I made $15k from digital products as an artist & you can too (seriously)

Kelsey Rodriguez
2 Dec 202215:00

TLDRThe video transcript discusses the lucrative potential of digital products for artists, as the speaker has earned over $15,000 this year from their online store. Digital products offer a more sustainable income stream as they require minimal ongoing effort after creation, freeing up artists to focus on their craft rather than the logistics of physical product sales. The speaker emphasizes the importance of diversifying income streams and introduces several categories of digital products artists can consider, such as printables, educational resources, templates, digital art brushes, and wallpapers. They also highlight the benefits of using Squarespace for setting up an online store, praising its ease of use and features for managing digital products. The summary encourages artists to think creatively about digital offerings that align with their unique artistic values and audience interests, and to integrate these products into their overall marketing strategy.

Takeaways

  • 💡 Digital products can significantly boost income for artists, providing a passive income stream.
  • 🖌️ The scalability of digital products means artists can earn without the continuous effort required for physical products.
  • 🚀 Realizing the potential of digital products can change an artist’s approach to business, focusing more on sustainable income.
  • 🎨 Digital products include printables, educational content, and digital tools like brushes or templates, offering vast possibilities for artists.
  • 🛠️ Once created, digital products require minimal maintenance, except for occasional customer support.
  • 🕒 Digital products allow artists more time to create, reducing the stress of order fulfillment and shipping.
  • 📚 Educational digital products can be an excellent way for artists to share knowledge and techniques, further diversifying income streams.
  • 👨‍🎨 Custom digital content like wallpapers or emotes can cater to specific audiences, enhancing digital personalization and interaction.
  • 🖥️ Platforms like Squarespace make it easy to manage and sell digital products, streamlining the business side for artists.
  • 🌐 Building a following and implementing a marketing strategy are crucial for the success of digital products in the art business.

Q & A

  • How much money has the artist made from digital products this year?

    -The artist has made over fifteen thousand dollars from digital products in their online store this year.

  • What is the main advantage of selling digital products as an artist?

    -The main advantage is that digital products can be made once and sold an infinite number of times without the need for physical packaging and shipping, reducing effort and allowing the artist to focus more on creating art.

  • What is the impact of scaling physical product sales on an artist's time and ability to create?

    -Scaling physical product sales can lead to more time spent on packaging and shipping, which can take away from the time available for creating new art and may lead to feelings of being overwhelmed.

  • Why is it beneficial for artists to consider passive income streams?

    -Passive income streams can provide a more sustainable work model, allowing artists to take time off, reduce stress, and not feel guilty about taking breaks, which is important for maintaining a healthy work-life balance.

  • How does Squarespace help artists with their online business?

    -Squarespace provides an easy-to-use website platform with features like the fluid engine for drag-and-drop design, making it simple for artists to set up and manage their online stores, especially for adding and distributing digital products.

  • What is the significance of offering printables as a digital product?

    -Printables allow artists to offer products like art prints or stationery without the hassle of physical fulfillment and shipping, which can be particularly beneficial for artists in countries with expensive or slow international shipping.

  • What are some educational digital product ideas for artists?

    -Educational digital products can include ebooks, digital guides, video tutorials, lessons, and PSD files with commentary. These can help others learn the artist's techniques and provide valuable resources for those interested in the artist's medium.

  • Why are digital art brushes a popular digital product among digital artists?

    -Digital art brushes are popular because they offer fans and other artists insight into the artist's preferred tools and techniques, allowing them to use the same brushes in their own work, which can be a valuable learning experience.

  • How can digital wallpapers complement an artist's physical product offerings?

    -Digital wallpapers can be a low-effort way to provide additional value to customers who appreciate the artist's work and want to extend the artist's aesthetic to their digital devices.

  • What is the importance of having a following or audience when selling digital products?

    -Having a following or audience is crucial for selling digital products because it ensures that there is a customer base aware of and interested in the products, which is necessary for generating sales.

  • How can artists ensure their digital products are protected from unauthorized use or distribution?

    -Artists can include licensing agreements and terms of use with their digital products to prevent unauthorized use and distribution, and to provide a legal basis for action if these terms are violated.

Outlines

00:00

😀 The Impact of Digital Products on Artistic Business

The speaker has made over fifteen thousand dollars this year from digital products in their online store, which has significantly influenced their perspective on the intersection of art and business. They emphasize the potential of digital products to provide passive income, allowing artists to focus more on their craft. The speaker also discusses the challenges of selling physical products, such as the scaling of effort and the pressure of success, and how digital products can alleviate these burdens. They highlight the benefits of Squarespace for artists, particularly its ease of use and features that support the sale of digital products.

05:01

📚 Exploring Digital Product Ideas for Artists

The speaker delves into various categories of digital products that artists can offer, starting with printables. Printables allow artists to sell digital files for items that would typically be printed and shipped, eliminating the need for physical fulfillment. The speaker suggests a range of printable ideas, including art prints, stationery, recipe cards, and even coloring pages for fans of digital art. They also touch on educational digital products, such as ebooks, digital guides, video tutorials, and PSD files, which can be valuable for followers interested in learning the artist's techniques. The speaker stresses the importance of having a licensing agreement to protect the artist's work.

