Working on a print on demand store and selling t-shirt and other merchandise like hoodies or phone cases can start out as a simple side hustle project, but it is possible to reach a point where it becomes your sole source of income. And a solid one at that.
Ultimately, it comes down to a few important factors:
- Consistency in coming up with creating great designs.
- Choosing a reliable print on demand supplier like Printbest or Printify which has over 250 different products and 90 printing facilities in different countries.
- Marketing. And once again, marketing.
The part about marketing is worth emphasizing because a good campaign can determine whether you can create a sustainable business that will bring you profit for years. And since there are so many different aspects to cover in the marketing department, let us just straight into all these great methods.
Organizing Giveaways and Contests
Social media is one of the first things that come to mind when talking about running contests. Likes, comments, sharing, and tagging another person is all it takes as an entry fee.Â
Think of such a contest as a word of mouth traveling across the platform and getting you a lot of reach. And people will jump at the opportunity to win a free t-shirt.
Another form of a contest could be contacting your local radio station and suggesting that you have some t-shirts to give away. It would benefit both parties. You get a plug broadcasted to a lot of people, and the radio station gets some freebies to gift.
Work with Influencers
Individuals or brands that have thousands of followers on social media leverage these numbers to their advantage by functioning as an advertisement board.
And since the audiences that follow these profiles are doing so voluntarily, they are more likely to pay attention to whatever it is that influencers are promoting.
Ideally, getting a famous online person to wear your merchandise is the perfect outcome. But even a simple shoutout will bring more people to your website or social media profile so long as the promotional post is well-done and targets the right demographics.Â
Attend Live Events
Attending live events is another great tip for business. Make sure that you are not breaking regulations at first. When you are confirmed with the law, go and get yourself out there.Â
Consider giving away free samples or ask your friends or family to attend the event together with you, and wear your stuff showing it off to other attendees. The more creative you get with the ways of taking advantage of local communities, the better your standing in the industry will be.
Keep up with the Trends
Trends are also something one can take advantage of, especially now when there are so many campaigns on the internet. Popular media like movies and TV series or music always has a place in the market, so when a new property is about to get released or is playing in theaters, it would be a perfect opportunity to strike.
Hire a Freelance Graphic Designer for Fresh Ideas
It is possible that sooner or later you will run out of design ideas. When that happens, do not panic but consider the option of hiring a freelance graphic designer. You can find plenty of candidates on platforms like Fiverr and Upwork.
A new designer will give a breath of fresh air. Introducing new designs will certainly break the ice if you have been struggling with selling your current merchandise.Â
Sending out Newsletters
Collecting an email list from the very start of opening your e-store is an invaluable tip because you can use these emails later on. Start with a simple newsletter that reviews the latest information about what has happened in the industry and with your business.
Once you have a decent-size email list, it will be easier to reach out to more people. And do not neglect to collect emails because email marketing is not going away any time soon.
Revamp Your Website
Giving your website a new look could be just the thing to do. A revamped page will look a bit unusual to everyone who visits at first, especially your regulars, but it will also incentivize them to browse through it more and look for all the new features as well as new products that ought to be included with the new look of the website.
So to sum it all up, if you have been struggling in the marketing department with your t-shirt business, be sure to make use of these tips as they will help with attracting more customers. The t-shirts are not going to sell themselves. Be more proactive and look to scale your business up.
