As you’ve already learned, it’s incredibly easy to connect your product feed directly to your Facebook business page. Now, you’ll learn how to tag a single image and post with product(s) from your Shop, providing customers with a quick and easy way to make a purchase. Then, all these consumers have to do is click on your ad, and they’ll be guided directly to your Shop. It’s really as easy as that!

Check out the video below. Once you’ve mastered the concept, try it out for yourself!

Why Facebook Ads Are Essential for Merch Sales

If you’re selling merch, Facebook ads aren’t just helpful — they’re critical. With powerful targeting tools, Facebook lets you reach the exact audience most likely to buy your products based on interests, behaviors, location, and more. It’s like putting your merch in front of the right people at the right time.

Unlike organic posts, which can easily get buried, Facebook ads guarantee visibility. You can showcase your best designs, promote limited-time offers, and even retarget people who visited your shop but didn’t purchase. This keeps your merch top of mind and drives higher conversion rates.

Even with a small budget, Facebook ads offer incredible ROI. You control how much you spend, test different creative approaches, and refine your campaigns based on real-time data — all helping you scale your merch business faster and smarter.

If you want to consistently grow your merch sales, Facebook ads should be a key part of your marketing toolkit.

Have you connected your product feed to a Facebook business page? Did you create an ad? What did you think? Let us know in the comments!

The post Create a Free Facebook Ad for Your Merch appeared first on The Spreadshop Blog.

Why Should You Run a Promo Campaign?

Running a promotional campaign will require plenty of work, but it will ultimately prove to be worthwhile. They’re proven to be incredibly effective, and they’ll provide you with a great opportunity to boost your sales. Now more than ever, customers tend to search around for discounts and promotions. If you’re offering some kind of deal, it’s more likely they’ll make a purchase. Promotions will also help to boost traffic and guide new customers to your Shop.

Example Promo Content for Social Media, made with Canva.

Types of Promos

Outside of regular activities, Spreadshirt tends to run two Shop promotions per month. This means you’ll have 24 additional opportunities to entice customers and increase sales. These promotions range from two-day flash sales to week-long promotions, with the average length being five days.

We generally run three types of promotions:

• Promotions on entire product range
• Product promotions
• Free Shipping

Example Promo Content for Social Media, made with Canva.

How to Run a Promotion

The first step of running a successful promotion is staying organized. You can stay up to date on all the upcoming deals via your partner area or SpreadStats application.

Next, you’ll want to begin planning your strategy. Your game plan will be based on the length of the promotion, as you wouldn’t have the same plan for a two-day sale as you would for a five-day sale. You’ll also want to determine

• Goals: what are you hoping to get out of the promo? Increased sales? More orders? New customers? Rely on the SMART principle to set your goals.
• Theme/Narrative: entice customers by revolving your promotion around a certain theme. Perhaps there’s a holiday coming up, or maybe you want to appeal to a certain type of buyer.
• Channels: Where are you going to be advertising your promotion? Social media channels like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and Snapchat tend to work best, and you’ll want to prepare your posts ahead of time.

Example Promo Content for Social Media, made with Canva.

As a rule of thumb, we don’t suggest announcing the promotion prior to the start date. It confuses the customers, and it tends to decrease the element of “urgency.”

Speaking of contests and posts, it can be difficult determining how often should you be touting your promotion. We generally stick to the following timeline:

• Facebook & Instagram: Once or twice per day
• Twitter: Four or five times per day

It’s incredibly important that you DO. NOT. SPAM (we really want to drive home this point). Customers will tune you out, and you won’t see the usual benefits that accompany a promotion.

Example Promo Content for Social Media, made with Canva.

Finally, if you need help coming up with promotional materials, you can rely on a number of useful websites:

• Spreadshirt Flickr (product & model photos)
• Canva (social channel templates)
• Pixabay (royalty-free images)

What do you think of the five-day promotional plan? Have you had success with any specific strategies? Let us know in the comments below.

The post The Ultimate Five-Day Promotional Plan appeared first on The Spreadshop Blog.

Placeit is now offering unlimited access to all of their T-shirt and video mockups, T-shirt designs, poster designs, logo designs, iPhone mockups, and website mockups for $11.96/month through an exclusive Spreadshop discount. By opting for any of Placeit’s designs, you’ll have a unique opportunity to start monetizing your ideas. If you struggle with the marketing side of the business, the available mockups can provide your brand with a specific visual identity.

What are the Benefits?

