Why Selling AI Art Is a BAD Idea in 2024 💻 (Tips for AI Etsy Shops)

Dylan Jahraus
19 Feb 202408:15

TLDRDylan Jarus, a successful Etsy seller with seven years of experience, warns against the pitfalls of selling AI wall art on Etsy. He explains that the market is oversaturated with low-quality AI art listings, making it difficult to stand out. Furthermore, AI wall art has a low lifetime value (LTV) as it is rarely a repeat purchase and is not typically given as a gift. Jarus suggests focusing on customer needs rather than just the product, and recommends considering alternative products that have more utility and appeal to a broader audience. He offers a free 7-day game plan for growing an Etsy shop and encourages sellers to adapt their AI art to different products or reach out for help in creating a profitable AI art shop.

Takeaways

  • 🚫 **Saturation Problem**: The market is oversaturated with low-quality AI wall art, making it hard to stand out.
  • 🔍 **Quality Over Quantity**: Having a large number of listings doesn't compensate for poor quality; quality is key to gaining traction.
  • 💰 **Lifetime Value (LTV) Concern**: AI wall art tends to have a low lifetime value for customers, leading to fewer repeat purchases.
  • 🎁 **Gift-Giving Limitation**: AI wall art is often a personal purchase and not typically given as a gift, which limits its market on platforms like Etsy known for gift shopping.
  • 📈 **Mobile and Desktop Optimization**: The shop's SEO and merchandising are lacking, and it's not optimized for mobile or desktop, which is crucial for visibility.
  • 🌟 **Customer Focus**: The focus should be on the customer rather than just the product; understanding the customer's taste and preferences is vital.
  • 🎨 **Product Selection**: If committed to AI art, consider putting it on more utility-driven products that are more likely to be gifted or frequently purchased.
  • 🛍️ **Sales Strategy**: Consider the type of customer you want to attract and tailor your products to their tastes and preferences, especially those with higher discretionary spending.
  • 📚 **Educational Resources**: Utilize available resources, like a 7-Day game plan, to grow your Etsy shop with actionable steps.
  • 🔧 **Product Adaptation**: If AI wall art isn't selling, consider adapting it to different products or seeking advice on making it more appealing to a profitable customer base.
  • ⏳ **Patience and Adaptability**: Recognize that growth takes time and be prepared to adapt your strategy based on market feedback and customer behavior.

Q & A

  • Why is selling AI wall art on Etsy considered a bad idea by Dylan Jarus?

    -Dylan Jarus considers selling AI wall art on Etsy a bad idea due to the saturation of low-quality listings, the low barrier to entry, and the difficulty for the average person to distinguish between high and low-quality AI art. Additionally, AI wall art tends to have a low lifetime value (LTV) because it is not often purchased as a gift and has a low repeat purchase rate.

  • What is the first reason Dylan Jarus gives for AI art not selling well on Etsy?

    -The first reason is the saturation of the market with low-quality AI wall art listings, making it nearly impossible for new sellers to stand out.

  • What does the term 'LTV' stand for and why is it important for an Etsy seller to consider it?

    -LTV stands for 'Lifetime Value' and it refers to the total revenue a business can expect from a single customer over the duration of their relationship. It's important because it helps sellers understand the potential revenue from each customer and guides their marketing and product strategy.

  • Why does Dylan Jarus suggest that AI wall art is not typically a good gift item?

    -AI wall art is usually a personal purchase and not commonly given as a gift because it is specific to an individual's taste and is often a significant commitment due to the process of hanging it on the wall.

  • What is the issue with focusing on the quantity of listings rather than the quality?

    -Focusing on the quantity of listings without addressing quality issues will not create traction or sales. It can lead to a large number of low-quality listings that do not attract premium customers.

  • How does Dylan Jarus suggest Etsy sellers adapt their AI art strategy?

    -Dylan suggests considering putting AI art on other types of products with more utility and that are more giftable, such as items that can be stored in a drawer. He also recommends focusing on items whose value extends beyond their design, making them easier to sell over time.

  • What is the final reason Dylan Jarus gives for not focusing solely on AI wall art in an Etsy shop?

    -The final reason is that focusing solely on AI wall art tends to be product-focused rather than customer-focused, which can lead to a shop full of listings that may look cool to the seller but do not appeal to customers with high discretionary income and premium taste.

  • What is the significance of the '7-Day game plan' mentioned by Dylan Jarus?

    -The '7-Day game plan' is a free resource that provides action steps for each day to help grow an Etsy shop. It is designed to give sellers a structured approach to improving their sales and visibility on the platform.

  • What is the main issue with AI wall art listings on Etsy according to the transcript?

    -The main issue is that there are millions of low-quality AI wall art listings on auto-renew, which compounds the search volume and makes it difficult for new, high-quality listings to gain traction.

  • Why does Dylan Jarus believe that AI wall art is more like a long-term investment?

    -AI wall art is considered a long-term investment because it is not often replaced, it's not typically seasonal, and it requires a commitment, such as hanging hardware on the wall, which means it will stay in place for a considerable amount of time.

  • What does Dylan Jarus suggest for Etsy sellers who want to incorporate AI art into their shops?

    -Dylan suggests that if sellers are committed to AI art, they should consider putting it on different types of products that have more utility and are more likely to be gifted, rather than focusing solely on wall art.

  • What is the potential downside of having a large number of AI wall art listings that are not optimized for SEO or mobile/desktop viewing?

    -The potential downside is that the listings may not be discovered by potential customers, leading to low sales volumes. Additionally, an unoptimized mobile/desktop experience can deter customers from making a purchase.

  • How does the transcript suggest improving the customer focus for an Etsy shop selling AI art?

