7 Ways to Make Passive Income as a Graphic Designer

Summary

In this video, the speaker explores various methods for graphic designers to generate passive income. They discuss selling prints through print-on-demand services or self-fulfillment, offering digital assets on platforms like Creative Market, and creating online stores for digital goods. The speaker also highlights Patreon for content creators, online courses on sites like Skillshare, and the long-term benefits of YouTube for building an audience and earning ad revenue. Each method has its level of effort required, but all can provide a side income with proper setup and maintenance.

Takeaways

• 🔑 Nothing is completely passive; all income streams require some initial and ongoing effort.
• 🎨 Selling prints is a popular side hustle for graphic designers with varying levels of passiveness.
• 📦 Print-on-demand and drop shipping services like Printful and Society6 allow designers to sell prints with minimal hands-on work.
• 🖨 For a more personal touch, some designers choose to print, package, and ship their own prints, which requires more effort but offers greater control over quality.
• 💾 Selling digital assets, such as textures and fonts, on platforms like Creative Market or Gumroad, can be a low-cost way to generate passive income.
• 🛍️ Creating an online store to sell digital goods directly can be more lucrative but requires a strong website and marketing strategy.
• 🎨 Patreon is a platform where creators can earn monthly income by offering exclusive content to patrons, fostering a closer connection with the audience.
• 📚 Online courses on platforms like Skillshare or Creative Faba allow designers to monetize their expertise through in-depth tutorials and classes.
• 📈 YouTube is a long-term growth platform where designers can create tutorials and build an audience, potentially leading to ad revenue and brand partnerships.
• 💰 While YouTube can be less passive due to the ongoing content creation and audience engagement required, it offers the potential for significant passive income from ad revenue over time.

Q & A

What is the main topic of the video?

The main topic of the video is discussing various ways for graphic designers to generate passive income.

Why does the speaker preface the discussion by saying nothing is completely passive?

The speaker prefaces the discussion by saying nothing is completely passive because every income-generating venture requires some initial setup and ongoing maintenance work.

What are the two avenues for selling prints as a graphic designer?

The two avenues for selling prints as a graphic designer are print-on-demand or drop shipping, and producing, packaging, and shipping prints yourself.

How does print-on-demand work for graphic designers?

Print-on-demand involves setting up an online store, uploading artwork, and marketing to an audience. When a print is purchased, a fulfillment company handles the printing, shipping, and packaging, giving the designer a cut of the profit.

What are some platforms that support print-on-demand for graphic designers?

Some platforms that support print-on-demand for graphic designers include Shopify with integrations like Printful or Prodigy, and art e-commerce sites like Artist Sourced or Society6.

What are the advantages of selling prints through print-on-demand services?

The advantages include a hands-off approach where the designer only needs to design and upload the artwork, with the fulfillment company handling the rest, which is ideal for those who ship internationally or lack resources for in-house printing and shipping.

What is the alternative to print-on-demand for selling prints?

The alternative is to produce, package, and ship prints yourself, which allows for more control over quality and personal touches like hand signing, but requires more effort and gives up some passiveness.

What is the benefit of selling digital assets for graphic designers?

Selling digital assets is a low-cost way to generate passive income, as it only requires a website and the resources to create the digital products.

How can graphic designers sell digital assets through a digital goods site?

Designers can sell digital assets through platforms like Gumroad or Creative Market by uploading their products and earning a commission when people purchase them.

What is Patreon and how can it be used by graphic designers?

Patreon is a platform where creators can receive monthly pledges from patrons in exchange for exclusive content. Graphic designers can use Patreon to offer exclusive tutorials, digital goods, or other exclusive content to their patrons.

What are the potential benefits of using Patreon for graphic designers?

Benefits include a steady income stream, the ability to connect with an audience, and the opportunity to offer exclusive content that patrons are willing to pay for.

How does creating online courses relate to generating passive income for graphic designers?

Creating online courses allows graphic designers to share their skills and knowledge, with the courses potentially earning income over time through enrollment fees, even when the designer is not actively involved in teaching.

What is the potential downside to creating and selling online courses?

The potential downside is the significant upfront work required in creating, recording, editing, and marketing the courses before they can start generating income.

Why does the speaker consider YouTube to be a good side hustle for graphic designers?

YouTube is considered a good side hustle because it offers long-term growth and stability, with the potential for ad revenue, brand partnerships, and sponsorships as the audience grows.

What is the main challenge in starting a YouTube channel for graphic designers?

The main challenge is the initial lack of income until the audience is grown, which requires consistent content creation and time before significant revenue can be generated.