Looking for ways to make money online? Do you want to learn, create, and sell things online?
Here I will share a few ways to build an online business today as a creative. Find out the pros, cons, and what it takes to succeed.
Print on Demand
Print on demand is when you provide designs for a company that will create products for you and ship them to buyers (on demand) or forward your order to a manufacturer who will make the product and send it to your customer.
This means that products don’t exist before they are ordered. Products will be created on demand only when someone makes a purchase.
As a designer, you will be paid in % in royalties after manufacturing costs will be extracted from the product price.
Pros
- Low barrier to entry
- Can start today for free
- Possible passive income stream
- Most of the competitors are not going to last
- Talent will always win copycats.
- After you learn the basics you will be 80% ahead of your competitors
(who didn’t take the time to learn and apply).
Cons
- A lot of competition
- You need to do marketing
- Copycats
- Fast changes in trends, platforms, etc
- May take a longer time to learn the ins and outs
- May take time to create a winning design
- May take time to make 1st sale
Who buys print-on-demand products?
This depends on which platform you are in.
On Etsy people are looking for gifts, nostalgic things that remind them of childhood, craft supplies, and tools to make their life/work easier like planners, printables, and stickers.
On Redbubble people buy mostly stickers.
On Zazzle people come for customizable and personalizable party supplies and gifts. Invitations, thank you cards, and wrapping paper sell well on Zazzle.
It also depends on the person you are selling to. Some people like everything trending while others are in love with kawaii, goth, cottage-core, or aesthetics.
Print-on-demand websites are beginner-friendly options.
Print-on-demand companies are great options for you when you have your own website or want to sell on the marketplace.
Who is this for
✅This is for people who want to create beautiful things for others to use.
✅This is for people who are disciplined and don’t expect big results overnight.
✅This is for people who can delay instant gratification.
✅This is for people who love to evolve and get better.
Print on Demand Low content books
Yes, you can make books with print on demand! Let me explain. There is a beginner-friendly way to start and it is self-publishing no-content books, low-content books, and medium-content books.
No content books
No content books, have empty pages with no content and are used for writing and drawing.
Examples of no-content books are composition notebooks.
Who buys them?
No content books can be used for multiple purposes, but they are most popular among creative, thoughtful, and organized people such as artists, writers, students, etc.
Low content books
Low-content books may have some prompts and are meant to be filled in by the user.
Examples of low-content books are calendars, planners, diaries, gratitude journals, guest books, etc.
Who buys them?
Low-content books are popular among people who want to stay organized, express their creativity, or relax.
Medium content books
Medium-content books may have more text than low-content books, but they may also have interactive content like coloring pages, activity pages, and so on.
Examples of medium-content books are activity books like workbooks and coloring books.
Who buys them?
Medium content users love to improve their skills and reflect on their personal development.
Pros
- Low barrier to entry
- Can start today for free
- Possible passive income stream
- Amazon KDP instructions are good enough (if you are not lazy or tired)
- Amazon’s communication is good enough
Cons
- A lot of competition
- You need to do marketing
- Copycats
- It may take time to get stuff done
- There will be waiting times with Amazon
Who is this for
✅This is for people who use and understand the purpose of these books.
✅This is for people who are disciplined can make things happen.
✅This is for people who have the patience to create and promote without seeing instant results.
✅This is for people who love to evolve and get better.
Start with digital products
Digital products are products that are meant to be used online or that you can download or print out.
Examples of Digital products:
- Clip art Graphics
- Digital papers
- AI-generated Graphics
- Templates
- Online courses
- Printables
- Digital planners
- Ebooks
Digital products like any other product are used to feel better.
Who buys them?
Nowadays..everybody!
Pros
- Low barrier to entry
- Can start today for free
- Possible passive income stream
Cons
- May take time to learn
- May take time to create good enough stuff
- May take time to find the gap in the market
- You have to do marketing
Who is this for
✅This is for people who have knowledge or skills they can teach others or make tools for others.
✅This is for people who are disciplined can make things happen.
✅This is for people who have the patience to create and promote without seeing instant results.
✅This is for people who love to evolve and get better.
Conclusion
In this list, I had ideas of things that I have personally done and tried myself. I know these things are doable.
Keep in mind that when you start doing something you will learn and improve and new possibilities will open up for you.
Don’t draw yourself into a small circle.
Stay open-minded and spot when the door of opportunity is opening for you.
Don’t be afraid to move from something that doesn’t work.
I hope that these ideas spark✨ some creativity in you and you go and explore more.
Do not forget to stop, reflect, and do the things that align with your values and complement your own personal strengths.
Good luck!