Tiny Projects for Passive Income: My First Step with Print-on-Demand Art

This is one of my Tiny Projects – Passive Income.

Have you ever felt overwhelmed by the sheer number of ideas buzzing around in your head? I know I have. I’m always thinking of new projects to start, but often, they stay as just ideas on a growing list. So, I decided to take action and tackle one of these ideas: uploading my art to print-on-demand sites like Redbubble and Zazzle. (If you haven’t heard of Tiny Projects and why they are a brilliant idea check out Tiny Projects – Maximize Passive Income with Simple Tiny Projects

Why Print-on-Demand is Perfect for a Tiny Project + Passive Income

Print-on-demand (POD) is an incredible way to turn your creativity into passive income. Here’s why:

1. Low Investment: You don’t need to buy inventory or worry about shipping. POD sites handle all of that for you.
2. Scalability: You can upload as many designs as you want, increasing your potential for sales without extra work.
3. Flexibility: You can work at your own pace, uploading designs whenever you have time.
4. Global Reach: Your designs can be seen and purchased by people all around the world.

My First Tiny Project: Uploading Art to Redbubble and Zazzle

I decided to start with a simple project: uploading my art to Redbubble and Zazzle. These platforms allow artists to upload their designs, which are then printed on a variety of products like t-shirts, mugs, phone cases, and more. Every time someone buys a product with my design, I earn a commission.

Here’s how I got started:

1. Choosing My Designs: I selected some of my favorite designs that I thought would look great on products. I did do some research but my previous jobs as a trend analyst and buyer did give me a bit of background knowledge. Keep up with the trends and I highly recommend you have a focused store (Zazzle allows many stores so one could have watercolors, another funny art, wedding collections and so on)
2. Creating an Account: Setting up accounts on Redbubble and Zazzle was straightforward.
3. Uploading and Optimizing: I uploaded my designs and made sure to use relevant keywords and descriptions to help people find my art.
4. Promoting My Shop: I shared my new online shops through social media and promoted on Pinterest.

The results

• Passive Income: Once your designs are uploaded, you can earn money with little to no ongoing effort. Imagine waking up to an email saying you’ve made a sale while you were sleeping!
• Creative Outlet: It’s a fantastic way to use your creative skills and see your art on actual products.
• Learning Experience: This project taught me a lot about digital marketing and optimizing online listings.

I remember the thrill of my first sale. I was out having coffee with a friend when I got a notification that someone had bought one of my designs on a t-shirt. It wasn’t a huge amount of money, but it was incredibly rewarding to see my work appreciated and to earn something from it.

Quick question and answer – How many images should I upload to get a sale?

In one of my stores (wedding niche) my first sale was quick with only a handful of designs. With my watercolor art I have a few sales but over 40 designs so the answer is it depends. I have worked in stationery, cards, and invitations, so that is one of my strengths and skills. I promoted it heavily on Pinterest and one or two pieces got noticed. With the watercolor art, I found that it is highly saturated but that my niche pieces sold more (travel watercolors)

Tips for Success

1. Quality Over Quantity: Focus on creating high-quality designs that people will love.
2. SEO Matters: Use relevant keywords in your titles and descriptions to help people find your designs.
3. Stay Consistent: Regularly upload new designs to keep your shop fresh and engaging.
4. Engage with Your Audience: Share your designs on social media and Pinterest.
5. Once you know what sells, make more of it.

Conclusion

Starting with a tiny project like uploading art to print-on-demand sites can be a great way to dip your toes into the world of passive income. It’s manageable, fun, and offers the potential for steady income with minimal ongoing effort. Plus, it’s incredibly satisfying to see your art out there in the world, being enjoyed by others.

If you’ve been holding onto a list of project ideas like I have, I encourage you to pick one and just get started. You never know where it might lead or how much you might earn along the way. Happy creating!

You can read more about tiny projects and how they are perfect for those of us who love coming up with ideas but often feel overwhelmed by the thought of tackling big, complex ventures. They allow us to start small, experiment, and see results quickly, which is both motivating and rewarding.

You can check out my progress and discover more about my tiny projects on my Tiny Projects page. Here, I document each step, share my experiences, and hopefully inspire you to start your own journey towards passive income.

Happy creating and exploring your own tiny projects!