13 Print on Demand Merch Mistakes

Print on Demand (POD) merch gives anyone the power to sell custom merchandise and earn a profit with extra hassles (printing, shipping, fulfillment). All you have to do is customize your products and effectively market to your audience. However, the path to a successful POD business isn’t without its potential pitfalls.

Common and avoidable mistakes prevent a lot of people from meeting their merch goals. Understanding and addressing these issues is crucial for any POD business to achieve long-term success. In this blog, we’ll take a deep dive into the top 13 mistakes people make in the POD industry. We’ll also offer solutions to help you achieve long-term success!

1. Just Think Merch is Nice to Have

Social media is a vital tool for your POD business. You need to use it daily as a marketing channel for your merch to help drive growth. The power of platforms lies in their ability to connect directly with your customer base.

A common mistake people make is treating these platforms as secondary to the main business. However, in the digital age, they are often the frontline of customer engagement and brand representation. How will users become educated about your POD business otherwise?

What to do instead: Develop a comprehensive social media strategy that encompasses consistent content creation, customer interaction, and paid advertising. Use analytics to track engagement and tailor your strategy to what works best for your brand.

Remember, each platform has its own nuances and audience preferences; tailor your content accordingly. It’s important to regular update your followers and make them feel like they’re apart of your POD business. Behind-the-scenes looks, new product launches, and interactive content on your socials fosters a community around your brand.

2. Lack of a Defined Niche or Identity

Many POD sellers make the mistake of trying to cater and appeal to everyone. In a saturated market, specificity is your best friend. Find a niche that you’re passionate about and allows you to create a unique space with your brand. This makes it easier for your target audience to find and connect with you.

What to do instead: Identify your passions and expertise areas — this could be anything. There are all types of POD businesses that thrive. Next, research the market to ensure there’s an audience for your niche. Use this information to craft a brand identity that resonates with your target demographic.

This includes your brand’s tone of voice, visual style, and overall messaging. Consistency across all platforms and products strengthens your brand identity and helps build trust with your audience.

3. Don’t Understand Your Audience

A deep understanding of your audience is critical in creating products that sell and crafting messages that resonate. Without this understanding, your products might miss the mark, resulting in low sales and low engagement rates. Knowing your audience goes beyond simple demographics; it involves understanding their values, interests, challenges, and motivations.

What to do instead: Use social media and customer feedback to gain insights into your audience’s needs and preferences. Create buyer personas to visualize your typical customers and tailor your marketing and product development to suit their preferences.

Have regular engagement with your community. Ask for comments, generate interactive polls, and respond to direct messages. This can provide invaluable feedback and help you build a product line that truly resonates with your audience.

4. Bad Quality Merch Designs

The visual appeal of your merch is often the first thing a potential customer will notice. Poorly designed merch can turn customers away before they even consider making a purchase. Investing in high-quality, professional designs is non-negotiable for a successful POD business.

What to do instead: When drafting ideas for your merch designs you need to consider the message you want to communicate with your designs. Make sure that they fit and are cohesive with the overall aesthetic of your brand. If graphic design isn’t your thing, consider hiring freelance designers or utilizing professional design services.

Canva is a free and easy tool that’s beginner-friendly. They have a wide array of graphics and fonts to help you create high-quality merch designs. Just download your designs as JPG or PNG files and customize products in your shop.

If you’re still struggling on your own, find a professional designer that suits your needs and can help fulfill your vision. Freelance services like Fiverr have thousands of designers waiting for design requests to come in. Paying a flat-rate fee for designs that have the potential to sell and resonate with your audience is worthwhile.

Use customer feedback and sales data to understand which designs resonate most with your audience. Remember, what you personally like may not always align with what your customers want; put their needs first.

5. Drop All Your Designs at Once

Releasing all your designs at once can overwhelm your audience and leave you with no new content to engage them with later. This approach also makes it difficult to analyze and understand which designs resonate the most with your audience.

