Handmade Success

Have you ever googled how to start a printables business? Then, you must have come across Sarah Titus.

Hers is a single mom’s story of reaching super riches from being homeless with two kids.

Printables are the biggest hero of her journey. It is because of her I gave the printables business a try.

It has been a few years for me to create and sell planner printables. 

The experience has been rewarding since I enjoy the process and the money that comes along.

Suppose you wish to start a digital business that brings in passive income. Then, a printables business is the answer.

Read more to know more about it.

How To Start A Printables Business In 11 Steps

1. Excel In Creating Printables  

It would be best if you had printables to start selling them. Thus, you should know how to create a printable to start a business of printables.

There is no set rule in black and white to create Printables. If it were that way, then I would have never made more than 500 sales.

Most handmade artists feel discouraged by designing Printables because of the learning curve. 

Trust me, a course/degree in design is not mandatory.

Instead, the single-most element to excel in printables business is empathy for users.

If you have that, then you can design the printables in the best way possible.

Adobe Suite has a range of software to create printables. They are Photoshop, Illustrator, and Elements. These are the top-notch ones.

Other popular ones are Affinity Designer and Canva.

My design skills are zilch. Thus, I do not use any of the above. 

Google Slides is my go-to tool for creating Printables.

If you cannot create Printables on your own. Then, do not think of quitting yet.

This post may contain affiliate links. That means if you purchase any of the products mentioned in this article through routing via the links in this post. Then, I may end up receiving a certain monetary percentage from the sale. Though the one who purchases through the link does not end up paying anything extra apart from the mentioned MRP on the product. Full disclosures on the Affiliate Page.

There are tons of options for buying PLR printables and templates. Consider them as buying no copyright-owned generic printables. You then have the choice to modify them with your branding and preferences.

Moreover, you can commission an artist to create Printables for you. You can source creatives on sites like Fiverr and Upwork.

No matter how you source the Printables to sell. The significant points for the Printables must be:

High On Utility – 

If the Printable does not solve the purpose. Then, it is of not much use. The design should be such that the end user keeps printing it again and again.

Attractive – 

It may not seem like a necessary function. But it differentiates a printable from its competition.

Legible – 

The elements of a printable should be clutter-free. There should not be a lot of data crammed on a single page. The fonts and sizes must be clear to read.

2. Identify Who Buys Printables

I have been consuming Printables for a few years. Now I am addicted to them. 

My handmade business involves using them all the time. Apart from that, I use them for various purposes:

• Managing Household Chores
• Organizing My Airbnb Business
• Planning My Travel Itineraries
• Consolidating My Diet
• Tracking My Gym Schedule
• Tracking Body Weight And Statistics
• Managing Finances And Investments

Since Printables are part of almost every aspect of my life. Thus, it is safe to assume that everyone needs them.

But that does not confirm that everyone will use/buy them.

Thus, to make a printables business a hit, you must know who buys printables online.

For the same, you must niche down your user base. The narrower it is, the better it is for your Printables business.

For instance, my niche is “beginner creative solopreneur”. Thus, my printables revolve around starting/managing/optimizing various handmade businesses.

Thus, identifying the niche is crucial in making the printables business successful.

3. Good Name For Printables Business

The name carries the identity. It is crucial for branding.

Also, it is not feasible to change the name of an enterprise once it gets popular. 

Thus, you put thoughts and planning before naming your Printables business.

My Printables business is Lipai. It is a Hindi word that means “Script” in English.

Likewise, you can pick up yours. 

If the naming process overwhelms you. Then, the best solution is to name it after you. That way, your persona rubs off on your printables business. Hence, you and your business become synonyms. 

4. Track Down Ideas For Printables

This one is a complete must to run a thriving Printables business.

The truth is that you cannot build a thriving business on a single product. To keep your printables business running requires an offering of printables. Thus, you offer a bouquet of printable products to your customers.

For the same, you must have a lot of ideas to create Printables. 

My handmade business started with a single printable of 2 pages. Now my online shop retails more than ten printables.

Having a lot of printables to sell may seem overwhelming for a newbie. But it does get a lot easier with time and effort.

Most of my products are manifestations of the email newsletters that I send. Subscribers respond to my emails with concerns, doubts, and general chit-chat. Those conversations give me ideas for creating new printables.

Likewise, you can also build from your first product. Most of the first printable products come from successful lead magnets.

Hence, if you align your basics. Then, the growth is organic and built on a stable foundation.

The key areas to look for ideas are –

• Needs And Wants
• Challenges
• Problem Areas And Bottle Necks
• Areas Of Struggle
• Hacks For Improvement

5. Price Them Right

At times the correct price makes all the difference. With printables, pricing seems complicated because the product is not tactile.

That is why it could be as good as giving away for free. 

I got stuck in this dilemma for a long time. That is why I did not charge a single penny for my products earlier.

It might surprise you that one of my best-selling products was once a free lead magnet for artists.

I would doubt why anyone would pay to use it. I was fortunate after a year of giving it away for free, someone left a tip for it. They also left a comment letting me know how helpful the printable was.

That was my day of epiphany. Since then, I have been putting a monetary value on each printable. You cannot waste your time and energy waiting for someone to leave you a tip. Instead, you start charging from Day 1.

If you are not confident, you can start from $1 since there is no harm in charging less. But other than a freebie, every product must require an upfront payment.

You can increase the prices once you cross certain thresholds of sales. Also, the more pages your offer has, the more you can charge.

As a rule of thumb, 100+ pages sell in the range of $25. While 500+ pages can even cost $57. 

6. Dress Them Well 

The first impression makes a massive difference in making money with printables.

That is why you need a beautiful design and cover. 

I lack professional design skills. That shows in my printables. But that does not make my printables non-functional. I hear from my customers that I create simple, no-nonsense products.

That works for me since my business involves an effective inbound marketing strategy. But if your business runs in storefront format, a good design is a must.

Loyal customers can do repeat purchases based on the quality you provide. But to lure window shoppers, design is the best hook.

You can learn design software or outsource the printables designing job.

Your design principles must stick to a branding guideline to maintain consistency.

7. Identify The Best Places To Sell Printables

The platform is a crucial aspect of selling printables. A quick search on Etsy will give you thousands of printables. That indicates the stiff competition in this sector.

