The world of AI-generated art is gaining traction and making its mark on various online marketplaces. This article documents a 30-day journey exploring the potential of making money selling AI-generated physical art prints on Etsy.
While the goal is to make a profit, the process involves researching popular art niches, employing AI art generators, and leveraging print-on-demand services to handle printing and shipping.
The adventure is filled with ups and downs, strategy adjustments, and the determination to succeed in a competitive online art market.
Starting off optimistic, the journey focuses on finding the best AI art generators and researching popular art niches to ensure a high chance of selling. Ultimately, the selling strategy evolves, diving into smaller niche markets and utilizing Etsy ads to increase listing visibility.
Through perseverance and adaptation to new possibilities, the challenge unfolds, revealing the true potential of selling AI-generated art prints.
Key Takeaways
- AI-generated art can be successful on Etsy with proper research and strategy adjustments.
- Exploring less-saturated niche markets increases listing visibility and the potential for sales.
- Utilizing Etsy ads can boost exposure, leading to an increase in clicks and potential sales.
Choosing an AI Art Generator
When attempting to sell physical AI art prints, the first step is picking the right AI art generator. In this venture, three main options were considered: ClipDrop, Midjourney, and Nightcafe. All of them can create impressive, unlimited images for free.
Before selling AI art on an online marketplace like Etsy, it is essential to research popular art niches that potential customers are interested in, looking for opportunities to sell a variety of images.
Platforms like E-rank, an Etsy keyword research tool, can help in identifying popular niches such as mid-century modern abstract art and flowers.
Printful
In terms of selling digital prints versus physical prints, the latter option is desirable since they typically sell for more and can generate higher profit per sale.
This is achievable through print-on-demand services like Printful, which provide a variety of wall art products and handle the printing, packaging, and shipping on the user's behalf.
When it comes to listing products on Etsy, it is crucial to have professional-looking mock-ups and catchy product titles with appropriate tags, including free shipping and well-planned pricing.
One tactic is to show a discount on the items, making them more attractive to potential buyers.
Throughout this process, it is important to track and monitor the performance of listings and advertisements.
If needed, adjustments can be made to target smaller niches and increase the chances of sales. With perseverance and the right tools, success in selling AI art is within reach!
How to sell ai art on etsy?
Throughout the 30-day journey of selling AI-generated art prints, the chosen marketplace is Etsy, a popular online marketplace for arts and crafts.
Focusing on physical prints, a variety of niche art styles are explored by browsing Etsy's search suggestions and using the keyword research tool, eRank.
Prints are planned across different niches like mid-century modern abstract art and flowers.
For a more profitable business and convenient experience, physical prints take priority over digital prints. Partnering with a print-on-demand service, such as Printful, helps avoid printing, packaging, and shipping hassles.
Printful offers numerous wall art product options to print on, including enhanced matte paper posters in multiple sizes for AI art.
The AI art images generated often have low resolutions, which necessitates the upscaling of images with tools like Gigapixel AI for optimal printing results.
Once the AI art is uploaded to Printful, the draft listing appears on Etsy – ready for editing and optimization.
Five crucial elements contribute to a successful Etsy product:
- Professional photos: Appealing, high-quality mock-ups can be created using free resources found on Google and Photoshop.
- Title: Incorporating popular keywords within the title helps people discover listings more easily via Etsy's search feature.
- Tags: Similar to the title, relevant tags also improve visibility in search results.
- Shipping: Providing free shipping attracts customers, and Etsy prioritizes such listings as well.
- Pricing: Offering different prices for varying print sizes ensures a profit margin between 25% to 45%. Also, listing lower-priced items creates a perception of affordability in search results and the seller's profile.
An added tactic is to place listings on sale by increasing the price and then offering a 15% discount. The appearance of a deal can invite more buyers without affecting profits.
Researching Art Niches
As an artist attempting to sell AI-generated physical art prints on Etsy, it is crucial to find niches that are popular among buyers. To identify these niches, one may turn to Etsy's search suggestions and employ tools like E-rank, an Etsy keyword research tool. Notable niches discovered through this approach include mid-century modern abstract art and floral designs.