What to do instead: Develop a content calendar to plan your merch drops strategically throughout the coming months or year. This can align with seasons, holidays, or events relevant to your niche. Tease upcoming releases to build excitement and use feedback from each drop to improve on future designs and marketing. Consider creating limited-edition releases to create a sense of urgency and exclusivity.

Our recommendation: Drop 1 to 2 new designs a month to keep your audience in the loop and drive traffic to your shop.

6. Neglect Quality Control

The quality of your products is a direct reflection of your brand. Customers expect high-quality, durable items that are worth their hard-earned cash. Neglecting this aspect can lead to dissatisfied customers, negative reviews, and high return rates.

This can be detrimental to your business’s reputation and longevity. People don’t want to purchase from someone they can’t trust; the customers needs should come first.

What to do instead: Establish a stringent quality control process. Select reputable POD suppliers with high-quality production standards. Order samples of your own products to assess quality firsthand to help you make an assessment.

Stay up-to-date with customer feedback on the quality of the products they’ve received. Address any quality issues with your supplier immediately and consider switching suppliers if problems continue to persist.

7. Overlook SEO and Online Marketing

Many POD businesses underestimate the power/potential of SEO and online marketing. You can’t rely solely on the visibility of sales platforms and social media for longtime success. Optimizing your online presence for search engines can increase your visibility and bring more organic traffic to your store.

What to do instead: Research keywords related to your niche and incorporate them into your product descriptions, and content. Utilize SEO best practices on your website to improve its ranking in search results. Consider starting a blog related to your niche to drive more traffic to your site and establish yourself as an authority in your field.

8. Ignore Customer Service Concerns

Exceptional customer service can set your POD business apart from competitors. Many online businesses lose sight of the importance of human interaction and responsive customer service. This can lead to unsatisfied customers and cause potential damage to your brand’s reputation.

What to do instead: Implement a clear, easy-to-find, and responsive customer service system. This can include a FAQ section on your website, a dedicated customer service email, and live chat support. Train yourself or your team to handle inquiries professionally and efficiently.

It’s important to always follow up with customers to ensure their issues have been resolved. Having satisfied customers is top-priority.

If you don’t have time to handle customer service, find a POD providers that has their own customer service team. They’ll work on your behalf to address order or product concerns to find a solution.

9. Inadequate Pricing Strategies

Pricing your products correctly is crucial for ensuring profitability while still being attractive to your customers. Incorrect pricing can deter potential buyers or cut into your margins.

What to do instead: Conduct thorough market research to understand the pricing landscape within your niche. Consider your costs, including production, shipping, and any additional fees, and then add a reasonable profit margin. Don’t forget to factor in promotional offers and discounts.

Regularly review your prices to ensure they remain competitive and profitable.

10. Fail to Adapt and Evolve

The POD industry is ever-changing, with new trends and customer preferences emerging constantly. Sticking rigidly to your original plans without adapting to market changes is a recipe for stagnation and decline.

What to do instead: Stay informed about industry trends and shifts in consumer behavior. Be open to experimenting with new product types, designs, or marketing strategies. Collect and analyze data from your sales and customer feedback to identify what’s working and what isn’t. This proactive approach allows you to adapt your business strategy effectively to meet the evolving demands of the market.

By understanding and avoiding these ten common mistakes, you can position your Print on Demand business for success. Remember, a successful POD venture requires more than just creative designs. It demands a strategic approach to niche selection, audience understanding, marketing, and customer service.

With dedication, adaptability, and attention to detail, you can build a thriving POD business that stands out in the crowded online marketplace.

11. Ignore the Importance of Brand Storytelling

One of the most overlooked aspects of a successful Print on Demand business is the power of storytelling. A compelling brand story can connect emotionally with your audience, and allow you stand apart from competitors. This helps build long-term customer loyalty. However, many POD sellers focus solely on their products without conveying the story behind their brand or the inspiration behind their designs.