This data must not discourage you from starting a printables business. Instead, it should make you ask is selling printables on Etsy profitable.

The answer to that question is complicated. That is because your approach towards business will decide the course.

Printables lack physical products or an inventory or recurring making and shipping costs. Thus, you are bound to make profits on any platform provided you market well.

But if you want to have control over prices, margins, and running the show on your terms. Then, you can move out of marketplaces like Etsy and Amazon.

Starting a self-hosted online store seems like the obvious option. But it can get daunting if technology is not your forte.

In that case, you can start with Gumroad. It is an online selling app that will prepare you to run an online store bypassing Etsy. You can compare Gumroad with Etsy before taking the plunge.

8. Comply With Regulations  

You would not require any legal formalities for selling printables. But if you end up incorporating your business. Then, you would need to comply with laws regarding running a business.

Moreover, you should not copy anyone else’s designs/work. Also, to deter others from copying your work, you should apply for copyrights.

9. Keep Marketing

I am sure you must have heard this umpteen times. It is true that is why it keeps repeating all the time.

No matter how good your printables are, they will never sell without marketing.

That is why marketing is necessary to keep the business operational. But it has to be effective and customized for your business. 

SEO and emails helped me sell hundreds of printables.

Though you can start with whatever social media you are comfortable with. The point is to begin and keep doing it with consistency.

If you have a business plan set up for your handmade Printables business. Then, the marketing plan will be easier to devise.

10. Stick To A Business Plan 

A plan is necessary to go from 0 to success in a handmade business.

A business plan keeps a note of every element needed for growth. It also tracks the challenges, shortcomings, and bottlenecks that prevent success.

Therefore, it also keeps a column for steps to overcome the issues. 

A business plan is essential because it lets you know how you are faring in your printables business. Without it, you will never know how and when to scale the business. 

Depending upon what kind of business plan you use. It should also maintain a customer database. That way you will know what bucket your customers fall into. It will help design ads and content to target more customers pertaining to that bucket.

11. Keep Moving

I am still learning after selling hundreds of printables for thousands of dollars.

Every day I learn more about how to start a printables business.

Before selling my first printable, I did not know how to create one. Many years before that, I had no idea that printables existed.

The point I am making is that you have to keep moving. If you get stuck with satisfaction, then you will never grow.

Always think about what more you can do to make someone’s life a little better. Or, what can you do so that customers can save at least 1 step in their struggles?

If you keep pushing the approach of expanding avenues, you will never fall short of new ideas.

There are options in various stages of business, such as:

• Market Expansions
• Different Product Categories
• Various Channels To Propagate

That is how I started with one printable and expanded to about ten as of today.

Conclusion

A printables business is on the rage these days. They are like apps in a printed format.

Much like apps, they help to track, organize, and achieve goals.

If you empathize with your audience, you can serve them printables. 

This article lists all my learnings in creating and selling printables.

Do share your learnings as well. Also, send this article to anyone wanting to know how to start a printables business.

Planning to Read this article later? Why not save it as a Pin by clicking on the Image below.

Lead magnets for artists is not an unheard-of term. You must have downloaded free digital art after visiting some artists’ pages.

In that case, the product received after submitting the email address is the lead magnet.

The other terms for lead magnets are Opt-ins and Freebies. Their use case is extending the engagement so that you get access to potential customers.

Suppose you wish to move beyond dilemmas like – how to send an art portfolio by email. Then, you must read further to know more about lead magnets.

What Is The Need For Lead Magnets For Artists

As discussed before, lead magnets help get subscribers. So, if you want more subscribers, you need a lead magnet. 

That is a simple reason to work on creating a lead magnet. But digging deeper into the reasons will lead to more data.

As opt-ins let you get email addresses with consent. So, that gives the privilege of establishing direct contact with the subscriber. 

Else, you would have to purchase a database and then send cold emails. Both are troublesome to conduct and could lead to legal problems.

Moreover, you would not know the interests and engagement patterns of that data. Thus, buying an email database would not give the best results. 

Instead, gaining subscribers with lead magnets confirms their curiosity about your artwork. Thus, it leads to a higher probability of engagement with your work. Also, that establishes chances of pushing them into a lead magnet funnel. 

Established artists associated with galleries may not seek sales. Thus, they may not want to work on lead magnet strategies. 

But they should still use lead magnets to create buzz whenever needed.

Consider lead magnets as the tool to build an army of loyal fans. Thus, it is pertinent to use them for marketing a handmade business.

9 Best Lead Magnets For Artists

1. Cheat Sheet

Who does not love a well-designed cheat sheet? The one that could give you all the tips to go from point A to B.

Thus, with your experience, you can gather up the hacks and offer them as a cheat sheet. 

Some of the examples could be – 

2. Checklist

This is one of the best forms of lead magnets for artists. You must have noticed that I offer them as a freebie on almost all my content.

My checklist for starting an artisan soap business is my best-performing opt-in.

3. PDFs

PDFs can include any kind of information in a downloadable PDF format. An easy way is to offer a text version of the respective blog content in PDF.

This works well for pillar content that has a lot of golden nuggets. Consider the PDF version of the article as a takeaway of evergreen useful content.

4. Roadmap

I have tried roadmap as one of the lead magnets. It has worked great as a lead magnet for artists.

Consider it as a life cycle or a guideline for a certain process.

You can make a roadmap for various milestones in an artist’s lifestyle. Examples can be a roadmap of email marketing strategy for an artist. Another one could be a flowchart of categories a handmade entrepreneur can work in.

5. Spreadsheet

Spreadsheets or Excel sheets are excellent lead magnets for artists. They facilitate calculations and help figure out ‘what-if’ scenarios.

I use spreadsheets as opt-ins for taking decisions on Pricing handmade products.

They are easy to create and are of immense help. 

For a handmade creative, there are plenty of ways to use spreadsheets to improve business.

You can use them for any process that involves mathematical equations.

6. Quiz

Who does not love some brain stimulation with gaming activities? That is why quizzes work as great engagement techniques for capturing emails.

I design quizzes with Typeform. The platform is intuitive, thus helping increase subscription rates. You can use any app that you are comfortable with.

Quiz lead magnets help in scenarios when you are not sure of your audience preferences. Thus, they help in generic scenarios and are great for gathering data. 

7. Templates

As the name suggests, they are a structure to achieve a certain task. The most common ones are templates for creating content in Canva.

