Print on Demand for Beginners

Introduction

• Speaker: Established millionaire businessman with 35+ years of experience
• Goal: Provide a step-by-step guide to starting print on demand (POD)
• Promise: Practical advice, no grand promises

What is Print on Demand?

• Definition: Pay for products only after customers order them
• **Benefits: **
  • Risk-free way of starting a business
  • Low initial investment
  • Can be run from a laptop
  • Ideal for passive income
• Market Stats:
  • Current market: ~$6 billion
  • Expected rise by 2031: $40 billion

Getting Started with POD

Five Things You Need:

1. Winning product
2. Great design
3. Place to sell
4. Great supplier
5. Paying customers

Choosing a Product Category

• Focus: Master one product category first
• Avoid: Seasonal items like cards/calendars; low-margin items like mugs, phone cases, stationery
• Recommended: Clothing, wall art
• Example Stats:
  • Wall Art: $49.99 price point; $32.32 total cost; 25% profit margin

Picking a Niche

• Attach to customer interests (e.g., humor, hobbies)
• Trademark Check: Avoid legal issues by checking trademarks
• Avoid Originality Trap: Copy elements that work (fonts, colors, quotes) rather than creating from scratch

Creating Designs

Methods:

1. Canva: Free, easy-to-use tool
2. Buying Templates: Can find designs using Google search by image
3. AI Tools (Mid Journey): Costs $10/month but generates high-quality designs
4. Professional Designers: Can be found on Upwork, Fiverr

Choosing a POD Website

Important Factors:

• Quality: Pick higher-quality suppliers to avoid long-term issues
• Personal Recommendation: Gelato for its global reach and quality
• First Steps: Upload designs and set up products (e.g., T-shirts)

Selling Platforms: Etsy vs Shopify

Etsy:

• Advantages:
  • Largest audience
  • Easier organic reach
  • Free traffic
• Disadvantages: Higher competition, no customer email list

Shopify:

• Advantages:
  • Customer data collection
  • Less direct competition
• Disadvantages: Requires more marketing effort

Beginner Strategy:

• Start with Etsy: Test market, gather data
• Transition to Shopify: Once products are validated

Hacks for Selling on Etsy

1. Attractive Mockups: Use mockup tools on your POD site
2. Effective Keywords: Copy high-performing keywords from similar products
3. Premium Branding: Make your shop look professional and trustworthy

Running Paid Ads and Organic Marketing

• Initial Focus: Organic marketing through social media (short-form content)
• Paid Ads: Use after achieving some organic success

Common Mistakes and Misconceptions

• Focus on Profit, Not Revenue: Revenue figures can be misleading
• Avoiding Competition: Compete on value rather than price
• Valuing Your Time: Ensure your hourly earnings make sense

Final Thoughts

• Market Saturation: Not a real issue if you're willing to put in the work
• Side Hustles Aren’t Dead: Hard work and consistency are key

Next Steps:

• Listing 1000 products on Etsy as a testing ground
• Follow up video: Seven real stories of successful students with unique side hustles

Call to Action

• Subscribe: For more videos on growing your wealth