introduction
"How to make money with printables on a blog"
Does your blog need a passive income stream that’s both creative and flexible? Then printables are your answer! The trend of creating and selling digital products—like planners, templates, checklists—is very popular among bloggers these days because they not only simplify the lives of users but also give you a chance to earn money without any physical effort.
In this blog post, we will share a complete roadmap of “How to make money with printables on a blog”. Whether you’re a new blogger or an experienced one, this guide will help you increase your earnings through printables. So let’s find out how this business model works.
What Are Printables (And Why They’re Perfect for Bloggers)
What are printables? They are digital files (like PDF, JPEG, PNG) that users can download and print. Some common examples are:
Planners:
Daily, weekly, or monthly planners for students, professionals, or moms.
Checklists:
Packing lists, wedding checklists, or project management trackers.
Art Prints:
Motivational quotes, wall art, or coloring pages for kids.
Templates:
Resume templates, social media post designs, or budget sheets.
Why are printables perfect for bloggers?
Low Investment:
Just a laptop and design tools needed—no printing or shipping costs!
High Demand:
People love instant solutions. According to a study, 68% users use digital planners to track their goals.
Passive Income:
Once you upload a design, you can have sales for years.
If you are wondering “How to make money with printables on a blog”, then this business model is ideal for you.
Choosing Profitable Printable Ideas for Your Blog
Before creating printables, understand the needs of your audience. Niche research is a must. For example:
. If you’re a parenting blogger, create “kids’ chore charts” or “meal planners for picky eaters.”
. For fitness bloggers, workout trackers or meal prep sheets are hits.
. Travel bloggers can sell packing checklists or itinerary templates.
Pro Tips for Idea Generation:
Google Analytics:
Check what the most popular content is on your blog. Design printables accordingly.
Etsy Trends:
Search keywords like “printable templates” on Etsy to see what’s going viral.
Audience Surveys:
Ask your readers what type of printables they want.
Example:
A finance blogger asked his audience, and 70% asked for a “debt payoff tracker”. He created a minimalist PDF tracker and made $2,000+ in 3 months.
Step-by-Step: Creating Eye-Catching Printables (Tools & Tips)
How to improve tools and skills for designing printables?
Tools for Beginners:
Canva (Free):
Pre-made templates, drag-and-drop features.
Google Slides:
Simple layouts for checklists/charts.
Adobe Express (Freemium):
Professional designs with minimal effort.
Advanced Tools:
Adobe Illustrator:
For custom illustrations and vector-based designs.
Procreate:
For hand-drawn doodles and artistic elements.
Design Best Practices:
Consistency:
Use branding colors and fonts of your blog.
White Space:
Clutter-free designs improve readability.
Call-to-Action (CTA):
Add your blog logo and website link in every printable.
Example:
A food blogger created a “30-Day Vegan Meal Planner.” Using Canva she added colorful sections, included recipe pages, and finally added a link to her blog. This planner became one of her top-selling products!
Setting Up Your Blog to Sell Printables: Must-Have Pages & Plugins
What do you need to do to turn your blog into a professional digital store?
Essential Pages:
Shop Page:
Organize products into categories (e.g., “Planners,” “Wall Art”).
FAQ Page:
Give clear answers to questions like “How to download after purchase?” or “Refund policy.”
Testimonials Page:
Show reviews from happy customers to build trust.
Plugins for WordPress Users:
WooCommerce:
Best for physical + digital products.
Easy Digital Downloads:
Lightweight and specifically for digital products.
MemberPress:
If you want to sell subscription-based printables.
Security Tips:
. Install an SSL certificate (enable HTTPS).
. Integrate payment gateways like PayPal and Stripe for safe transactions
Example:
A lifestyle blogger used the Easy Digital Downloads plugin on his WordPress blog. He uploaded 10+ printables and made 50+ sales in the first month itself!
Driving Traffic: How to Promote Your Printables Effectively
Made printables? Now get traffic to sell them.
Traffic Generation Strategies:
SEO-Optimized Blog Posts:
. Write posts like “How to Make Money with Printables on a Blog” and add internal links to your shop page.
. Target long-tail keywords like “free printable budget planner for students.”
Pinterest Marketing:
. Create vertical pins with catchy titles (e.g., “Get Your Free 2024 Calendar Printable Here!”).
. Join group boards related to printables and blogging.
Email Marketing:
. Make a free printable a “lead magnet” (e.g., “Download My Free Goal-Setting Workbook!”).
. Send weekly emails to subscribers about new products and offers.
Example:
A travel blogger created a “Packing Checklist for Europe Trip”. To promote it, he wrote a blog post “10 Europe Travel Hacks” and posted 50+ pins on Pinterest. His checklist had 200+ sales in 2 months.
Pricing Strategies: How Much Should You Charge?
Fixing the price of printables can be tricky. Look at these factors:
Complexity:
Simple checklist ($3) vs. editable Canva template ($15).
Audience:
You can charge more in luxury niches (wedding planners).
Competitors:
Do research on Etsy and Creative Market.
Pricing Models:
Single Product:
$2-$10 range.
Bundles:
“Ultimate Productivity Bundle” (5 printables) for $25.
Subscription:
Monthly membership for exclusive printables ($10/month).