The other ideas could be label templates for creating handmade candles. I have a template for selecting a sub-niche for a handmade artisan soap business.

8. Playbooks

Playbooks are much like templates with a little twist. Consider them pre-written content that you can edit as per your requirement.

The content in the playbook has predefined processes and strategies. You can change the part that is relevant to you. You can change the part that is relevant to you.

For instance, I have a playbook for creating a healthy hair care routine. It has columns and spaces for days and activities. Whoever downloads it can fill it up as per their concerns and life schedules. 

9. Discounts and Giveaways

When nothing works, discounts do. They work for beginners in handmade businesses as well as veterans.

Discounts are great to turn fence-sitters into loyal fans. You can create coupon codes to redeem price deductions on your products/services.

Much like discounts, giveaways also work. You can use a service like Rafflecopter for structuring the giveaways. 

Amazon vouchers are the best giveaways when you are not sure of your niche. Else, you can offer your best-selling product or a complementary tool of your craft.

5 Tips For Optimizing Lead Magnets For Artists

The next course of action may seem to put a lead magnet everywhere on the website. But it is not that easy.

Not every lead magnet is created equal. Thus, you will have to go through a few iterations to come up with a performing one.

To optimize lead magnets for performance, you can look for the following:

1. Start With Best Performing Content

For an opt-in to perform, you need performing content. That means high-traffic content will bring in the maximum number of subscribers.

Again, it does not imply that any lead magnet will be a success on busy content. Rather, the intent of the content will decide the success of a lead magnet.

If the content is for someone in the beginner stages, then, an advanced freebie will fall flat. For example, a keyword research strategy opt-in will not work for an artist who does not sell online. 

Instead, for them, a freebie listing a roadmap of a successful handmade artist would be a better fit. That respective roadmap would highlight an artist’s journey from point A to B. 

The start could be selling to friends and then, ending with a self-hosted website. Selling at craft fairs, Etsy, and sites like Gumroad would be milestones in between.

2. Action Oriented

A good lead magnet shows how to achieve a certain task. Consider it the bare minimum needed to finish a goal.

That means it cannot be boring pages of text. That could be one of the reasons why an e-book is not a great lead magnet idea.

That is why templates, workbooks, and cheat sheets make great lead magnets. Such lead magnets provide a guideline to finish a job.

3. KISS

The attention span is low for a new visitor arriving on a website. Hence, the need to provide bite-sized information.

That means long-form lead magnet will not cut to the chase. Rather it should be bite-sized that is easy to consume. 

Hence, lead magnets for artists must come straight to the point and not beat around the bush.

4. Lead To Tripwire

The most fun part with lead magnets is watching them bring in moolah. This happens when your email marketing is in place. 

An effective email marketing strategy turns lead magnets into selling products. The thank you page that shows after someone subscribes to a lead magnet hosts the product.

Suppose you capture a lot of emails through a freebie. Then, it should convert better to sell a small product. The highest converting lead magnets lead to best-earning tripwires.

5. Funnel For Email Marketing

An array of a few tripwires leading to an upsell creates a successful email marketing plan. Thus, the entire lead magnet cycle should push subscribers deeper into the funnel. 

Conclusion

Marketing for an artist is not an easy task.

Promoting a creative business has so many moving parts. Thus, an artist can get confused between social media and ads. 

In the social media world, the rules of the game keep changing. Most of the artists may lack the budget to get started with paid ads. Thus, learning email marketing to thrive provides the necessary buffer. 

A successful email marketing campaign begins with a lead magnet.

The best part is that it is not mandatory to have a website for hosting lead magnets. You can even use social media for the same.

So, today is the best time to get started with lead magnets for your handmade business.

Planning to Read this article later? Why not save it as a Pin by clicking on the Image below.

In recent times, selling digital planners is a rage. If you use a to-do list or a tracker on your Ipad or mobile. Then, you are familiar with using a digital planner.

In a typical scenario, planners are the physical ones. The ones that you get as prints at stationary business stores. 

Though you can print the digital ones and use them on a digital platform as well.

But you might wonder about —–>

Is Selling Digital Planners Profitable?

Of course, it makes a prudent business decision to start selling digital planners. 

If you work out the maths, you can understand the reason. The time and effort to create a planner is for once. After creating them once, you can start selling digital planners.

Let us assume that it took 100$ and 2 hours to create one. 

The expense goes into using design software or hiring a designer. 

The time includes creation either yourself or by an outsourced artist.  For obvious reasons, the time and amount spent will differ as per the design skills.

Even if it is expensive to make one, you can make up for the cost by increasing your sales volume.

Moreover, there is no need to keep an inventory, nor there are any packaging and shipping costs. Thus, there is no limit to selling as many digital planners as you may want.

Hence, it is a profitable business to sell digital planners. The more you sell, the more profits you make.

Now you might wonder —–>

What Are The Best-Selling Digital Planners?

There are several sellers selling Digital planners on their websites. It is difficult to track their sales.

But, looking at an Etsy search can throw some data. The “Digital planners” phrase will show the results of daily/monthly/weekly planners.

They could track and plan a lot of activities like:

• Finances
• Expenses
• Fitness
• Meals
• Birthdays
• Passwords
• Reading Lists
• Cleaning Schedules
• Movies
• Daily Medicines
• Water Intake
• ADHD Planner
• Manifestation Planner

These are a few of the best-selling digital planners. The list could include a lot more depending on the niche that you cater to.

You will get more ideas by listening to your audience. Any problem/challenge that they may have can initiate an idea for a new digital planner.

Best Places For Selling Digital Planners

The best place for selling digital planners would be a self-hosted website. Shopify or Gumroad could be a facilitator for the same.

But if you are a newbie. Then, you can try selling on Etsy or Amazon. Both are mammoth marketplaces that are good for testing. There are several alternatives to Etsy as well. But to make them work for you, you need solid marketing skills.

Etsy and Amazon have a big chunk of customers waiting to buy products. Hence, they are the top choices for anyone new to selling digital planners.

All options have their pros and cons. But if you want to keep your starting out expenses low. Then, Shopify is not your best bet. It works great when you have a steady stream of sales. Otherwise, you can start with minimal Etsy/Gumroad/Amazon costs.

