I Tried The Easiest AI Side Hustle For 30 Days

Jensen Tung
22 Sept 202308:10

TLDRIn an experiment to test the viability of an AI side hustle, the creator attempts to generate and sell AI art patterns on Etsy for 30 days. They choose the AI art generator 'mid-journey' to produce seamless repeat patterns suitable for various products like scrapbooks and phone cases. Despite facing challenges such as the inability of mid-journey to export high-resolution patterns and stiff competition on Etsy, they upscale images using Gigapixel AI and create listings with detailed thumbnails and competitive pricing. However, after extensive effort, including the use of Etsy ads, they only manage to sell two patterns, resulting in a net loss. The experience highlights the saturation of the AI pattern market on Etsy and the difficulty of making a profit without significant sales volume and effective advertising.

Takeaways

  • 🎨 The individual attempted to sell AI-generated art patterns on Etsy for 30 days with the aim of replicating the success of others who reportedly earned hundreds of thousands of dollars.
  • 🌟 They chose to use the AI art generator 'mid-journey' for its features and aimed to create seamless, repeatable patterns suitable for various products like scrapbooks and phone cases.
  • 🚀 The challenge was to generate patterns that could be upscaled to 300 DPI and 3600x3600 pixels, which mid-journey couldn't directly export, necessitating the use of an image upscaler like Gigapixel AI.
  • 🛍️ The plan was to sell these patterns in packs of eight on Etsy, an online marketplace known for arts and crafts, leveraging search suggestions and keyword research tools to identify popular niches.
  • 📐 A significant obstacle was encountered as mid-journey's maximum output was 72 DPI and 1024x1024 pixels, which was insufficient for the desired Etsy product size.
  • 📂 To circumvent the file limit on Etsy, the individual uploaded all patterns to a Google Drive folder and shared the link within a branded PDF document.
  • 📸 High-quality Photoshop templates were designed for the listing's thumbnail and full preview to showcase the patterns effectively.
  • 💰 The average price for patterns on Etsy was found to be low, around one to five dollars per pack, with a high profit margin of 70-90% after accounting for costs.
  • 🔍 Keyword research was conducted using tools like e-rank and AI, with an emphasis on accuracy and the use of a free ebook provided by HubSpot for SEO and marketing tips.
  • 📉 Despite creating over 100 listings and using Etsy ads, the individual did not make any sales until halfway through the challenge, indicating a saturated market and the need for a unique approach.
  • 📈 The individual considered evolving the business model to create and sell print-on-demand products using the AI patterns to increase profit per sale.
  • 📉 The final outcome was underwhelming, with only two AI patterns sold, resulting in a net loss after accounting for the cost of the AI subscription, ads, and Etsy fees.

Q & A

  • What is the main objective of the person in the transcript?

    -The main objective is to generate and sell AI art patterns on Etsy for a period of 30 days to see how much money can be made from this venture.

  • Which AI art generator did the person choose and why?

    -The person chose Mid-Journey because of its features that allow for the generation of patterns that can seamlessly repeat.

  • What is the purpose of the seamless repeat in AI patterns?

    -The seamless repeat in AI patterns is important because people use them to create various products such as scrapbooks, cards, notebook covers, packaging, and print-on-demand items like phone cases, pillows, and mugs.

  • What is the resolution requirement for patterns sold on Etsy?

    -Patterns on Etsy are typically sold as a 300 DPI image that measures 3600 by 3600 pixels in resolution.

  • What was the limitation encountered with Mid-Journey when trying to meet Etsy's resolution requirement?

    -Mid-Journey's maximum output is 72 DPI and 1024 by 1024 pixels, which is not sufficient for Etsy's requirements.

  • How did the person plan to upscale the AI patterns to meet Etsy's resolution requirement?

    -The person used a paid AI image upscaler called Gigapixel AI, which can convert images to 300 DPI and upscale them up to six times the original resolution.

  • How did the person plan to organize the AI patterns for sale on Etsy?

    -The person planned to sell the AI patterns in packs of eight and used Google Drive to create a folder containing all the patterns, from which a link was shared on Etsy.

  • What are the five essential elements of a digital product listing on Etsy?

