How Long is it Going to Take to Build My Print on Demand Business?

Welcome to our last episode of season two of Lissa Talks Print on Demand! Today, we are talking about a super important + weirdly uplifting (lol) topic: How long will building this business take? 

Here's a few things we'll chat about!

• Everything Takes Time
• Not Every Business is the Same
• There is Value in Every Creative Ventures
• One Idea Leads to Many Others
• Success isn't Just About Numbers

Want to know this episode in a quick summary? You know I've always got you!

Real Talk: Running an online shop is not a set it and forget it business model. Though parts of it can be self sustaining - ie your products can sync automatically with your print partner or organic SEO can benefit a shop more + more over time - it’s important to keep your shop current and active, no matter where you are selling.

Know that, if there was a tried and true way to make a lot of money, a lot of people would do that task. There are people who do start print on demand businesses and hit the ground running. There are authors that write one book and can live off it the rest of their loves. There are, I assume, musicians from the 1900s who are able to live off one hit wonders. Most people do not have this experience. I don’t meant this in a negative way - I mean it in that, if your growth is slow, that is totally normal. Your business - whether it’s a side business or full-time business - is going to evolve and change over time and that includes growth. 

That’s amazing!

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SEASON TWO OF LISSA TALKS POD WILL HAVE 15 EPISODES!

*Marked explicit for accidental swears.

Mockup Photos | Your Photographer Mom Podcast | Photography Website | Instagram

And best of all? Three free mocks!

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More Information + Links About Print On Demand!

Total Disclosure: A few of these are affiliate links.

Literally forever obsessed with Printify. I use Printify for all of my print on demand printing and I'll never stop singing their praises. They're incredible!

For design work, I'm totally in love with Canva and also love finding extra artwork + fonts on Creative Fabrica and Creative Market. 

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Support the show

Do I Have to Sell Shirts in My Print on Demand Business?

Welcome to the second season of Lissa Talks Print on Demand! A professional photographer since 2011 and a print on demand shop owner since 2022, I have so much to share with you!

Often, we hear a lot about selling shirts through print on demand. Personally, shirts are one of my bestsellers and I know they are for many different kinds of print on demand sellers through many different platforms. But! Does that mean you have to sell tee shirts, too?

Here's a few topics we are chatting about!

• Shirts Are a Great Way to Start!
• Find an Item You Love Designing For as a Tester
• Dissecting Sales Patterns (if never stops, lol)
• Shirts are FUN!

Want to know this episode in a quick summary? You know I've always got you!

Tee Shirts are a fantastic way to start with print on demand. Everyone loves a t-shirt! They can be silly, ridiculous, beautiful, funny, and just really creative. We can celebrate things we love with shirts and that is honestly so valuable when you’re starting a business, even if you’re inherently a graphic tee shirt lover. 

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SEASON TWO OF LISSA TALKS POD WILL HAVE 15 EPISODES!

*Marked explicit for accidental swears.

Mockup Photos | Your Photographer Mom Podcast | Photography Website | Instagram

And best of all? Three free mocks!

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More Information + Links About Print On Demand!

Total Disclosure: A few of these are affiliate links.

Literally forever obsessed with Printify. I use Printify for all of my print on demand printing and I'll never stop singing their praises. They're incredible!

For design work, I'm totally in love with Canva and also love finding extra artwork + fonts on Creative Fabrica and Creative Market. 

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Support the show

Should I Zig Instead of Zag in My Print on Demand Business?

Welcome to the second season of Lissa Talks Print on Demand! A professional photographer since 2011 and a print on demand shop owner since 2022, I have so much to share with you!

Alright, this one is a really fun + in depth one today! I am so excited to chat with y'all about this topic! And the topic? Should I zig instead of zag in my print on demand business?

Here's some of our topics!

• What is Zigging Instead of Zagging?
• How Can This Benefit Our Print on Demand Catalogs?
• Does This Mean Every Item Has to be Unique?
• How Can You Zig and Zag?

Note: We touch on this topic in my interview with Lizzie Smiley on the How to Sell Your Stuff Podcast!

Want to know this episode in a quick summary? You know I've always got you!

When we’re starting our Print on Demand businesses and learning to design, it’s great to look at trends and see what’s working. I think this is so essential in learning to see what other people are creating and it’s something we see in all facets of business and art. Young painters often recreate work from master painters to learn. The key to this? These recreations are creative exercises, not the end goal of what will be sold.