This post may contain affiliate links. That means if you purchase any of the products mentioned in this article through routing via the links in this post. Then, I may end up receiving a certain monetary percentage from the sale. Though the one who purchases through the link does not end up paying anything extra apart from the mentioned MRP on the product. Full disclosures on the Affiliate Page.

How To Create A Planner To Sell

If you have never created a planner before, then, the thought of making one might frighten you. But do not let this intimidate you.

There are many design software like Adobe InDesign and Affinity Publisher to do the work.

They both have a learning curve and thus require some time. There are online courses on Udemy to get started. 

Also, you can start right away with design software like Canva. It is easy and suitable for someone without design knowledge. Canva also has premade templates to create planners. So, you do not need to start from complete scratch.

If you want to learn how to go about creating digital planners. Then, I can direct you to one of the best resources.

Consider this course a one-stop to all design tasks. It is a system to create and launch digital products with confidence. 

Best Tips For Selling Digital Planners

1. Marketplaces like Etsy, Amazon, and Gumroad are great to begin with. But they are third-party apps, hence, lack complete ownership. Therefore, try to get the email addresses of customers with intelligent lead magnets. That way you will always have direct contact with your customers.

2. Keep a focus on solving problems in your niche. If problem-solving remains your north star, then, you will do well. Else, pretty and non-functional planners will have a limited shelf life.

3. Try to bundle a lot of planners together. That way you can pass on discounts as well. This is a beautiful upsell technique for selling digital planners. The customers get to receive a lot of value and you get to make more money per average order.

4. Test the markets with free digital planners. That way you will get to know whether your audience likes to purchase your products. Do not think freebies will spoil your business. Rather, free downloads will help you create more products. The free planner could be a thinned-down version of an elaborate digital planner. 

5. Do not shy away from running ads to sell digital planners. If you have a substantial email list. Then, you can use it as a base to find more customers for your products. Even if you give away a lot of free planners. The list of customers who use the freebies can also bring in new customers. 

Conclusion

Planners are great to organize busy schedules. They exist in paper formats as well as in digital ones.

As the name suggests, digital ones find use in computers, mobiles, and apps.

GoodNotes is the most popular notes taking software used in Apple products. GoodNotes is synonymous with digital planners. Thus, designing and selling digital planners that are GoodNotes compatible is the key.

You can create digital planners with design software. They do take time to grasp. But you understand them best with practice. 

Else, Canva is one of the best apps to create digital planners in any form.

Planning to Read this article later? Why not save it as a Pin by clicking on the Image below.

Why Do You Need Artist Newsletter Examples

In case you have not heard it before, emails are the best marketing tools.

That is because mail is a direct contact between you and your audience.

Every marketing expert in the industry will vouch for the same. 

But the problem is what to send to your audience.

That is why I have compiled some of my best-performing newsletters. Below you will find them.

71 Artist Newsletter Examples That Work

1. Work In Progress

It is wonderful to share your current work with your visitors. That will give you an opportunity to let them know what occupies your time.

Your audience will find such content engaging. 

2. Inspirations

Every creative person has a lot to get inspired by. It is rare to not have an inspiration for a creative person.

Hence, it is worth sharing your current muse with your subscribers.

3. First Work

The first ones are always special. The first creation holds a memorable place in the heart.

I have shared the embroidery work that I made when I was a kid. You can also do the same.

4. Role Model

Having someone to follow helps in the journey. That is why role models exist.

If you have one. Then, share about them with your readers. It could be that your role model becomes your readers’ role model as well.

5. Travel Diaries

Travel is one of the best teachers. If you have been following my journey, then, you must be aware of my traveling lifestyle.

I live a nomadic lifestyle fueled by slow travel. That is why I got a lot to share in my newsletters.

6. Learnings From A New Course

I am a sucker for knowledge. Today I completed a course on Museum Studies.

If you are on my newsletter list. Then, you must have known about this course.

If you are not learning a new course. Then, right now is the best time to start one. The ups are that along with new learnings, you will get friends to discuss it.

7. Special Custom Requests

Creating special requests for special customers is a cherished feat. When you share it with your subscribers, they get to know that you are open to special requests.

8. Craft Exhibitions

I am yet to find a handmade business owner who does not attend craft exhibitions. 

You could be attending them to display your work. Or, you could even be visiting exhibitions for leisure.

No matter what the reason is, you can send a mail to your readers about the exhibitions you attend.

9. Memes On Craft

Memes are my absolute favorite. I love to share them with anyone who appreciates humor.

Running a handmade business is a stressful job. Sharing memes with your readers will bring cheer and laughter.

10. What Did Not Work

If you have been following my blog. Then, you would know that I am a huge fan of mistakes.

Mistakes teach me what did not work out. 

So, when I share those follies, others know what not to do.

So, do not treat mistakes as a taboo subject. Rather, share them wide to help others.

11. Artist Space Tour

Who would not like to see your workspace? In general, people are inquisitive. So, it will be a great idea to let your subscribers know where you work.

You can insert a pre-recorded video or even images would work too.

12. Suppliers Introduction

What would any business be without their suppliers. So, why not talk about them with your readers.

Chances are that they would be on your list too. This might encourage them to offer discounts to your readers as a form of gratitude.

This post may contain affiliate links. That means if you purchase any of the products mentioned in this article through routing via the links in this post. Then, I may end up receiving a certain monetary percentage from the sale. Though the one who purchases through the link does not end up paying anything extra apart from the mentioned MRP on the product. Full disclosures on the Affiliate Page.

13. Replicating Competitors

Competition is healthy for business. If it were not for the competitors, the entire category of business would die down.

I have nothing but gratitude for my competitors for keeping my business alive. 

I sell one of my competitors’ products as an affiliate. That way I fulfill my audience’s needs without going through the grind.

14. Catching On A Trend

Thanks to these trends, the entire world dances to the same tune. It could be that a few of your readers might not have heard about them.

So, why not share those trends (provided you know about them) in a newsletter.

15. Latest Goofups

The best ideas for art newsletters would be infotainment ones. Sharing videos/images of you goofing it up would make great content.

Many times I have messed up the proportions of oils in soap making. Or I have miscalculated the rows in crochet making. 

All these make humorous content for an artist newsletter.

16. Business Talk

As a successful artist, you can share your business knowledge. People love to know how creatives get their business.

Since I started this website to help artists thrive. Therefore, most of my emails to my readers are business success tips.

