In 2021, the print-on-demand market size was $4.90 billion, and the market is predicted to grow at an annual growth rate of 26.1% from 2022-2030. This solid number proves that print-on-demand business growth is aimed to move upward for the indefinite period.
So, if you’re toying with starting print-on-demand brands, we remind you that this is the best time to start or scale up your business.
This blog presents the top 7 business practices followed by successful print-on-demand brands who have scaled their businesses from zero to six figures.
Let us dig deep.
What is a Print-on-demand online business?
In simple terms, a print-on-demand online business is where you, as a seller, create printable designs and print them via a printing supplier on specific material when your customer places an order with you. As a supplier, you must own an e-commerce store to list your products, strategically plan to drive traffic to your store, and understand how to convert potential buyers.
Who Can Achieve A Successful Print-On-Demand Brand?
Even though print-on-demand is a simple business model that anyone can adopt to make money online, there is a dilemma about who is the right person to start a print-on-demand business. Fret not. The section below briefly explains who is the right fit to start a print-on-demand business.
Who can start a print-on-demand online business?
Content Creators/Influencers
Online content creators with vast follower bases or who possess influence over their audience are ideal for print-on-demand businesses. As a content creator, you might already know about design and editing.
Even with some design knowledge, you can create basic designs to kickstart your print-on-demand business. Moreover, as you’re familiar with social media platforms, it’ll be easy to market your products and drive traffic to your website.
Graphic Designers:
As a graphic designer, you’re already well-versed in creating different forms of designs, which puts you one step ahead of everyone stepping into print-on-demand business for the first time.
If you’re a graphic designer, without any doubt, a print-on-demand business can be the profitable online business for you in 2023.
Business Enthusiasts:
Besides content creators, influencers, and graphic designers, others interested in building an online business without inventory, shipping, and investment hassles, can also be an excellent fit for the print-on-demand business model. If you have no experience creating designs, you can hire a freelance graphic designer to create unique designs for you or use copyright-free images from the web to create your print-on-demand designs.
When starting a print-on-demand business, design is not the only skill you need to possess; however, marketing, maintaining your e-commerce store, and customer management are complementary skillsets that can help you scale up your business.
Successful Print On Demand Brands: Top 7 Practices Unveiled!
Every successful POD business owner has a few standard practices which help them make more profit and position themselves as a brand. We have compiled the top 7 business practices that can help you to grow your print-on-demand online business.
Print on Demand products can be of a wide range as below. The usage of the POD method depends on the business model to Print personalised products or for drop shipping.
1. Strategic Niche Selection
Regarding print-on-demand online business, there is a common misconception that it is profitable to choose the popular niche. For instance, print-on-demand T-Shirts and hoodies are popular; however, that doesn’t mean everyone who starts a print-on-demand business should choose to sell clothing. Exploring the best niches never harms your business. Even at Qikink, we have over 10+ customisable products to let print-on-demand business owners explore.
2. Pick Your Target Audience
Understanding your target audience can help you know your potential buyer’s needs, wants, preferences, priorities, and earnings to understand their affordability. Hence, if you want to be successful in your print-on-demand business ideas, you need to sit and map out your target audience in the first place to market your products strategically. owners explore.
3. Have Credit Cards Handy
Print-on-demand business is an investment-free business model. However, it is always advised to keep a few credit cards handy, so in case of a delay in payment processing by your payment partner for any specific reason, you can use your credit cards to place an order with your printing partner. This helps deliver goods on time to your customers. Moreover, you can earn credit points which could be used to your advantage later.
4. More Designs = More Sales
An unsaid rule of print-on-demand business is to create as many designs as possible. With 3-5 designs, it’s doubtful to turn around a huge profit, and the chances of success of each design are relatively low. However higher the count of items, the higher the chances of conversion and sales. Moreover, providing a limited option to your customers in terms of variety is suggested. Rather than confusing or overwhelming your potential buyers with more variety of the same design, you can have less than six colours variety in your print-on-demand store for a particular design.
5. Usage Of Copyrighted Images
There are generally two ways to obtain designs to run your print-on-demand business. One is creating your design; the second is using copyright-free designs. While following the latter option, you need to be cautious. Before using the image, you need to know if it is for commercial use; if not, you’re not allowed to use them. Even quotes and phrases have copyright, so it’s always recommended to verify if the design you plan on using is for commercial use.