By generating and selling AI art across a wide range of niches, artists increase their chances of finding success with at least one genre. Offering physical prints, as opposed to digital, can also be a lucrative decision, as they usually fetch higher prices and attract customers who prefer the convenience of not having to handle printing themselves.
To facilitate the printing process, artists can rely on print-on-demand services like Printful, which take care of printing, packaging, and shipping for each order. Pairing AI-generated images with this approach allows artists to create and sell their work efficiently while tapping into popular art niches and catering to a variety of consumers on Etsy.
Selling Digital Versus Physical Prints
When it comes to selling AI-generated art prints, there are two main options: digital and physical prints. In this journey, the choice was made to focus on selling physical prints rather than digital ones. The primary reason is that physical prints typically sell at a higher price point, which can generate more profit per sale.
While digital prints are popular (they allow customers to save money by printing out the artwork themselves), the goal here is to target customers who are willing to pay a bit more for the convenience of having a physical print delivered to their doorstep. This is achievable through a process known as print-on-demand.
Print-on-demand is a service where a company, such as Printful, prints custom art and products as orders are made. This eliminates the need to handle printing, packaging, or shipping. Printful offers a variety of wall art products to print on, including canvases, metal prints, framed posters, and enhanced matte paper posters in multiple sizes.
To sell these AI-generated art prints, an Etsy shop was set up, concentrating on popular art niches discovered through research and aiming to stand out from the competition. Some of the significant factors that contribute to a product's success on Etsy include:
- Professional-looking photos (mock-ups)
- Keyword-rich titles
- Tags filled with relevant keywords
- Offering free shipping
- Competitive pricing with a profitable margin
Throughout the selling journey, it was determined that targeting smaller, niche keywords (such as names of specific locations, animals, or unique subjects) might lead to an increased chance of being discovered among the thousands of competing listings on Etsy. Additionally, to boost visibility near the end of the 30-day challenge, Etsy ads were utilized to drive potential customers to the listings.
Ultimately, combining these strategies paid off, resulting in two AI art print sales – one of a purple peacock and another of a different subject in various sizes. The excitement of selling these AI-generated prints was a testament to the determination, research, and keen sense of the target market used throughout this endeavor.
Understanding Print on Demand
Excited to sell AI-generated art prints on Etsy, the artist chose not to go with digital prints. Instead, they focused on physical prints that typically sell for more and generate higher profit per sale. To achieve this, they utilized a process called print on demand.
Print-on-demand is a method where a company handles custom art printing and products only when an order is placed. The artist doesn't need to worry about printing, packaging, or shipping; the print-on-demand company takes care of it all. In this case, the artist partnered with Printful, which offers various wall art products like canvases, metal prints, and framed posters.
The process of listing a Printful product on Etsy is easy: connect both accounts, add a new product, choose the sizes, and upload the AI-generated art. However, most AI art generators output images at low resolutions, so the artist used an AI image upscaled to prepare them for larger prints. This made the images ready to be uploaded to Printful and listed as drafts on Etsy.
To make the listings successful, the artist followed five important elements for Etsy product pages:
- Photos: Professional-looking mock-ups designed to attract customers.
- Title: Filled with keywords to help people find the listing through Etsy's search and algorithm.
- Tags: Served a similar purpose as the title, filled with niche-specific keywords.
- Shipping: Offered free shipping to customers in the US and Canada as Etsy prioritizes listings with free shipping.
- Pricing: Priced each size differently using an e-rank profit calculator, accounting for all costs to achieve profit margins between 30% to 45%.
In the end, the artist managed to sell two AI art prints, thanks to their carefully crafted listings and the use of targeted Etsy ads. Print-on-demand played a crucial role in making this art-selling endeavor hassle-free and profitable.
Listing Prints on Etsy
In order to sell AI-generated art prints on Etsy, one needs to follow certain guidelines to have the best chance at success. Here are the hottest tips for setting up an eye-catching Etsy store for your AI art prints:
- Research popular art niches: Utilize Etsy search suggestions and an Etsy keyword research tool like eRank.