17. Discussing Tech In Art

None of us will be able to leverage our lives without technology. All of us have our favorites for apps, gadgets, and tools.

It will make a great email sharing your most used technology gizmos.

18. Awards And Recognition

I love to show off the praise I receive for my work with my subscribers. In the past newsletters, I have shared articles about me in newspapers.

The latest vanity mail I sent my readers was on a Hobby Scool Summit where I was one of the speakers.

It might be difficult to gather laurels when you are a beginner. But as you progress, the accolades will keep on adding. 

19. Latest Purchases

Do you run a photography business? Then, the latest camera lens purchases can find mentioned in the photography newsletters.

Likewise, you can do the same with any creative business.

20. Hero Product

I love to talk about my best-selling product with my readers. The obvious reason is that it sells the most. The other reason is that my readers love to hear updates about it.

So, do not shy away from talking about your most sold product. The love you will receive when you do so will surprise you.

21. Upcycled Ideas

This is my favorite because it creates tons of engagement. People love to know how they can use the stuff that they no longer need.

That not only helps in expanding utility. But also helps with the landfills.

Your artwork must be having lots of upcycling ideas worth sharing.

22. Recycled Ideas

Much like upcycled ideas, recycling is popular too. If you are in the handmade business of making candles.

Then, a probable option to recycle would be using the leftover wax.

Such recycling ideas make some of the best art newsletters.

23. Ask Me Anything

They are popular as AMAs on social media. You can replicate them in newsletters as well.

AMAs are great for to-and-fro interactions since they evoke curiosity.

Try to make it a bare-it-all AMA so that it breaks the ice for the readers.

24. Employee Interview

This will not make sense if you are the Do-It-All in your art enterprise. But even if you have a lone employee, you can share their interview with your readers.

This will help the readers know what is it like working with/for you. It will work even if you have a part-time employee working as a man Friday.

25. An Artist Interview

Interviews with other artists in your profession also make a great topic for emails.

You will find lots of talented/upcoming artists whose work you enjoy. So, sharing their interview will give your readers a perspective on the art.

26. Celebrity Tidbit

Have you ever noticed that famous people also have a creative streak? 

It could also be that some popular personalities share a passion for the art that you follow.

For instance, Brad Pitt loves to do pottery. So, if you are a ceramic artist, then, why not let your readers understand what Brad Pitt does with pottery.

It might prompt the loyal fans of that celebrity to follow pottery as well.

Likewise, you can hunt some famous faces who share interests in your chosen art form.

27. Pet Peeves About Customers

I can go on-and-on ranting about the customers who give me a hard time.

The most common one is asking for a refund after purchasing a digital product. It is when my terms and conditions mention that there are no refunds.

But that is how I get to talk about the disappointments of some not-so-good customers with my readers.

You can also share such irritating pet peeves about your customers with your readers. 

Do remember to not take their names in the newsletters since they might also be reading your emails.

28. New Product Development

This is one of my favorite artist newsletter examples for creatives in all fields.

Any new addition to your product line is worth promoting. Your list of subscribers would love to know what is brewing up.

29. Setting Up A Goal

Goals give you a chance to build a compass. Consider them as long-term new year resolutions.

When you share goals with your readers, it builds accountability. Thus, you are more inclined to reach your goals after including them in newsletters. 

30. Success Party 

People who choose to receive emails from you deserve to know all the good news.

Then, why not share all such good stuff and make them a part of the celebrations?

31. Discounts

You must have received discounts for my products if you subscribe to my emails.

Your readers should be the first people to know about your discounts.

32. Promotion Of A New Launch

Talking about your new products is different from its promotion. If you have a new segment in your business, it deserves a launch process.

I send a series of autoresponder sequences for a new launch. You can send teasers of the same in newsletters as well.

33. Redoing Someone Else’s Work

This can be one of the interesting artist newsletter examples. You can redo some other popular artist work in your style.

You can consider it as providing your flair to another artist’s work. This will let your readers know that you do not shy away from trying new territories. 

34. Venturing Into New Art Forms

Why get stuck in one style or genre forever. You may not expand your business in categories other than yours. But once in a while, you can try new or the latest art forms to stay in sync with new updates.

Telling people about the new art skills you acquired in the recent past is a great newsletter idea.

35. Discussing Beginner Artists In The Business

Everyone discusses famous and established artists. But do you wonder where were all the popular ones hiding in their formative years.

Then, why not become the one who has a keen eye for identifying young talent.

This will promote those beginner artists. Plus, you will garner respect from your tribe for giving back to your community.

36. Marketing Tips

If you subscribe to and read my content. Then, you would know that I discuss this topic the most.

There are several newsletters from my side on marketing tips for handmade businesses.

37. Content Tips

Much like marketing, content generation is the holy grail of promotion in the digital era.

Every handmade business owner has a unique style of content creation. You can share your best tips for content in the newsletter content.

38. Childhood Work

One of the topics for my newsletter was an embroidered artwork that I created as a kid. It was not great, but it was a masterpiece considering done by a 5-year-old.

I was in two minds before sharing it in the newsletter. But to my utter surprise, that email was a hit. Likewise, you can try sending some childhood memories related to art and craft.

39. Organizing Artist Space

If you are an artist, then, you must be aware of the clutter that keeps on building. Therefore, you can share some tips on how to organize and keep the chaos at bay.

For sure such a newsletter idea, you will find a great engagement rate.

40. Packaging Tips

Art products require specialized packaging. A lot of bubble wrap, packaging noodles, and paperboard goes into packaging.

The more intricate and delicate the artwork is, the more sturdy should be packaging.

Hence, as a seasoned artist, you can share your packaging tips with your readers.

41. Shipping Tips

Shipping follows packaging. So, the wisdom acquired while shipping your art is worth sharing with your readers.

Since many of your readers would be your customers, they would like to know how you deliver. Thus, shipping information would make one of the best artist newsletter examples. The best part is that it will work in every creative field like music and fashion.

42. Inspiring Song

Not so long ago I shared one of my favorite songs in my newsletter. To my surprise, it was a hit. 

So many people responded to that mail and told me how much they loved that song too. Also, many people shared their favorites with me. 

This kind of topic is one of the artist newsletter examples that prove the power of engaging content.

43. Related Books

Who does not benefit from a good book? So, if you have grasped wisdom from a certain book. Then, why not let your audience know about it?