There are a number of incentives that accompany Placeit’s designs and mockups:

• T-shirt, iPhone Mockups: showcase your designs on models and products. Instead of spending extra money to hire a photographer, simply rely on any of Placeit’s available mockups.
• Logo Designs: separate your brand from the crowd and opt for one of Placeit’s unique logo designs. Instead of dealing with a boring, uninspiring logo, consider snagging one of Placeit’s clever creations.
• Video Mockups: video is the future, especially when it comes to promoting on social media. Instead of spending a pretty penny hiring a film crew, you can simply opt for one of Placeit’s already-made video mockups. These videos can easily be posted to Instagram, Facebook, or YouTube, and you can choose from stunning intros, creative animated text transitions, and a whole lot more!

How do you sign up?

Simply register here and click the ‘Unlimited Subscriptions Button’ on the top left corner of the screen. Your discount will then be automatically applied, allowing you to enjoy all of Placeit’s benefits and offerings.

Intrigued? Then check out the website for yourself, and opt for the unlimited service as soon as possible!

The post Access to Designs, Mockups with Placeit appeared first on The Spreadshop Blog.

With Spreadshop’s product feed, you can add links to your Instagram products and include a “Shop” tab to your profile. This will inspire potential shoppers, guide them to your Shop, and boost your sales.

How Do You Link Shop Products?

First, we recommend taking a bit of a refresher course by watching this video. You should then follow these steps:

• Add your Instagram account to your Facebook Business Page.

• Upload, caption, and publish a picture to Instagram. We recommend using our Flickr account for high-quality product pictures.

• To tag a post with products, click on the top right corner of the picture. Select “Edit.” On the bottom left of the screen is the “Tag” icon. After selecting “Tag Products,” choose the exact position of the tag on the picture (Instagram allows you to tag up to five products in one photo).

• Thanks to your Facebook product feed and the linked Instagram account, you’ll see all your available products (in all available colors). You can utilize the search function to find a specific product. Select your desired product and click “Done” – your picture is officially tagged.

• Now, when customers see your post, there will be an icon on the bottom left that indicates that they can shop for the product in the image. If the customer clicks the “Tap to View Products” button, they’ll have the ability to make a purchase.

• Tag at least nine products to have the Shop tab automatically appear on your Instagram page. When a customer clicks this tab, they’ll be able to see all your tagged products in one place.

It’s that easy. Before long, your Instagram page will be another platform where you can push sales.

What do you think of this feature? Try it out for yourself, and let us know what you think in the comments section.

The post Using Instagram to Boost Sales appeared first on The Spreadshop Blog.

In the period from July 24th through to 4th of September 2018, US American customers of American Spreadshops will get free shipping when placing orders of $39.99 or more (applies to standard shipping). We will look closely at how the offer is appreciated to see whether free shipping encourages customers to either check out with more products or buy pricier items.

As a Shop Owner, you can of course promote the free shipping offer to your customers during the trial period. We hope you understand that we need to reserve the right to terminate the test at any time before the end of the scheduled run. In this case, we’ll of course let you know you in time. Watch this space to find out about the results of the test!

The post Free Shipping Test in the United States appeared first on The Spreadshop Blog.

Why use Spreadshop’s resource page?  

Because we’ve been a part of the merchandising industry for over 15 years, we know what works and what doesn’t. We know the struggles that arise and know how to overcome them. That’s why we’ve created a library of helpful resources just for you! It’s a place where you, the creator, can join communities, grow your following and bring your ideas to life. Whether you’re new to Spreadshop or a long-time veteran, there isn’t a resource that won’t support your goals. Each and every tool can help grow your brand the way YOU want.

You are not alone

We’ve been with you every step of the way, even before you signed up for a shop. We offer online communities where you can connect with other shop owners and like-minded people. We offer promotional tools and assistance to best market your shop. We even offer one-on-one design help when you work with our premium design service! No matter what you need for a successful Spreadshop, we have it!

Premium design service

Think of Spreadshop’s premium design service as an idea factory. You generate the idea and our graphics team will generate the design. Voilà, you have a merchandise masterpiece!

Plugins

If you already have a website, and have a Spreadshop, no problem! We have a variety of plugins that can easily integrate your Spreadshop into your website. Now, your brand can be all in one place.

Merch Packs

If you want to take your Spreadshop off the web and sell some merch face-to-face, check out Spreadshop’s merch packs! Buy bundles of your favorite products and sell them to your fans in person!

Mockup Generator

A picture is worth a thousand words. That’s why we’ve teamed up with Placeit, so your promotional photos are professional photos. Placeit’s mockup generator will help you promote like a pro!