What to do instead: Craft a compelling brand narrative that encompasses your mission, values, and the unique aspects of your journey. Share this story through your website, product descriptions, and social media platforms. Incorporate storytelling into your marketing campaigns, highlighting the people, ideas, or causes behind your products. Engaging your audience with a narrative that resonates with them can transform passive shoppers into passionate brand advocates.

12. Fail to Leverage Customer Feedback

Customer feedback is an invaluable resource for any business, yet many POD entrepreneurs fail to capitalize on it. Whether positive or negative, feedback provides direct insights into your customers’ experiences, preferences, and pain points. Ignoring this feedback can lead to repeated mistakes, unsatisfied customers, and missed opportunities for improvement and innovation.

What to do instead: Actively seek out and encourage customer feedback through surveys, reviews, and social media engagement. Monitor and analyze this feedback to identify common themes and areas for improvement.

Show your customers that their opinions are valued by acknowledging and responding to their feedback. Implement changes based on customer insights to refine your products, improve customer service, and enhance the overall shopping experience.

13. Neglect Upselling and Cross-Selling Opportunities

Upselling and cross-selling are effective strategies for increasing the average order value and boosting overall sales. However, many POD sellers miss out on these opportunities by not suggesting related products or upgrades to their customers. This oversight can lead to lost revenue and lessened customer engagement.

What to do instead: Develop a strategic approach to upselling and cross-selling by identifying products that complement each other. Consider offering premium versions of existing products. Highlight these opportunities on your product pages, in your shopping cart, and during the checkout process.

Use targeted email campaigns to promote related products to customers based on their purchase history. By making relevant suggestions, you can enhance the shopping experience while increasing your revenue.

We hope identifying these common mistakes makes it easier to navigate the POD world and set your merch shop up for success. Finding a niche you’re passionate about is a core pillar to your POD business. This makes it easier to connect with your audience and allows you to have fun while you earn with your merch!

How Digital Artists Can Monetize Their Art

Making money as a digital artist has never been more broad or accessible. 2024 brings plenty of new opportunities and platforms for artists to leverage their skills into sustainable income streams.

Unlocking the potential to turn your passion into profit shouldn’t be a mystery. We’ve created this guide to arm you with strategies to monetize your artwork. Let’s embark on this journey together, transforming your artistic passion into a thriving source of income.

The Evolving Digital Art Market

The digital art market can be difficult to navigate. Several factors influence this, like tech advancements, consumer behaviors, and new digital platforms. As a digital artist, staying abreast of these changes and adapting your monetization strategies accordingly is key to success.

Comprehensive Strategies for Monetizing Digital Art

1. Selling Prints and Merchandise through Print on Demand

The print on demand (POD) model allows digital artists to monetize their work without the hassle of inventory management. POD platforms let artists customize various products with their own artwork, offering a wide range of options for personalization.

These platforms allow artists to upload their designs and have them printed on items such as t-shirts, mugs, phone cases, and more. This enables artists to reach a wider audience and offer their artwork in a variety of formats. POD platforms handle creating, sending, and assisting customers, allowing artists to focus on creating and promoting their art.

POD platforms are popular for artists to make money and connect with fans because they offer flexibility and convenience. This method helps you reach the right people and try out new designs on different products without spending any money upfront.

How to achieve POD Success:

Niche Targeting: Tailor your designs to cater to specific niches or interests, enhancing the appeal of your merchandise. The more specific your niche is, the greater the likelihood of connecting with your audience.
Quality Assurance: Use POD platforms that emphasize quality in their products, ensuring customer satisfaction and repeat business.
Marketing: Use social media and content marketing to show off your products, emphasizing their unique designs and availability.

2. Licensing and Royalties

Licensing your digital art can be a lucrative avenue for artists looking to monetize their work. By licensing your art, you allow businesses, publishers, or media to use it for payment. Artists can earn money by using or copying their art, creating a new way to make income.

