I Tried Selling AI Art Prints On Etsy For 30 Days

The video documents a 30-day experiment of selling AI-generated art prints on Etsy. Using AI art generators like Midjourney and Stable Diffusion, the creator focuses on popular art niches identified through research. Despite Etsy's suspension of the account, the creator resumes and lists 36 art prints, opting for physical over digital prints for higher profit margins. The prints are sold through Printful, a print-on-demand service, and upscaled using Gigapixel AI for higher resolution. After initial struggles with visibility and sales, the creator turns to Etsy ads, resulting in two sales by the end of the challenge. However, after accounting for costs and fees, the net income is a loss. The takeaway is that selling AI art prints on Etsy is challenging but potentially profitable with more time and optimization.

Takeaways

• 🎨 The experiment involved selling AI-generated art prints on Etsy for 30 days to gauge profitability.
• 🖼️ AI art generators like Midjourney and Stable Diffusion were used to create unlimited images for free.
• 🔍 Research into popular art niches on Etsy was conducted to identify what kind of art to generate and sell.
• 📈 The strategy was to sell physical prints over digital prints to target customers willing to pay more for convenience.
• 🚫 Print-on-demand service, Printful, was chosen to handle printing, packaging, and shipping, eliminating the need for the seller to manage these aspects.
• 📈 Etsy listings were optimized with professional photos, SEO-optimized titles and tags, and free shipping to boost visibility and sales.
• 📉 Despite efforts, initial sales were disappointing with low views and no sales, indicating a need for more niche targeting.
• 🤖 A significant portion of traffic was suspected to be bots, which affected the perceived success of the listings.
• 📉 After 26 days without sales, a last-ditch effort was made to run Etsy ads to try to generate interest.
• 📈 Ads led to a sale after five days, but overall, the challenge resulted in a net loss of $4.29 after accounting for all expenses.
• 🔄 The conclusion was that selling AI art prints on Etsy is challenging and may require more time and strategic niche targeting to be profitable.

Q & A

What is the main topic of the video?

The main topic of the video is the experiment of selling physical AI art prints on Etsy for a period of 30 days.

Which AI art generators does the author mention using?

The author mentions using Midjourney and Stable Diffusion to generate AI art.

What is the author's strategy for finding art niches to sell in on Etsy?

The author uses Etsy search suggestions and an Etsy keyword research tool called e-rec to find popular art niches.

Why does the author choose to sell physical prints instead of digital prints?

The author chooses to sell physical prints because they typically sell for more and can generate more profit per sale.

What is the print-on-demand service the author decides to use?

The author decides to use Printful as the print-on-demand service.

What is the author's approach to handling the low resolution of AI-generated images?

The author uses an AI image upscaler called Gigapixel AI to increase the resolution of the images up to six times their original size.

What are the five important elements the author identifies for a product to sell on Etsy?

The five important elements are photos, title, tags, shipping, and pricing.

Why does the author decide to put the listings on sale?

The author decides to put the listings on sale to give customers the perception of a good deal without affecting the bottom line.

What issue does the author face on day two of the challenge?

On day two, the author's Etsy account gets suspended, which is a common issue for new Etsy stores.

What is the author's final outcome after running Etsy ads for five days?

After running Etsy ads for five days, the author gets 1,765 views, 16 clicks, and one sale, resulting in a net income of negative $4.29.

What is the author's conclusion about selling AI art prints on Etsy?

The author concludes that selling AI art prints on Etsy is not easy and requires more time and effort than initially anticipated.

What is the author's advice for potential sellers of AI art prints on Etsy?

The author advises potential sellers to target smaller niches with less competition and to use keywords that have less than 10,000 search results to increase visibility.

Outlines

00:00

🎨 AI Art Generation and Sales on Etsy

The video script outlines the process of selling AI-generated art prints on Etsy over a period of 30 days. The creator uses AI art generators like Midjourney and Stable Diffusion to produce images and plans to sell these on Etsy, focusing on popular art niches such as mid-century modern and abstract art. The strategy involves using print-on-demand services like Printful to handle printing, packaging, and shipping, thereby eliminating the need for the seller to manage these aspects. The creator emphasizes the importance of professional photos, titles, tags, and offering free shipping to boost the listing's visibility and appeal. Despite the challenges faced, including an account suspension and low initial sales, the video documents the journey of listing creation, optimization, and the eventual decision to use Etsy ads to increase visibility. The summary concludes with a sale of an AI art print of a purple peacock, highlighting the niche nature of the product.

