Selling designs without creating them can be challenging, but there are a few strategies you can use to sell designs seamlessly:
Outsource the design work:
You can partner with a design agency or freelance designer to create designs for you. You can then sell the designs as your own, with the agreement that the designer will not claim ownership or sell the designs to anyone else.
If you want to outsource the design work, here are the steps you can follow:
- Define your design needs: Before you start looking for a design agency or freelance designer, you need to define your design needs. Think about what type of designs you need, such as graphics, logos, or website designs, and what style and aesthetic you are looking for.
- Research design agencies or freelance designers: Look for design agencies or freelance designers that specialize in the type of design you need. You can search online, ask for recommendations from colleagues or friends, or browse through design platforms such as Dribbble, Behance, or Upwork.
- Evaluate their portfolio and experience: Once you have a list of potential candidates, evaluate their portfolio and experience. Look for examples of work that aligns with your brand and design needs, and check their client testimonials and reviews.
- Discuss your project scope and budget: Contact the design agencies or freelance designers that you are interested in and discuss your project scope and budget. Provide them with as much detail as possible about your design needs, and ask for a quote or estimate.
- Set expectations and timelines: Once you have chosen a design agency or freelance designer, set clear expectations and timelines for the project. Make sure to communicate any revisions or changes that you may need, and agree on a timeline for deliverables and payment.
- Provide feedback and approve designs: As the design work progresses, provide feedback and input to ensure that the designs align with your brand and meet your expectations. Once the designs are completed, approve them and make the final payment.
Outsourcing design work can save you time and resources, but it’s important to choose the right partner and set clear expectations to ensure a successful outcome.
2. Use design templates:
You can purchase or license design templates, such as graphics, logos, or website themes, that you can customize and sell as your own. Make sure to read the license agreement carefully to ensure that you have the right to sell the templates.
If you want to sell designs using templates, here are the steps you can follow:
- Choose a design platform: There are many design platforms available that offer templates, such as Canva, DesignBeat Commercial,, and Creative Market. Choose a platform that aligns with your brand and design needs.
- Browse the templates: Once you have chosen a platform, browse through the templates that are available. Look for templates that align with your brand and design needs, and make sure to read the license agreement carefully to ensure that you have the right to sell the templates.
- Customize the templates: Once you have chosen a template, customize it to make it your own. Add your own branding elements, colors, and text to make the design unique. You can also modify the design to suit different niches or audiences.
- Bundle the templates: Once you have customized the templates, bundle them together to create a collection. You can group them by theme or type of design, such as social media graphics, website themes, or printables.
- Market and sell the templates: Once you have created your template collection, market and sell them through your website, social media channels, or online marketplaces such as Etsy or Gumroad. Make sure to showcase the benefits and features of the templates and provide clear instructions on how to use them.
Using design templates can save you time and resources, but it’s important to choose high-quality templates and customize them to make them unique. Make sure to read the license agreement carefully and follow any restrictions on how you can use the templates.
3. Create design bundles:
You can curate a collection of designs, such as stock photos, icons, or fonts, and sell them as a bundle. This can save customers time and money, as they can purchase multiple designs at once.
If you want to sell design bundles, here are the steps you can follow:
- Determine your audience: Before creating a design bundle, you need to determine who your target audience is. Think about their design needs, preferences, and budget.
- Choose the design elements: Once you know your target audience, choose the design elements that will be included in the bundle. This could include graphics, fonts, icons, textures, templates, or other design assets.
- Create a cohesive theme: To make the bundle more attractive to buyers, create a cohesive theme that ties all the design elements together. This could be based on color, style, or a specific design niche.
- Package the bundle: Once you have chosen the design elements and created a theme, package them together as a bundle. You can use a platform such as Gumroad or Sellfy to create a product page and sell the bundle.
- Market the bundle: Once the bundle is packaged, market it to your target audience through social media, email marketing, or paid advertising. Highlight the benefits of the bundle, such as cost savings and design consistency.
- Provide customer support: Once customers purchase the bundle, provide customer support to ensure they can use the design elements effectively. This could include instructions on how to use the elements, troubleshooting guides, or design inspiration.
Creating design bundles can be a profitable way to sell designs, but it’s important to choose the right design elements and create a cohesive theme that appeals to your target audience. Make sure to provide clear instructions and customer support to ensure customer satisfaction.
4. White-label design services:
You can partner with a design agency or platform that offers white-label design services. This means that the designs will be created under your brand name and you can sell them as your own.
White-label design services refer to design services that are offered by a company to be rebranded and sold under another company’s brand. Here are the steps to offer white label design services:
- Choose a design service: Choose a design service that you want to offer to clients, such as graphic design, web design, or branding.
- Build a team: Build a team of skilled designers who can deliver high-quality designs within the deadline. Make sure your team members are trained and experienced in providing white label services.
- Define your pricing model: Determine your pricing model for white label services. You can charge clients a fixed price or a percentage of the final price of the project.
- Create a brand and website: Create a brand and website for your white label design service. Make sure your branding is neutral and can be customized for each client.
- Reach out to potential clients: Reach out to potential clients who may be interested in white label design services. You can target marketing agencies, freelancers, and other businesses that need design services.
- Deliver high-quality work: Once you have clients, deliver high-quality work that meets their expectations. Make sure to keep communication open and provide regular updates on the project.
- Maintain confidentiality: Maintain confidentiality with clients and ensure that their branding is not disclosed to other clients. Make sure to sign a non-disclosure agreement to protect their confidential information.
Offering white-label design services can be a great way to expand your business and generate more revenue. By providing high-quality designs under another brand, you can help your clients save time and money while growing your business.
5. Affiliate marketing:
You can partner with design platforms or products and promote them to your audience through affiliate marketing. You can earn a commission for every sale made through your unique referral link.
Affiliate marketing is a type of marketing where a company pays a commission to an individual or company for promoting their products or services. Here are the steps to get started with affiliate marketing:
- Choose a niche: Choose a niche that you are interested in and that has a market for affiliate products. You can choose a niche such as health and fitness, technology, or fashion.
- Research affiliate programs: Research different affiliate programs related to your niche. You can find affiliate programs on platforms such as Amazon, ClickBank, or ShareASale.
- Select affiliate products: Select the affiliate products you want to promote. Choose products that are relevant to your niche and have high commissions.
- Create a website or blog: Create a website or blog to promote the affiliate products. Your website should be focused on your niche and provide valuable content to your audience.
- Create content: Create content related to your niche and the affiliate products you are promoting. You can create blog posts, videos, or social media content.
- Promote the affiliate products: Promote the affiliate products on your website, blog, or social media channels. You can use banners, text links, or product reviews to promote the products.
- Drive traffic to your website: Drive traffic to your website through SEO, social media marketing, or paid advertising. The more traffic you get, the more chances you have of making sales.
- Track your results: Track your results using analytics tools such as Google Analytics or affiliate tracking software. This will help you see which products are performing well and which marketing tactics are most effective.
Affiliate marketing can be a great way to earn passive income if done correctly. It’s important to choose a niche that you are passionate about and to promote high-quality products that will provide value to your audience. Make sure to also follow best practices for SEO and content creation to drive traffic to your website.
Overall, selling designs without creating them requires creativity, partnerships, and strategic thinking. Consider the options above and choose the one that aligns with your brand and goals.