- Generate AI art across various niches: Creating a variety of AI art will increase the chances of success in at least one niche.
- Offer physical prints instead of digital: Physical prints generally sell for a higher price and offer better profit margins.
- Leverage print-on-demand services: Printful, a print-on-demand service, can assist in printing, packaging, and shipping art prints without owning a printer.
- Upscale AI-generated images: Use Gigapixel AI for upscaling images for larger print sizes.
- Optimize listing details: Ensure that the listing includes professional-looking mock-ups, keyword-rich titles and tags, competitive shipping and pricing models, and enticing sales promotions.
- Expand your niche and target it: Create AI art print listings that cater to smaller niches with fewer search results to improve the chances of being noticed.
- Consider using Etsy Ads: If the organic search traffic is low, using Etsy Ads can help reach a wider audience and potentially boost sales.
Following these guidelines can pave the way for a successful AI art print listing on Etsy.
Art Upscaling
In the process of selling AI-generated art prints on Etsy, one crucial step is upscaling the images produced by AI art generators, such as Mid-Journ Night Cafe and Stable Diffusion. Since these generators usually output images at low resolutions (around 500 to 1000 pixels wide), upscaling is necessary for printing larger, high-quality art prints.
Several paid and free AI image upscaling tools are available for this purpose. One popular choice is Gigapixel AI, which can upscale images up to six times their original resolution, using AI technology to fill in the missing details.
Once the images have been successfully upscaled, they can be uploaded to a print-on-demand service like Printful, which handles the printing, packaging, and shipping of the physical prints. Printful offers a variety of wall art digital products too, including enhanced matte paper posters in multiple sizes.
With the upscaled AI art ready and uploaded to Printful, it can be listed as a draft on Etsy, where it needs a few important elements to stand out and sell well:
- Professional-looking mock-up photos: Attractive images that showcase the art.
- Keyword-rich title: Helps buyers find the listing through Etsy's search algorithm.
- Relevant Tags: Similar to the title, tags help with search visibility.
- Free shipping: Etsy prioritizes listings with free shipping to US and Canadian customers.
- Competitive pricing: Set prices according to size and aim for a profit margin of around 30-45%.
After completing these steps, the AI art listing is ready to go live on Etsy, where it can (hopefully) attract buyers and generate sales. To further boost the listing's visibility, ads can be run on Etsy to increase views and clicks, ultimately leading to more sales of the AI-generated prints.
Draft Listings and Sponsor Acknowledgment
In an attempt to sell AI-generated art prints for 30 days, several essential steps were taken. First, AI art generators like Mid-Journ Night Cafe and Stable Diffusion were utilized to create a variety of free images. The plan was to offer these unique AI art pieces on Etsy, targeting popular art niches such as mid-century modern abstract art and flowers. The goal was to find success in at least one of these niches.
Instead of selling digital prints, the focus shifted to physical art prints. By using the print-on-demand service, Printful, there was no need to worry about printing, packaging, or shipping. It simplified the creative process itself, making selling a breeze.
It's worth mentioning that Printful's service helped immensely and has earned a special acknowledgment as the sponsor of this journey. They provided a wide range of wall art products for printing, such as canvases, metal prints, and framed posters. With their seamless integration with Etsy, creating and uploading AI art was a simple process.
However, there were challenges faced along the way. Low-resolution images needed to be upscaled using paid and free AI upscale, like Gigapixel AI.
To attract buyers on Etsy, specific aspects had to be optimized, such as professional-looking mock-up photos, strategic titles with keywords, appropriate tags, and offering free shipping to customers in the US and Canada. Another tactic employed was putting the listings on sale for 15% off, giving the perception of a good deal to potential buyers.
Overall, this experiment of selling AI art prints on Etsy was filled with excitement, challenges, and valuable lessons for anyone looking to venture into this creative business.
Strategizing Product Listing
Creating a successful product listing involves strategic planning and targeting specific niches. Researching popular art niches on Etsy, such as mid-century modern abstract art and flowers, can help guide the creation process of AI-generated artwork to cater to a wider variety of potential buyers.
