.

How to Design your own Wedding Invitation Suite

To get started, I made a list of all the items I needed to assemble my wedding invitation suite.

From the main invitation and RSVP cards to belly bands, custom envelopes, stickers, and more, Zazzle had everything I needed to bring my vision to life.

For design inspiration, I turned to my curated wedding Pinterest board, where I have been gathering ideas and inspiration for the overall theme and style I want for my wedding.

Items needed for the invitation suite:

All of the items I used for my invitation suite are linked below, with the exception of the return address labels which I creating using the “Design Transfer” option. This is demonstrated in the video above.

Using Zazzle’s Design Tool, I was able to customize every aspect of my invitations including the colors, fonts, and layouts to achieve the exact look I envisioned. Plus, I could select different paper types and sizes to ensure my invitations looked exactly how I wanted.

how to design your own wedding invitation suite on zazzle

Digital Download or Physical Products

When it came to acquiring my customized invitations, I opted for the printed version. However, it’s worth mentioning that Zazzle’s digital download option is a great cost-saving alternative, and offers flexibility if you prefer to send your invitations electronically via text or email. It’s a modern, eco-friendly approach that still ensures your invitations look stunning while accommodating different preferences and budgets.

Putting the Invitation Suite Together

Once all of the different pieces arrived, it was time to put it all together. You can watch the process of putting together the invitation suites in the video above.

I started with the main invitation and then put the RSVP card on top. Attaching the belly band neatly held the components together, creating a cohesive suite. Adding custom stickers and return address labels to the envelopes added that extra touch of personalization. Lastly, I used an embosser to add a custom touch to the envelopes.

how to design your own wedding invitation suite with Zazzle

The Finished Product

I’m very happy with the finished result. Each invitation showcases our unique style and attention to detail. The suite truly sets the tone for our special day and leaves no doubt that our wedding will be an unforgettable event.

My friends and family loved these wedding invitations and said they would keep them as cherished mementos for years to come!

Conclusion

Designing your own wedding invitations with Zazzle was a fun and rewarding experience. It allowed me to bring my vision to life and create invitations that were exactly how I wanted.

Zazzle’s affordability, convenience, and customization options made it the perfect choice for this creative endeavor. If you’re seeking personalized wedding stationery that stands out from the crowd, I encourage you to explore the possibilities on Zazzle’s website.

I hope this post has inspired you to design your very own wedding invitation suite.

If you want to learn more about selling your own designs through Zazzle, check out this post: Sell your Art on Zazzle: A Step by Step Guide to Setting up Your Zazzle Store.

Thanks for joining me, and feel free to leave any comments or questions below. Happy designing!

Cheers,

julie signing off

Sell Your Art Online with Zazzle: A Complete Guide to Setting up Your Zazzle Store

Are you a creative person looking for ways to monetize your art, or an entrepreneur interested in building an online print on demand business? I’m excited to share my latest Skillshare class with you: Sell Your Art Online with Zazzle: A Complete Guide to Setting up Your Zazzle Store.

Sell Your Art Online with Zazzle: A Complete Guide to Setting up Your Zazzle Store

But first, what exactly is Zazzle? In short, Zazzle is a print on demand marketplace where you can create designs for real life products, like art prints, t-shirts, mugs, phone cases, and more. Then, those products are printed and shipped to customers after they order them. This eliminates the need for inventory and allows you to focus on creating and marketing your designs!

Zazzle is just one of many print on demand marketplaces that you can use to sell products from your art.

I really like Zazzle because they offer a wide range of products, from apparel to home décor to electronics, so you can create a diverse product line that appeals to your audience.

With thousands of shoppers from around the world browsing the site every day, Zazzle has a huge customer base. And their platform is user-friendly and easy to navigate, so you can focus on designing and marketing your products without getting bogged down by technical details.

gold foil art print collection on Zazzle

In my Skillshare class, Sell Your Art Online with Zazzle, I’ll guide you through the entire process of setting up your own Zazzle store, from designing your products to customizing your storefront and much more.

Before diving in, check out the class trailer below to get an idea of what you’ll learn and see if it’s right for you. And if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to me or post a comment below. I’m here to support you and help you succeed!

Here’s a peek at what we’ll cover in the class:

  • Setting up your store
  • Navigating the Zazzle website
  • Creating multiple product types from simple to advanced
  • Raising your ZRank
  • Organizing your store using Categories and Collections
  • Tips and tricks to streamline product creation
  • Creating custom banners and cover images for Collections and Categories
  • Customizing your store front
  • Additional pro tips from a Pro Bronze seller with nearly 10 years of experience

You can watch my Skillshare class for free with a one-month trial membership using my link.