    -The transcript suggests focusing on the type of customer the shop wants to serve, rather than just creating AI art that the seller thinks looks cool. It emphasizes the importance of understanding the customer's tastes and preferences to create products that will appeal to them.

Outlines

00:00

🚫 Challenges of Selling AI Wall Art on Etsy

Dylan Jarus, an experienced Etsy seller, explains why selling AI wall art on the platform might not be profitable. He cites three main reasons: saturation of low-quality AI wall art listings, making it hard to stand out; the low lifetime value (LTV) of customers for AI wall art, as it's typically a one-time purchase and not a gift item; and the lack of focus on customer needs rather than just the product. He suggests that sellers consider offering AI art on more utility-driven products and emphasizes quality over quantity of listings.

05:00

🎨 Shifting Focus from Product to Customer for Successful AI Art Sales

The second paragraph discusses the importance of focusing on customer preferences rather than just the AI art product. It points out that sellers often create AI wall art based on their personal tastes, which may not appeal to high-income customers with premium tastes. The speaker advises sellers to consider the target audience and adapt their AI art to different products that have broader appeal and utility. The paragraph concludes with an offer of help for sellers looking to adapt their AI art strategy for a more profitable customer base.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡AI Wall Art

AI Wall Art refers to artwork that is created using artificial intelligence algorithms and tools. In the context of the video, it is discussed as a product that may not be as commercially successful on platforms like Etsy due to saturation and quality issues. The video mentions that the barrier to entry is low, meaning many listings are of poor quality, which makes it hard for high-quality AI art to stand out.

💡Etsy

Etsy is an e-commerce website focused on handmade or vintage items and craft supplies. The platform is highlighted in the video as a marketplace where AI wall art is being sold, but the speaker argues that it's not the best platform for this type of product due to the reasons mentioned, such as saturation and the nature of the product not being a typical gift item.

💡Saturation

Saturation in the context of the video refers to the overabundance of similar products in the market, making it difficult for individual sellers to stand out. The speaker points out that there are too many low-quality AI wall art listings on Etsy, which makes it challenging for buyers to identify and purchase higher-quality pieces.

💡Low Barrier to Entry

This term describes a situation where it is easy for anyone to start a business or enter a market with minimal initial investment or skill. The video script mentions that the low barrier to entry for AI wall art on Etsy has led to an influx of poor quality listings, which devalues the overall market.

💡Post-Production

Post-production refers to the process of refining and enhancing a product after its initial creation. In the video, it is mentioned that the difference between AI wall art that has undergone extensive post-production and that which has not can be hard to detect for the average person, which affects the perceived value of the artwork.

💡Lifetime Value (LTV)

LTV stands for Lifetime Value and represents the total revenue a customer is expected to generate for a business over the duration of their relationship. The video discusses how AI wall art tends to have a low LTV because it is not a repeat purchase item and is often not bought as a gift, which limits the potential for ongoing revenue from customers.

💡SEO

SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization, which is the practice of improving a website's visibility on search engines. The video script indicates that many AI wall art listings on Etsy lack proper SEO, which means they are not optimized to be found by potential buyers searching for such products.

💡Mobile Optimization

Mobile optimization refers to the process of making a website or online content accessible and user-friendly on mobile devices. The video points out that many AI wall art listings on Etsy are not optimized for mobile or desktop, which can negatively impact a customer's shopping experience and the seller's sales.

💡Discretionary Income

Discretionary income is the portion of a person's income that is available to spend or save as they choose, after necessary expenses are paid. The video suggests that focusing on customers with higher discretionary income can lead to more reliable and higher revenue for an Etsy shop, as opposed to targeting customers interested in lower-cost AI wall art.

💡Product Focus

Product focus is a strategy where a business concentrates on the features, design, or appeal of its products rather than on the needs or preferences of the customers. The video argues that many sellers of AI wall art on Etsy are product-focused, creating designs they personally find appealing rather than those that cater to a broader, more lucrative customer base.

💡7-Day Game Plan

The 7-Day Game Plan mentioned in the video is a free guide offered by the speaker to help Etsy shop owners grow their businesses. It provides action steps for each day to improve various aspects of their shops, from listings to customer engagement, aiming to increase sales and revenue.

Highlights

Selling AI wall art on Etsy may lead to a surplus of unsold listings due to market saturation.

The barrier to entry for AI art is low, making it difficult to stand out from the competition.

The quality difference between AI-generated art with minimal post-production and high-quality, refined pieces is often indistinguishable to the average consumer.

Focusing on quantity over quality in listings does not address underlying issues with the product.

AI wall art typically has a low lifetime value (LTV) due to its nature as a non-recurring purchase.

AI wall art is often a personal purchase and not commonly given as a gift, limiting its market on platforms known for gifting, like Etsy.

The commitment level for AI wall art is high, similar to furniture, leading to infrequent purchases.

A shop with low-quality AI wall art listings may not see increased sales even with a higher quantity of listings.

Lack of SEO, site merchandising, and optimization for mobile/desktop can hinder a shop's success.

AI art on non-wall-art products with higher utility may have better sales potential.

Items with value beyond their design are easier to sell and attract premium customers.

Focusing on the product rather than the customer can lead to a mismatch with high-discretionary-income consumers.

AI art that is too niche or bizarre may not appeal to customers with premium tastes.

Sellers should consider the customer's taste and preferences when creating AI art products.

A free 7-Day game plan is available for growing an Etsy shop with actionable steps.

Adapting AI art to different products or focusing on profitable customers can improve financial outcomes.

A shift in strategy from product focus to customer focus can lead to more reliable income.

Sellers should question the appeal of their AI art to their target demographic to ensure market fit.