Website monetization is a critical activity that business owners pay attention to because it directly impacts their bottom line. A plethora of conventional methods exists that you can adapt to make your site more productive. Still, because the plans are frequently overused and too familiar, you may not achieve the level of success you are hoping for. Print-on-demand is one of the less-obvious methods to capitalize on in today’s world (POD).
It would help offer on-demand printing to provide your audience with customized items like shirts, cups, mats, and home items to gain customers and sales. It is a subtle but effective method of attracting visitors within your niche to your business website.
However, for this method of product sourcing to be successful, it must be backed by effective marketing strategies and built on a high-performing eCommerce platform that can handle the demands of the business.
What is Print-on-Demand, and how does it work?
I can design and sell shirts, cups, purses, and other items with print-on-demand without maintaining a large merchandise inventory. Once the product is over, I outsource the rest of the process to an e-commerce manufacturer. That company then takes care of printing, packaging, and shipping the order to the customer on my behalf.
Consider the following scenario: I pay $9 for a shirt with my custom design printed on it. The same shirt is available for purchase for $25 on my online shopfront. A customer places the order for this shirt and then forwarded it to my printing comrade, who prints the shirt and ships it to the client in question. Because I sold it for $25 and only paid $9 to the supplier, I made a profit of $16 that I kept for myself.
In addition, you do not need to be talented in graphic design or art to make money from this side hustle. Even though I am terrible at drawing, I am excellent at working with text, photographs, simple graphics, and witty slogans. Those are also items that are in high demand.
You can create designs that sell for free in PowerPoint, Canva, or right in the print-on-demand service itself!
How to Began with a Print-on-Demand Company
The previous section provided us an overview of print-on-demand and the kinds of goods made using it. However, getting down to the nitty-gritty of starting this type of business is not as simple as it appears; we must put significant effort forth. The parts that follow will lead you through the process of starting a print-on-demand business the right way.
STEP 1: SELECT YOUR NICHE AND PRODUCTS
Before you do anything, you must first identify a market niche in which you have the most excellent chance of success. Only go with what you love, and if you don’t have an idea what you want to do, make a list of everything you enjoy. Sports such as equestrian sports, comic books, ecotourism, football, and healthy living are just a few examples of possible topics.
Your niche must be specific enough to target a few core customers while also being broad enough to appeal to many people.
Once you’ve chosen a niche, it’s time to visit search engines and social media platforms to see if your ideas should approve. Google Trends and social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, and Reddit can help you understand what people are saying about your niche.
If there is the minimal conversation in a particular niche-based community, it is unlikely to build a print-on-demand business around it; instead, you need an active community with many discussion threads to succeed. It is important to follow or keep an eye on these threads if possible because the people who cooperate with them are likely to become your customers in the future.
Following the selection of a niche, it is necessary to research print-on-demand product ideas within that niche. Cups, shirts, placards, phone cases, jackets, labels, caps, and cushions are just a few of the popular print-on-demand product ideas available. Even though there are many options, stick to your market’s requirements and ensure that your designs will be printed products appropriate for your niche. In search of more product ideas, check out our article on the Top 10 Best Dropshipping Products You Can Sell With Printful for more inspiration.
Take a final look at Amazon, eBay, or any other popular marketplaces to determine whether or not the product you’re thinking of creating for print-on-demand is already available for purchase on the market. Never be concerned if someone else is already selling it; this could indicate a profitable product to sell!
STEP TWO: COMPLETE YOUR DESIGNS AND MAKE YOUR WEBSITE AVAILABLE
Once you have an outcome idea and a market niche in mind, it is time to get down to business. You will likely benefit those not skilled designers because print-on-demand relies heavily on making ideas that should print onto products. To make your products, you’ll need to create your designs or modify copyright-free design assets, such as those found on Creative Market. Always remember not to copy and paste someone else’s work; doing so is both unprofessional and against the law.
Suppose you don’t have the time or the necessary expertise to create your product designs. In that case, you can purchase attractive designs at a reasonable price from sites such as Upwork, Fiverr, Design Pickle, and many other similar sites and services.
Following the selection of your product designs, it is time to put your website up and running for customers to view. If you want to do it right, it may take a couple of days, but it is critical to the long-term success of your print-on-demand business.