To generate more profit per sale, physical prints are preferred over digital prints. This can be achieved seamlessly through print-on-demand services, like Printful, which handle printing, packaging, and shipping without any extra hassle.
When listing products on Etsy, it's essential to focus on:
- Eye-catching Photos – High-quality, professional-looking mock-ups help attract customers.
- Optimized Title – Titles filled with relevant keywords make it easier for potential buyers to find the listing.
- Tags – Similar to title optimization, tags should include keywords from the targeted niche.
- Shipping – Offer free shipping to US and Canada customers to increase listing visibility and appeal.
- Pricing – Different sizes should have different prices, with profit margins ranging from 30% to 45%, keeping them competitive in the market.
Another important tactic to engage customers is by offering a strategic discount – increase the price by 15%, then provide a 15% discount to create a perception of a good deal without cutting into profits.
However, success in selling AI-generated art prints also relies on adapting strategies as needed. Experimenting with smaller niches, targeting specific themes, or using paid advertisements like Etsy ads can help boost sales and reach an even larger audience.
Exciting Launch and Listing Replication
After exploring various AI art generators and creating mesmerizing artworks, the plan was to sell the AI art on Etsy, targeting popular art niches discovered through Etsy search suggestions and the e-rank keyword research tool. Some of the top niches included mid-century modern abstract art and flower artworks.
While many artists on Etsy sold their art as digital prints, the focus was on selling physical prints as they typically generate more profit per sale. To make this happen, print-on-demand services like Printful were used. Printful offers a variety of wall art products such as canvases, metal prints, and framed posters.
Listing a product on Etsy was made simple by connecting the accounts and choosing the preferred sizes, plus upscaling the AI art. Gigapixel AI was used to upscale images up to six times their original resolution by using AI to fill in the missing details.
When it came to preparing the listings for sale, there were five essential elements to be considered:
- Professional-looking mock-up photos
- Keyword-rich titles and tags
- Free shipping offers
- An attractive pricing strategy
- A promotional sale offer to give customers the perception of a good deal
Despite putting effort into creating high-quality listings, sales were not going as expected. The focus was then shifted toward creating AI art that targeted smaller niches and more specific keywords. Some new keywords targeted names of specific locations, animals, or even aliens.
However, even with this change in strategy, sales didn't pick up as hoped. As a last-ditch effort to generate sales, the decision was made to run Etsy ads, spending $1 a day on advertising. Finally, the ads started to make a difference as they brought more visibility to the listings. In the end, even though it was challenging, two art prints were sold — one small, and one larger print.
This exciting journey of generating and selling AI art on Etsy demonstrated the importance of targeting specific niches, advertising, and continuously adapting strategies to achieve success.
Troubleshooting Account Suspension
During the process of selling AI-generated art prints on Etsy, an unexpected account suspension occurred just two days in. Suspensions on Etsy, particularly for new stores, are not uncommon. To address the suspension, it was necessary to wait for Etsy's response. A week later, an email from Etsy confirmed the account was reinstated without providing a specific reason for the suspension.
Soon after, the storefront was populated with 36 AI-generated art prints. Initially, the strategy was to rely on organic search traffic, but this did not prove fruitful. A possible reason was the art niches were not narrow enough to stand out in the vast competition.
To improve site visibility, new AI art targeting smaller niches using specific keywords was created. Additionally, monitoring the source of visits showed that most of them were likely from bots, signifying a lack of genuine interest in the listings.
With no sales by day 26, desperation took over and a decision was made to run Etsy ads for the remaining five days at a cost of $1 per day. This last-ditch effort paid off, resulting in 1,765 views, 16 clicks, and 2 AI art prints sold – proving that adjusting strategies and investing in advertising can lead to a breakthrough in sales.
Boosting Listings and Attracting Customers
The journey began with generating AI art in various niches to catch the attention of potential buyers on Etsy. On the platform, artists mainly sell digital prints, but the focus was to target customers interested in physical prints. To make this a reality, a print-on-demand service called Printful was employed to handle the printing, packaging, and shipping.
