How to Make the Best Online Listings for 3D Prints

Whether you’re using platforms like Etsy, eBay, or a dedicated 3D printing marketplace, a well-crafted listing can make the difference between making a sale and someone scrolling past your listing.

I went through some of the best-selling 3D print listings on Etsy and eBay to see what they had in common.

This helped me come up with a step-by-step guide on creating the perfect listing to catch your potential customer’s attention and increase your chances of making a sale. Please continue reading to learn more about it.

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How to Make the Best Online Listings for 3D Prints

Here is the process you need to follow to ensure you have the best listing for your 3D prints:

1. Choose the right platform
2. Come up with a catchy title
3. Write a clear, engaging description
4. Take killer photos
5. Set fair and competitive prices
6. Use variations in your listing
7. Offer clear shipping information
8. Promote your listing

1. Choose the Right Platform

First, decide where you want to sell your 3D prints and choose a platform that best fits your target audience and product. Here are some options:

• Etsy

 If your work is creative and niche, then Etsy would be the best platform for you. This is because it has an audience ready to buy custom, unique, or artistic 3D prints.

• eBay

A huge marketplace with many people searching for a wide variety of things, including 3D prints. However, it can be a bit too broad, so if you’re going to list your product on eBay, it needs to be super specific.

• Facebook Marketplace

Say what you want about Facebook, but it’s marketplace is perfect if you want to start small and mainly target local buyers. It also gives you access to a massive audience of Facebook users who you can casually sell your prints to. The great thing about Facebook Marketplace is that it doesn’t charge listing fees.

Uncle Jessy from YouTube mentions some of the best platforms on which to list your 3D printed products in this video. Check it out.

@warwolf555 asked Unlce Jessy if he makes individual listings for every model he sold or if he had a generic made-to-print approach given the market is saturated.

Uncle Jessy replied that he lists individual items but also had people reach out to him on Etsy, DM, and email for specific requests.

2. Come Up With a Catchy Title

Your title is the first thing people will see, so make it short, sweet, and straight to the point. Be clear about what you’re offering.

Avoid vague titles like “3D Print” and think like a buyer. What would you search for if you were looking for your own product? Use that in your title.

Etsy recommends adding some keywords to your title to help describe your product. However, do not stuff a lot of keywords because it might confuse the buyer.

https://www.etsy.com/seller-handbook/article/382774281517

An example of a bad title is “3D Printed Customizable Dragon-Themed Phone Stand Holder for iPhone, Samsung Galaxy, Android, iPad, Tablet, Desk Organizer, Unique Gift, Office, Home Decor, Personalized Colors Available in PLA, ABS, Multiple Sizes.”

It tries to include too many keywords and product features at the same time, which can turn customers away.

Examples of good titles on Etsy that are just the right length.

• “3D Printed Dragon – Winged Articulated Crystal Dragon – Fidget Toy”

• “3D Printed Clay Cyanide Pantheon Of Aztecs Set Ragnarok D&D.”

As Glenn Brian from YouTube put it, extremely long titles might confuse the algorithm. Stick to a short title that says exactly what your product is. Check out this video to see how he comes up with titles for his Etsy listings.

3. Write a Clear, Engaging Description

Once you’ve hooked people with your title, write a description that gives them all the details. Speak like you’re excited about your product because that excitement will rub off on the buyer.

Try to keep it simple, engaging, and accurate. Don’t describe your 3D print listing as PLA if your products are not made of PLA.

Here’s what you should cover in the description:

What the Product Is

Describe your product clearly. For example, in this description by Ingadishop on Etsy about his 3D printed planter.

Material Used to Make It

Specify what material your 3D print listing is made of, like what Ingadishop has done for his listing.

Product Dimensions

People also need to know the size of your product. For example, here are the dimensions for Ingadishop’s planter.

How It Can Be Used

Help buyers imagine how to use your product. For example, Yorkshire3DLtd gives potential buyers ideas for using their 3D printed keychains.

One important tip from the Etsy seller handbook is to add keywords to your listing description, preferably within the first few sentences.

These keywords should match the ones you put in your title and across the listing so that your product can show up in the search rankings whenever a user’s phrase matches.

Macy Makes 3d on YouTube provides a full walkthrough of how she creates a new listing, including how she writes a detailed description.

4. Take Killer Photos

Next, you need to take good photos of your 3D prints because they’re the first thing potential buyers will notice, even before reading the description.

To get picture-perfect shots for your 3D print listing, you should:

Ensure the Lighting is perfect

Take your photos on a well-lit background. Natural light works great, so shoot near a window during the day. Alternatively, you can use a lightbox because it lights up the prints evenly and doesn’t cast shadows.

An example is Amazon’s Photo Studio Light Box with 3 Stepless Dimming Light Panels.

Capture Different Angles

Show your product from different angles. Buyers want to see every detail, so consider taking a few close-ups. For example, this Terminator Skull Headset stands on Etsy has been captured from different angles

Use a Tripod

If you have shaky hands (we all do sometimes), use a tripod to keep things steady. Blurry photos are a big no-no when it comes to 3D print listings.

Check out the Extendable Magnetic Selfie Stick Phone Tripod Stand with Magsafe that Brandon Santana uses in his video when mounting his phone.

Show the Product in Use

Snap a few photos showing how your product will be used, or better yet, make a short video showing how your product works.

This gives potential buyers an idea of how big the product is while displaying its quality and functionality.

