Why are your patterns not selling well? 5 main reasons and how to fix them.

In this video, I talk about the main reasons why your repeat pattern designs might not be selling very well on microstock websites or on print-on-demand websites.

If you are wondering why your patterns are not selling well, then this video is for you.

5 MAIN REASONS:

1) Do you have only a few patterns for sale?

A good number of designs in your portfolio/shop to expect first sales would be at least 50 designs depending on the website.
To start seeing any real recurring income you need to create 500+ patterns and keep uploading new ones every week. This will give you steady income growth as your portfolio grows over time and as you become a better designer.

✿ Helpful: My free Grow Your Portfolio Workbook. 

2) Do your designs have commercial value?

In other words, can someone use them to produce and sell their products? This is the reason why customers buy patterns. Not because they like how your art looks to decorate their home. How to know which designs have commercial value? Study clothing, accessories, home decor, toys, kitchen products, bath products companies and see which patterns they use.

3) Are your pattern’s element and composition clean and eye pleasing? Well designed?

The truth might be that your art skills still need developing. This is a totally good stage to be in as I was my first few years as a self-taught artist and I am still in some respects need improvement in my skills. Over time, after designing patterns over and over, you will get better and your patterns will sell.

Watch my related video: 3 most common pattern mistakes.

4) Do your designs have good names, keywords, and descriptions?

Most of the customers find your patterns not by looking at images, but first by typing in search phrases. You need to make sure that each of the images you post online (not only for sale but also on your blog and Instagram, Pinterest) have good, appropriate keywords and descriptions. This is almost as important as the visual quality of your design.

5) Is your online shop or portfolio too new?

It often takes up to a few weeks, or months for your brand new designs to be properly settled in on related search pages and your customers to start finding and purchasing your designs. You shouldn’t wait till you see first sales. I recommend continuing uploading regularly new images to grow your portfolio AND your design skills and the sales will come.

Hope this video was helpful for you to get you started learning why your repeat pattern designs might not be selling well on microstock and print-on-demand websites and how to fix it. Thanks for watching!

★ BONUS WORKBOOK: GROW YOUR PATTERN PORTFOLIO 15x FASTER: Want to learn my system for growing your repeat pattern portfolio 15x faster? Request my bonus workbook.