    -The five essential elements are uploading the AI patterns for download, providing photos, setting the pricing, creating a title, and adding tags with relevant keywords.

  • What challenges did the person face during the 30-day challenge?

    -The person faced challenges such as no initial sales, high competition on Etsy, low prices for patterns, and the need to sell a significant number of packs to make a profit.

  • What was the final outcome of the 30-day AI patterns selling challenge?

    -The person sold a total of two AI patterns, earning a total revenue of $7.47, which resulted in a net income of negative $61.79 after accounting for expenses.

  • What alternative strategy did the person consider to improve the business model?

    -The person considered evolving the business model by using the AI patterns to create and sell their own print-on-demand products, which could potentially lead to more sales and higher profit per sale.

  • What tools and resources did the person use for keyword research and marketing?

    -The person used Etsy's search suggestions, a free Etsy keyword research tool called E-Rank, and AI tools like ChatGPT for generating keywords. They also downloaded an ebook from HubSpot for best practices in AI for SEO and keyword research.

Outlines

00:00

🎨 Generating and Selling AI Art Patterns on Etsy

The speaker plans to sell AI-generated art patterns on Etsy for 30 days, aiming to replicate the success of others who have reportedly made hundreds of thousands of dollars. They choose the AI art generator 'mid-journey' for its features and generate a watercolor eggplant pattern as an example. The goal is to create seamless repeatable patterns that can be used for various products like scrapbooks, cards, notebook covers, packaging, and print-on-demand items. The speaker plans to sell these patterns in packs of eight on Etsy, using Etsy's search suggestions and the free tool e-rank to find popular niches with less competition. They face a challenge as mid-journey can't export patterns in the required 300 DPI resolution, so they decide to use the paid image upscaler Gigapixel AI. The patterns are sold in packs, and the speaker designs two Photoshop templates for the listing photos. Pricing is determined using e-rank's profit calculator, with the final sale price being $2.49 per pack. The listing also includes an ebook on best practices for AI in SEO and keyword research, provided by the video sponsor HubSpot. However, despite creating over 100 listings with 800 patterns, there are no sales initially.

05:01

📉 Challenges and Lessons from Selling AI Patterns on Etsy

The speaker continues their challenge of selling AI patterns on Etsy but faces difficulties as there are no sales by day 15. They decide to use Etsy ads to boost visibility, hoping for better results. However, by day 23, there are still no sales and the speaker speculates that the saturated market and high competition might be factors. They consider evolving the business model to create and sell their own print-on-demand products using the AI patterns, which could potentially yield higher profits. At the end of the 30-day challenge, the speaker admits that selling AI patterns is not as easy as it seems due to the oversaturated market on Etsy and the low prices. They only manage to sell two patterns, resulting in a net income of negative $61.79 after accounting for the costs of the mid-journey subscription, Etsy ads, and transaction fees. The speaker shares their honest thoughts on the challenges and provides insights into the realities of selling AI patterns online.

Mindmap

Keywords

AI Art Patterns

AI Art Patterns refer to digital designs created using artificial intelligence, which can be seamlessly repeated to form patterns. In the video, the creator attempts to sell these patterns, which are used in various applications like scrapbooks, cards, notebook covers, and print-on-demand products. The patterns are generated through an AI art generator and are a central theme of the video as they represent the product being tested for market viability.

Mid-Journey

Mid-Journey is an AI art generator specifically chosen by the video creator for its features to produce AI art patterns. It is used to generate the initial design, such as a watercolor eggplant, which is then transformed into a repeatable pattern. The tool is pivotal in the video as it is the starting point for creating the product that the creator is attempting to sell.

Etsy

Etsy is an online marketplace focused on arts and crafts, where the video creator plans to sell the generated AI patterns. It is significant in the video as the platform chosen for testing the commercial viability of AI art patterns. The creator discusses the process of setting up a shop, creating listings, and using Etsy's tools for keyword research and advertising.

300 DPI Image

A 300 DPI (Dots Per Inch) image is a high-resolution digital image that measures 3600 by 3600 pixels. In the context of the video, this resolution is the standard for patterns sold on Etsy. The creator faces a challenge as the initial AI-generated patterns do not meet this resolution, necessitating the use of image upscaling techniques to meet the platform's requirements.

