What are YouTube Shorts?

Platforms like Instagram Reels, TikTok, and Vimeo have enormous and highly engaged audiences, so YouTube Shorts are Google’s attempt to throw their hat into the ring.

First released in India and beta launched in the US in 2021, Shorts have so far been a runaway success. YouTube has promised ongoing improvements and updates, including their recent changes to search filters to allow users to find Shorts content more easily.

Their aim, according to a press release, is to allow creators to “shoot short, catchy videos” using just their cell phones. These short, catchy videos give viewers animated, musical, parody, or informational content in an easily-digestible format – and now, this is expanding to include brand and sponsored content.

Today, Shorts have overtaken TikTok to have 1.5 billion active users – a fantastic reason to take a closer look at marketing with Shorts.

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What is the difference between Shorts, Instagram Reels, and TikTok?

Trying to decide which short-form video suits your content? Here are the major differences between Shorts, Reels, and TikTok:

Shorts

• Length: 60 seconds (15 seconds in the app)
• Reach: 1.5 billion users
• Target group: Everyone
• Features: Video editor with simple filters and effects, subtitles, copyright-free music library
• Platform advantages: Established social media brand, high user loyalty

Reels

• Length: 60 seconds
• Reach: 2 billion users
• Target group: 25 – 39 years
• Features: Video and photo editor with AR filters and many effect, sticker, text, and caption options
• Platform advantages: Visually sophisticated, especially advertising and shopping-friendly

 TikTok

• Length: 3 minutes
• Reach: 1 billion users
• Target group: 15 – 24 years
• Features: Video editor with templates, filters and effects, stickers, text, subtitles, what’s trending, and music library
• Platform advantages: The home of trends and community building

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Shorts, Reels, and TikToks all use the vertical 9:16 format, so you can easily play your videos across all three channels if they are no longer than 60 seconds. The most important thing is that you are active where your customers are, and that the platform and content match you and your brand.

How can I use Shorts to market my Shop?

The best way to use Shorts is as a supplement to your main channel, to offer your audience new and different forms of content in a new and exciting format. This can be a change of tone, fresh types of content, or brand positioning.

Here are some ways we suggest using YouTube Shorts to add some personality to your brand and solidify your community around your channel:

• Behind the scenes. Use Shorts to show your viewers how you create videos or give them a sneak peek into how you behave when the cameras aren’t rolling.
• Design theory. Short form video is perfect for giving quick, informational tutorials. Go through the process of how you create designs for your Shop.
• Product updates. Shorts are a great way to introduce new products to your viewers and are the perfect channel for organic product promotion.
• News updates. Keep your audience up to date on news, campaigns, or big things happening on your channel!
• Highlight reels. This is a great way to recycle your content and drive engagement with very little work! Learn more in our deep dive into the Buffalo method.
• Viral clips. Take your funniest, most awkward, and catchiest bloopers or clips and give them a chance to go viral in a viewer-friendly format.

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3 Tips for YouTube Shorts

Getting some ideas for how you want to use Shorts? Perfect, that’s the aim of this article! Don’t let your hard work go to waste – whatever content strategy you decide to use for your Shorts, here are some general tips for maximizing your engagement:

1. Keep it simple.

Make your Shorts informal, informative, and to the point. YouTube recommends 15 seconds duration for Shorts – you only have your audience’s attention for a limited time, so make the most of it!

2. Start strong.

Open your videos with an attention-grabbing line or opening sequence. There is a lot of content out there competing for attention, so grab your audience right from the get-go if you want them to listen to your message.

3. High-effort thumbnails.

Thumbnails are the headline of your videos. Marketers and copywriters spend hours researching and crafting headlines, because they know that is your one chance to grab the audiences’ attention – put some effort into your thumbnails and make the most of your opportunities.

Follow these best practices and make sure you are maximizing the return on effort. If you put in the hard work, you will see the results – channel growth, audience engagement, and Shop sales await you!

Feeling inspired to grow your channel with your new Shorts knowledge, but don’t have any merch to offer your viewers? Head over and open your free Spreadshop in just a few clicks.

The post Use YouTube Shorts to Market Your Shop appeared first on The Spreadshop Blog.

Whatever your product, design or niche, Spreadshop has the right printing method to get the most out of your creations.

Learn more about the benefits to DTF printing.

