{"id":23745,"date":"2021-09-15T11:00:39","date_gmt":"2021-09-15T15:00:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.spreadshop.com\/blog\/?p=23745"},"modified":"2025-06-09T10:50:50","modified_gmt":"2025-06-09T14:50:50","slug":"making-money-with-your-own-merch","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.spreadshop.com\/blog\/2021\/09\/15\/making-money-with-your-own-merch\/","title":{"rendered":"Make Money With Your Own Merch"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"Making<\/picture><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Making money with your own merch is easy once you know how. Setting up your shop and taking a step back isn\u2019t enough – you need to be engaged with your community. There are all kinds of ways you can do this in both virtual and physical spaces.<\/p>\n

Cross promote your merch by creating engaging content across social platforms like Youtube, Twitch and Instagram. Make connections locally at events that showcase small businesses and sellers. Leverage your merch seasonally.<\/p>\n

That t-shirt isn\u2019t going to sell itself.<\/p>\n

Learn more about all the ways you can make money with your own merch!<\/p>\n

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Merch on Youtube<\/picture><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Merch on Youtube<\/h2>\n

Youtube is a great visual platform to find a new audience, and what\u2019s more visual than merch?<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re already a content creator, you\u2019re likely already doing this. But there\u2019s plenty of room for people who aren\u2019t full-time Youtubers. It\u2019s never a bad idea to expand your brand into new territories like Youtube.\u00a0<\/span>You\u2019ll put yourself in touch with similar users that are interested in your content – and therefore – your merch.<\/p>\n

The purpose of your channel shouldn\u2019t just be to sell merch, though. People are going to catch on to that real quick. You need to find a genuine way to connect with your viewers.<\/p>\n

Your merch is probably a reflection of at least one of your passions. It could be music, sports, games, whatever. And you can turn that passion into sharable content with a little brain power.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Make it Yours<\/h2>\n

Daniel Batal – a Spreadshop<\/span><\/a> brand ambassador – integrates the promotion of his merch into content that\u2019s useful for his audience.<\/p>\n

Since his focus is on helping other content creators, it makes sense he would talk about the benefits of merch. Using his shop<\/span> as an example increases the potential for his merch and channel to make money.<\/p>\n

You don\u2019t need to have the best equipment, either – get creative and work with what you\u2019ve got. If your whole thing is crafting, show people craft tutorials or react to crafting fails. Everybody loves a good reaction video. Plus, they\u2019re easy to film.<\/p>\n

Get your friends and family involved. Have them wearing different merch items to sneak in the advertising. Make sure you tell people all the places they can find you at the beginning or end of your videos.\u00a0<\/span>Always link your merch and other socials in the description and \u201cAbout Me\u201d section of your profile.<\/p>\n

You can even do dedicated merch giveaway videos to generate hype and increase your subscriber count.\u00a0<\/span>But don\u2019t give too much away for FREE.<\/p>\n

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Connect at Conventions<\/picture><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Connect at Conventions<\/h2>\n

It can be daunting to set up a table at a big convention. But it\u2019s a great opportunity to make money and promote your merch. You\u2019re going to meet all types of people you would have never connected with otherwise. Depending on what kind of convention it is, there might be an expected demographic.<\/p>\n

If the niche of your merch is already tied to the theme of the convention – that\u2019s great! If not, there\u2019s ways you can alter your merch that can be financially viable.<\/p>\n

Make small changes to your designs that reflect the theme.\u00a0<\/span>If it’s a springtime event, add flowers or bees. If it’s a comic book convention, tie in nerdy elements or pop culture references.<\/p>\n

Create heightened demand by creating an exclusive design. People love things they can connect an experience or memory to.<\/p>\n

Give your table a distinct setup that attendees can see across the room. Get a bulletin board or hanging rack to display your merch. Have business cards and smaller items on the table.<\/p>\n

Make sure shirts and other apparel are in plain view for everyone to see.<\/p>\n

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Go Live<\/picture><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Go Live<\/h2>\n

Going live on social media is a great way to instantly engage your followers. And it creates that FOMO feeling (fear of missing out).<\/p>\n

Make money with your merch by talking about new designs, or just wear one of your t-shirts. So many eyeballs will be on you. These platforms also allow you to define your niche. If you\u2019re a gamer<\/span><\/a>, Twitch should be your go-to social site for audience growth and merch interest.<\/p>\n

Going live will instantly connect you to your demographic. You might want to promote the livestream in streams beforehand, but otherwise – it\u2019s direct and free advertising. Having a strong relationship with your users is essential, no matter what your niche is. It will implore them to view your content when it pops up in their notifications.<\/p>\n

And if there is a bond between you and your fellow streamers, selling them merch should be seamless. It will be more than just a transaction.<\/p>\n

Plus, Instagram works well for a slew of demographics.<\/p>\n

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Find Your People<\/picture><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Find Your People<\/h2>\n