05:02

📉 Challenges and Learnings in AI Art Sales

This paragraph details the challenges faced by the seller in their endeavor to sell AI art prints on Etsy. Initially, the listings struggled to gain traction, leading to a lack of sales. The creator hypothesizes that the listings were not niche enough and thus not visible in search results. To counter this, they decide to target smaller niches with more specific keywords. Despite these efforts, the listings received most of their traffic from potentially bot-driven sources, leading to a disappointingly low number of genuine visitors. With the challenge nearing its end, the creator resorts to using Etsy ads in a last-ditch effort to make a sale. The paragraph concludes with a recount of the financial results of the challenge, revealing a net loss after accounting for costs such as printing, shipping, and Etsy fees. The creator reflects on the experience, acknowledging the difficulty of selling AI art prints on Etsy but remaining optimistic about the potential for profit with more time and effort.

Keywords

AI art

AI art refers to artworks created with the assistance of artificial intelligence. In the video, the creator explores the potential of generating and selling AI art prints on Etsy, a marketplace known for arts and crafts. The process involves using AI art generators like MidJourn, Night Cafe, and Stable Diffusion to create unique pieces, emphasizing the innovative intersection of technology and traditional art selling platforms.

Etsy

Etsy is an online marketplace that focuses on handmade or vintage items and craft supplies. In the video, it serves as the chosen platform for selling AI-generated art prints. The creator discusses the specifics of listing and selling physical prints on Etsy, highlighting its role in reaching art enthusiasts who prefer unique, niche artworks.

Print on demand

Print on demand is a manufacturing process where items are printed only after an order is received. In the context of the video, the creator uses a print-on-demand service, Printful, to handle the printing, packaging, and shipping of art prints. This method allows for cost-effective production without the need for inventory, making it ideal for individual sellers on platforms like Etsy.

Upscaling

Upscaling in the video refers to the process of increasing the resolution of digital images, which is necessary to ensure that AI-generated art can be printed in larger formats without losing quality. The creator uses an AI-based tool, Gigapixel AI, to upscale images to suitable resolutions for high-quality physical prints.

Niche markets

Niche markets are specific, often narrowly targeted market segments that cater to particular interests. The video illustrates the importance of targeting niche markets on Etsy to reduce competition and increase visibility. Examples include creating AI art that appeals to lovers of mid-century modern abstract art or specific themes like purple peacocks.

Mock-ups

Mock-ups are digital or physical models that showcase how a product will look. In the video, the creator uses mock-ups to present their AI art prints within attractive settings, enhancing their Etsy listings. This practice is crucial for online selling, where visual representation can significantly influence buyer decisions.

Keywords and tags

Keywords and tags are essential tools in online marketplaces for optimizing product visibility through search. The video discusses how strategically using keywords and tags in Etsy listings can help potential buyers find the AI art prints through search algorithms, emphasizing the need for effective search engine optimization (SEO) strategies in e-commerce.

Etsy ads

Etsy ads refer to paid advertisements within the Etsy platform that boost the visibility of listings. In the video, despite initial reluctance, the creator turns to Etsy ads as a last-ditch effort to drive sales by increasing listing views and potential customer engagement.

Profit margin

Profit margin is the percentage of revenue that remains after all expenses have been deducted from sales. The video delves into pricing strategies for the art prints, calculating costs and setting prices to maintain a profit margin of 30-45%, which is crucial for the viability of the venture.

Market research

Market research in the video involves studying Etsy search suggestions and using tools like eRank to identify popular art niches. This research informs the creator's strategy to choose art themes that are more likely to attract buyers, underlining the importance of understanding market demands for successful online selling.

Highlights

Starting a 30-day challenge to sell AI art prints on Etsy.

Using MidJourney, Night Cafe, and Stable Diffusion to generate AI art.

Creating a niche-focused strategy by researching popular art niches on Etsy.

Opting to sell physical prints over digital to target higher-paying customers.

Utilizing print-on-demand services to avoid the logistics of printing and shipping.

Using Printful for printing on various wall art products like enhanced matte paper posters.

Challenges with low resolution of AI-generated images, requiring the use of Gigapixel AI for upscaling.

The importance of professional looking mock-ups and keyword-rich titles and tags for Etsy listings.

Implementing free shipping to the US and Canada to enhance listing attractiveness.

Pricing strategy aiming for a 30-45% profit margin, with a lower margin on smallest size to attract buyers.

Tactic of marking up prices by 15% and then offering a 15% discount to create a perception of a good deal.

Initial troubles with Etsy account suspension shortly after starting.

Facing low visibility and no sales halfway through the challenge.

Strategizing to target smaller niches and specific keywords to improve search visibility.

Resorting to Etsy ads as a last-ditch effort to drive sales.

Achieving a single sale of a niche AI art print of a purple peacock after running ads.

Ending the challenge with a slight loss but optimistic about potential with more time and ads.