To boost the chances of success, it was essential to optimize the Etsy product in five key areas:
- Photos: Professional-looking mock-ups were created to attract customers.
- Title: The title was filled with keywords that people would search for in the artworks' niches.
- Tags: Keywords were also employed in the tags to help with Etsy's algorithm.
- Shipping: Free shipping was offered to US and Canadian customers to increase attractiveness.
- Pricing: Various sizes were priced differently, and a sale promotion with a 15% discount was applied.
With everything set, the AI art was listed on Etsy. Despite carefully crafting the listings, success did not come easy. The listings were initially getting minimal views, leading to concerns about whether a sale would even happen. To address this challenge, the AI art targeted smaller niches with lesser competition.
As a last-ditch effort, Etsy ads were employed with a daily budget of $1. This strategy worked, and within five days, the ads resulted in 1,765 views, 16 clicks, and two AI art prints sold. Even though it was a roller coaster ride, leveraging AI art, print-on-demand services, and strategic Etsy listing optimizations led to success in achieving sales.
Initial Results and Strategy Pivot
Despite a well-prepared storefront on Etsy, generating AI art that focused on popular niches like mid-century modern abstract art and flowers, results were disheartening. After 15 days, there was minimal traffic to the listings and no sales. A major challenge faced was the seemingly saturated market for the chosen art niches, making it hard to rank high quality images in Etsy search results.
In order to pivot the strategy, they decided to target smaller niches with less competition, such as specific locations, animals, or unique subjects. This strategy was aimed at improving the listings' visibility in Etsy search results. However, even after creating more AI art listings and reaching a total of 60, sales remained stagnant.
With only five days left in the challenge, a final decision to run Etsy ads was made, hoping it would bring sales. At a rate of one dollar a day, the ads yielded impressive results:
- 1,765 views
- 16 clicks
- 2 sales of AI art prints
By pivoting the strategy towards using Etsy ads and targeting smaller, more niche subjects, they experienced a breakthrough in their 30-day challenge of selling AI-generated art prints. The excitement of achieving sales after a rough start became a silver lining amidst the struggle.
Understanding Bot Traffic
Bot traffic can have a significant impact on online businesses and their success. In the world of selling art on Etsy, for example, a sudden surge of views and visits can create a false impression of buyer interest. While initially exciting, this can quickly turn into frustration and concern for the seller when those views don't translate into sales.
A recent experiment in selling AI-generated art prints on Etsy demonstrated this phenomenon, with most visits surprisingly coming from the “Direct and Other Traffic” channel. This is unusual since the Etsy shop was not being promoted anywhere. After researching the issue, it was discovered that these visits likely originated from bots, not real potential customers.
In 18 days, only six real people visited the listings, which was a disappointing realization. As a result, the seller had to adapt, targeting smaller niches and even resorting to running Etsy ads to try to boost sales. The ads eventually led to a few sales, but the overall experience highlights the challenges that sellers can face when bots inflate their traffic numbers.
In conclusion, understanding bot traffic's impact on online sales is vital for sellers to make more informed decisions and adapt their strategies to attract real customers.
Exploring More Niche Listings
To increase the chances of success on Etsy, it's essential to focus on niche markets that are frequently searched. By examining Etsy search suggestions and using eRank – an Etsy keyword research tool – popular art niches such as mid-century modern abstract art and flowers can be identified. Generating and selling AI art in various niches provides opportunities for at least one of them to succeed on Etsy.
When selling physical prints, partnering with a print-on-demand service like Printful can prove beneficial. Printful does the printing, packaging, and shipping, so there's no need to own a printer or manage inventory. They offer a variety of wall art products like canvases, metal prints, framed posters, and more.
To ensure the product sells on Etsy, it's important to optimize five key elements:
- Photos: Use professional-looking mock-ups to attract customers
- Title: Include keywords related to the artwork's niche
- Tags: Utilize relevant tags to enhance discoverability
- Shipping: Offer free shipping to US and Canadian customers
- Pricing: Set pricing based on print size with a profit margin of around 30% to 45%
Using these tactics along with applying discounts on the listing (such as a 15% off sale) creates an attractive offer for potential buyers.