10:02

🎨 Additional Digital Product Ideas and Marketing Strategies

The speaker continues with more digital product ideas, including templates for organization and project management, digital art brushes, and wallpapers for various devices. They emphasize the importance of offering unique products that stand out from the competition and align with the artist's brand. The speaker also discusses the value of digital products as a complement to physical products, rather than a replacement, and how they can provide additional revenue with minimal effort. They conclude by stressing the importance of having an audience or following to ensure the success of digital product sales and suggest that artists should integrate these products into their overall marketing strategy.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Digital Products

Digital products refer to items that are delivered electronically, such as e-books, printables, digital art, and software. In the context of the video, they are a key component of the artist's business model, allowing for passive income generation without the need for physical packaging and shipping. The artist emphasizes the scalability and efficiency of digital products, which can be sold multiple times without additional effort.

💡Passive Income

Passive income is money earned with little to no effort by the recipient after an initial setup or investment. The video discusses how digital products can create a stream of passive income for artists, as they can be sold repeatedly with minimal ongoing work. This allows artists to focus more on their craft and less on the logistics of order fulfillment.

💡Squarespace

Squarespace is a website building and hosting platform that is highlighted in the video as an ideal tool for artists to create and manage their online stores. The artist mentions that Squarespace's features, such as the fluid engine for drag-and-drop website design and ease of adding and managing digital products, have been instrumental in their success.

💡Printables

Printables are digital files that customers can download and print themselves, such as art prints, stationery, and coloring pages. The video suggests that offering printables is a smart way for artists to sell their work without dealing with physical shipping and fulfillment, making it a more efficient and scalable business model.

💡Educational Products

Educational products are materials designed to teach or inform, such as e-books, guides, video tutorials, and lesson plans. The artist in the video discusses the potential for creating educational digital products that share their knowledge and techniques with others, which can be a valuable addition to their income streams.

💡Templates

Templates are pre-designed formats or structures that can be used for various purposes, such as organizing tasks or creating documents. In the video, the artist mentions offering Notion templates as a digital product, which reflects their focus on organization and goal tracking, providing value to their audience beyond just their art.

💡Digital Art Brushes

Digital art brushes are tools within digital art software that mimic the effects of traditional brushes, pens, and other art tools. The video suggests that offering custom digital brushes as a digital product can be a way for artists to share their creative process and provide fans with a unique insight into their work.

💡Digital Wallpapers

Digital wallpapers are high-resolution images used as the background on digital devices such as phones, tablets, and computers. The artist in the video talks about the appeal of offering digital wallpapers as a product, as they allow customers to personalize their devices with art they enjoy and support the artist's work.

💡Scalability

Scalability refers to the ability of a system or process to handle growth. In the context of the video, the artist discusses the scalability of digital products, which can be sold to an increasing number of customers without a corresponding increase in the effort required to produce or distribute them.

💡Artist's Business Model

An artist's business model is the way in which they generate income from their creative work. The video emphasizes the importance of diversifying an artist's income streams, with a focus on digital products as a means to achieve financial stability and reduce the stress associated with manual labor-intensive processes like physical product sales.

💡Marketing Strategy

A marketing strategy is a plan for reaching a specific marketing-related goal or set of goals in a defined time period. The video touches on the importance of having a marketing strategy for digital products, as it is crucial for reaching an audience and generating sales. The artist suggests that artists should consider how digital products fit into their overall marketing approach.

Highlights

The artist has made over $15,000 from digital products in their online store this year.

Digital products have the potential to generate a passive income stream for artists.

Physical product sales can become time-consuming as success grows, impacting the time available for creating art.

Digital products offer a solution by requiring creation only once, then existing for multiple sales with minimal ongoing effort.

The artist emphasizes the importance of sustainable work and the ability to take time off without guilt.

The video discusses the power of digital products and their benefits for artists.

The artist shares their experience with Squarespace, highlighting its ease of use and features for managing digital products.

Printables are suggested as a digital product option, offering physical product benefits without the shipping and fulfillment challenges.

Educational digital products such as ebooks, guides, video tutorials, and PSD files are proposed as potential income streams.

The artist suggests offering templates, like Notion templates, as a unique digital product that aligns with their personal brand.

Digital art brushes and custom presets for various art programs are recommended for digital artists.

Digital wallpapers are proposed as a simple yet effective digital product that customers are willing to pay for.

The artist emphasizes the importance of having a following or audience for successful digital product sales.

Digital products should complement, not replace, physical products in an artist's business strategy.

The video provides a marketing perspective on how digital products can fit into an artist's overall strategy.

A discount code is offered for new Squarespace users interested in starting their own digital product business.

The artist encourages artists to think creatively about digital products that can showcase their unique skills and brand.