I have done it so many times. So, I know it can work for you too.

44. Related Movies

Much like books, movies are also a source of education along with entertainment.

Movies based on creativity, resilience, and surviving despite hardships make a good watch.

So, spread the word about them with your readers.

45. Personal Tips On Health

Let us get practical, running a handmade business is sheer hard work. No one has it easy. You must be doing some kind of physical activity to stay healthy.

Sharing it with your list will benefit your audience.

Mine is swimming and cycling.

46. Personal Tips On Mental Health

Without mental health, physical health goes for a toss. So, any tips on remaining calm and balanced receive appreciation.

For me, it is gardening, and playing with my cats.

Whenever I have shared any newsletter on staying positive, it has garnered a good open rate.

47. Customer Interview

This is one of the best ways to develop a positive connection with your audience. People love to hear personal stories and experiences regarding the usage of products.

So, why not interview a customer and share it in a monthly email?

48. Waste Management Ideas

Any creative work leaves some or the other wastage. You must be having your ways to deal with it.

You can share those with your audience to teach them how to dispose off the waste.

49. Showcasing The Work Of Other Artists

As a creative artist, you must talk and discuss the creations of other artists. It would be shallow/insecure to not appreciate beauty emanating from another creative.

So, why not spread the word about all the good stuff you get to know? 

50. Lead Magnet Ideas

This one is my favorite. If you are reading this post, then, I am sure you must have come across a lead magnet.

Lead magnets lead to gathering subscribers that in turn receive newsletters. Thus, a good reason to tell your subscribers how can they collect subscribers. 

51. Giveaways

Who does not like a good giveaway? I love them because they give you a chance to receive a product that you love.

I am bad at offering giveaways. That is why I have not tried this one as one of the artist newsletter examples.

You can offer your work or even a tool/product that you use in the giveaway. This will give you an opportunity to market and get paid as an affiliate for the giveaway too.

52. Contests

Consider them much like Giveaways. Instead of a lucky draw in a Giveaway, here an actual contest decides the winner.

Of course, you can choose a random winner if there are many. Nevertheless, who comes out as a winner, the contests are a big hit in increasing engagement.

53. Causes That You Care For

All of us have special causes that are close to our hearts. I am sure you too must be having one.

Sharing about it in a newsletter helps you connect with others who share the same emotions as yours. 

Also, you might end up collecting a sizeable donation amount for the cause as well.

54. Resolutions

All of us have made at least 1 resolution at the start of a new year. So, there is no harm in letting your people know about it.

You might get motivated to work on that resolution since you mailed your list about it.

55. Discussing Wishlists

Resolutions are the tasks done to achieve the wishlists. So, if you talk about the resolutions, then, you can share the wishlists as well.

I love to share what is on my mind. You will find it hard to believe, but it has helped me achieve what I desire.

You might try and see if it works for you.

56. Freebies

Freebies are lead magnets without an intended purpose. 

Consider them as a means to keep your audience happy. I love to receive them, that is why create and share them. 

As the name suggests, they are free to download and use. But if they get popular, you can beef them up to create a lead magnet. They can also work out in a ladder format to create a paid digital product.

57. Job Opportunities 

If you receive my newsletters, then, you must have come across job opportunities.

I post a mail whenever there is a manpower requirement. I also include jobs from my friends and other businesses that I come across in my fraternity.

Job listings help businesses and talent connect. They also make good content as an artist newsletter examples.

58. Festival-Related Content

Festivals make a great conversation starter. There are so many festivities or the day of celebrations.

You can greet your newsletter subscribers on such occasions. A cherry on top would be sharing your personal celebrations related to such events.

59. Taking On A Goliath In Your Industry

Everyone loves to hear about a small guy going head-on with a giant. There are several ways to create email content around this topic.

You can discuss/review a product from the industry leader. Or you can talk about an unpopular opinion about the biggies in the industry.

If you shy away from being controversial. Then, you can talk about how a not-so-popular product of a Goliath can become big.

60. Tips On Getting The First Sale

The first sale is special because it is the most difficult one to crack. I recall how enthralling that experience was.

That is why my newsletters contain milestones of sales achieved. I love to talk about how I learned to sell and upsell.

If you are regular to my newsletters, you will soon receive the update of my 300th sale.

61. A Mini-Lesson 

This could be a course or a mini-course. The objective could be to educate your subscribers on a certain topic.

If could not create e-learning content. Then, worry not. You have the option to share someone else’s course.

The point is to drive your audience toward useful content.

62. Happy Birthday Content

I realized the importance of this one after my birthday passed. All happy birthdays are great for passing on some promotions.

I tend to forget my birthday, which is why I miss out on sending related emails.

But I will ensure that I offer some discount coupons next year.

63. Share The Best Advice 

Most of the advice I offer is one that I did not receive well. So, I make it a point to offer advice with cautionary caveats.

I have huge experience in going through bad times. So, that way I am fortunate. 

If you have been fortunate enough to have a cozy life. Then, you can share the advice that you received from others. 

64. Gratitude Sharing

There is a reason I maintain a gratitude journal. It helps me count my blessings and keeps me humble.

The more I appreciate what I receive, the more I get it. Hence, I share with my readers what I am grateful for.

There is a special magnificence about the virtue of gratitude. When you share it with someone, you get to know how fortunate you are.

You might start a chain of positivity by sharing your gratitude stories.

65. Factors Affecting Business

The pandemic is the biggest example of how external factors affect a business. So, talk about how your business bears the brunt of happenings worldwide.

The rising crude oil prices affect shipping costs. As a small business, you do hit a wall due to such changes. Therefore, you must discuss the same with your readers. This will help them understand your price changes as well.

66. Social Media Handles

The more, the merrier is true for engaging the audience. So, newsletter content updating people on your social media handles is a great idea.

That way your tribe will know where to find you in case they lose touch.

67. Exhibitions 

Craft fairs are a part and parcel of a handmade business. One, they bring in sales. Second, they market your creative business to a lot many people.

So, your newsletters must update everyone about your exhibition sojourns. This could include the ones you attend to display your creations. Plus, also the ones you take part as an audience.

68. Collaborations

Collaborations mean uniting with others to do cross-selling. I am skeptical about them till I did once.