Spreadshop Communities

Whether you’re a Spreadshop newbie or expert, there will always be something exciting to learn through our Spreadshop communities. For content you can’t find anywhere else, jump in and join the fun.

You can never have too many tools, which is why we’re always listening to your feedback and scoping out new tools to include on our resources page!

Which resources have worked best for promoting your Spreadshop? Let us know in the comments below!

The post Spreadshop Resources appeared first on The Spreadshop Blog.

Facebook groups don’t receive the recognition they deserve. Joining a relevant Facebook community can open new doors for your brand.  The more active you are in a group, the more opportunities will follow.

Design Inspiration

The design inspiration group within our Facebook community is a friendly place for anybody with an interest in merch design. Here, you can get feedback on your latest work, learn Photoshop hacks and stay on top of design trends.

Influencer Collaboration

Influencer marketing is booming right now. It’s one of the strongest ways to grow your brand and gain a genuine, relevant following. We’ve created an influencer collaboration group, so you can do just that. It’s a community where you can network with other shop owners and promote each other’s products in an innovative way! Jumping into the world of influencer marketing takes time, so this is a great place to start!

Shop Marketing Solutions

The world of digital marketing is constantly changing. By joining our shop marketing solutions group, you’ll stay on top of trends and shop marketing hacks that you can’t find anywhere else. Chat with other shop owners and find out what drives their sales. There’s no such thing as too much marketing for your Spreadshop.

It’s easy to get stuck in your ways as an entrepreneur. When you find something that works, it’s typical to just continue your routine. However, it’s vital to create opportunities for yourself and to think outside of the box. Joining our Facebook community can inspire and challenge you. Jump in, share, and don’t hold back!

If there is a Facebook group that you would find helpful to Spreadshop’s Facebook community, let us know in the comments below!  

The post Join our Facebook Communities appeared first on The Spreadshop Blog.

Now, content gives you full bragging rights. Talk your brand up, reveal your values, your industry knowledge, even your plans for the future. Prove that you’re the best and why you should be their go-to brand. Consumers have become deaf to advertising, so the world of content marketing is where you need to exist.

The following platforms are a good place to start as far as content marketing goes. Give them a try and see how they can improve your eCommerce content strategy.

Medium

Many well-known brands and influencers use Medium as the backbone to their content marketing strategy. The platform takes informational and educational content and gives users an opportunity to add their own personality and meaning. Medium isn’t about sharing facts, it’s about sharing your voice and ideas. If you want your thoughts to be heard, then Medium is the place for you.

Tumblr

While Tumblr has been under the radar for the past couple years, it’s officially made a groundbreaking comeback. To make it simple, Tumbler is blogging made easy. The platform allows users to post anything imaginable. Stories, photos, facts, GIF’s, links, literally anything. You’ll never run out of interesting things to share! Now that Tumblr’s acquiring users at a record-setting pace, don’t pass up the content opportunities that it has to offer.

Pinterest

There’s a good chance you’re already familiar with the power of Pinterest. However, you may not realize that Pinterest isn’t a social media platform. It’s a search engine, just like Google and just like YouTube. Pinterest takes the functionality and engagement of social media and implements it into a search engine environment, filled with SEO opportunities. By producing content on Pinterest, you’re inspiring and educating your audience while driving traffic to your website. Pinterest offers a lot of possibilities for your brand, so be sure to use the platform to its full potential.

Flipboard

If you haven’t already explored the idea of implementing Flipboard into your eCommerce content strategy, then now is the perfect time. While Flipboard is similar to a social network, it’s more of a magazine staring your brand and other relevant content. You can feature new content created by you or “flip” articles into your magazine! Invite people to read your content, invite people to contribute content, whatever you want to produce, Flipboard has the tools to make it happen.

Reddit

Reddit is a creative social platform allowing users to hold discussions and connect with others on certain topics. Now, Reddit is unique in a way where it creates smaller groups within the platform to bring people with similar interests together. By utilizing Reddit for your brand, you’ll be able to broaden the reach of your content and support a community of people that love your brand as well.

Quora

Quora is a user-friendly question-and-answer platform, used by millions of professionals in various markets. From a content perspective, Quora is vital for building brand awareness. There’s thousands of consumers asking for help, recommendations and suggestions from the public. This is a place where your brand can become a solution. Share your industry knowledge and build a presence until you become the go-to, reliable source for relevant information.

The list doesn’t end here. There are many wonderful content marketing platforms that will do amazing things for your business. Try out a couple, see which feel right and hammer away at content marketing plan.

The post Content Marketing for eCommerce Stores appeared first on The Spreadshop Blog.