One of the key benefits of licensing your digital art is the potential for recurring income. Unlike selling a piece of art outright, licensing allows you to retain ownership of your work while still profiting from its use. This means that you can continue to earn money from your art even after you have finished creating it. This allows you to have a steady income over time.

Additionally, licensing your digital art can also help to increase your visibility as an artist. This increased exposure can lead to more opportunities for collaboration, commissions, and other lucrative projects in the future.

Steps to Successful Licensing:

Create a varied portfolio with your best work to send to the industries you want to sell your art to.
Market Research: Identify potential licensing opportunities by researching companies that align with your art style.
Meet new clients by going to events, art fairs, and using LinkedIn to connect with people who are looking to license art.

3. Digital Downloads and Online Sales

Selling digital downloads of your art allows customers to easily access your work for personal use. This can include printing posters at home or using the images as wallpapers. This model works well with tiered pricing, where customers can choose different options at various prices for better effectiveness.

Optimizing Digital Sales:

Sell your digital art easily using platforms like Etsy, Shopify, or your own website for a smooth buying experience.
Customer Engagement: Offer customizable options or limited editions to create a more personalized shopping experience, encouraging higher engagement and sales.

4. Crowdfunding and Patronage

Artists can use crowdfunding sites like Patreon to receive financial support from their fans. In exchange, they can offer special content, early access to new work, and behind-the-scenes looks at their creative process. This model helps foster a community around your art, providing a steady income stream while deepening overall audience engagement.

Enhancing Patronage:

Exclusive Content: Offer patrons exclusive artwork, tutorials, or merchandise to incentivize subscriptions.
Engagement: Regularly interact with your patrons through social comments, polls, and live Q&As to build a loyal community.

5. Workshops, Courses, and Tutorials

Leverage your expertise by offering online workshops, courses, or tutorials. This helps you make money in various ways. It also demonstrates your expertise, which can lead to more opportunities to collaborate or speak with others.

Launching Educational Offerings:

Choose platforms like Skillshare, Udemy, or your own website to host courses. Consider audience reach and revenue share when deciding.
Various types of content are available for different skill levels in digital art. This includes different techniques and software. The goal is to appeal to as wide a range of people as possible.

6. Custom Commissions

Offering custom commission work allows you to engage directly with clients, creating personalized artwork based on their specifications. This can range from portraits and illustrations to branding and design work for businesses.

Maximizing Commission Work:

Clear Process: Establish a clear commission process, including pricing, timelines, and revisions, to manage client expectations.
Advertise your commission work on social media and your website to get new clients. Use hashtags and keywords to increase visibility.

7. Engaging with NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens)

NFTs offer a unique way to monetize digital art by selling ownership of a digital asset through blockchain technology. This can provide artists with not only an immediate income but also ongoing royalties from secondary sales.

Navigating the NFT Space:

Learn about NFTs, blockchain, and cryptocurrency to decide where and how you can sell your art as NFTs.
Engage with NFT communities on Twitter and Discord to share your work and connect with people who may buy it.

Building a Sustainable Career as a Digital Artist

Making money from your digital art comes down to more than just talent. You also need to have the ability to market, network, and keep learning. You can build a stable career by earning money from various sources and having a strong online presence. This will support you financially and allow you to continue pursuing your passion for art.

Create a website and social media accounts to display your work. Share your creative process with your audience. Connect with your followers in a professional manner.
Improve your online content with keywords like “digital artists” to boost visibility in search results and attract more buyers. They call this SEO strategy.
Keep learning about new trends, tools, and platforms in digital art to stay relevant and find ways to make money.

Conclusion

As the digital art landscape continues to evolve, so do the opportunities for artists to monetize their artwork. You can make money by selling merchandise, or getting involved in the NFT market. There are many ways to earn that exist.

Digital artists can make money and build a successful career by using marketing strategies and engaging with their community. This approach helps them monetize their artwork and create a sustainable career in the digital age.