If you need help growing your audience, Instagram is a great way to find your people. There\u2019s no niche that\u2019s too specific.<\/p>\n

Search related hashtags<\/span><\/a> to find users that are interested in the kind of merch you provide.\u00a0<\/span>When used correctly, Instagram hashtags can be a valuable nugget to your shop\u2019s success. They connect you with interested parties and like-minded communities that share your passion<\/span><\/p>\n

Like and comment on related posts, but don\u2019t lead with the fact that you have merch. That\u2019s going to automatically turn people off. Get to know them before you start with your sales pitch.\u00a0<\/span>You\u2019ll create a community just by being yourself. That way when you do go live, you\u2019ll already have people that are invested in you.<\/p>\n

You will be creating connections and making money with your own merch.<\/p>\n

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Be Local<\/picture><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Be Local<\/h2>\n

Many people get it in their head that they need to go global to make money with their own merch. But grassroots business development is essential.<\/p>\n

Creating a local presence is a great networking experience for you as a business owner. You\u2019ll make connections with customers and fellow business owners that can open doors to new opportunities. This includes connecting your business with local events. Spreadshop<\/a><\/span> is one of the sponsors of a local event: The Greensburg Night Market. We first attended in June<\/span><\/a> and spread (get it) the word to people who didn\u2019t know about us beforehand.\u00a0<\/span>We may be an international company, but we realized that people locally weren\u2019t aware of us. Partnering with local business owners and getting their merch shops set up helps us network with all types of clients.<\/p>\n

Check out what events are happening in your area! There\u2019s probably so much that you aren\u2019t aware of because you\u2019re not tuned in to the community. Establishing that initial communication will help set you up for success.<\/p>\n

\n
Amplify Your Voice<\/picture><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Amplify Your Voice<\/h2>\n

Podcasts<\/a><\/span> are another great way to make money with your merch. More than half of US consumers over the age of 12 listen to podcasts, according to Oberlo<\/span><\/a>. People listen to them on their commute to work, from the comfort of home, practically anywhere. You can develop a close relationship with the people you listen to and vice versa. Since most podcasters come out with episodes on a weekly basis, that relationship is quick to develop.<\/p>\n

And it\u2019s not hard to talk about something you\u2019re passionate about. Think of a topic, and there\u2019s probably already a podcast for it (and potential merch). <\/span>Merch is an excellent way of generating revenue from your audience while building relationships with them on a deeper level.<\/p>\n

Podcasting in 2021 is all about increasing listener engagement by selling merchandise that is themed to your podcast. A podcast will solidify and strengthen your merch brand.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Your merch will take the connection you have with your audience beyond the airwaves.<\/p>\n

\n
Tis\u2019 the Season<\/picture><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Tis\u2019 the Season<\/h2>\n

Seasonal sales and offerings are a great way to drive traffic to your shop. People are always looking for themed gifts for their loved ones for the holidays. They feel more personal than gift cards.<\/p>\n

Take advantage<\/a><\/span> of holidays and optimal shopping times by running promos on your socials. Offer discount codes and create exclusive merch. People love an excuse to get festive, especially after last year. For some, it\u2019s spooky season. For others, it’s the \u201cmost wonderful time of the year.\u201d<\/p>\n

Create merch designs that are only available for a limited time. This will generate a demand and interest in your shop due to the exclusivity of the merch.<\/p>\n

If you don\u2019t want to make themed designs, market your existing merch to interested parties. Optimize your images with hashtags and captions that engage the audience you\u2019re trying to engage. You should be directly addressing them.\u00a0<\/span>If you have some extra cash, it might be a good idea to run targeted ads on Instagram<\/span><\/a> and other platforms. You won\u2019t have to do as much hunting to find your niche this way.<\/p>\n

Develop a content strategy ahead of time so you\u2019re not posting at random times, either. Think about when the holiday is and when your audience is most likely to be on their phone. You won\u2019t feel stressed out and your content will perform better, too.<\/p>\n

We hope these tips provide a glimpse on all the ways you can make money marketing your merch. Build your community, get creative, and use your own voice.<\/p>\n

Launch your Spreadshop<\/span><\/a> today!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Making money with your own merch is easy once you know how, but you need to put in the work, keep them engaged, and find what works for you. Here are some tips! Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":587,"featured_media":23746,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"publish_to_discourse":"0","publish_post_category":"21","wpdc_auto_publish_overridden":"","wpdc_topic_tags":"","wpdc_pin_topic":"","wpdc_pin_until":"","discourse_post_id":"","discourse_permalink":"","wpdc_publishing_response":"","wpdc_publishing_error":"","_cloudinary_featured_overwrite":false},"categories":[18604,45872],"tags":[49242,49212],"yoast_head":"\nMake Money With Your Own Merch - The Spreadshop Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"There are many ways to make money with merch, but you need to put in the work and keep your community engaged. 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