Hobbyscool collaborated with me to deliver a webinar on a hobby summit. I spoke on the topic of turning a hobby into a money-making business.

Do not even ask me how well it worked to increase my subscriber rate. So, now I am all for collaborations. Thus, telling your subscribers about it will make the best use of collaborations.

69. Workshops

This one is a no-brainer. Your audience would love to know what kind of workshops you are conducting.

Plus, you get to presell your workshop. Thus, making it one of the best artist newsletter examples for business.

70. Earnings

Jennifer Maker is a popular role model for craft bloggers. She has made a fortune by making and sharing her crafts.

Her tall earnings have a lot to do with her huge popularity. Much like her you can share your earnings as well.  

71. Blast From The Past

I love to look back at past events to admire my journey. So, once I shared the archived image of my website when it started.

The engagement rates of that newsletter were great. My audience admired my journey and appreciated my diligent attempts.

Thus, sending visuals from your past stories works well.

Conclusion

Emails boast of some of the best engagement rates. Thus, an essential element for marketing a handmade business.

Though what to send in emails remains a bottleneck. If you too have been in such anxious situations, then, this article is for you.

It has more than 50 prompts for newsletters. The best part is that they work because they come from my personal experience.

They work in any creative profession as weekly, monthly, or quarterly newsletter examples.

Start using them and do let me know what artist newsletter examples you have to share.

Planning to Read this article later? Why not save it as a Pin by clicking on the Image below.

Starting a crochet business is a popular option among fiber arts businesses.

Crochet is a fun activity with utility. Plus, it can bring in money if operated as a business.

If you intend to start a successful home-based business. Then, you can read further.

What You Need To Know Before Starting A Crochet Business

It may seem easy to crochet and put up your products on the internet. But it takes much more than that to run a successful crochet business.

So, before taking the plunge, you should be aware of the following.

1. Create Handmade Crochet Items

This goes with a mention that you must know how to crochet to sell crochet items.

The only way around not crocheting yourself is by outsourcing or employing. If you know someone who is a pro with the art of crochet. Then, you can associate with them for a crochet business startup. 

Do not think that to run a crochet business you need to be a pro with complicated designs. You can even create chunky blankets with simple finger crochet.

You can succeed even with beginner crochet skills as long as you know who will buy from you. That brings us to the topic of —–>

2. Set Your Crochet Target Market

As someone who runs a business, I know the importance of positioning. This one is the most difficult analogy for a newbie to understand.

As an analogy, you must not provide everything to everyone. Rather, provide a particular market segment with irresistible offers. 

My crochet business niche was handmade jewelry and accessories. So, I never drifted to amigurumi or afghans.  

Likewise, decide on crochet niche ideas for your crochet business.

In summary, do not provide every item to everyone. Rather make a decision on what will you provide to a specific clientele.

3. Identify Your Business With A Name

Starting a crochet business requires a business name. You must devote time and thought to the process. 

Naming your handmade business after your name is an obvious option. That way your business identifies with your personality.

Try to stick to a small name that is unique and easy to pronounce. Also, ensure that there is no controversy or ill-meaning with that name anywhere in the World.

Else, it would become cumbersome as your business grows. So, give a deep thought to choosing crochet business names ideas.

4. Track Down Wholesale Suppliers 

No crochet business would fulfill without supplies. Therefore, you need basic threads and crochet hooks for starting a crochet business.

For this business, the demand for yarn and threads is high. Thus, finding a wholesale vendor is an absolute necessity. 

Try to have at least 2 different vendors for an uninterrupted supply chain. Having a pool of vendors ensures that your customers and the business do not suffer. 

You can look for local suppliers. Or get a bulk deal from an online vendor.

5. Come Up With Appropriate Pricing

After dabbling in so many businesses, I know how important pricing is. Wrong pricing can affect your clientele. The worst is that it may even force you to shut down.

Pricing does get overwhelming due to capital and operational expenses. But it gets a little easier if you multiply all your tangible costs with a fixed multiple. I stick to 3 as a number. From there you can always go a digit lower/higher as per your business needs.

Else, involving each and every cost in a product will be challenging.

6. Package Your Crochet Products

A crochet shipment should never reach the customer in a deplorable state. That is why sturdy packaging is mandatory.

Try to look for packaging materials that protect your crochet artwork. If possible, include sustainable packaging elements to reduce waste.

You can partner with professional delivery services for shipments. That will bring in appreciation and loyalty from your customers. In turn, it would translate to more business and an increment in average order value.

7. Identify The Best Places To Sell Crochet Items

No business can survive without selling. Thus, to start a crochet business, you should know crochet items that sell.

Amigurumi and chunky blankets are some of the best-selling ones. But you should go with your selected niche category.  

Once you start selling crochet, you will know the most profitable crochet items. 

Then, you can build up your display as your audience desires.

Craft shows are one of the best options to sell in person. Alongside, you should target selling online as well.

If you are a newbie, you can start with Etsy. Then, move on to creating your own e-commerce platform.

8. Comply With Laws and Regulations 

It may not seem necessary to even think about laws while running a hobby business. But if you are starting a crochet business with a professional mindset. Then, you have to give a thought to the laws.

Considering the lawsuits filed on Etsy in recent times. You must ensure that your products comply with safety standards.

9. Keep Marketing Forever

This one is true for any and every business. 

Marketing puts the word around, which then facilitates sales.

You can go ahead and start making reels on Instagram. But do consider some relevant hashtags to grab opportunities of crochet business.

Though, blogging is the best long-term marketing plan for the crochet business startup.

10. Work With A Simple Crochet Business Plan

A business plan is mandatory for a successful crochet business. It will help you manage and organize the repetitive chores.

Some of them are:

• Project Planning
• Stock Inventory Tracking
• Counting Rows While crocheting
• Organizing Patterns
• Project Return On Investments (ROI) Tracker
• Craft Events Database
• New Product Development Inspiration

You can keep tracking the above activities on your own. You also have the option to use the one that I sell as a planner.

No matter how you plan to optimize these activities, it is important to complete them.

11. Keep Learning And Improving

Without learning, growth takes a back seat. Therefore, while starting a crochet business, try to do the following:

• Keep a tab on trending crochet items.
• Gather information on competitors’ best-selling crochet products.
• Learn the tips/hacks/tricks for new crochet stitches.
• Figure out ways to reduce packaging and shipping costs.
• Look for ways to reach and grow your customer base.