Remember, success in the digital art world is not just about talent: it’s about strategy, persistence, and the ability to adapt.

Shop of the Month: Interview with Erik Aanderaa

What does it take to run a successful shop with Spreadshop? We asked Erik Aanderaa, sailor and adventurer from Norway, about his experiences with Spreadshop and how his passion drove his success.

The world of e-commerce is ever-evolving, and dropshipping has emerged as a popular business model for entrepreneurs looking to start their own ventures with minimal to ZERO upfront investment.

The appeal of dropshipping lies in its simplicity: you sell products directly to customers without having to store any inventory. When a sale is made, the product is shipped directly from a supplier to your customer’s doorstep. While this model offers a streamlined path to business ownership, it’s not without its challenges.

Many newcomers to dropshipping encounter common mistakes that can hinder them from achieving their ultimate potential. Understanding these errors and knowing how to avoid them is crucial for building a profitable dropshipping business. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to optimize your existing storefront, this blog will guide you through the 10 most common dropshipping mistakes and provide actionable strategies to help you achieve success with your business.

1. Choosing the Wrong Niche

One of the first and most significant steps in starting a dropshipping business is selecting your niche. A common mistake many shop owners make is choosing a niche based solely on what they think will be profitable rather than aligning it with their interests, expertise, or market demand. The result? A lack of passion and knowledge that eventually leads to burnout and disengagement.

If you’re not passionate about your niche, you’re not going to put in the extra effort it takes to be successful in the dropshipping business. Use your passion to connect with an audience that’s been waiting for someone like you. Insider knowledge and experience will help you better connect with the people that matter.

How to Avoid It: Conduct thorough market research to identify niches with high demand and low competition. Use tools like Google Trends, social media analysis, and keyword research to gauge interest and trends. Align your findings with your interests or expertise to ensure you remain motivated and informed about the products you’re selling.

2. Ignoring the Quality of Suppliers

In dropshipping, your suppliers are more than just your source for products: they’re your business partners. Relying on unreliable suppliers can lead to a myriad of issues, including poor product quality, shipping delays, and unsatisfactory customer service — all of which can tarnish your brand’s reputation.

How to Avoid It: Vet potential suppliers. Order samples to assess quality, verify their shipping times, and read reviews from other businesses. Platforms like AliExpress, SaleHoo, and Oberlo can help you find reputable suppliers with a history of reliability and quality.

3. Underestimating the Importance of Customer Service

Many dropshippers mistakenly believe that their responsibility ends once the customer places an order. However, excellent customer service is pivotal in building trust, encouraging repeat business, and managing disputes effectively.

It might be worth it to choose a supplier that offers their own customer services as a perk of using their service. If there’s an issue regarding the location of an order, quality of a product, or need to exchange for a different size, they’ll take care of it for you. That’s just one more thing you won’t have to worry about.

How to Avoid It: Be proactive in your communication with customers. Provide clear, detailed product descriptions, transparent shipping times, and easy-to-find contact information. Implement a straightforward return policy and be responsive to customer inquiries and complaints. Utilizing chatbots and customer service software can streamline this process. Find a supplier that will take care of customer concerns for you.

4. Overlooking the Importance of a Well-Designed Store

A visually unappealing or poorly navigated online store can deter customers from exploring your site and making a purchase. First impressions are crucial in the digital world, and your website is often the first interaction customers will have with your brand.

Think about who the audience is for your brand and what will resonate with them. Artists and designers will appreciate attention to detail and an infusion of personality. Sports fans might prefer your website to be better organized to allow them to find products that suit their personal and athletic needs. Create visuals using your likeness and pick colors and images to best represent your brand.

How to Avoid It: Invest time and resources into designing a professional, user-friendly website. Ensure that your site is easy to navigate, mobile-friendly, and optimized for search engines. Utilize high-quality images and maintain a consistent branding theme throughout your site. Platforms like Shopify and WooCommerce offer customizable templates to get you started.

