The Dos and Don’ts of Files Sales
Update: I have a free webinar on this topic!
4 Things to Know Before Launching an Etsy Shop for Glowforge Files
Ready to dive right in? I also have a mini course!
Most Glowforge users begin by purchasing files to make products to sell, then making their own files for products to sell, and then offering the files themselves for sale.
(Note: I didn’t do this myself—I started at step 2 since I have a background in design and felt comfortable jumping right in.)
There are a few things you should know if you’re testing the waters for selling files, though.
Do:
Include clear instructions.
It’s important to understand that many of your files customers will be newbie Glowforge users. What seems like basic knowledge to you may be advanced for them.
Treat each set of instructions like your file will be your customer’s very first ever cut (alternately: mark it as advanced so new users know to wait until their skills grow).
Consider including photos or links to video tutorials for especially tricky parts. For example, I now include a link to my video tutorial on attaching macrame rope to bow holders in all bow holder files.
I use Canva to create my instructions files, and save as a PDF.
Include relevant information in the description and the instructions PDF.
It’s helpful to include the finished product size, materials requirements, recommended materials and settings, and even how long the project takes to engrave/cut. It’s also important to include whether the file includes a personal license only or also a commercial license (most buyers will expect a commercial license).
Organize your files well.
If you’re selling your files on Etsy, you can only upload one file for instant download. For this reason, it’s important to create a .zip file of your .svg and instructions .pdf. I often sell my files as bundles, so clearly labeling each file is important.
Your customers don’t want to open a .zip and see file titles like Untitled-1, Untitled-2, etc. Instead, give each file a descriptive name that tells your customers exactly which version they’re opening.
For example, in a bundle of three shapes of wall hanging, I might name the files “Botanical Bow Holder with Nylons,” “Botanical Crescent Moon Wall Hanging,” and “Botanical Half Moon Large Wall Hanging.” You can even go further and add your shop name so they know where they purchased.
Make it clear your product is a digital file rather than a physical product.
In an ideal world, customers would fully read product descriptions before purchasing your files.
In the real world? You’d be surprised how often people purchase a $2 keychain file then sent a complaint that they never received their keychain. The fact that their $2 would barely cover shipping seems lost on them—common sense ain’t that common, apparently.
To counteract this, I include the words, “THIS LISTING IS FOR A DIGITAL FILE, NOT A FINISHED/PHYSICAL PRODUCT” as the first line in every single Etsy listing. I also include “SVG” and “Digital File for Glowforge” in every Etsy title.
There are even sellers who add a box where customers must check “I acknowledge that this purchase is for a digital file, not a physical item,” but I haven’t had enough issues with this to implement it. Still, good idea to keep on hand just in case.
Test your files.
You absolutely must test your files before you sell them to other people.
If your Glowforge is down, or you just really don’t want to make it yourself, then put out a call for file testers—there are many people who LOVE the opportunity to make new files and stage them for photos.
If you use a file tester, ask them for feedback as well as well-lit, neutral background photos you can use for your listings. In exchange, they get the file for free (and I always include a commercial license as well as personal use for them).
Note: expect that some people who agree to test files for you will flake. It sucks, but it’s inevitable. Consider adding language in your file tester call that specifies that only those who deliver pics and feedback have permission to use your file going forward.
Ideally, you’ll test your own files, but at the very least, someone must have actually cut and assembled your piece before you offer it for sale.
You don’t want a customer who paid real money for your file to be the one to discover the issues. That wastes their time, material, and good will toward you as the seller.
Don’t:
Don’t include purchased graphics in your files.
It is very rare for even commercial licenses to include the rights to sell files made from other artists’ work.
This is often hard for new files sellers to swallow, since many use purchased graphics for the physical products they offer. And indeed, if you are making files just for your own use for physical products to sell, you can use other artists’ purchased files (assuming you shelled out for the commercial license).
But if you intend to sell the file, you MUST use only your own work.
I offered bow holders and wall hangings with a purchased vine graphic—and then had to draw a different botanical graphic to replace it when I started selling the files. And guess what? It turns out I prefer my version anyway.
Unscrupulous sellers rely on the low likelihood of getting caught/called out/sued for using others’ graphics, but don’t let that fool you: people in the industry take note, and it will absolutely impact your success.
Don’t copy other people’s designs!
You will develop the skill to create just about any file you could imagine—and that’s a beautiful thing!
But with great power comes great responsibility. Sure, you can easily recreate someone else’s bestselling file—but don’t.
You’ll hear people say sometimes (incorrectly) that as long as you change 10% of someone else’s design, you’re fine. They are trying to justify their own practices.
Being inspired by someone is one thing, but be sure that you’re making your own design. Add your own twist, your own taste, your own perspective.
Don’t forget that your test cuts are products too.
So maybe you’re on board with my earlier statement that you really have to test your files, but you don’t want 386 laser cut projects all over your house.
I’m with you!
My daughter only needs so much wall decor.
So how do I test products without things piling up?
I sell my test cuts at sample-sale prices. I usually wait until I have 5 or 6 items, and post them for sale in my groups. Don’t shy away from personalization, either—my customers LOVE finding a great deal on something with their kid’s name on it.
This is a win-win—you get to recoup your materials costs, and your customers get a great deal.
And even better? Often other customers will jump in asking how they can order one with their own personalization.
With my first sample sale, I asked my customers for suggestions for names to use on future projects. This wasn’t a guarantee that they would purchase something if I put their kids’ names on it, but it did give me a large pool of name ideas that I knew at least some customers would be interested in.
Don’t be afraid to use fonts (appropriately and with a commercial license).
Don’t confuse not using purchased graphics with not using purchased fonts. Most commercial font licenses include the right to use the fonts as design elements in the file. That means you can type a word or phrase in that font, convert it to outlines, and use that.
For example, I used Madina Clean font to make a Merry & Bright ornament. Since the words are part of the design and the individual letters can’t be extracted, it’s all good (again, it’s all good because I purchased a commercial license for that font).
However, a commercial license does NOT mean you can include the font file for your customers as part of the download! This is very important.
You also cannot type each character from the font into the design and leave it as usable letters. Basically, if purchasing your file means that your customer is also getting a free font, it’s a no go.
So there you have it: the Dos and Don’ts of files sales. Is there anything else you would include?
