What Is Print On Demand Dropshipping ?
You have a dropshipping online store and you want to offer personalized products for sale? It is possible to mix the concept of print on demand with dropshipping. Here is a guide to get you started!
It is possible for any online store to expand its activities as well as its product range. In this case, print on demand is an excellent alternative to stand out and better develop your business. This includes products such as books, bags and other physical products to be personalized. The classic method of having your own stock is now over. In fact, to avoid the risk of having unsold products on your hands, print-on-demand services sound like a great idea. Here’s everything you need to know about print on demand, including how it works.
What is print on demand?
The print on demand, also called POD means that products such as t-shirts, mugs or posters can be produced on demand with a particular pattern or design. There is no stock, the customization of accessories or clothes is made when the customer places an order. It’s a bit of custom dropshipping and several service providers in US or in Europe allow you to print what you want and to automate all this with a Shopify store.
What Is The Meaning Of Print On Demand
You have a dream to start your own online business. However, you don’t have the resources to build up a stock. Don’t worry, because the Print-on-Demand concept makes your wish come true...
See more...Who can do print on demand?
Print on demand is for anyone who wants to make more money. Influencers and youtubers who already have a fanbase can start monetizing their audience.
This solution is also suitable for those who want to start a business and for graphic designers. It’s a risk-free way of doing business.
Finally, print on demand is also for businesses and individuals. Professionals will use it for a group event or a celebration. Individuals can create personalized gifts for their loved ones by choosing their own designs.
Print on Demand & Dropshipping: how does it work?
Print on demand dropshipping is a type of dropshipping. It is characterized by a more advanced products customization while outsourcing the stock management and the delivery to a third party.
To understand how it works, watch the video below from Printful that explains the whole process step by step!
The steps to follow when starting a print on demand business
There are many steps to follow in order to get started with print on demand.
1. Define your niche
It is also important to choose the right niche to get into print on demand. This means defining your target, i.e. the community to which your products will be addressed. To find a profitable niche, several points must be considered.
To find your niche, social networks like Facebook are excellent leads. These include Facebook groups that have many members gathered on a specific theme.
The different buzz on the web are also excellent business opportunities that you can use. Don’t forget also the search trends of the Internet users given by tools like Google Ads or Google Trends which can allow you to have an overview of the market needs.
You should also think about doing a market study in order to anticipate trends. The tools mentioned above will help you a lot. If your niche is too large, you will have to identify its commercial potential. This will allow you to make a better targeting.
2. Create designs
Design is a must when it comes to customizing products on demand. However, it must be said that finding original and commercial designs is not an easy task.
For your print on demand designs, you have the choice of hiring a graphic designer or using existing designs. If you have graphic design skills then you can do the design yourself. In case you need to hire a graphic designer, you can go to microservices sites.
It is also possible to create your own designs if you do not master Photoshop. For this purpose, many providers integrate a design creator on their platforms in order to facilitate your creation.
3. Order samples from a supplier
You must ensure the quality of service of the print on demand suppliers. It is likely that the desired design will not be faithfully reproduced.
So, to make sure the product is what you want, start by ordering as a customer. The idea is to experience what it’s like to place an order from a supplier. Thus, the samples you will get will allow you to judge the quality but also to have images that will be put online on your site.
4. Put a smart shipping strategy into action
Although the supplier will take care of some parts, you must pay close attention to the conditions. Indeed, the delivery times and costs must be adapted to the customers’ expectations.
So, take into consideration the printing time when you have to set the conditions of the shipment. Remember to add between 2 and 4 days for the design depending on the type of product.
Also, you need to be transparent about shipping times to avoid numerous inquiries about delivery. To do this, create an FAQ page so that all customers can know what to expect. The entire shipping process as well as the delivery time should be well explained to the customer.
How to choose the right print on demand supplier for dropshipping?
The first thing to do is to choose a supplier. To do this, you must follow a number of guidelines.
1. Delivery
The delivery also involves a number of factors to be considered. These include the order processing time, the delivery time and the prices.
2. Printing quality
Ask about the printing techniques used. The supplier must offer you efficient solutions according to the materials and designs you have chosen.
3. Customization level
What customization options does the supplier offer? This is a question worth asking when you want to have a wide range of options and different levels of customization. For example, there are suppliers that allow customization of interior labels and shipping bills. However, this includes additional costs.
4. User experience
The supplier must offer you an outstanding user experience with a regularly updated catalog. In this regard, some suppliers allow you to turn your ideas into reality in a few minutes. Also, they can offer you many integration options with e-commerce sites and marketplaces. These include Amazon, Shopify, etc.
As far as the product catalog is concerned, it should have many great brands with a wide variety of products.
How to market your print on demand products?
To sell your print on demand products, there are many marketing strategies you can use. In reality, you have to turn to the classic marketing tools of a dropshipping e-commerce site.
1. Connect with influencers on Instagram
Start by identifying influencers who are present in your niche and have the same vision as you. Note that the strength of an influencer is measured by the engagement they manage to generate. It is therefore possible to use engagement calculators to evaluate the strength of influencers. To do so, you will have to divide the number of likes and comments by the number of subscribers. If you get a result higher than 5% then the engagement rate is high. You can then contact these influencers via email, Facebook or Instagram with a deal.
2. Advertise on Facebook
Facebook ads are a great tool to generate quality leads. With their accurate targeting, you can get a very low cost of acquisition. Once you’ve found the right formula, simply increase your ad budget to make more sales. As long as you’re making margin, it’s in your best interest to keep investing in this very profitable channel!
3. Focus on SEO
SEO consists in optimizing your website to reach the top position in search engines (mainly Google) on targeted keywords. It is also called natural referencing, as opposed to paid referencing. If being positioned in google is free, the problem is that you depend on google’s algorithms and that you will have to invest a lot to make your website relevant.
SEO is a strategy that you need to pursue for the long term and can be frustrating because it does not give immediate results. It is therefore essential to consider SEO in your acquisition strategy, but do not bet everything on it!
4. Press relations
Finally, make a list of magazines, forums and blogs related to your niche while also considering the local press. Make sure you write a catchy headline that will be relayed as much as possible. This one should be adapted to the audience and succeed in creating a buzz.
5. Organize contests
To create a buzz about the launch of your print on demand store, you can organize a contest on social networks. This will allow you to reinforce your visibility and create an interaction between your brand and the internet users. For example, you can ask your subscribers to tag 3 people in comments for a chance to win a gift.
What Is The Meaning Of Print On Demand ?
You have a dropshipping online store and you want to offer personalized products for sale? It is possible to mix the concept of print on demand with dropshipping. Here is a guide to get you started! It is possible for any online store to expand its activities as well as its product range. In this …
How To Start A Print On Demand Business With No Money
You have a dropshipping online store and you want to offer personalized products for sale? It is possible to mix the concept of print on demand with dropshipping. Here is a guide to get you started! It is possible for any online store to expand its activities as well as its product range. In this …