In Conclusion

There are several crochet business ideas that you can consider as a handmade startup.

Crochet skills come in handy to create apparel, accessories, and toys. 

But you should know how to market and sell to make profits after creation.

Planning to Read this article later? Why not save it as a Pin by clicking on the Image below.

Did you ever fumble while selling handmade products?

Did your competition make you question if you should sell at higher prices? Or is the decline in sales making you feel the other way around?

If questions like these perplex you. Then, you must read further.

How To Price Handmade Items

Before you decide how to price crochet blankets, you must know what is the cost of making one.

Thus, you need to know —–>

How Is Handmade Pricing Calculated 

First things first. There is no set formula to price handmade items.

As the market is super duper fragmented, there is no one way to price.

So, as many handmade artists, as many price points.

Thus, to come up with a selling price knowing costing is vital.

For a handmade business, the following could be the costs:

1. Raw Materials and Supplies

These are the basic ingredients to create a product. So, for a souvenir business, you would need magnets, glue, and several other craft supplies. 

Even the digital printables business requires a laptop and paper for testing prints.

2. Time Spent 

This cost is the most difficult one to calculate. That is because there is no fixed value to calculate the worth of time. Moreover, the value of time spent is different for every individual.

Though one can factor in the minimum labor wages in a specific country to put a value on this one. But that value will be capricious.

3. Shipping Costs 

The growing fuel costs have a direct impact on this one. The more your handmade business grows, the more will be your shipping costs.

So, in the long run, it becomes a good problem to have.

4. Marketing Costs

No business can survive without marketing. Though, social media does not require a cost to start. But going beyond organic will require the expenditure in ads.

If marketing is offline, then, the costs would vary as per the medium.

5. Legal Costs

Licenses cost a significant sum if you are selling cosmetics or food. Moreover, as per your local laws, there could be a license fee to run a handmade business.

Trademarks, patents, and taxes as per the revenue are some other legal expenses.

6. Employee Costs

This would be the same as the cost of time spent if you are the sole employee. But if you have people working for you, then, that is an additional expense.

7. Packaging Costs

Packaging handmade items is a significant cost considering global shipping options. Robust packaging requires materials that ensure safety and durability.

Moreover, customers expect handmade brands with sustainable packaging materials. This adds to the expenses of a handmade business.

8. Craft Fair Fees

Before Etsy, craft fairs and farmers’ markets were the only hope for handmade sellers. 

Even though Etsy is synonymous with handmade transactions. Still, the lure of craft fairs is rampant for creatives. 

The fairs charge a cost for display. Thus, adding to the expenses for a handmade entrepreneur.

9. Display Material Costs

Participation in craft fairs requires varied display materials. The list could range from stands, shelves, and racks to labels and lighting. Thus, another set of expenses. 

10. Online Platform Costs

This one is obvious. Etsy is the market leader that charges 20 cents per listing. There are subsequent charges for sales, advertising, and payment gateways.

Selling through a self-hosted website also has a cost. The alternate option to reduce costs is to sell on Gumroad instead of Etsy.

11. Website Costs

Over the years, sellers are experiencing lower sales with Etsy. Though even worse is Etsy shutting down shops. 

So, having a website along with Etsy provides a buffer. But this buffer does involve an additional cost.

12. Email Costs

Years of experience have taught me that email beats every other form of marketing. Sending an email to a customer builds a direct line of contact minus distractions.

An effective email strategy is more important than having a website or social media. 

Some email marketing providers operate on a freemium model. But the professional ones that deliver do cost some serious bucks.

13. Learning Costs

Learning can never stop for any business. For a handmade one, it is imperative as creatives require a plethoric amount of skills to thrive.

14. Software/Tools Cost

There are many tools and software to run a handmade business. To enlist the basics, Quickbooks, design software, SEO tools, and cameras are some of the few.

15. Machinery Costs

It may seem like an oxymoron to include machines in a handmade business. But the fact is that some handmade businesses do involve essential mechanical equipment. 

Sewing machines, Cricut, or Printers are the common ones. Then, for the ceramic business, pottery wheels and kilns are the machinery.

The topic of handmade vs machine-made is a point of debate. But it is inevitable to purchase/lease machines in a few handmade businesses. Hence, an additional cost.

16. Office Rent/Lease

My handmade business started in my bedroom. That is common to most small businesses.

But as the commercial entity grows, there is a need for a dedicated space.

So, an added cost of a bought/leased/rented space.

17. Utility Costs

Electricity, water, and gas have a major contribution to utility costs. Depending upon the nature of the business, other costs could add up.

For a soap business, waste disposal is an added utility cost.

18. Vendor Services Cost

Vendors are the backbone of a steady business. They provide the materials needed for the smooth functioning of a business. 

Hence, their services add up to the cost of running a successful handmade business.

What Is The Craft Pricing Formula

As you can see, there are numerous costs to operate a handmade business. Thus, pricing becomes a challenging task.

Moreover, the costs differ for every entity depending upon the nature of the business.

That is why it is impossible to devise a standard pricing formula.

Over the years, I have tried different pricing models. The one that I now stick to is a simple one. It is three times the price of your costs. It is that simple.

As a formula, it is as below:

Selling Price = 3 x (all the tangible costs)

Tangible costs mean the countable ones and have a price tag on them. Hence, it will exclude the time spent. Also, it does not have one-time charges like the legal costs.

It may seem inefficient as it does not involve complicated calculations. But if you put it to use, you will realize that it covers all the costs. Plus, it does bring in profits as well.

Talking about profits takes us to —–>

How Much Profit Margin Is Good For Handmade Products

Profits are subjective to your appetite for ambition. But talking about my experience, any figure beyond 10% is healthy.

So, if your profit margin percentage keeps increasing. Then, for sure your pricing is doing fine.

Conclusion

Pricing is always a challenge even after putting years into a handmade business. That could be the reason why there are several discussions on how to price handmade items. But none comes as a close fit as an absolute answer.

That is why this post makes an attempt to lower the overwhelm regarding this topic. This is not the ultimate guide on how to price handmade items. But it does give a base to price right as a beginner in handmade business. 

Let me know if it solved your purpose. Or share your pricing formula for handmade products.

Planning to Read this article later? Why not save it as a Pin by clicking on the Image below.