Do you wish to sell custom printed products online or are you an artist looking for a platform to bring your creative side to the forefront? Print-on-demand, the popular e-commerce business model, gives budding designers the opportunity to create and sell their dream custom products to customers. If you have the gift of humor and keep a notebook of ideas for funny t-shirt slogans, it's time to translate these ideas onto a product. No matter what drives you, there are plenty of options available for selling custom-printed products online.

We live in a digital age where we have tremendous opportunities to showcase our creativity and make money from it. However, while many people are fascinated with the idea of selling custom merchandise, only a few cherish the taste of success. So, the question is what drives success. What's the success mantra of starting a successful custom merchandise POD store? The feeling of success holds budding entrepreneurs to keep going with their efforts, hustle and creativity. Trusts us, success is never given and if it was, there would be no fun in it. However, with that all said, some factors contribute to success.

Success factors that contribute to selling custom POD products

According to a recent study, e-commerce sales are increasing exponentially, at an average of 9.32% annually. It's evident that there is potential for budding entrepreneurs to start their dream venture.  However, along with the potential, the e-commerce space is tremendously competition, which may act as a barrier for entry in the virtual marketplace. To outsmart your competitors, you need out of the box ideas that will set you apart from the competition. This is where custom embroidered products give you an edge.

Here are some essential factors to take into account to get your business rolling.

1. A large audience is always better: Do not underestimate the importance of a large audience when selling custom merchandise. Those who start with an existing audience have an enviable position. Famous artists, photographers and influencers with large social media followers have the upper hand over budding artists as they have an established and well-engaged audience.  It's easier for them to reach out to potential customers. But this doesn't mean if you don't have a well-established audience, you can't start your dream business. Although you have to work a little harder, with patience and perseverance success will definitely knock at your door. You must do a fair amount of research to find and validate your audience; identify a common theme, idea or topic that will engage your target audience. 

2. Great design goes a long way: Custom products are the blank canvases that you can fill with your creativity. Without any doubt, your design or slogan plays an essential role in engaging the target audience. A creative and unique design is the secret sauce that differentiates your product. When we talk about great design, it's the customer’s tastes and preferences that you have to take into account. Great designs are those that resonate with your audience and convince them to invest their money. Get feedback from customers or ask them for their comments to dig deep into their preferences and desires.  To achieve success, focus on both design and your target audience.

3. Use customer photos in your marketing: Did you know that 77% of customers prefer user-generated pictures over professional brand photos? To create user-generated content, include a hashtag in your marketing campaign. For instance, include a hashtag in your emails and social media platforms. Check the hashtag for photos of customers wearing your print-on-demand t-shirts or other custom products. Mention in your emails and order confirmation notices that you would love to see photos of your customers wearing your products.

4. Time-sensitive discount codes: One success mantra for selling custom merchandize is to offer discount and promotion codes to customers. Set up offers, such as free shipping or percentage discounts, to promote items. Create urgency by setting up a counter for running your promotion. Include a discount in your email marketing; send texts like "Get your limited discount code” in the email. Apart from emails, share discount codes on various social media platforms, like Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

5. Use a trial and error method: The best thing about the POD business model is that it gives you freedom to experiment with designs. Create out of the box, unique designs and play around to determine what works best for your audience. If your designs don't sell, start all over again. To set up your business, you must move from one failure to another without losing enthusiasm.  Accept the fact that some designs work while others will fail. Don't get disheartened by the failure; instead, look for new and attractive designs. Be willing to try new things, new products, new designs and experiment with new ideas.

6. Write compelling product descriptions: Last but not least, compelling product descriptions will help you sell embroidered products online. By spending time writing product descriptions, you can attain higher sales. According to a recent study, 88% of shoppers revealed that product content leads to more sales. Also, engaging product content helps you to differentiate your product from other POD retailers. In your product content, answer the five W's i.e. who, what, where, when and why, to make content valuable to customers. Reassure the customer’s decision to purchase products by eliminating buyer’s guilt.

In the end, the key factor in attaining success is dedication and hard work. The route to success is a scribbly, squiggly, blurry and messy one. There aren't any short cuts to success; hence you must work hard to get the desired results.  Once you set up your POD store, breathe life to your business.