Personally, I think the worst thing I see about Print on Demand - and selling on most platforms in general - is to follow trends. I’ll say it a million times: I love a trend. Give me a disco ball, give me bows, give me glitter, give me funny and chaotic animal puns. I love them! And I love incorporating trends into my work. But, as someone who’s worked in a creative field for so long, I have to say this: Sometimes you need to zig when everyone else zags.

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SEASON TWO OF LISSA TALKS POD WILL HAVE 15 EPISODES!

*Marked explicit for accidental swears.

Mockup Photos | Your Photographer Mom Podcast | Photography Website | Instagram

And best of all? Three free mocks!

--------

More Information + Links About Print On Demand!
Total Disclosure: A few of these are affiliate links.

Literally forever obsessed with Printify. I use Printify for all of my print on demand printing and I'll never stop singing their praises. They're incredible!

For design work, I'm totally in love with Canva and also love finding extra artwork + fonts on Creative Fabrica and Creative Market. 

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Support the show

Is There a Way to Make Customer Message Easier in My Print on Demand Business?

Welcome to the second season of Lissa Talks Print on Demand! A professional photographer since 2011 and a print on demand shop owner since 2022, I have so much to share with you!

Today, I am so excited to chat with y'all about a really unique but also mundane topic: making messages easier in your print on demand business. Here's what we're chatting about!

• Don't Be Afraid of Messages
• Your Policies are Your Policies
• Using Email (or Message!) Templates
• There's Not a One Size Fits All
• Use Your Brain Power Wisely

Here's a link to the sample messages I mentioned in the podcast! 

Want to know this episode in a quick summary? You know I've always got you!

When you start a print on demand (or any!) business, customer messages can be kind of scary. I’ll be totally honest: if you are selling at any volume, an awkward customer message will happen, just like a negative review will happen. This is totally normal and something all business owners deal with. And as you get used to answering customer messages? It gets so much easier!

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SEASON TWO OF LISSA TALKS POD WILL HAVE 15 EPISODES!

*Marked explicit for accidental swears.

Mockup Photos | Your Photographer Mom Podcast | Photography Website | Instagram

And best of all? Three free mocks!

--------

More Information + Links About Print On Demand!
Total Disclosure: A few of these are affiliate links.

Literally forever obsessed with Printify. I use Printify for all of my print on demand printing and I'll never stop singing their praises. They're incredible!

For design work, I'm totally in love with Canva and also love finding extra artwork + fonts on Creative Fabrica and Creative Market. 

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Support the show

When's The Right Time to Build a Website for My Print on Demand Business?

Welcome to the second season of Lissa Talks Print on Demand! A professional photographer since 2011 and a print on demand shop owner since 2022, I have so much to share with you!

Hey!! This afternoon, we are talking about a really fun topic: When's the right time to build a website?

Here's a few topics we'll hit!

• First! Sorry for the Unexpected Break!
• A Website is Your Brand's Home
• Building a Website Can Take a Lot of Brain Power
• Copying Listings is THE BEST!
• You'll Need to Drive Traffic to Your Website 

Here's a link to the tote bag listing I mentioned! I use the Swatch King app to create tie my listings together.

Want to know this episode in a quick summary? You know I've always got you!

When building your Print on Demand website, it's important to start building out once you know you have designs that sell. Your website is your brand's home and, because building a website can take a lot of brain power, it's best to start building your website once your designs and brand aesthetic have become second nature in your work flow. Most importantly? Building a website is so satisfying!

P.S. My microphone is a little wonky in this one!

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SEASON TWO OF LISSA TALKS POD WILL HAVE 15 EPISODES!

*Marked explicit for accidental swears.

Mockup Photos | Your Photographer Mom Podcast | Photography Website | Instagram

And best of all? Three free mocks!

--------

More Information + Links About Print On Demand!
Total Disclosure: A few of these are affiliate links.

Literally forever obsessed with Printify. I use Printify for all of my print on demand printing and I'll never stop singing their praises. They're incredible!

For design work, I'm totally in love with Canva and also love finding extra artwork + fonts on Creative Fabrica and Creative Market. 

--------

Support the show

What if My Print on Demand Designs Suck?

Welcome to the second season of Lissa Talks Print on Demand! A professional photographer since 2011 and a print on demand shop owner since 2022, I have so much to share with you!

