I received a few questions through messages so here is my advice for those who are sellers on Redbubble. Myself, I`m a seller there but not actively designing since a year. But, it’s an online work, you can earn money with it and it’s a passive income after a while and I’m still receiving money from Redbubble so even if I’m not a huge seller of this platform, I’m happy to share with you what I learned from it during the years when I actively used it.

So.

Earning on Redbubble can be a slow grind, especially when you’re first starting. Especially because first pay out is at 20 £ or so and most creators never reach that goal because they give up before that treshhold.

There are a few strategies that I saw and how the successful sellers use to boost their earnings:

1. Focus on Niche Designs: Some people make a living by targeting very specific niches that aren’t saturated. For example, designs focused on very specific hobbies, fandoms, or lifestyle groups tend to do well. If you find a niche with less competition but a passionate audience, it can help you stand out. Myself, I did cat designs and they did fine, but I didn`t uploaded anything since a year or so and I definitely can feel it as sales slowed down. So if you want to make good money, be active and stick to a specific niche.
2. SEO and Keywords: The way you title your designs, write descriptions, and tag them is crucial for getting discovered. Using the right keywords in your listings can make a big difference in how visible your work is. Do some research into trending keywords or tags on Redbubble to optimize your products. Just start to write your keyword for your design in the search bar on Redbubble, like ‘dog‘ and check on what pops up, these are what are trending at the moment for dog related items, or check on creators that will be the result for said keyword. After that, use these keywords in the title of your design, in its description and in your hashtags.
3. Consistency is Key: Uploading designs regularly can help you get more exposure. The more designs you have, the higher the chance that something will get noticed. Google and other search engines like new information so the more you upload and change in texts, the more will they visiting you. Some successful sellers even upload daily.
4. Cross-Promote: Successful Redbubble artists often use social media, like Instagram, Pinterest, or TikTok, to showcase their designs and drive traffic to their Redbubble store. Building a following can help funnel customers to your page. Instagram is very good as you can drop your link on stories and then highlight said story, also on Pinterest, Facebook or on X you can post links. Be careful with TikTok as it doesn’t like when you try to sell on it without opening a TikTok shop. It’s tricky, because some countries doesn’t even have TikTok, or TikTok shop option, even in Europe, so yep, use Pinterest, X or Instagram and combine them with QR codes.
5. Mockups: On Redbubble, you have an option to download mockup pictures and some sellers regularly download them from Redbubble and upload them on their social media accounts so they followers can see how the design will be on a t-shirt etc.
6. Creating for Trends: Some artists take advantage of current trends, events, or holidays. For instance, designing things for a popular event or trend (like a viral meme or movie release) can create a huge boost in sales. Let’s stay with dogs. You can design funny spring dog designs, as it’s end of February.
7. Engage with Your Audience: If you do manage to get some followers or customers on social media, and they write you a comment, answer on it! I see it so many times that somebody just ignore their followers. Not a good strategy. You want to make money and you cant do it if your followers leave you. Start a conversation! Interacting with your followers can lead to more sales. Responding to comments, feedback, and custom requests can help build a loyal following.

It can be a bit disheartening at first, especially when it feels like you’re not getting the returns aka earning money you hope for. But every single successful artists started from zero, as small and keep refining their approach over time.