Despite careful planning, selling AI art can be challenging as listings struggle to stand out among numerous search results. Therefore, targeting smaller niches with keywords related to specific locations or themes might improve visibility. Additionally, promoting the listings through Etsy ads can increase views, clicks, and potentially sales. The key to success lies in constantly adapting and experimenting with new strategies and art niches.
Finally, The First Sale
After many days of experimenting with different AI-generated art styles, targeting various niches, and struggling to gain any traction, our ambitious artist finally saw results. By Day 26 of their challenge, they had created a total of 60 listings with no sales. With time running out, they made a last-ditch attempt to boost their chances of making a sale by reluctantly deciding to run Etsy ads.
Spending $1 a day on ads, our artist's listings started to gain views and clicks. After five days of advertising, they achieved 1,765 views, and 16 clicks, and to their excitement, they made their first sale! It was an AI-generated art print of a purple peacock. This niche choice proved successful as another sale followed soon after, bringing the total to two AI art prints sold in different sizes.
This thrilling experience highlights the significance of the right marketing strategies and a targeted, niche approach when selling art on platforms like Etsy. In the end, perseverance and creative experimentation paid off for our artists seeking success in the world of AI-generated art sales.
Ending Scores and Profit Evaluation
During the 30-day challenge, the creator listed 60 AI-generated art prints on Etsy and experimented with various strategies to attract customers. The initial efforts to gain organic search traffic did not yield sales, which led to running Etsy ads for the last few months and 5 days of the challenge.
The ads helped bring in 1,765 views, and 16 clicks, and ultimately caused the following results:
- 2 AI art prints sold
- 1 Purple Peacock print (5×7 inches)
- 1 Purple Peacock print (16×20 inches)
These sales were achieved by focusing on niche subjects like specific animals and adjusting Etsy listings with targeted keywords. The print-on-demand service, Printful, took care of the production and shipping, making the process easier.
Overall, the experiment demonstrated the potential and the challenges of selling AI-generated art on Etsy, and how utilizing a variety of marketing strategies can eventually lead to sales.
Reflection and Takeaways
During the 30-day journey of selling AI-generated art prints, the speaker encountered various challenges, learned new strategies, and found potential growth in art niches. Despite struggling to sell for the majority of the challenge, they managed to sell two art prints in the end, proving the viability of selling AI-generated art.
The speaker experimented with AI art generators, such as ClipDrop, Midjourney, and Nightcafe. which offered endless artistic possibilities for free. They targeted multiple niches in hopes of finding success in at least one of them. However, the journey was not without setbacks. The initial product listings were lacking niche specifications and not receiving organic search traffic, leading to worry and doubt about the project's success.
Eventually, the speaker identified the need to focus on smaller niches with less competition. By creating AI art that targets these specific niches, the chances of appearing higher in search results on Etsy increased. However, it wasn't an easy road, as they faced multiple issues like bot-generated visits and limited views on their listings.
In the final days of the challenge, desperation led to embracing Etsy ads, a last-ditch effort to sell the prints. The ads ended up working, generating more traffic and resulting in two AI art print sales. The success emphasized the importance of focusing on niche markets, attractive product listings, embracing multiple tools (like ads), and continuous learning throughout the process of selling AI-generated art.
Closing
Having finally managed to sell two AI art prints, the excitement was tangible. Running Etsy ads for five days indeed proved beneficial, generating 1,765 views and 16 clicks! Although the whole challenge was a roller coaster of emotions, especially when the Etsy account got suspended, targeting niche keywords and smaller audiences seemed to have worked.
The journey contained moments of worry, with listings hardly getting any views and stress about making the first sale. However, as soon as things looked bleak, the sales finally happened! The purple peacock AI art print finds its place as a shining example of successfully targeting smaller niches.
In the end, this challenge offered valuable insights into navigating the world of selling AI-generated art on Etsy, iterating the importance of ad campaigns, niche targeting, and perseverance. Surely, this exciting experience serves as a lesson and inspiration for all future endeavors of selling AI-generated art!