Example:
A productivity blogger sold the “Weekly Planner + Habit Tracker” bundle for $12. He promoted this offer with “Buy 1, Get 1 50% Off” and made 100+ sales in the first week
SEO Hacks to Rank Your Printables on Google
Increase organic traffic by ranking on Google.
Keyword Research Tips:
. Use free tools like Ubersuggest or AnswerThePublic.
. Target low-competition keywords like “printable birthday planner for kids.”
On-Page SEO Checklist:
. Title tag me focus keyword (e.g., “How to Make Money with Printables on a Blog”).
. Use secondary keywords in header tags (H2, H3).
. Image alt text me descriptions like “free printable monthly budget tracker.”
Example:
A finance blogger optimized her printable sales page with keywords like “printable debt tracker” and “budget planner PDF.” His organic traffic increased by 300% in 6 months.
Leveraging Etsy and Other Platforms Alongside Your Blog
Besides your blog, list products on Etsy too!
Why Etsy?
. 95 million active buyers already search for digital products there.
. Etsy SEO helps your products reach a niche audience.
Tips for Etsy Success:
Keyword-Rich Titles:
“Editable Canva Wedding Invitation Template – Instant Download – Digital Printable.”
Mockups:
Use tools like Placeit or Smartmockups to create realistic product images.
Promote Your Blog:
Add a link to your blog in the Etsy product descriptions.
Example:
An artist opened a store on Etsy in addition to selling wall art prints on his blog. He cross-promoted both platforms and made $5k+ in 6 months.
Real-Life Success Stories: Bloggers Who Nailed the Printable Game
Learn from real examples.
Case Study 1:
Blogger:
Maria (Parenting Niche)
Strategy:
She created “Screen Time Schedule” and “Homework Planner” printables.
Result:
$50k+ earnings in 1 year through blog sales and Etsy.
Case Study 2:
Blogger:
Rohan (Fitness Niche)
Strategy:
She created “Meal Prep Guides” and “Workout Trackers” as a premium offer for email subscribers.
Result:
5000+ subscribers and $8k/month revenue.
Key Takeaway:
Focus on consistency and audience feedback.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Selling Printables
Mistakes beginners make.
Ignoring Mobile Users:
Ensure printables are mobile-friendly (PDFs are responsive).
Skipping Updates:
Update holiday-specific printables (e.g., Christmas planners) annually.
No Refund Policy:
Refunds are rare in digital products, but it’s important to have a clear policy.
Example:
A blogger didn’t embed fonts in his printables, so users had formatting issues. After receiving negative reviews, he fixed the fonts and offered an apology.
Bonus: Free vs. Paid Printables—Which Should You Offer?
Both have their own role.
Free Printables:
. perfect for lead magnets (e.g., “Free 7-Day Self-Care Checklist”).
. use to increase virality on social media.
Paid Printables:
. add premium features like editable templates or video tutorials.
. sell in bundles (e.g., “Productivity Bundle: Planner + Tracker + eBook”).
Example:
A business blogger gave away a free “Social Media Calendar Template” and then upsold the “Advanced Marketing Bundle” ($29). Conversion rate was 20%.
Next Steps: Scaling Your Printable Business
Try these strategies for growth.
Outsource Design Work:
Hire designers from Fiverr or Upwork.
Diversify Niches:
Health bloggers can also sell meditation journals along with fitness trackers.
Automate Sales:
Manage automatic delivery and invoices with tools like SendOwl.
Example:
A blogger expanded his printables into 5 different niches (fitness, finance, parenting, etc.). Now his monthly income is $10k+.
What are printables, and how can I make money with them?
Printables are digital files that people can download and print at home. They include planners, checklists, worksheets, art prints, budgeting templates, and more. You can make money by selling these printables on your blog through an online store, Etsy, or even offering them as lead magnets to grow your email list and later monetize.
Do I need to be a graphic designer to create printables?
Not at all! While design skills help, you can create beautiful printables using free or affordable tools like Canva, Adobe Express, or Microsoft PowerPoint. There are also ready-made templates available that you can customize to fit your brand.
How do I sell my printables on my blog?
You can sell printables directly on your blog by setting up an online shop using WooCommerce (for WordPress users), Shopify, or Gumroad. Another option is to list them on platforms like Etsy and direct traffic from your blog to your Etsy shop.
Can I make passive income from printables?
Yes! Once you create and upload your printables, they can sell repeatedly without additional effort. You just need to market them well through SEO, Pinterest, and social media to attract buyers.
How should I price my printables?
Pricing depends on the type and quality of your printables. Simple checklists may be priced at $2-$5, while more detailed planners or bundles can go for $10-$50. Experiment with pricing and see what works best for your audience.
Conclusion
So friends, now you know the full process of “How to make money with printables on a blog”. This business model is flexible, creative, and has unlimited potential for growth. Just understand the needs of your audience, create professional designs, and promote them the right way. Remember, success doesn’t come overnight—only with consistent efforts and patience can you create a sustainable income stream. So now design your first printable, upload it on your blog, and start earning money!
If you found this guide on “How to Make Money with Printables on a Blog” helpful, don’t forget to share it and apply printables to make a profitable income stream in your blogging journey.