This morning, we are talking about a really important topic that can feel a little daunting but is also really exciting: Working with Print on Demand designs that may not be the best when you're first starting. Here's what we'll be chatting about!

• Your Designs Are Going to Suck at First
• It's Okay if Your Designs Aren't Great!
• Listing Products Helps With Growth
• Sometimes, Bad Designs Sell!
• You Will Get Better if You Start and Stay Consistent! 

And a link to that wolf shirt I mentioned!

Want to know this episode in one quote? You know I've always got you!

"When you start Print on Demand, there is a LOT to learn. You need to learn the platform you’re selling on, you need to learn what you like to design and, most importantly, you need to learn how to design. And when that’s done? You need to get a read on how people receive your designs.

Does that mean you should wait to start listing your design? Does it mean that you should overthink the designs? Does it mean that you should be embarrassed of what you’re creating. Absolutely not! I think it means the exact opposite: Get started! Because your designs? They’re probably going to suck. It might just be the first ten. It might just be the first hundred. Or it might be the first thousand. Whatever it is, that’s okay!

In any creative - or honestly just business - field, it is very common to hear stories of success. Those stories are incredible and so inspiring, too! But! Just because someone else had things click immediately, it doesn’t mean every seller will. What we can do, though, is pay attention to what works for our individual shops over time. When we start, our designs are not going to be incredible out of the gate."

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NEW EPISODES EVERY MONDAY: JULY 8TH TO OCTOBER 7TH

*Marked explicit for accidental swears.

Mockup Photos | Your Photographer Mom Podcast | Photography Website | Instagram

And best of all? Three free mocks!

--------

More Information + Links About Print On Demand!
Total Disclosure: A few of these are affiliate links.

Literally forever obsessed with Printify. I use Printify for all of my print on demand printing and I'll never stop singing their praises. They're incredible!

For design work, I'm totally in love with Canva and also love finding extra artwork + fonts on Creative Fabrica and Creative Market. 

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Support the show

Episode 26: Two Months of Selling Print on Demand on TikTok Shop

Welcome to the second season of Lissa Talks Print on Demand! A professional photographer since 2011 and a print on demand shop owner since 2022, I have so much to share with you!

We've got a different format than usual today! In this episode, I'm popping in with TikTok Shop updates from my first two months selling Print on Demand via the platform. Here's the recording dates!

• June 25th
• July 25th
• August 29th

Should You Sell Print on Demand on TikTok Shop?

Honestly, I've loved it! So excited to share my thoughts with you!

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NEW EPISODES EVERY MONDAY: JULY 8TH TO OCTOBER 7TH // NO EPISODE FOR THE WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 9TH!

*Marked explicit for accidental swears.

Mockup Photos | Your Photographer Mom Podcast | Photography Website | Instagram

Opal and June Mocks: Use the code LISSATALKSPOD for 20% off!

And best of all? Three free mocks!

--------

More Information + Links About Print On Demand!
Total Disclosure: A few of these are affiliate links.

Literally forever obsessed with Printify. I use Printify for all of my print on demand printing and I'll never stop singing their praises. They're incredible!

For design work, I'm totally in love with Canva and also love finding extra artwork + fonts on Creative Fabrica and Creative Market. 

--------

Support the show

What's an Ideal Customer in My Print on Demand Business?

Welcome to the second season of Lissa Talks Print on Demand! A professional photographer since 2011 and a print on demand shop owner since 2022, I have so much to share with you!

Today, we are talking about something that's super similar to niching down but with a totally different approach: identifying your ideal customer for you print on demand business. This is a really fun episode and I hope you have so much fun listening to this + identifying your ideal customer. Here's a few things we'll be chatting about!

• Why You Should Have an Ideal Customer
• An Ideal Customer Should be Pretty Specific
• Forget About Age, Think About Interests
• Are You Your Own Ideal Customer?
• Should I Expect My Friends and Family To Buy My Stuff?
• Picking Three Words to Define Your Items 

Want to know this episode in one quote? I've got you!

"Once you’ve started learning the ins and out of designing, when your first sales have been made, you’ve added low cost and high cost items to your store, and you can spot a trend happening in your sales, it’s time to ask yourself: who’s my ideal customer?

... When we boil down the idea of an ideal customer, it really comes down to this: it’s easier to build your designs, items, and vibe if you have a specific type of person you’re creating items for." 