Gigapixel AI

Gigapixel AI is a paid image upscaling tool used by the video creator to enhance the resolution of the AI-generated patterns from 72 DPI to 300 DPI, and upscale them to six times the original resolution. This tool is crucial for the video's narrative as it allows the creator to offer high-quality products that meet the standards for listings on Etsy.

Digital Paper

Digital paper, also referred to as patterns in the video, is a term used to describe the AI-generated patterns that are sold in packs on Etsy. The creator uses search suggestions and keyword research tools to determine popular niches for digital paper, which is a key aspect of the video as it represents the product line being tested for sales.

E-Rank

E-Rank is mentioned as a tool for keyword research and profit calculation in the video. It is used by the creator to determine pricing strategies for the AI patterns on Etsy, taking into account fees and potential discounts. E-Rank is an essential tool in the video's narrative as it aids in the strategic planning of the product's market entry.

ChatGPT

ChatGPT is an AI tool used in the video for generating keywords related to digital paper and AI patterns. It is part of the creator's strategy for SEO and keyword research, although the video notes that not all keywords provided by ChatGPT are reliable, and they may need to be fact-checked with other tools like E-Rank. ChatGPT represents the use of AI in marketing and research within the video's content.

Print-on-Demand Products

Print-on-demand products, such as phone cases and pillows, are items that can be customized with designs, like the AI patterns generated by the creator. These products are mentioned as a potential next step for the business model, suggesting that the AI patterns could be used to create and sell physical goods directly, which could offer higher profit margins.

Etsy Ads

Etsy Ads are a form of advertising available on the Etsy platform that the video creator uses to boost the visibility of the AI pattern listings. The creator allocates a budget of one dollar a day for these ads in an attempt to increase sales. Etsy Ads are significant in the video as they represent an additional strategy to overcome the challenge of competition and gain exposure for the product listings.

Saturated Market

A saturated market refers to a state where the market has more supply than demand, making it difficult for new entrants to gain a foothold. In the video, the creator reflects on the challenges of selling AI patterns on Etsy, noting that the ease of creating such patterns has led to a saturated market, which is a key obstacle to achieving sales and profitability.

Highlights

The experiment involves selling AI art patterns on Etsy for a 30-day period.

The chosen AI art generator is 'mid-journey' for its features.

The goal is to create patterns that can be seamlessly repeated for various uses like scrapbooks and phone cases.

A command '--tile' is used with mid-journey to generate seamless, tiling patterns.

Etsy is selected as the marketplace to sell the patterns due to its focus on arts and crafts.

Etsy's search suggestions and a free tool, e-rank, are used to determine popular niches for patterns.

Patterns are typically sold as 300 DPI images measuring 3600 by 3600 pixels.

Mid-Journey's maximum output is 72 DPI and 1024 by 1024 pixels, necessitating the use of an image upscaler.

Gigapixel AI is used to upscale images to 300 DPI and increase the resolution up to six times the original size.

Patterns are sold in packs of eight on Etsy.

All AI patterns are uploaded to a Google Drive folder and the link is provided in a PDF document on Etsy.

Photoshop is used to design templates for the thumbnail and full preview of the pattern listings.

Patterns on Etsy average around one to five dollars per pack, with a high profit margin of 70 to 90 percent.

E-rank's profit calculator is used to determine the final sale price, considering Etsy's fees and a 50% discount.

Keywords for the title and tags are researched using e-rank, AI, and chat GPT for SEO and marketing purposes.

An ebook covering best practices for using AI in SEO and keyword research is provided for free by HubSpot.

Over 100 new listings and 800 individual AI patterns are created within the first week.

The mid-journey command '/describe' is used to generate prompts for creating similar patterns.

Despite efforts, no sales are made by day 15, indicating the need for further strategies like Etsy ads.

Etsy ads are utilized, spending one dollar a day in hopes of increasing visibility and sales.

By day 23, there are still no sales, suggesting high competition and the need for a different approach.

The experiment concludes with only two AI patterns sold, resulting in a net loss after expenses.

Selling AI patterns on Etsy is challenging due to market saturation and low prices.

The experiment suggests that evolving the business model, such as creating and selling print-on-demand products, could be more profitable.