9 Things to Know Before You Start a Print on Demand Business

A print on demand business is a popular choice for various reasons. There is no need to stock inventory, worry about finding the right supplier, manufacturing to set up, or figure out the logistics of shipping and delivery. A print on demand business also requires minimal capital, so the barrier to entry is lower. But there are a few things you should keep in mind before you set up your print on demand business.

9 Things to Know Before You Start a Print on Demand Business

#1. Find the right print on demand partner

There are several print on demand services that you can choose from, but you have to find one that works for you. The level of customer support provided, customization options, delivery areas serviced - all of that has to be factored in. 

Above all, you should consider product options. For instance, some services offer certain products that others do not. There is a Printify custom hoodie maker, whereas some of the other services don’t allow you to create hoodie designs at all. 

#2. Optimize your site for SEO

One way you can ensure the right audience finds you is to use SEO or search engine optimization to make your rank site higher for search terms that users use when searching for products you offer. 

Another reason why you should focus on SEO is that 44% of shoppers use smartphones to research online while in physical stores. In addition to having a mobile-friendly online store, you should also aim to rank higher on search engines to attract these 44 percent of shoppers.

#3. Research your target audience

You may have access to the best design resources, but if you don’t niche down and find out what your target audience likes, you may have trouble selling your products. Put together a minimum viable product and test it with a focus group. 

Most print on demand services allows you to order samples so that you run a small pilot. Take extensive feedback from your first set of customers and use that to refine your final designs. You should also keep in mind that this is not a one-time exercise. You should set up a process so that you get continuous feedback and make improvements to your designs. 

#4. Have a marketing plan

There are plenty of businesses in this space. For you to capture some market share and grow your business scalably, you need a marketing plan. This should contain your objectives, goals, strategy, and tactics to differentiate yourself from your competitors and market to your target audience. 

Also, think of where you will put your marketing efforts. For some, it is social media, while other marketers focus on SEO or email marketing.

#5. Don’t offer too many choices

You may be tempted to offer a lot of variety in the beginning, but too many choices can cause choice paralysis. Experts recommend that you should have a maximum of 5 color variants. You may also want to stick to darker shades since Merch by Amazon found that darker shades sell more. 

#6. Check for copyrights and trademarks

If you are going to use a phrase on your clothing, make sure it is not trademarked. You can check whether it is trademarked by looking up the trademark registry in your country. Now when it comes to design, you cannot use the design as is. 

You may use it as an inspiration and create your version of it. Always avoid using copyrighted designs and trademarked phrases or words. This can cause legal and financial trouble. 

#7. Use actual photos not mockups

At the beginning of your journey, you may lean towards using mockups of your product instead of using models or influencers to show off your designs. But having real people wear your designs is considered to be a great way to engage potential customers. 

If having a photoshoot is out of the budget, you can use websites to find stock images of models wearing plain t-shirts that you can place the mockup design on. 

#8. Create transferable designs

When you invest in creating designs, you should think about designs that you can add to as many products as possible. Instead of only focusing on designing t-shirts or phone cases, create designs that would work on a wide range of products so that you can expand once you run a successful pilot.  

#9. Think about limited stocks

This should be a part of your marketing strategy but deserves a special mention. Your products can draw more attention if you plan on doing a limited release. But you should not apply this strategy to all your products. Only do this for some products on occasion. 

All in all

Your print on demand business requires a strategic plan that involves market research, design iterations, and website optimization before you start selling to your target audience. Since you have very little overhead, you can focus on rapid iterations and marketing your business.