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NEW EPISODES EVERY MONDAY: JULY 8TH TO OCTOBER 7TH

*Marked explicit for accidental swears.

Mockup Photos | Your Photographer Mom Podcast | Photography Website | Instagram

Opal and June Mocks: Use the code LISSATALKSPOD for 20% off!

And best of all? Three free mocks!

--------

More Information + Links About Print On Demand!
Total Disclosure: A few of these are affiliate links.

Literally forever obsessed with Printify. I use Printify for all of my print on demand printing and I'll never stop singing their praises. They're incredible!

For design work, I'm totally in love with Canva and also love finding extra artwork + fonts on Creative Fabrica and Creative Market. 

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Support the show

Offering High Cost and Low Cost Items in Your Print on Demand Business

Welcome to the second season of Lissa Talks Print on Demand! A professional photographer since 2011 and a print on demand shop owner since 2022, I have so much to share with you!

Today, we are talking about a really fun topic (as always!). That topic? It's about offering high cost and low cost items in your inventory as a way to build up your business and trust in your business, too! Here's a few of the topics we cover!

• Diversifying works best when you can identify buying patterns
• If people love your items, they'll pay for them
• Different shirt brands have different costs
• Selling a sticker v selling a tee shirt
• Why selling low cost items can build trust in your shop

Want to know this episode in one quote? Hooray!

"When we start with print on demand, it’s really easy to get laser focused on one thing. Whether that’s a specific niche, design style, or item type, it’s hard to pull away from the idea of what we want our shop and items to be. Once you start seeing buying patterns, though, you’ll see your shop start to evolve. 

As you identify buying habits, you’ll have more data and more room to grow. To do this, you don’t need thousands - or even hundreds - of sales but, when you start to see patterns come to life, adding low cost and high cost items can really help with your shop growth. And when I’m talking about shop growth? I’m not necessarily talking about profit - I’m talking about creating a consistent, awesome experience for your customers at different price points with different items."

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NEW EPISODES EVERY MONDAY: JULY 8TH TO OCTOBER 7TH

*Marked explicit for accidental swears.

Mockup Photos | Your Photographer Mom Podcast | Photography Website | Instagram

Opal and June Mocks: Use the code LISSATALKSPOD for 20% off!

And best of all? Three free mocks!

--------

More Information + Links About Print On Demand!
Total Disclosure: A few of these are affiliate links.

Literally forever obsessed with Printify. I use Printify for all of my print on demand printing and I'll never stop singing their praises. They're incredible!

For design work, I'm totally in love with Canva and also love finding extra artwork + fonts on Creative Fabrica and Creative Market. 

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Support the show

Creating Collections in Your Print on Demand Business

Welcome to the second season of Lissa Talks Print on Demand! A professional photographer since 2011 and a print on demand shop owner since 2022, I have so much to share with you!

As always, this episode today is a freaking blast! We are talking all about creating collections - basically design niches and topic niches - within our print on demand listings. Here's the topics we cover!

• How Collections Make Design Work More Fun
• Can Collections Help with Burnout?
• How Can Collections Expand Creativity?
• How Can Collections Expand Inventory?
• What if the Collections Don't All Go Together?
• Will My Store Keep a Vibe if I Embrace a Different Design Style?

Want To Know This Episode in One Quote? You Know I've Got You!

Creating collections - whether you’re literally making collections or just kind of grouping styles - is a great way to approach print on demand. First, it keeps design fresh and fun. Second, it’s easier to avoid burnout. Third, it’s an awesome way to expand your creativity.

As a digital collage creator (lol) / shirt designer, I just really like making fun stuff. And if you’re here? I’m guessing you do, too! Don’t feel like you need to put yourself in a box when you hit a groove. Think of different styles as a way to grow and blend your inventory instead! 

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NEW EPISODES EVERY MONDAY: JULY 8TH TO OCTOBER 7TH

*Marked explicit for accidental swears.

Mockup Photos | Your Photographer Mom Podcast | Photography Website | Instagram

Opal and June Mocks: Use the code LISSATALKSPOD for 20% off!

And best of all? Three free mocks!

--------

More Information + Links About Print On Demand!
Total Disclosure: A few of these are affiliate links.

Literally forever obsessed with Printify. I use Printify for all of my print on demand printing and I'll never stop singing their praises. They're incredible!

For design work, I'm totally in love with Canva and also love finding extra artwork + fonts on Creative Fabrica and Creative Market. 

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Support the show