This means you’ll have access to not only my class, but also thousands of other classes on Skillshare, including classes on graphic design, branding, and social media marketing.

Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced Zazzle seller, there’s something for you in this class. I can’t wait to see what you create!

Cheers,

julie signing off

Custom Cover Photos on Zazzle: Make Your Products Stand Out

zazzle custom cover photos
custom cover photos on zazzle: make your products stand out

In this post I’m sharing a new feature on the print on demand website Zazzle, which is the ability to add your own custom cover photos to your listings! This is a really great way to make your listings stand out on the Zazzle marketplace.

* Please note, some links in this post are affiliate links. If you make a purchase using the links I may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. I appreciate your support and it helps me create more content for you to enjoy!

In a world filled with nearly identical products, it’s important to find ways to make your products stand out. Zazzle custom cover photos are one way to do this. With a little creativity, you can use cover photos to give your products a unique look and make them more reflective of your own brand.

Zazzle custom cover photos are easy to create and can be applied to any product via the individual product page. Cover photos can be changed at any time, so you can experiment with different looks to find the one that best represents your brand.

To learn more about the custom cover photos directly from Zazzle, read their cover photo landing page.

In the video below I demonstrate how to add custom cover photos to your listings, and how I’ve been designing them on my iPad. Aside from creating your own cover photos in Procreate or another app like Photoshop, you can also purchase or find free mockups for your listings on Placeit, Creative Market, Google and other websites.

A great way to make your products stand out from the competition.

When potential customers are browsing through all the different products on Zazzle’s marketplace, it’s the cover photo that will initially catch their eye. Therefore, it is important to have an eye-catching and visually appealing cover photo.

People are more likely to purchase a product if they are able to see what it looks like in a realistic setting. If you have a great product but are using unappealing or generic stock photos, then you are not doing your product justice. Take advantage of Zazzle’s custom cover photo feature to make your products stand out and attract more customers!

You can purchase a sample of your product and take your own photos of it, use a mock-up you’ve purchased, or create your cover photo in a graphic design software. Either way, adding a custom cover photo to your product will make it more eye-catching and likely to sell.

Use a variety of backgrounds and graphics to create a unique look for your product.

If you want your products to really stand out on Zazzle, you need to put some thought into your cover photos. Luckily, there’s a lot of flexibility when it comes to design. You can use a variety of backgrounds and graphics to create a unique look for your product.

The first thing you need to do is decide what kind of mood you want to create. Do you want something fun and whimsical? Or are you going for a more sleek and modern look? Once you’ve decided on the overall tone, you can start finding or creating some backgrounds and graphics. If you’re not sure where to start, take a look at what other people have done. See what kind of designs are popular and see if you can find any inspiration there. I’ve personally been using my own photographs, and actually going out and finding textures and photographing them specifically for cover photos.

Also think about the real-life setting you might find the product being used in. For example, I used a sandy beach background for flip flops vs. a wall texture background for a clock.

zazzle custom cover photos for flip flops
custom zazzle cover photo clock mockup

Once you have a general idea of what you want your cover photos to look like, it’s time to start putting it all together. Remember, your cover photo is the first thing people will see when they come across your product. So make sure it’s something that will grab their attention and make them want to learn more. With a little effort, you can create a design that’s truly unique and will help your product stand out from the rest.

Keep your cover photos high quality and eye catching

There are a few things to keep in mind when creating custom cover photos for your products.

  1. Make sure the photo is high-quality and resolution. Zazzle recommends using a PNG or JPG file that is at least 300 DPI. This will ensure that your photo looks sharp and clear.
  2. Next, consider the size of the photo. You want to make sure that the photo is large enough, but not so big that it looks blurry or distorted. A good rule of thumb is to use a photo that is at least 1000 pixels wide.
  3. Finally, think about the background of the photo. You want to make sure that the background is simple and uncluttered so that your product is the main focus. A simple background, blurred photo or a contrasting solid color is usually best.

With these tips in mind, you can upload your own photos to create unique and eye-catching cover photos for your Zazzle products.

Conclusion

There are a few things to keep in mind if you want to use custom cover photos to make your products stand out. First, you want to make sure the cover photo is high-quality and fits well with the product. Second, you want the cover photo to be unique and not like anything else that’s out there. And finally, you want to make sure the cover photo accurately represents the product. If you keep these things in mind, then you’re well on your way to using custom cover photos to make your products stand out on Zazzle.