NicoSdesign3D gives a perfect illustration of how his print works using a short video of beer being poured into plastic party cups using the Beer Pong Funnel on Etsy

Here is an article I wrote on taking 3D print listing photos: Link to How to take the best photos of 3D print listings once published.

Devin from Make Anything on YouTube also has a great video on photographing 3D prints for your listings; you can have a look.

@Kasparsbutlers wanted to know at which focal length Devin usually shot his pictures to which he replied 35mm.

This was the upper limit for his camera and he felt that it captured his prints accurately. However, some people argued that 50mm gives it a more natural look.

@sublimationman says that he had many different softboxes that he used to take thousands of photos of small items to sell online, but was never satisfied until he got a photobox from Travor on Amazon.

This softbox has a perfect set of LED lights attached inside the box and a great diffuser.

5. Set Fair and Competitive Prices

After coming up with a catchy title and engaging description, you’ll need to price your 3D prints right. Too low, and you’re undervaluing your work and will probably not break even; too high, and potential buyers might skip over your listing.

Here’s a simple method:

• Calculate the material costs: Calculate how much filament or resin each print uses.
• Factor in the time: Factor in how long prints take how long post-processing, packing, and shipping takes (also known as labor costs)
• Calculate the electricity costs: To calculate this, check your printer’s wattage and multiply it by the time it takes to finish a print.

For example, if your printer uses an average of 200 watts and a print takes 5 hours, that’s 1 kilowatt-hour of electricity. Multiply this by your local electricity rate to get the cost.

• Estimate the shipping costs: Estimate how much it would cost to ship the item, including the cost of packaging materials.
• Compare prices with your competitors: Look at similar listings on your chosen platform and set a price that covers your costs (materials, time, and electricity) while still allowing you to remain competitive.

3DDesignBros or 3DDB on YouTube built a great website, 3D Print Force, to help you create listings and price your products.

The website considers various factors, such as the printers you work with, the filaments you’re using, the size of boxes you want to ship with, the platform for selling the products, etc.

Uncle Jessy demonstrates how you can use it to price your 3D print listings in the video below, so check it out.

@A1MOSTADDICTEDMINECRAFT in the YouTube comments of the video above advised people to price higher and deliver quality. This is because when you forget to account for costs such as packaging material, design, printer, and time investment, you might end up working for penny’s.

6. Use Variations in Your Listing

Set up variants in your listing if you offer the same product in different colors, sizes, or designs. This keeps everything in one place, making it easier for buyers to pick what they want.

For example, GraceLaceCrafts states that this 3D Printed Chinese Kirin lion Beast Fidget Toy he has listed on Etsy is “available in a range of colors to suit your aesthetic appearance.”

Variants also make your listing look more professional and organized. Here is how 3DDB, from YouTube, creates custom variations for his Etsy 3D print listings.

@dinson1438 in the YouTube comments wanted to know the best way to list your product if you had two dozen candleholders. @3dDesignBros responded that he would create 1 listing with 24 variation options.

Then duplicate that listing 23 times changing the thumbnail image to a different variation.

7. Offer Clear Shipping Information

Make sure you’re clear about your shipping options. Buyers hate hidden costs, so be open about shipping fees and delivery times. Etsy and eBay have tools to help you calculate shipping costs but keep it simple for your buyer.

Here’s how to make shipping work for you:

Shipping Time

Tell your potential buyer approximately how long they would have to wait for their order to be shipped to them. Plasonite on Etsy shows what time it would take to ship the Donkey Kong 3D printed statue.

Macy Makes 3D from whose Youtube video I linked earlier says she likes to keep the shipping time to 3-5 days. However, she expands that to 10-15 days or 2-3 weeks when her printers get too busy.

It is better to have slightly longer processing times but stick to it than shipping things late, which can make people unhappy or cause Etsy to flag you.

Shipping Costs

You also need to be transparent with the buyer about how much it would cost to ship the item to their location by including the cost. Check out the example below.

Consider Free Shipping

Offer free shipping to attract more buyers. It may cut your profits, but it’s very appealing to buyers. You can always add the shipping costs to the item’s price.

In this video, Glenn Brian 3D explains how free shipping can help your Etsy shop to get more sales.

Return Policy

You need to state clearly what your return or exchange policy is. You can offer exchanges for non-custom items if they aren’t satisfied. Set a time frame, like 14 days, for return requests.

Also, outline who covers shipping costs in case of a return. Here is an example from ALtoysStore on eBay.

Glenn Brian 3D explains how you can create your shipping profile on Etsy in this YouTube video.

8. Promote Your Listing

Promote your 3D print listing! Share it on social media or consider using paid ads on the platform to boost visibility. Just because your listing is live doesn’t mean the work is done. The more people that see your listing, the higher your chances of making a sale.

You can check out this article I wrote to get more tips on How to Sell 3D Prints Online.

Slant 3D on YouTube says advertising on Etsy drastically increases your sales because it bumps up the search results of your item to put you on the first page.

He recommends having a marketing budget of between $50-$100 for a start to increase your chances of being profitable.

If you don’t have a marketing budget, you can share your work on Instagram, Facebook, or Reddit communities, where people are interested in 3D prints. Ensure you link to your Etsy or eBay store.

Follow these steps and you should be able to make a killer online listing to sell your 3D prints. Best of luck!

If you have any questions, feel free to ask in the 3D Printerly Profits Skool Community.