6. You Don’t Need To Sell Cheap Products
Another myth in print-on-demand online business is that there is a price bar for products you sell. However, in reality, there is no such restriction. If you supply quality products, you can charge a premium price, and your customers will be ready to pay the price if they are satisfied with your products. You can also research your competitors to know the ballpark and alter your prices accordingly.
7. Use Paid Advertisement:
Even if you have a handful of designs listed on your eCommerce store, your efforts directly go to the trash if you’re not driving any traffic. Hence, you need a mixture of both organic and paid traffic. Many people out there think that Facebook ads don’t work anymore. However, Facebook is still among the best platforms to drive B2B and B2C business traffic. When Facebook ads are leveraged wisely, you can redirect tons of traffic to your e-commerce store. However, the conversion depends on the quality and appearance of your POD store, price, products, and design.
Print-On-Demand Ideas For Successful Print-On-Demand Brands
Here are some print-on-demand business ideas:
- Custom T-Shirts: Create custom T-Shirts with unique designs for specific niches like sports teams, fan clubs, or special events like weddings and birthdays.
- Home Decor: Design and sell custom poster frames, posters, and canvas prints with popular themes like travel, inspirational quotes, or pop culture.
- Phone Cases: Offer custom phone cases with unique designs for specific phone models and styles.
- Stationery: Create and sell custom notebooks with unique designs for specific niches like bullet journaling, productivity, or creativity.
- Accessories: Create and sell custom accessories like button badges, mousepads, and luggage tags with unique designs for specific themes.
- Baby Clothing: Offer custom baby clothing with unique designs for specific niches like baby showers, newborns, or milestones.
- Sports Merchandise: Design and sell custom merchandise for sports fans, like hats, jerseys, and drawstring bags for specific sports teams or events.
- Gifts: Create and sell custom gifts and souvenirs with unique designs for specific locations or events like weddings, birthdays, or festivals.
- Eco-Friendly Products: Create and sell eco-friendly products like reusable bags, water bottles, and coffee mugs with unique designs for sustainability-conscious consumers.
These are just a few examples of print-on-demand business ideas. You can explore other niches and product categories that align with your interests and skills.
Conclusion
With that, we have come to the end of the blog. The 7 practices mentioned above are the foundation for a scalable print-on-demand business. In the long run, your product, marketing efforts, and customer service pile up and help you position your business as a brand. If you want a printing partner, check qikink.com to know more.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do top print-on-demand brands enhance the user experience on their websites?
The top print-on-demand brands enhance the user experience on their websites by
- Userfriendly website
- Quick loading time
- Accurate product description
- The easy and simple checkout process
- High-quality product images
What marketing strategies do successful print-on-demand brands use to promote their products effectively?
- Concentrate on producing high-quality material by adding value, motivational tales, and visual elements. More valuable content increases the likelihood that people will share and purchase goods.
- Manage several channels: Using a variety of marketing channels will help you reach more people and raise your brand’s visibility. Keep in mind to maintain brand voice and message consistency.
- Utilise marketing technologies to handle various marketing channels, track results and reports, analyse data, and prepare for the upcoming marketing strategy.
- Create a memorable brand name for your company. A memorable brand name and story can help you stand out from the competition and connect emotionally with clients.
- To improve repeat business and customer retention, create a loyalty program. The best method is to offer incentives, such as special discounts or rewards, and to tailor the program.
How do they engage with their target audience and build a loyal customer base?
Here’s how they engage with their target audience and build a loyal customer base:
- Create a loyalty program by providing discounts and membership programs
- Set up a referral program
- Engage with customers on social media platforms
- Collect customer feedback
- Personalised sales and marketing emails
What role does customer feedback play in shaping the success of print-on-demand brands?
There are 3 key reasons why customer feedback plays a major role in shaping your print-on-demand business.
- It makes them feel heard and important.
- It boosts your brand’s loyalty.
- It helps you improve your products and services.
How do top brands handle product fulfillment and shipping for their print-on-demand products?
Top brands partner with leading print-on-demand online business in India. They integrate with e-commerce websites to automate order processing. They choose or make the designs, and the POD partner handles production and shipment.
Customer satisfaction is increased via quality assurance and branded packaging. The platform handles order processing, delivery, tracking, and customer service. Brands can use analytics to improve their product offerings without taking inventory risks and to ensure quick, reliable delivery that will increase consumer loyalty.
With over 10+ years of experience in the industry, Our founder has dedicated his career to helping brands achieve exponential growth through innovative print-on-demand solutions.
