The idea of starting a print-on-demand business can be very enticing. The POD concept is alluring but setting up a profitable online store is not a cake-walk. The process of starting an online POD store begins with filling a need and building credibility. However, are these factors enough to guarantee success? Well, the answer is a big no!  With no upfront cost, no need to maintain an inventory and fast shipping, the new e-commerce model has become a hit among e-commerce owners. However, everything has its pros and cons. With the advantages come the additional competition, which can provide barriers for entry for budding POD store owners.

As sexy as it may sound to start your virtual POD store, it's essential to understand that POD is a real business. If you don't treat it like the one, you are going to regret it. There are inevitable mistakes you must avoid to increase your chances of making it big in the e-commerce world. This is why before attracting customers to your new store, you need to take certain steps to ensure your POD store is properly set up and you are ready to sell.

Things to consider when setting up your POD business

What is POD and why has it become a hot topic at present?  POD is the practice of offering your customers various custom-made products, like t-shirts, mugs, rugs and household items. POD is a suitable yet powerful way of attracting the attention of a target audience within your niche to your business. To take maximum advantage of the POD e-commerce model, set up effective marketing strategies.

To understand what POD is now, let’s look at the things you need to consider before starting your POD store.

1. Never add more than five color variants: Many people think that by adding many variants to your product, it will entice customers to purchase products. In reality, it's the opposite. Too many variations can leave customers confused and is a reason for abandoned carts.  Offering custom variations of your product, like different colors or sizes, is a powerful method to encourage customers to buy your products. But offering too many variations can never be a good idea and could lead to analysis paralysis, a feeling you get when you are unable to make decisions. We all experience this when we have to choose between too many colors or designs. So, as an e-commerce owner, never go overboard with color variants. According to experts, don’t pick more than five variants for each product.

2. Avoid copyright and check your written phrase: Have you spotted a design for your custom design products online that you want to sell or add to your store but you are not sure whether the design is copyrighted? According to law, every art piece is subjected to copyright when it is created and you have to follow copyright rules. This means you can't duplicate the same design and sell it in your store.  But you can use a design for inspiration and create your version of it.  Yes, this is 100% legal, while the content may have the same visual appearance as the artwork but it's different. As long as you redesign your creativity and style, you will not come under the red flag of authorities. Also, like copyrights, you should stay away from trademark infringement.

3. Use lifestyle images: Want to attract your target audience? Trust us, you can't do it with general mock-ups of products. Use lifestyle photos with a white background to increase customer engagement and boost your sales. Using lifestyle images doesn't mean you have to capture pictures on your own.  Various tech apps can do it all for you. Use the incredible service to capture artwork designs and place them onto lifestyle images that feature real-life models. Use lifestyle products of every product, like t-shirts, hoodies, mugs, tote bags and even home care products. One pro tip is always to use lifestyle products that are related to your design.

4. Don’t stick to one product: Many e-commerce owners are guilty of making the mistake of using only one product, like custom t-shirts. Though in the beginning you can use one product, start expanding your product line later. Add other apparel categories, like leggings as well as t-shirts. The trick to attracting more customers and eventually increasing your sales is to expand the product range. Other products can be as profitable as selling custom t-shirts. More variety means you can appeal to a larger audience.

5. Use the design on other products: Another guaranteed way to increase your profits is to print your designs on other products. There are chances that a profitable t-shirt design will look good on a custom mug or a tote bag. If your design is making good money, why not use it on different products.  However, you have to keep in mind that not all designs work on all products. For example, some designs may work for a t-shirt but the same design will be the wrong choice for custom hats. So, while choosing the design, take the product into account. A general rule is to use small design patterns on accessories like pillows, blankets and tote bags. For t-shirts, hoodies and mugs, you can use single image designs.

6. Scarcity: One psychological trigger that can help you entice customers is to create a scarcity of products. As with sales, ask customers to purchase products before they go out of stock. But, if you overdo it and claim that every product has limited stock, the customer will sense something fishy. However, scarcity is a powerful sales tactic but don't apply too much of it in your store. Find the right balance to make sure scarcity is realistic.

So, the next time you start your dropshipping service, take these things into account. Whether you already have a POD store or want to start one, these things will help you cherish success