First and foremost, you must choose a platform on which to host your website. Shopify, BigCommerce, and WooCommerce/WordPress are the three most popular eCommerce platforms in use today. These platforms provide you with store themes that are simple to customize, allowing you to get your print-on-demand business up and running as soon as possible. Before you can accept your first order, you’ll need to set up all necessary business pages, such as a homepage, shipping details page, contact page, and payment details page. Please don’t underrate the amount of period it will take to launch your website from the ground up.
STEP THREE: SELECT YOUR PRINT SERVICE PROVIDER AND ADD PRODUCTS TO YOUR ONLINE STORE
For your print-on-demand products to come to life, you’ll need to collaborate with a print-on-demand supplier who can help you carry your concepts to life. There are plugins available from many print-on-demand suppliers that incorporate immediately with most large eCommerce platforms to connect your store straight to your supplier, making order handling more manageable and creating a seamless customer journey.
Inkthreadable is one of the significant print-on-demand suppliers that integrates directly with most major eCommerce platforms, particularly Shopify.
STEP FOUR: PROMOTE YOUR SHOP.
Unless a company is actively promoting, it will remain undiscovered. Even though print-on-demand is a legitimate business model, your store will be nothing more than another website in a vast online ecosystem unless you create a way for your customers to learn about your store. To generate sales for your print-on-demand business, you must first raise awareness of it. Here are some examples of marketing techniques on which you can rely:
Create several major social media accounts: Social media platforms have emerged as the most effective places to hunt for leads, and the best part is that you can use them entirely for free. Start by creating a Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or YouTube account, and then use those accounts to spread the word about your company. To avoid spreading your efforts too thin by managing too many bills, choose the most relevant phase to your business model or one with which you are most familiar and focus on that platform exclusively.
Some tips to support you use social media more effectively are as follows:
- Join groups and frequently post to maintain your position at the top of the food.
- Create an appropriate hashtag for your store and encourage your customers to use it when posting images of your products on social media sites like Instagram.
- Observe and adhere to the 80/20 rule. In this case, 80 percent of your content should be entertaining and informative, while the remaining 20 percent can be sales-oriented.
- Identify and contact influencers to assist you in spreading the word about your company. It’s important to note that most of them can only endorse a product that fits their niche and values. In the article How to Work With Influencers to Boost Your Outputs, we went into greater detail about collaborating with influencers.
- Make use of paid social media to increase your sales numbers: With everyone using social media, you need to take a step forward and create compelling ads and campaigns to stand out from the crowd.
SEO (Search Engine Optimization) can help you optimize your website:
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) will continue to be a powerful tool for bringing your label to the top of search tool results pages. SEO is primarily concerned with creating high-quality content and optimizing pages for high-ranking keywords. You must first identify the relevant keywords many people are searching for and then use those keywords to create high-quality content.
There is a kind of SEO methods that you can use to promote your company’s website. You can learn how to optimize your website for traffic and sales by taking advantage of the countless guides available online.
Customer Reviews and Comments Can Use as Testimonials:
When it appears that your sole goal is to promote your company, people are less likely to pay attention to you and your message. On the other hand, reviews from independent customers can be a powerful and credible tool for marketing your brand and increasing sales volume. Maintain prominent visibility on your website’s homepage so that website visitors can easily see them. Make it clear that the reviews and testaments are from real customers who have purchased your products.
Create Blog Posts of Superior Quality:
Most eCommerce platforms’ significant effort on content marketing to spread the word about their goods and benefits. Create roundup posts, surveys, and other content to be published regularly on the blog of your print-on-demand website. Don’t forget to share the newly published content on your social media platforms to engage your viewers and propel more deals to your website. By providing value to your audience, you will establish a positive rapport with them. As they learn from and occupy with your content, you will earn their trust, raising the chances of buying from you in the future.
STEP 5: EVALUATE AND MAKE IMPROVEMENTS TO THE PERFORMANCE
After your company has been up and running, you determine what is working and what is not. In this period, you may force to redesign your store, adjust prices, change collection pages, or even introduce new products to your inventory. Take the initiative to develop a one-of-a-kind working product that will establish your company as a leading player in your industry.
There are several advantages to using Print on Demand over traditional e-Commerce.
