DPW #004: How to Create a Print-On-Demand Design in 5 Steps
You can go the easy marketplace route or the harder but more profitable way.
Welcome to the fourth edition of Digital Products Weekly.
Last week we looked at creating an email challenge. The votes are in, this week we will create a print-on-demand design (POD for short).
POD designs can be as simple as some text, or as complex as you want.
Find a winning design and you can replicate it with small variations.
You create the design, and then a third party (i.e. Amazon, Printify, Prinful, etc) prints and ships the products.
That’s why it’s still a digital product for us, even if it becomes a physical product for the end user.
Let’s get to it!
Print-On-Demand Recipe
Step 1 - Pick your platform.
It’s important to know which print-on-demand platform you will use. They each have different products and requirements for your graphics.
You can go one of two routes.
The marketplace route is where the third party also handles customer services and has an audience you can leverage. The profits are lower, but it’s easier and less stressful, you just collect the royalties. Amazon Merch, Redbubble, and TeePublic are great examples.
The non-marketplace route is where you need to promote your products, create a website for them, and take care of customer service. It’s more hands-on but it’s also more profitable. Printify and Printful are great examples.
Typically the non-marketplace will also have many more products to choose from.
Look through the marketplaces and choose one that appeals to you based on the type and products available.
I use the three platforms in #1 for my “brandless” print-on-demand designs but use Printify for my Minimalist Hustler branded merch.
I’ll use Printify for the examples of each step.
Step 2 - Choose your product.
Now that you know which platform, you need to pick a product for your design.
You can use some designs on multiple products, but start with making one for a specific product to make things easier in terms of finding an idea for the design and the actual dimensions you need for it.
Let’s go with a nice frosted mug.
Step 3 - Do some research.
If you already know what you want to design, go for it, but if not, take some time to do some research.
You can pick your passion, or you can think about someone else you know (friend or family) and create something you’d love to give them as a gift.
Alternatively, you can browse the different POD marketplaces for ideas, or use Google Trends or one of the many keyword tools.
I prefer making designs I know will last, but sometimes a trend or event could be worth it.
I will be going with the Minimalist Hustler logo.
Step 4 - Create your design.
As mentioned earlier, this can be as simple or complex as you’d like.
I use Canva myself since I’m not much of a designer, but you can use any graphic design software, even apps to create wordmarks (designs based on words with different fonts).
It’s really important that you don’t copy any designs or use any fonts you aren’t allowed to use commercially.
You will want to use the sizes and format required for the platform and product you picked.
I created the logo using Canva.
Step 5 - Upload your design.
If you followed the instructions from your platform to create the design this process should be quick and painless.
Upload your image, and check the mockups to see how it looks. If it’s good, fill out all the other information and put it up for sale.
This is what my mockups look like.
By the way, I give away Minimalist Hustler swag like this in the Minimalist Hustler Skool community you can join by upgrading your newsletter subscription.
Examples
Some examples of print-on-demand designs out in the wild.
Minimalist Hustler black mug for sale on Etsy.
New York Boroughs t-shirt for sale on TeePublic.
Resources
These are some resources you can use to help you create your print-on-demand designs.
Amazon Merch (Marketplace-based POD supplier.)
Canva (Create your POD design.)
Etsy (Sell your POD products from non-marketplace suppliers.)
Gumroad (Sell your POD products from non-marketplace suppliers.)
Printful (Non-marketplace-based POD supplier.)
Printify (Non-marketplace-based POD supplier.)
Redbubble (Marketplace-based POD supplier.)
TeePublic (Marketplace-based POD supplier.)
You Decide What’s Next
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