DTF Printing Transfers: The Ins and Outs

Digital printing involves spraying your designs, just like an inkjet printer, directly onto the products. With DTF printing, however, your motif is firstly pressed onto a foil (or film). This allows for very exact ink quantities, meaning vibrant colors, opaque whites as well as remarkably sharp and fine edges.

DTF film absorbs almost every drop of color, so even high levels of detail and color gradients are no problem.

Once the film has been printed, it gets a layer of adhesive, before being pressed onto the product, which sits in a pressing device. This makes DTF printing ideally suited for both light and dark products. It’s ultimately just as durable and stretchable as the product fabric. Here’s a quick summary of the main advantages:

• Available for all file formats
• Extremely stretchable and durable
• Suitable for dark and light textiles
• Compatible with cotton, polyester, blended fabrics and many other materials

Which products do we use DTF for?

Thanks to the moderate pressing temperatures, DTF printing is suitable for numerous different fabrics, whether coarse, fine or mixed.

The rougher materials include baseball caps, hats, bags and backpacks. But it also works well on T-shirts and hoodies, and on finer materials, in particular polyester fibers. DTF prints are perfect for sport and function shirts, as they protect more sensitive fibers.

What do I need to look out for as a spread shop owner?

Basically, nothing. All our usual printing recommendations and requirements also apply to DTF printing, including:

• Transparent Backgrounds
• Best possible resolutions
• No half-transparent prints.
• Minimum line thickness of 1mm, as otherwise they can break away from coarser materials

You don’t even need to worry about which products you need to print with DTF. It’s part of our job as print-on-demand experts to find the printing style that fits your designs and ideas. That’s we set up the printing process to match each individual order. The goal is simple: to get the best possible printing results. Good thing we know a thing or two about this.

By the way, some of the most recent products activated for your shop are only possible due to the introduction of DTF printing. These include the children’s apron and the umbrella. More products will follow. Stay tuned!

Now you want to find out more about DTF? Let us know in the comments. Otherwise keep your eyes peeled for further reports on what we do.

The post DTF Printing Your Designs: Advantages appeared first on The Spreadshop Blog.

If you are already in the process of spring cleaning your Shop, you can use the space you free up for a few Mother’s and Father’s Day designs. Add your own personal touch and be creative—it’s not all bouquets and neckties.

Our tip: Promote your designs for these big days on Instagram and Facebook. After the order deadlines have passed, however, you should cut back on your advertising. Because we all know: disappointed parents are a force to be reckoned with.

Order deadlines Mother’s Day 2022

As always, we reserve the right to change our order deadlines at short notice. You can always find the current delivery times here in the blog article.

Order deadlines Father’s Day 2022

As far as deadlines are concerned, we usually take two days to ship an order. As always, we will do our best to ensure that all your customers receive their orders on time.

Do you have any questions or comments about the order deadlines? Write us in the forum!

The post Order Deadlines: Gifts for Mom and Dad appeared first on The Spreadshop Blog.

Spring is a busy and festive season with many special occasions and holidays around the world, including:

• Mardi Gras on March 1st
• International Women’s Day on March 8th
• St. Patrick’s Day on March 17th
• Start of Ramadan on April 2nd
• Easter on April 17th
• Passover from April 15th-23rd

Special occasions are just one nice excuse to promote your Shop. You can usually postpone the start of your discount promotions within a time window of 60 days – i.e. 30 days before or after the official promotion date, so schedule them as you see fit.

Scheduled discount promotions in March & April*

• March 4^th – 9th: 15% off everything
• March 17^th – 22nd: Free shipping
• March 30th – April 4th: 20% off everything
• April 9th – 12th*: 15% off everything
• April 21st – 26th*: 20 % off everything

*to be confirmed.
Notice anything? We’ve extended the promotion period to up to six days! Of course, you can still shorten or postpone your discount promotions as you like. So get planning and promote your Shop with some special deals!

The post Spring discount promotions in March & April 2022 appeared first on The Spreadshop Blog.

Product Info

• Brand: Fare
• Manufactured in China
• Collapsible Umbrella
• 100% polyester (covering)
• Metal and plastic (handle)
• Length, folded: 24cm
• Colors: Black

Print and price Info

• Print area front and back (width x height): 22.1 cm x 16.8 cm
• Print types: DTF and Flex print -> pixel and vector files

Which of your designs would look good in the rain? Any questions about our newest product for your Shop assortment? Drop them in the comments!

The post New in: Umbrella (EU Only) appeared first on The Spreadshop Blog.