Following your introduction to print-on-demand and your instruction on how to start a print-on-demand work, let’s accept a quick view of why this working example outperforms more traditional eCommerce business models.
- Simple Setup: You don’t have to hire a team of web designers to get your print-on-demand business up and running. You can do it yourself. There are many plugins, templates, themes, and guides available to assist you in launching your online store.
- The low initial investment is required to start a traditional business because you must have sufficient funds to purchase inventory and get your store up and running. With the print-on-demand business model, even a tiny investment of $100 will get you started.
- A significant reduction in inventory management gives your supplier, who handles virtually everything from order printing through packaging and shipping, reducing your need to manage any inventory. Can spend a significant portion of your remaining time concentrating on increasing your sales.
- Allowing for Customization: One of the essential advantages of print-on-demand is that it provides you with the opportunity to create and sell original designs.
- Scale and test without taking any risks: Because you are not directly involved in printing or production, there is no need for you to make a significant financial investment on your end. In addition, you can quickly scale, test, and modify your designs as and when you need to without incurring any significant financial risk in the process.
Print-on-Demand Sites: The 8 Best Places to Make Money With It
Have you ever had a great shirt idea and thought to yourself, “Hey, I could make money off that?”
You can do so now.
Designing online, setting up a shop, or getting a link to share on social media allows you to trade your goods without ever having to store inventory or ship anything. Print-on-demand can help you bring your art to life, whether you want to create simple text shirts or put your beautiful hand-drawn designs on water bottles or cups.
What’s the most significant portion? Once you have your store up and working, it is essentially passive income. If people discover and appreciate your designs, you may be able to generate and deliver sales while you sleep. There’s no muss, no fuss.
Pure for moms who are continuously on the go.
Many services provide print-on-demand, but the quality, cost, and ease of use vary widely. As a result, we’ve compiled a list of the best side hustle ideas to help you began.
8 Print-on-Demand Websites to Promote and Sell Your Designs
These are the best Print-on-Demand sites to use if you have an eye for eye-catching designs and want to be able to work from the comfort of your own home.
Printful
Printful is the service that Smart Money Mamas uses to print shirts and other promotional materials. The method of the situation up a store with Printful is straightforward. The company provides excellent video tutorials and a helpful resources page to assist you in getting started.
In addition, as previously mentioned, you have the option of setting up your store on Printful, selling through your Shopify store, or selling on Etsy, among other possibilities.
When you connect Printful to Shopify or Etsy, you can delegate the printing and shipping to Printful, allowing more time to create. Additionally, you can include a short message on your packing slips to your customers, as well as a custom sticker with your logo on all of your packages to give them a more personalized feel.
Shopify
Want complete control over the design of a website, the ability to own a domain, and the ability to put the front and center of your plan? Shopify is without a doubt the best option available on the market.
Shopify is not a free service; pricing begins at $29 per month. However, you can take advantage of a 30-day free trial to see all of the different ways you can personalize your offerings. Sell in various locations, including your Shopify website, mobile applications, and social media (a simple, free plugin allows you to tag your products in Instagram posts!) With their excellent educational resources, you can learn everything you need to know about growing your online store. In addition, you’ll get advanced order analytics, the ability to offer discount coupons, and top-notch customer service, among other things.
Connect directly with print-on-demand services such as Printful to transform your Shopify store into a printing behemoth. But keep in mind that Shopify is capable of much more than just print-on-demand! If you want to sell digital printables (such as meal planners or workbooks), sell handmade products, or sell anything, Shopify is the platform for you.
Redbubble
Redbubble is yet another print-on-demand service that it uses. You can sell to more countries, including Australia and Europe because it has a significant online presence and designs offer in their central marketplace – which means more traffic to your plans. You can also sell to more countries, including Australia and Europe, rather than just the United States.
Someone once said that if you can’t sell successfully on Redbubble, you’re doing something wrong. I believe this to be true.
Using high-quality designs and providing accurate listing information will help your designs appear in Redbubble search, resulting in more customers for your business.
Spreadshirt
Spreadshirt makes it simple to start a Print on Demand shop, making it an excellent choice for beginners. Their platform is simple to use, and it provides you with the opportunity to make a profit quickly. The disadvantage is that you will have fewer product options – with shirts limited to a few Spreadshirt brands rather than being able to choose between manufacturers on services such as Printful – than you would otherwise have.
