Selling digital art online is a great way to make money from your creativity. Platforms like Redbubble and your own WordPress blog can help you reach customers worldwide. This blog post will show you my attempt on how to earn Kes30,600 per month (about $239 USD at an exchange rate of 128Kes per USD) by selling digital art. We’ll also talk about how holidays like Halloween, Black Friday, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day can boost your sales.
Step 1: Set Up Your Redbubble Shop
Redbubble is a print-on-demand platform where you upload your designs, and they handle production, shipping, and customer service. Here’s how to get started:
- Create an Account: Sign up for free on Redbubble’s website. Fill in your profile details and add payment information to receive your earnings.
- Upload High-Quality Designs: Create original digital art that appeals to a wide audience. Designs like quirky quotes, pop culture references, or seasonal themes (e.g., Halloween pumpkins or Christmas snowflakes) sell well. Use tools like Canva or Adobe Illustrator for professional designs.
- Optimize Product Listings:
- Titles: Use clear, descriptive titles like “Funny Halloween Pumpkin Sticker” to make your designs easy to find.
- Tags: Add relevant tags like “Halloween,” “Christmas gift,” or “funny quote” to attract searchers.
- Descriptions: Write short, catchy descriptions that include keywords but avoid copyrighted terms.
- Enable Multiple Products: Redbubble offers over 70 products, like stickers, t-shirts, and phone cases. Enable as many as possible to increase your chances of sales.
- Set Your Profit Margin: Redbubble suggests a 20% markup, but you can increase it to 40% or more for higher earnings. For example, if a sticker’s base price is $2, a 40% markup means you earn $0.80 per sale.
Step 2: Build Your WordPress Blog
A personal WordPress blog gives you more control over your brand and can drive traffic to your Redbubble shop or sell digital downloads directly. Here’s how to set it up:
- Set Up Your Blog:
- Choose a hosting provider like Hostinger and install WordPress.
- Pick a simple, professional theme (free or paid) to showcase your art.
- Create pages like “Shop,” “About,” and “Portfolio” to display your work.
- Sell Digital Downloads:
- Use plugins like Easy Digital Downloads or WooCommerce to sell digital art files (e.g., printable wall art or coloring pages).
- Price your downloads between (Kes100–500) to stay competitive.
- Drive Traffic:
- Write blog posts about your art process or seasonal themes (e.g., “Top 10 Halloween Art Ideas”).
- Use SEO tools like Yoast to optimize posts for search engines.
- Share your blog posts on social media platforms like Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook.
Step 3: Create a Marketing Plan
To hit Kes30k+ per month, you need to promote your art effectively. Here’s how:
- Social Media Promotion:
- Post your designs on Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter with hashtags like #HalloweenArt or #ChristmasGift.
- Share photos of yourself using your products (e.g., wearing a t-shirt or sticking a design on your laptop) to attract buyers.
- Run giveaways on Instagram to gain followers and drive traffic to your Redbubble shop or blog.
- Link Your Blog to Redbubble:
- Add links to your Redbubble designs on your WordPress blog to boost search rankings and sales.
- Embed your Redbubble shop on your blog using their provided script.
- Email Marketing:
- Collect emails through your blog using a plugin like Mailchimp.
- Send newsletters with new designs or holiday promotions to encourage purchases.
Step 4: Leverage Holidays for Sales
Holidays like Halloween, Black Friday, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day are peak shopping times. Here’s how they impact sales and what you can do:
- Halloween (October): Create spooky designs like ghosts, pumpkins, or witches. These sell well on stickers, t-shirts, and phone cases. Redbubble sees increased traffic as people buy for costumes and decorations.
- Black Friday (November): Redbubble often offers sitewide discounts (up to 40%) during Black Friday, attracting more buyers. Promote your shop heavily on social media during this time.
- Thanksgiving (November): Designs with gratitude themes or fall motifs (e.g., leaves, turkeys) appeal to buyers looking for home decor or gifts.
- Christmas (December): Christmas-themed art (e.g., Santa, snowflakes, or ornaments) is a top seller for gifts like mugs, stockings, and prints. Expect a sales spike as shoppers look for unique presents.
- New Year’s Day (January): Designs with motivational quotes or “New Year, New Me” themes sell well for planners, phone cases, and posters. Promote these in late December to catch early buyers.
Step 5: Calculate Your Earnings
To earn Kes30k+ per month, let’s break it down:
- Redbubble:
- Assume you earn $0.80 per sticker sale with a 40% markup.
- Selling 150 stickers per month = 150 × $0.80 = $120 (Kes15,360).
- Add higher-margin products like t-shirts ($3–$5 profit per sale). Selling 20 t-shirts at $4 each = $80 (Kes10,240).
- Total from Redbubble: $120 + $80 = $200 (Kes25,600).
- WordPress Blog:
- Sell 50 digital downloads at 100 each = (Kes5,000) $39
- Combined Total: $200 (Redbubble) + $39 (Blog) = $239 (Kes30,600).
This assumes consistent sales, so upload at least 50–100 designs to Redbubble and 5–10 digital downloads on your blog to increase your chances.
Step 6: Tips for Success
- Upload Regularly: Aim for 5–10 new designs per week on Redbubble to stay visible.
- Research Trends: Use tools like Google Trends to find popular niches (e.g., pet-themed art or eco-friendly designs).
- Avoid Copyright Issues: Don’t use brand names, celebrity faces, or movie quotes in your designs to avoid account suspension.
- Track Sales: Check Redbubble’s Sales History page to see which designs sell best and create similar ones.
- Be Patient: Sales may start slow, but with consistent uploads and promotion, you can build steady income.
Challenges to Watch Out For
- High Competition: Redbubble has over 600,000 artists, so unique designs and strong marketing are key.
- Payout Delays: Redbubble pays monthly after a $20 threshold, which can take 7 days to reach your bank.
- Fees: Standard accounts face a 50% fee on earnings, so aim for Premium or Pro tiers to reduce fees.
Final Thoughts
Earning Kes30k+ per month selling digital art on Redbubble and your WordPress blog is achievable with dedication. Create high-quality, trendy designs, optimize your listings, and promote heavily on social media. Holidays like Halloween, Black Friday, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day can significantly boost your sales due to increased demand for unique gifts. Start small, stay consistent, and watch your income grow!