Selling on Redbubble: Tips From Someone Who Hit 20k Sales

Over on Instagram, I shared that I recently hit 20k sales on Redbubble and started getting a lot of questions about selling on Redbubble! This blog post details all of my best tips for selling your work on Redbubble from starting out to sharing your shop. Make sure to follow me on Instagram for more tips on selling your work! Click here to follow me!

what is it?

Redbubble is a website similar to Society6 and Casetify, where artists, designers, and photographers can upload their work to sell on various items like stickers, tshirts, prints, and more. The best thing about Redbubble is that they handle all of the production, shipping, customer service, etc. so all you have to do is create the artwork and upload it! I began selling on Redbubble in 2017 when I was a sophomore in college starting my brand. I knew I didn’t want to be shipping products or keeping an inventory as I was living in a dorm room at the time. I highly recommend selling on Redbubble for everyone, but especially those who don’t want to deal with shipping and keeping inventory!

how does it work?

When listing an item on Redbubble, you want to export your artwork as either a PNG or a JPEG, depending on the design. If it’s a digital design, I usually do a PNG. If you are uploading a pattern or a photograph, you may want a JPEG. When creating your work, you do want to keep in mind your resolution and artboard size. I usually made mine at least 10x10” (I would think of it in terms of inches because I often uploaded my designs to work for both stickers and tshirts) and at a resolution of at least 300. After you create your piece, you upload it to Redbubble and select which products you want the design on. I’d usually go through and format it for most of the products but stickers and tshirts were my most popular.

is it free?

YES! It is free to signup and it doesn’t have a listing fee like Etsy does. The downside to selling on Redbubble is you only get paid an artists margin. So, a shirt could sell for $20 but you may only see $6.00 from that sale. I usually make 20-75 cents per sticker I sell, which is my most popular item. While this may not seem like a lot, I don’t have to do anything after uploading the artwork. I rarely even check my Redbubble shop, usually once or twice a month do I even look at my analytics!

I totally understand that 20 cents does not feel like a lot. It isn’t. My first paycheck from Redbubble was like $3.00 so I get it. However, Redbubble is something that once you build it up, it runs itself. In the last year, I’ve maybe uploaded like 20 new designs. It took me about a year to hit 1k sales, then I hit 10k the next year, and I just celebrated hitting 20k sales about a year and a half after that. It’s one of those things where you put the effort in up front and it can pay off. It’s now something that I don’t even have to think or worry about- the only thing I have to check is to make sure I claim my Paypal earnings each month!

getting started

To create your Redbubble shop, you can click here!

It’s super easy to create an account and start selling!

tagging your work + collections

I’ve found that tagging your work is SO important! Once you upload and format your work, there is a section near the publish button that includes tags. Here is where you should add words that customers may search for to find the design. I think of this like a hashtag on Instagram. Think about it like this, what would your ideal customer be searching for?

I’ve also found that sorting your work into collections can be helpful when people find your shop. If you have a lot of designs like I do, this can help customers find similar stickers. For example, one of my collections is named Ohio and one is named Baseball. Any stickers that have to do with baseball are found in that collection so if someone is interested in baseball stickers and they like my style, they could find other designs!

sharing your work

After you publish your art and create your shop, you want to share about it! Make sure your shop link is in your social media bios or linktree to help drive traffic. One tool that Redbubble has that is really neat is the mockups and resources they provide to help artists share their work. While I think this is a GREAT resource, my biggest tip involves taking your own photos.

biggest tip for selling on redbubble

While Redbubble provides mockups for their artists, I personally preferred taking my own photos for social media when I had the time! I would order a couple products and then take my own photos so they matched my personal brand and stood out on Instagram. When you post to Instagram, make sure you’re using hashtags.

Some examples of good Redbubble hashtags:

#redbubblestickers

#redbubbleshop

#redbubbleartist

#redbubblelaptops

#redbubblestore

#redbubbleart

When you scroll through these hashtags, you see a lot of Redbubble’s mockups. I would take my own photos for social media instead which helped me stand out. While I obviously couldn’t order and take photos of each product- I have 295 designs on a variety of different products- I would order a couple every now and then.

need some photo ideas? here’s a list!

Order a shirt with your design and post a photo of you wearing it! People love seeing the person behind the work. Some caption options include making it a #FridayIntroductions post and mentioning that it’s a shirt from your shop or wear it to an event like a pop up shop or craft fair. If you take brand photos, that’s another great chance to wear one of your shirts!
Purchase stickers and showcase them on your laptop or water bottle! This shows how multiple of your designs work together and could encourage multiple sticker sales from your shop. You could take the photo in your work space- whether that is in your bedroom, dorm room, home office, or in a coffee shop! Another note: I cannot tell you how many times my stickers have started a conversation - when someone compliments them, PROUDLY say you designed them!!
Order a mask with your design on it and wear it! My whole family has been wearing masks I made with our enneagram type patterns on them.
Purchase a print with your design and showcase it hanging in your work space while you’re brainstorming new designs. include some behind the scenes with your work in the background!
Order a mug with your design on it and share a shot of your morning coffee! Ask your audience how they like their coffee (I’m an iced coffee girl through and through) in the caption and/or do a $5 coffee giveaway!
Design a journal or sketchbook and use it to keep a list of your ideas! Post behind the scenes shots of you brainstorming new ideas on your account and show off your journal. People love seeing how designs and concepts come to life AND you’d be promoting your own products.
Incorporate some products into your home decor! A couple ideas could be purchasing a throw pillow and sharing a shot of your couch with the pillow and some of your artwork hanging above it. Or put your designs on some coasters and style your bar cart or coffee cart with them!
Do a giveaway! Giveaway a collection of stickers or a tshirt (whatever your budget allows) and do an instagram giveaway where people have to follow/like/tag others to enter! This will help get you new exposure AND give back to your followers.

other tips

Upload a profile photo and a banner! This helps people see and connect with who they are supporting!
Include a bio on your page with links to your social media and portfolio. This can help direct people who find you on Redbubble to your social platforms!
Post about Redbubble sales- especially around holidays, black friday, etc. Share them on stories and make sure your link is in your bio!
If you utilize Pinterest, try pinning some of your designs! Redbubble does create and run ads with your work but Pinterest is such a good resource!
Upload new designs as frequently as you can! I used to set a goal for like 5 a week when I was really trying to grow my shop.
Wear and use your products! You never know when someone might ask you where you got something and you can share your shop. When they do ask, be proud of your work and you shop!! You’ve worked hard so own it.
Offer to create custom designs for people or put a suggestion box up for your social media followers to give you ideas!
Order a couple of your stickers or an item and do a giveaway on Instagram!