Set up shop in the marketplace if you want to get up and running as quickly as possible. When you sell on the market, your designs are available for purchase by anyone on Spreadshirt, and you receive a commission on each sale.
If you want more control over your products and designs, you should consider starting your Spreadshop. As a result, your plans are only available for purchase on your website, and you earn a consistent profit on each sale. Both options have advantages and disadvantages, but it’s usually best to start on a marketplace and then transition to a Spreadshop once your designs become popular enough.
Teepublic
Teepublic is a fantastic option if you’re an independent designer who specializes in humorous and one-of-a-kind artwork. Teepublic allows you to design various products, including cups, shirts, posters, workbooks, and more.
Once you’ve uploaded your design to your online store, you can sit back and let Teepublic take care of the remainder. When customers purchase your plans, you won’t have to worry about shipping or printing because Teepublic will take care of everything. They also ensure that their products are of high quality and that they provide exceptional customer service.
Zazzle
Zazzle is undoubtedly one of the most well-known print-on-demand services available on the internet today. Make purchases, upload your designs, set your royalty rates, and earn referral commissions on each one. There are no listing, monthly, or annual fees to worry about, and payment is simple. Your profit decide by the royalty rate you choose.
When you sign up for Zazzle, you will not grant your shopfront; instead, your designs will list within the leading site. However, you can still promote your plans on social media and your network to increase sales.
Zazzle is well-known for offering high-quality products in a diverse range of categories. Shirts, boots, stockings, pouches, invitations, cups, office supplies, aprons, and many other items are available for customization.
CafePress
One of the oldest websites still in operation, CafePress offers one of the most comprehensive selections of products to display your designs. Shirts, cardigans, cups, and placards, to name a few items, are available for printing through them. On the other hand, customers can choose to have their creations printed on bags, calendars, and even clocks if they so desire.
One of the most exciting features of CafePress is the Fan Portal, which allows you to create designs based on your favorite movies, television shows, and other entertainment media. For the use of these characters, CafePress has reached an agreement with the appropriate copyright owners, so you won’t have to concern about running afoul of the law. However, there are specific guidelines for each property, so make sure you thoroughly read them before proceeding.
Society6
You want to be a designer of art and clothing, gifts, and furniture. Society6 is the solution to this problem. Customers can also place art copies, wall hangings, yoga mats, curtains, and other items.
When you sell your artwork on Society6, you retain ownership of the painting and its rights. You set the prices and choose which products you are comfortable making from your designs based on your specifications. Society6 admires and respects artists for their dedication and hard work.
Setting up your digital shopfront is simple, thanks to the built-in online store. The company provides easy-to-follow guidelines to ensure that your products print in the highest possible resolution, and they handle all aspects of customer service on your behalf.
Which Print-on-Demand Site is the Best Fit for Your Needs?
It is likely to make funds online by selling print-on-demand products. You won’t have to worry about investing in inventory, managing shipping, or ensuring that you have the correct size in stock. However, to achieve success, you must first establish clear objectives, determine how much control you want over your brand, and be prepared to promote your product if you’re going to make more than a few sales.
If you want complete control over your print-on-demand business, Shopify is by far and away from the best option available. It requires a small monthly fee, but it allows you to create a beautiful store with a branded URL that you can promote on the internet and in person. In addition, the learning portal and customer service are both excellent.
Instead, if you want to list a few products for friends to order and hope to make a sale now and then from someone who stumbles upon your designs through search, Redbubble, TeeSpring, and Zazzle are likely your best bets.
Whatever you decide, remember that the next time you have an idea for a witty shirt design, you can put it out into the world and have it generate income for you – for free!
Have you ever thought about beginning a print-on-demand work of your own? What are some of your favorite things to design and make? Please share your thoughts in the comments!
Conclusion
Traditional eCommerce business models typically necessitate a significant financial investment as well as a significant amount of time to get up and running. Aside from that, you’ll frequently task with inventory management, product packaging, shipping, and a variety of other complex tasks. Print-on-demand is an excellent option for those who want less responsibility and less risk while still having the potential for success.
