Make Money Scrapbooking Idea #11: Sell Your Designs Online

In the Make Money Scrapbooking Idea #10: Sell Greeting Cards, I talked about hawking your wares on Etsy and eBay. I wanted to expand that idea today and talk more about selling your scrapbooking layouts, albums, and mini-albums online.

First, let’s talk about eBay since you’re probably already quite familiar with it. This grandaddy of all auction sites allows you to sell (and buy, of course) items from cars to Q-tips in an auction format, where the spoils go to the highest bidder, or in a “Buy It Now” format where you set a price and the first one who’s willing to meet that price can claim your item. Sellers pay a nominal fee for listing their items.

Etsy is different in that it’s a shopping mall rather than an auction site. Each seller has her own storefront, sets her own prices, updates her merchandise, etc. Basically, it gives shoppers a one-stop site to peruse all things handmade. As with eBay, you pay a nominal fee per item.

The main thing to remember when selling online is that because you’re paying a per-item charge. Also, you’re going to run into transaction costs for packaging and mailing the goods, so to minimize that effort, you’re going to make more money with larger-ticket items, or by selling groups (for instance, a pack of 10 thank-you cards, rather than 10 individual cards).

Great for: Mainstream scrapbookers who don’t mind creating albums or pages without photos, or “artsy” scrapbookers who can make a name for themselves with a unique style.

Suggestions: There’s a ton to say on this topic! My biggest piece of advice is to peruse Etsy and eBay, do some searches on albums and pages, and see what’s selling and what’s not. Look at pricing, photos, descriptions — everything that successful sellers are doing, and imitate the best of what you see, with your own unique spin.

Earning potential: I have heard tell of Etsy sellers making five figures. It all depends on how much you want to put into it!

The series is complete! View it all here:

Did you miss the other entries in this series?

Make Money Scrapbooking Idea #1: It’s Party Time!

Make Money Scrapbooking Idea #2: Submit!

Make Money Scrapbooking Idea #3: Teach Through Your Rec Department

Make Money Scrapbooking Idea #4: Affiliate Programs

Make Money Scrapbooking Idea #5: Teach at Your Local Store

Make Money Scrapbooking Idea #6: Scrapbook for Wedding Vendors

Make Money Scrapbooking Idea #7: Sell Your Own Kits

Make Money Scrapbooking Idea #8: Work for a Manufacturer’s Demonstrator

Make Money Scrapbooking Idea #9: Design for Your Local Store

Make Money Scrapbooking Idea #10: Sell Greeting Cards

Make Money Scrapbooking Idea #11: Sell Your Designs Online

Make Money Scrapbooking Idea #12: Work at Tradeshows

Make Money Scrapbooking Idea #13: Create Digital Products

Make Money Scrapbooking Idea #14: Scrapbook for Businesses

Make Money Scrapbooking Idea #15: Get Paid per Page

Make Money Scrapbooking Idea #16: Design for Manufacturers

Make Money Scrapbooking Idea #17: Become a Direct Seller Rep

Make Money Scrapbooking Idea #18: Design for a Kit Club

Make Money Scrapbooking Idea #19: Sell at Craft Faires

Make Money Scrapbooking Idea #20: Write About It!

P.S. If you liked this series, you may want to check out the class I taught at True Scrap II in October on making money from your scrapbooking. It’s available here.