Google Trends has the ability to reveal real-time analytics and activity associated with different search-terms. Researching a single word or phrase will expose interest over time, interest by region and so on. You can compare search terms side-by-side, so you know how to best optimize your content.

Here are some tips, tried and true, to help you make the most out of Google Trends:

Choosing a Design Name

If you’re having trouble coming up with a name for a design in your t-shirt shop, Google Trends can help optimize the title in more than one way. By observing which search terms have high traffic volumes, Google pretty much can choose the most effective design name for you. Once you know which terms to include, then it will be easier to build your design name around it.

Spark New Design Ideas

When you’re having a case of designer’s block, take a look at which search terms are hot so you have an understanding of what people are talking about. Dissect the interface of Google Trends to understand what your ideal customer is looking for. Think about your buyer personas and what designs would speak to them. Once you gain that awareness, your designs will be selling like hotcakes.

Content Marketing Inspiration

Google Trends is a valuable tool from a content marketing standpoint. It has the insight and analytics to help inspire creative ideas. The platform’s dashboard includes a list of related articles associated with your search topic to stimulate those creative juices of yours. Whether you’re bone dry of blog or video topics, Google Trends can help get your mindset where it needs to be.

Track Your Competitors

Competition. It will always be present in the world of business. Therefore, it’s important to understand your competitors and how you stand alongside them. Google Trends will display anything from peaks to the plummets of popularity. Stay on top of your standing so your business stays at the top!

Track Interest Over Time

Google Trends offers a feature where you can track search-terms over time. By utilizing this feature, you’ll be able to determine which trends are just a fad and which trends are here to stay. This can also give you a little insight as to how your business is doing over a certain time period. Make note of the highs and lows and consider what tactics resulted in those peaks.

Overall, marketing your brand really comes down to what your put into it. Google Trends is just a powerful tool to guide your journey to success.

The post How to: Google Trends for Market Research appeared first on The Spreadshop Blog.

Why Create Buyer Personas?

Creating buyer personas was once a marketing tactic that mostly large, developed companies used. However, now that it’s incredibly easy to open your own online shop, it’s become more and more common for smaller business to create buyer personas to properly claim their position in the market.

Targeting a large group of consumers may sound like a good idea, when in reality, you’re just aimlessly targeting an indefinite group of people. By creating detailed buyer personas, targeting your ideal customer will be simplified, hassle-free and most of all, effective. You’ll be able to use your time more efficiently and can provide a strong, authentic value to the right consumers.

How to Create Buyer Personas?

Let’s say there’s 1 million people shopping online for t-shirts at this very minute. Now, within that million, there will be impulsive shoppers, discount shoppers, parents shopping for kids, even kids shopping for parents. It’s impossible to target such a broad range of people. It’s imperative to consider all parameters when developing your buyer personas, so your voice, message and content meets their needs. Contemplate what kind of shoppers will be entering your shop and identify their spending habits. Most buyer personas include the following characteristics.

• General location
• Age
• Gender
• Education Level
• Income
• Social media platforms
• Interests
• Frequently visited websites
• Lingo
• Interests and hobbies
• Relationship statuses
• Purchase habits
• Needs
• Concerns

Brand Persona Examples

So, your t-shirt shop is up and running. Now, you’re looking to create detailed buyer personas, so you can produce content that speaks to your target audience. Here we’ve drawn up some examples to help inspire your ideal customer.

Last Minute Shopper

Name:                                 Sam
Age:                                    27 years old
Gender:                              Male
Location:                            San Francisco, CA
Education:                          Bachelor’s degree
Occupation:                        Sales Manager
Interests:                            Sports, outdoors, fitness and health
Behavior:                            Buys online last minute before holidays, usually shops online
Needs:                                A quick and easy gift for family or friends, fast delivery
Concerns:                           Receiving products on time, products in stock
Common Device:                Mobile

Strategy:                             Social media post on “last minute holiday gifts”

The Bargain Hunter

Name:                                  Jessica
Age:                                     35 years old
Gender:                                Female
Location:                              Ft Lauderdale, FL
Education:                            Master’s Degree
Occupation:                          Finance

Interests:                              Budgeting, shopping, dining
Behavior:                             Rarely buys full price items, searches products by price
Needs:                                 Discounts, deals, quality
Concerns:                            Not spending too much
Common Device:                 Computer

Strategy:                              Promote monthly shop discounts and free shipping when applicable

It’s not effective to target everyone when you’re promoting products in your shop. Know who your audience is and understand their needs, so your shop becomes their solution.

The post Detailed Buyer Personas for Your Merch appeared first on The Spreadshop Blog.