5. Failing to Optimize for SEO

SEO, or Search Engine Optimization, is essential for driving organic traffic to your dropshipping store. Neglecting SEO means you’re missing out on potential customers who might be actively searching for your products.

How to Avoid It: Conduct keyword research to understand how your target audience searches for your products. Incorporate these keywords into your product titles, descriptions, blog content, and meta tags. Regularly update your content and utilize blogging to address topics related to your niche, further boosting your SEO efforts.

6. Not Utilizing Social Media Effectively

Social media is a powerful tool for building brand awareness and engaging with your audience. A common mistake business owners make is either neglecting social media altogether or using it ineffectively, like posting irrelevant content or not taking the time to engage with followers.

Social media is one of the best, organic marketing strategies out there. It allows you to authentically connect with your audience and turn supporters into customers. If you’re concerned about looking spammy or trying too hard to drive sales, we have some content tips for you.

How to Avoid It: Identify which social media platforms your target audience uses most and focus your efforts there. Create engaging, relevant content that promotes your products and encourages interaction. Use social media ads targeted to your specific audience to increase reach and drive traffic to your site.

7. Ignoring the Power of Email Marketing

Many dropshippers underestimate the value of email marketing, missing out on opportunities to engage with customers, promote sales, and increase repeat business.

Having constant remainders in your customers inboxes is key to developing brand trust and strengthening that relationship.

How to Avoid It: Build an email list from the start by offering incentives for sign-ups, such as discounts or free how-to guides. Use personalized, targeted email campaigns to talk about new products, offer exclusive promo deals, and provide valuable content that keeps your brand at the forefront of their minds.

8. Setting Unrealistic Expectations

Dropshipping is often marketed as a quick and easy way to make money online, leading some new entrepreneurs to set unrealistic expectations for instant success and passive income.

But it’s not that simple. You can’t expect sales to rule in if you don’t take the time to evaluate your audience and market to them effectively.

How to Avoid It: Understand that building a successful dropshipping business requires time, effort, and patience. Set realistic goals and be prepared for challenges. Continuously learn from your experiences and adapt your strategies for improvement.

9. Neglecting Analytics and Feedback

Not tracking your store’s performance or ignoring customer feedback can prevent you from recognizing areas for improvement, ultimately stalling your growth. You’re missing a big opportunity to grow your sales and make sure you get your next drop right.

How to Avoid It: Utilize analytics tools like Google Analytics to monitor your website’s traffic, conversion rates, and other key performance indicators. Actively seek out and listen to customer feedback to identify pain points and opportunities to enhance your product offerings and customer service.

10. Inadequate Planning and Research

Jumping into dropshipping without adequate planning or market research won’t set you up on the path for success. This includes not understanding your target market, not being aware of competitors, and not having a clear business plan.

How to Avoid It: Before launching your dropshipping business, conduct comprehensive market research to understand your target audience’s needs and preferences. Analyze your competitors to identify gaps in the market you can fill. Develop a detailed business plan that outlines your business model, marketing strategies, financial projections, and growth strategies.

By steering clear of these common dropshipping mistakes and implementing the strategies outlined above, you can set your online store on the path to success.

Dropshipping offers a world of opportunity, but like any business, it requires dedication, adaptability, and a customer-focused approach to truly thrive. Remember, the key to success is not just avoiding mistakes but also continuously learning and evolving with your market. Always lead with your customer’s needs, stay informed about industry trends, and never stop improving your offerings and operations.

Set up your own dropshipping business today with ZERO upfront costs!

A guide to curating your ultimate NA assortment

Building and perfecting a well-rounded and optimal assortment is crucial to maximize your business potential. Your assortment should meet the needs of the customers as well as following seasonal trends and reducing decision fatigue. The goal is to find the perfect balance of product variety and exclusivity. So what should you consider when it comes to curating your assortment? Let’s dive in. Read more