The Contrast Snapback Cap is available in bold black/neon orange, neutral black/grey and cool black/turquoise.

Which of your designs will you put on it and why?

Product information (ID 803)

• Brand: Beechfield
• Manufactured in China
• Size: Adjustable
• Material: 100% Cotton
• Straight contrasting brim
• Colors: black/neon orange; black/grey; black/teal

Print and price information

• Print area right/left (width x height): 6.5 cm x 2.5 cm
• Print Area front (width x height): 12.7 cm x 5 cm
• Print types: Flex/Flock and DTF (pixel and vector graphics possible link to help page)
• Pricing varies

Why is it actually called a Snapback Cap?

Snapback caps are size-adjustable at the back of the head thanks to their trademark snap. What distinguishes the snapback from its predecessor – the baseball cap – is the straight brim.

Snapback caps were first used in baseball, but in the 2000s they became a popular accessory in hip-hop culture.

All clear? If not, come to the Spreadshop forum and chat with us and your fellow Shop Owners all over the world!

The post New in: Contrast Snapback Cap (EU only) appeared first on The Spreadshop Blog.

Product Info (EU only)

• Brand: Schulze GmbH
• Manufactured in China
• Material: Ceramic
• Capacity: 500ml
• Dishwasher resistant (however, handwashing will help the print last even longer)
• Colors: White

Print and Price information

• Print Area Right/Left (width x height): 7.4 cm x 5.5 cm
• Print Area Front (width x height): 7 cm x 5.5 cm
• Print Types: Thermal sublimation

Have any questions about our newest addition? Fire away in the comments!

The post New: Ceramic Beer Mug (EU Only) appeared first on The Spreadshop Blog.

Fanny Pack (ID 1586)

• Brand: Liberty Bags
• Fabric Content: 100% denier polyester
• Imported product, printed & processed in the USA
• Top zippered pocket with front main zippered compartment
• Adjustable strap with 2″ buckle clip

Print & price details

• Print type: Flex Print, Flock Print
• Accepted file type: vector graphics
• Print area: 5,5″ x 2,4″
• Prices vary

Any questions? Let us know in the comments below!

The post New Fanny Pack (North America & Oceania) appeared first on The Spreadshop Blog.

You’re going to love this month’s product additions! Next to brand new colors for the Men’s Organic T-Shirt, we’ve also added some fresh hues for the bigger sizes of the Premium Hoodie for both women and men. Be sure to add them to your range!

New Colors

ID 1352 Men’s Organic T-Shirt

One of our favorite organic products is now also available in heather grey, charcoal grey, red & royal blue

ID 444 Women’s Premium Hoodie

This hoodie shouldn’t be missing in anyone’s product range. Size 3XL is now also available in black, navy, heather grey, and white

ID 20 Men’s Premium Hoodie

Of course, what’s true for women also holds true for men. This essential hooded sweatshirt is now also available in different colors for sizes 3XL-5XL: black, navy, heather grey, and white.

Color deactivation

ID 1544 Women’s Performance Racerback Tank

The manufacturer discontinues the color azalea, and we are currently looking to replace it with a similar color.

Product News – Europe

 We don’t have too many news this time around, but we’re excited to be able to offer new colors for one of our firm favorites: the mighty Premium Hoodie.

New colors

ID 20 Men’s Premium Hoodie

For sizes 3XL, 4XL, 5XL, the following colors have just been added: white, black & heather grey. Navy will follow soon.

ID 444 Women’s Premium Hoodie

For 3XL, we’ve just added white, black & heather grey as well. Navy will follow soon

The post Assortment Update February 2022 appeared first on The Spreadshop Blog.

Kids’ Apron (NA ID 1426) – NA only

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Product Info

• Brand: KNG
• 100% polyester | Fabric weight: 7.2 oz (heavyweight)
• Bar-tacked at all stress points
• Generous 30″ tie length (each side)
• Imported product, printed & processed in the USA
• Colors: Black and white

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Print Details

• Print area (width x height): 5.94″ x 7.86″ in (15 cm x 19 cm)
• Print type: DTF (direct to film), pixel and vector files (recommended 4000 x 4000 Pixels; PNG)

Prices

• Retail Price: $19.99 (CAD $21.99 and AUD $24.99)
• Design Commission: $2.50 (CAD $3.00 and AUD $3.50)

Questions about our new product? Ask us in the comments!

The post New in: Kids’ Apron for Tiny Master Chefs (NA only) appeared first on The Spreadshop Blog.