I hope this post has inspired you to add custom cover photos to your Zazzle listings. Go ahead and give it a try – you may be surprised at the results!

Cheers,

julie signing off

Society6 Can Cooler Review

society6 can cooler review
society6 can cooler review

Since summer is in full swing I thought it’d be a good time to do a Society6 can cooler review.

I’ve had them for a few years now and they’re pretty awesome!

These can coolers, also known as can koozies or coozies, live in my “camping box” and get tossed around quite a bit. They’ve been on several camping trips and beach days with me.

society6 can cooler review

I’m pleased to say the designs have held up nicely, as you can see from the photos!

But the main thing is how well do they work? They insulate very well. Like 30 degrees on the beach (85 F) and I can finish the whole drink while it stays cool well. To me that is a total win. I no longer have to pour out the rest of my drink because it got warm and gross.

The Society6 can coolers are are also very light weight. This makes them perfect to throw into a beach bag or take on a backpacking trip.

society6 can cooler review

As you can see they can fit both regular sized cans as well as bottles!

Society6 Can Cooler Features (according to their website)

  • Holds a 12 oz can
  • Lightweight stainless steel construction
  • 360 degree wraparound artwork
  • Double-wall vacuum insulation to keep drinks cold or hot for hours
  • Includes plastic twist-on top
  • Hand wash only

They are perfect for camping, taking to the beach, backyard BBQs or any other time you need to keep your drink insulated.

And did I mention these can coolers feature my own designs?

turquoise water purple galaxy drink koozies

If you like these designs you can find them in my Society6 shop! They have thousands of other designs so there is truly something for everyone.

If you liked this post you may also enjoy my other product reviews:

Cheers,

julie signing off

Zazzle Design Tool Tips and Tricks

zazzle design tool tips and tricks
zazzle design tool tips and tricks

Do you struggle with the Zazzle design tool or just want to know how to get started creating products on Zazzle? Many people do, so I created this video to help!

If I’m going too quickly for you, feel free to pause or even decrease the video speed so you can absorb all of the information because there is a lot.

In this video I demonstrate:

  • How to navigate to the proper Create section to make items for sale
  • Adding your own images to products.
  • Use of transparent (.png) images to speed up creation.
  • Using filters.
  • Using layers to maximize creation.
  • Creating a customize-able template with text.
  • Copy and Paste function to speed up creation.
  • Using guidelines.
  • Changing the font of the text.
  • Creating patterns and a weird glitch to be aware of (with workaround).
  • Using the new masking tool.

I hope you will find this information helpful and feel more confident with using the Zazzle design tool now. If you have any other questions about how the design tool works feel free to leave a comment below so I can address it here or in a future video.


Looking for more Zazzle tips? Check out my Youtube playlist with all of my Zazzle videos:


Other posts you may be interested in:

Cheers,

julie signing off

How to Set up an Instagram Shop with Print on Demand Products

how to set up an instagram shop with print on demand
how to set up instagram shop print on demand

Today I’m going to explain how to set up an Instagram shop with Print on Demand products from websites like Redbubble, Society6 and Zazzle.

Did you know that you can add your print on demand products to a shop on your Instagram page? Since I did this I’ve seen an increase in traffic to my stores from Instagram.

The main thing you need to know is that you have to set it up through Facebook.

First of all you need to make sure your Instagram account is a Business or Creator account. You also need to have business Facebook page for your brand connected to it.

Then you can create a store through the Facebook Commerce Manager (click on Add Shop).

If you’re selling Print on Demand products through your own website using Shopify (or similar) you can use their partner connect option. This is more simple, but today I’m discussing adding third party print on demand products from websites you don’t own like Redbubble and Society6.

how to set up instagram shop print on demand

Once you’ve created the store on Facebook, go back into your Instagram account and apply for Instagram Shopping under the Settings section of your profile. There should a Business or Creator section under which you should see Shopping. Apply for Shopping and wait for your account to be approved.

Once you’ve been approved (it may take a few days) head back over to the shop you created on your Facebook page. Now you can start adding products!

For this to work you have to add products manually (click on Add Items). Now obviously this will take time since you may have THOUSANDS of products across multiple retailers. So I recommend highlighting a few best sellers from each of your stores. This will at least drive people to those stores where they can browse the rest of your offerings from there.

how to set up instagram shop print on demand

It will take about 30 minutes to an hour for products to process but then you will start to see them showing up in your Instagram and Facebook stores.

