Easiest Way to Start Print on Demand in 2024: No Shopify Needed
Is 2024 the Year You Finally Succeed in Print on Demand?
Have you ever wondered how people are making a passive income by selling custom t-shirts and other products online? It’s not a mystery—all you need is the right strategy and tools. If you’re tired of complicated and costly setups, you’re in luck. This year, I’m going to show you a method that simplifies everything, making it easier than ever to kickstart your print on demand business.
With a decade of experience under my belt, I’ve discovered strategies that most are keeping to themselves. Trust me, this isn’t the same old advice you find scattered across the internet. Today, I’m lifting the curtain to reveal the exact steps to take, starting with why you should skip Shopify, contrary to popular belief, and which platforms can save you time and money by handling everything—from printing to customer service—for free.
In this article, we’ll cover:
- Why Shopify might not be your best starting point
- How Amazon Merch on Demand can simplify your process
- Using tools like Placeit to create professional designs quickly
- Uploading your designs on multiple platforms for maximum exposure
Ready to dive in? Let’s switch gears as I walk you through setting up your print on demand business step by step.
Why Shopify Isn’t the Best Option for Beginners
The Misconception
Many newcomers think Shopify is essential just because it’s widely mentioned online. However, the reality is slightly different.
Hidden Costs and Limitations
- Shopify is primarily a platform for creating an online store. It doesn’t inherently bring you customers.
- You’ll need to subscribe to Shopify, which starts from at least $39 per month. This can add up, especially if you’re just getting started.
- The popular print on demand apps on Shopify like Printify and Printful are free to use, but they don’t handle marketing or customer service for you.
What You Need to Know
To make print on demand work on Shopify, you’d also need to invest time and money in bringing customers to your store, handling customer service, and solving logistical issues.
Amazon Merch on Demand: A Better Alternative
Why Amazon?
Amazon Merch on Demand integrates seamlessly with Amazon’s e-commerce platform, which means you get access to its massive customer base.
How It Works
- Upload your design to Amazon.
- Customers find your design and place orders.
- Amazon handles printing, shipping, and customer service.
Step-by-Step Process
Simply search for your niche on Amazon, for example, “gardening t-shirt,” to gauge market demand and see what’s selling.
Click on designs with the “Amazon Merch on Demand” label to understand what works and start planning your own unique designs.
Creating Your Designs with Placeit
Why Use Placeit?
If you’re not a graphic designer, tools like Placeit offer professional templates that are easy to customize.
Quick Design Creation
- Sign up at Placeit and search for templates related to your niche.
- Customize the text, graphics, and colors to make the design your own.
- Ensure the design fills the entire template area and has a transparent background.
Example: A Gardening T-shirt
Start by entering phrases such as “gardening therapy” and customize them in Placeit. Add relevant graphics, adjust the layout, and save the design with a transparent background to avoid printing issues.
Uploading Your Designs to Marketplaces
Amazon Merch on Demand
After applying for an account and getting approved, simply upload your design, add relevant tags and descriptions, and your listing will go live on Amazon.
TeePublic
Create an account on TeePublic, upload your design file, and set your tags, colors, and product types. TeePublic will handle the rest.
Redbubble
Similar to TeePublic, you can create an account on Redbubble, upload your design, and enable a variety of products from stickers to mugs.
Maximize Exposure
Uploading the same design to multiple platforms increases your chances of making sales. Each platform has its own customer base, which means more eyes on your products.
Conclusion
And there you have it – the simplest path to starting your print on demand business in 2024, just as I’ve been doing for the past decade. Remember, taking shortcuts by using accessible platforms like Amazon Merch on Demand, TeePublic, and Redbubble can make a significant difference in your journey.
It’s the small steps that can lead to the biggest transformations, so why not start today? Drop a comment below with any questions or your own experiences in the print on demand world – I’d love to hear from you. If you found this tutorial helpful, please share it with others who might benefit from it.
“The best way to predict the future is to create it.” – Peter Drucker