The truth about Etsy Money Making Scheme
AI-generated art is booming, and many sellers claim to be making big money selling AI patterns on Etsy. But is it really that profitable? In this 30-day challenge, the creator attempts to sell AI-generated patterns and documents the entire process—from generating and upscaling designs to listing and marketing them. Here’s what happened:
Step 1: Generating AI Patterns
- Used Midjourney to generate seamless, tileable patterns.
- Targeted designs for scrapbooks, packaging, phone cases, and more.
- Used Etsy search trends and E-Rank to find profitable, low-competition niches.
Step 2: Preparing the Listings
- AI-generated patterns were upscaled using Gigapixel AI (since Midjourney’s resolution is too low).
- Sold patterns in packs of eight and provided a Google Drive link for download.
- Created attractive listing images using Photoshop and optimized titles and tags with ChatGPT and E-Rank.
Step 3: Pricing and Marketing
- Priced each pattern pack at $2.49, considering Etsy’s fees.
- Ran Etsy Ads ($1/day) to boost visibility.
- Created over 100 listings with 800+ individual AI patterns in total.
Results After 30 Days
- Sales: 2 packs sold (Vintage Lace & Navajo Tribal).
- Total Revenue: $7.47.
- Expenses: $69.26 (Midjourney subscription, ads, Etsy fees).
- Net Loss: -$61.79.
Lessons Learned
- Market Saturation: AI art is easy to generate, making competition fierce.
- Low Pricing & High Volume Needed: To make $100 profit, 53 packs must be sold.
- Ads May Be Necessary: But they eat into an already small profit margin.
- Alternative Approach: Selling AI-generated print-on-demand products (e.g., mugs) might be more profitable.
Final Verdict
Selling AI patterns on Etsy is not a quick-money hack. While it’s possible, success requires niching down, competitive pricing, and strategic marketing. The creator ends the experiment with a loss but considers pivoting to AI-designed physical products for better profits.
Would you try selling AI patterns? Let us know in the comments!