Tips for Setting up Your Instagram Store

  • Be patient.
  • Take the time to familiarize yourself with the Commerce Manager and how it works.
  • Create “sets” to organize your products by product type.
  • You can only use ONE currency in your store. I had an issue with products not showing up and realized it was because I had multiple currencies.
  • Add a few of your best selling designs and products from your different stores.
  • You won’t be able to “tag” these products in your Instagram photos unfortunately. This only works for products from a domain you own (such as a Shopify store).
  • Products are shareable to Instagram Stories or direct message.
  • Check the Insights section for analytics to see how many people are clicking on your products and visiting your stores!

I hope this post has been helpful to explain how you can set up an Instagram shop with your print on demand products.

I’d love to hear what you think about this and if you will be using it for your own products!


Happy selling!

Cheers,

julie signing off

Other posts you may find interesting:

Selling your art on POD websites – Zazzle vs Redbubble

zazzle vs redbubble for selling art online

Today I will be comparing Zazzle vs Redbubble for selling art online. Zazzle and Redbubble are two popular Print on Demand marketplaces where artists can upload their designs for sale on a variety of products.

They may seem like pretty much the same thing, however there are actually some pretty major differences between these 2 platforms which you should know before opening a shop.

I have been selling my designs on both Redbubble and Zazzle for many years now. Read on for my overview and comparison to help you decide where to sell your artwork online.

Zazzle vs Redbubble

Audience

Zazzle’s audience is mostly women aged 25+, in the United States but also worldwide. They cater to people looking for unique gifts, brides-to-be, and customize-able paper products like invitations, greeting cards, and business cards. They also have a wide range of unique items from home décor and accessories to edible brownies!

Redbubble’s audience is younger than Zazzle and more hip, with humorous t-shirt designs, trendy patterns and quotes being the norm. Stickers are extremely popular with teenagers and young adults. They also focus on selling unique gifts including apparel, accessories and home décor. Redbubble’s headquarters is actually in Australia but they have a worldwide presence.

betta fish sticker from redbubble
A sticker from Redbubble

Store Front

Zazzle vs Redbubble’s store fronts are quite different.

Redbubble’s storefront displays a randomly generated selection of products featuring your most popular designs, based on their algorithm. All you need to do is add your logo, header and bio to set it up. It’s much more beginner friendly than Zazzle’s.

However, your Zazzle store front is much more customize-able. The layout is left completely up to you. You’ll need to go into the store’s Settings tab under Advanced Settings to add the available sections to your home page including Categories, Featured Collections and Recently Created Products. I recommend taking this step to set it up properly.

flip flops on zazzle
You can put your art on flip flops on Zazzle!

Uploading Designs

Redbubble is much quicker to upload designs to, and you can upload to all of their products in one go. You can also add a custom background colour and create patterns in the tool. However, there is no option to add customize-able text like Zazzle has.

On Zazzle it is best to upload each product one by one. This does take an extremely long time but it’s quality over quantity here. You can start with just a small range of products so as not to get overwhelmed.

Zazzle’s design tool is more like a mini Photoshop where you can add layers, text, templates etc. and create customize-able products. I made this video with some tips about using Zazzle’s design tool which you may find helpful.

Products

I’ve ordered products from both Zazzle and Society6, and everything has been pretty good.

I slightly prefer Redbubble just due to the types of products I got, like apparel, but Zazzle has a much wider range of items available.

Here is a video I made reviewing a whole bunch of the products I’ve bought from Redbubble. I don’t have as many from Zazzle so I haven’t made a video on those yet but might show them in future. I’ve also shared photos of products I received on my Instagram.

Earnings

Royalty margins are higher on Redbubble, and I’ve personally made more money there.

However, I know others who do extremely well on Zazzle, especially making cards, invitations, stationary and designing for the wedding market.

Zazzle also has a new Promoter Program where you can get 35% for referral sales of your own products, and 15% on other people’s products. There is also the potential to get bulk orders if you designs things like wedding invitations and stationary, which is actually a huge market on Zazzle.

Zazzle pays you on the 15th of the month after you reach $50 in cleared earnings. Redbubble has a payment threshold of $20, also paid on or around the 15th of every month.

Summary of Zazzle vs Redbubble

In sum, Redbubble is a much easier and faster marketplace to upload your designs, especially for beginners or artists who create more graphic and/or pattern designs. However, Zazzle has a huge potential for customize-able products, greeting cards, invitations and stationary. So which one is best for you will depend on your art style and business goals.

I hope the above information has been helpful for you. If you’d like to receive more Print on Demand education, and keep up with my latest designs and projects, consider subscribing to my e-mail list!


Further reading:

Cheers,

julie signing off