How I Came Up with Designs That Actually Sell on Etsy

5 min read

Let’s be real—coming up with designs that actually sell on Etsy isn’t as easy as throwing a few ideas on a T-shirt and hoping for the best.
I know, I’ve been there.

Etsy is a competitive marketplace. If your designs aren’t standing out, you’re just going to blend into the sea of listings.
So, how did I crack the code and come up with designs that actually sell?
Let me break it down.

The Problem: What Do People Really Want to Buy?

When I started, my biggest question was:

  • What kind of designs do people want?
  • Am I just guessing here?

I quickly realized that guesswork isn’t enough. You need a method—a system that helps you create designs that resonate with your audience.

Here’s exactly how I figured it out and what worked for me.

1. Know Your Niche (Don't Skip This!)

The first big shift for me? Understanding my niche.

At first, I tried creating designs for everyone.
Big mistake.

Etsy shoppers are specific. They aren’t just looking for a generic “funny T-shirt”—they want something that connects with their personality or interests.

How I Found My Niche

I looked at:

  • My personal interests. What am I passionate about? Fitness, pets, motivational quotes?
  • What’s trending on Etsy. Check the best-sellers in various categories. Are there patterns?
  • Who I enjoy creating for. Designing is more fun when you’re passionate about the subject.

In my case, I doubled down on designs for pet lovers. Why? Because pet owners are obsessed with showing off their love for their animals, and it’s a super engaged niche.

Once you narrow down your niche, your designs will feel more intentional and attract the right audience.

2. Research, Research, Research

Okay, so you’ve got your niche. But how do you know what designs will actually sell?

The answer: Research.

I spent a lot of time on Etsy browsing my competitors’ shops, and here’s what I learned:

Look at Best-Sellers

Etsy marks products as best-sellers for a reason—they’re getting consistent sales.
Study these:

  • What kind of designs are they using?
  • What’s the style? Minimalist? Bold? Detailed?
  • What colors are trending?

Read Reviews

Don’t just look at the product—read the reviews. Customers often talk about what they loved or didn’t love about a design.
This is a goldmine for finding what works and what doesn’t.

  • “I love how soft this design looks!”
  • “The colors are perfect for my home office decor!”

These are the kinds of insights that will help you refine your designs.

Use Etsy's Search Bar

Etsy’s search bar is another tool I relied on heavily.
Start typing in keywords related to your niche and see what autocomplete suggestions pop up. Those suggestions are based on what real people are searching for.

For example, when I typed in “funny cat T-shirt,” I got results like:

  • “funny cat T-shirt for women”
  • “funny cat T-shirt cute”

That tells me there’s demand for funny, cute cat T-shirts specifically geared towards women.

3. Create Designs With a Purpose

Once I had my niche and research locked in, it was time to actually design. But here’s the thing—your design needs a purpose.

What’s the Story?

Etsy shoppers love meaningful or relatable designs. It’s not just about the visuals—it’s about the story behind them.

Ask yourself:

  • What message is this design sending?
  • Is it inspiring, funny, or emotional?
  • Will the customer feel a personal connection to it?

For my pet niche, I focused on designs that were both funny and heartwarming.
Example: A design with a cute illustration of a dog and the text: “Dog Hair, Don’t Care.”
Simple, relatable, and something dog owners can’t resist.

Simplicity Sells

Another thing that worked for me: Keeping it simple.
Overly complex designs might look cool, but they don’t always sell.
Etsy buyers love designs that are easy to understand and instantly recognizable.

Think about the last time you bought something online. Was it detailed and busy, or was it clean and simple?
More often than not, simplicity wins.

4. Stay On-Trend (But Don’t Be a Trend Chaser)

Following trends is important, but you don’t want to become a trend chaser. Here’s what I mean:

How to Find Trends

You need to stay aware of what’s hot in your niche, but you don’t need to follow every single trend.
Tools like Etsy’s Trend Reports, Pinterest Trends, and Google Trends helped me find designs and ideas that were on the rise.

For example, around the holiday season, people LOVE gifting pet-related items. So I made sure to release holiday-themed pet designs just in time.

How to Use Trends Wisely

Jumping on trends can bring quick wins, but it’s also a short-term strategy.
I balance trend-based designs with evergreen designs—things that sell year-round. That way, you’re not relying on one fad to bring in all your sales.

5. Tested, Refined, and Improved

Here’s the part no one talks about—your first designs might flop.
And that’s okay.

I tested a bunch of designs, and honestly, not all of them were hits. But the key was to learn from each flop and improve.

A/B Testing

I’d often create two similar designs, tweak one slightly, and see which sold better.

  • Change up the font.
  • Adjust the colors.
  • Try different phrases.

Little tweaks can make a big difference in which designs take off.

Gather Customer Feedback

Once you start making sales, ask for feedback.
Etsy buyers are usually happy to share what they loved or what could be better. This feedback loop helped me continuously improve my designs.

6. Optimized My Etsy Listings

Even if you have the best designs, if your listings aren’t optimized, you’re missing out on potential sales.

Here’s how I optimized my listings:

Keywords Matter

I used relevant keywords in the title, description, and tags—this is how Etsy’s search algorithm finds your products.
I wasn’t stuffing keywords but made sure terms like “funny cat T-shirt” or “dog lover gift” were naturally placed in my listings.

If you want to get optimized Keyword in no time, check out what I use

Eye-Catching Photos

Your design might be awesome, but if your photos aren’t, no one’s clicking.
I used lifestyle mockups—showing people wearing my designs in real-world settings. This gives customers an idea of how the product looks and feels in everyday life.

Pricing Strategy

I played around with pricing a bit too.
Sometimes increasing the price can make your design seem more valuable. I made sure my pricing matched the perceived value of my products—don’t just go for the cheapest option.

FAQs About Coming Up with Winning Designs on Etsy

How Do I Know If My Designs Will Sell?

You don’t always know 100%, but by researching what’s trending, checking out best-sellers in your niche, and getting customer feedback, you can increase your chances of hitting the mark.

Should I Follow Every Design Trend?

No. Trends can be great for quick wins, but evergreen designs that sell year-round will sustain your business long term. Balance both.

How Many Designs Should I Have in My Shop?

Each Listing is another chance for you to be discovered by a potential customer. So create as many listings as you can.

I’d recommend starting with at least 100 designs. This gives you enough variety to test what works without overwhelming yourself.

If you need help publishing a lot of listings, I use a tool where you can design images, optimize them and bulk publish them to Printify. It saved me so much time already.. check it out

Final Thoughts

Creating designs that actually sell on Etsy isn’t about luck—it’s about strategy.
Here’s what worked for me:

  • I narrowed my niche and focused on something specific.
  • I researched what sells before wasting time on random ideas.
  • I created simple, purposeful designs that resonate with my target audience.
  • I stayed on top of trends but balanced it with evergreen designs.
  • I constantly tested, refined, and improved my designs based on customer feedback and results.

If you take the time to understand your niche and create designs that connect with your audience, you’ll see those sales start rolling in.

Now, go out there and make designs that people can’t wait to buy!