Etsy Print on Demand: 6 Steps Beginners Should Know to Start Your Business

Building an Etsy shop seems appealing, but are you still unsure because of inventory, shipping, and fulfillment problems? Well, Etsy print on demand (POD) is the answer.

This article will break down everything you need to know to launch a successful print-on-demand Etsy business completely. In addition, there will be some tips at the end to make your success faster and stand out in this competitive market.

What is Print on Demand on Etsy?

Print on demand (POD) on Etsy is a business model that you create your custom designs, then when someone purchase from your store, the custom design will be printed and sold. The kind of products to be printed on are diverse like t-shirts, mugs, tote bags, posters, etc.

With this model, you don’t have to keep inventory or ship anything yourself. Instead, when a customer places an order, a third-party POD service prints your design on the product and ships it directly to the buyer.

How does POD work with Etsy?

POD services integrate seamlessly with Etsy. The same logic applies:

• • You – the seller, simply design your product
  • Create a listing on Etsy
  • When an order comes in, the POD provider prints and fulfills the order for you.

 

Pros & Cons of Print on Demand for Sellers

Several advantages and disadvantages of using POD for your Etsy shop are:

Pros 👍

Cons 👎

✅️ It requires little to no upfront investment. No need to purchase products in bulk, save your money for storage space renting. ✅️ It is a low-risk model that you don’t have to deal with many hard problems as a seller. ✅️ It is convenient for creators who want to focus on designing and marketing solely. ✅️ POD offers flexibility and scalability since products are printed and shipped on demand, you can offer a wide variety of items without worrying about excess stock or waste.

❌ Highly competitive, especially for popular products like t-shirts. ❌ It requires constant creativity to bring in new designs for the product. ❌ Profit margins can be slim, depending on your POD provider’s pricing. ❌ You do not have full control of the selling process since it depends on the third-party service.

6 Simple Steps to Start an Etsy Print on Demand Store

It seems a lot to do until you actually own a running Etsy print on demand business. Let’s make it simple with the right steps listed below:

1. Choose your POD Product to sell

The first thing you need to do is decide what kind of products you want to print your design on and sell.

The options are limitless. Etsy’s POD options range from apparel (like t-shirts and hoodies) to home decor (pillows, wall art) and accessories (phone cases, tote bags). It is important to conduct some research about your targeted market and the competitors. This will help you to determine:

• • What are the popular items on Etsy that are selling well?
  • What are the tactics that competitors are using for their stores?
  • Where are the gaps that you can fill in?

To do research effectively, consider some useful tips below:

• • Use Etsy’s search bar, and other tools such as Alura, eRank, etc. to:  find trending products, do keyword research, understand the needs, and more.
  • Check out best-selling listings that are already on Etsy to understand pricing strategy, design styles, and product descriptions.
  • Read customer reviews to identify what buyers like and what they don’t.

2. Open your Etsy Print on Demand Shop

Once you’ve chosen your product, the next step is to open your Etsy shop. If you don’t already have one, it’s simple! You’ll need to register for an account, and some extra steps below:

⭐ Create an Etsy account:

Simply click “Sign in” and start creating your account by entering your email, first name, and password. A quick alternative way is to log in to Etsy with your existing Google, Facebook, or Apple account.

 

⭐ Click “Sell on Etsy”: 

Once you have your account and sign in, Etsy will show a small avatar icon on the top right bar. Click on it and continue to tap on the line that says “Sell on Etsy”. This will turn your account into a seller account.

⭐Decide your shop preference:  

After that, Etsy requires you to set up Language, Country, and Currency for your store. The language setting can only be chosen for one time only. Additionally, if your store currency differs from your payment account, you will be charged a 2.5% transaction fee.

⭐ Give your shop a name:

Some tips for choosing a shop name:

• • Keep it relevant to your niche or product type.
  • Make sure it’s easy to spell and remember.
  • Check for availability on social media platforms – this will help with branding as your store grows.

If you are seeking inspiration for the name, take a look at this creative Etsy shop name ideas from Masstic.

⭐ Add your first listing: 

The next step is to add a product and fill in the needed information for that. Adding a listing is crucial to officially make your Etsy shop go live. During this step, you can simply fill in the basic things for the product. Once you are get on track with your Etsy print on demand store, you can learn the technique to optimize the listing for SEO.

⭐ Decide how you’ll get paid: 

It’s important to understand the Etsy Payments requirements. In addition to creating your payment account, you also need to submit bank account details and specify the type of vendor you are. Depending on where you live, creating an account could be a little different.

⭐ Provide billing information:

To sell on Etsy, you must pay some basic fees, that is the reason why Etsy requests you to enter the information of your credit card to cover those fees.

🔎 As you might need some more detailed information about how to create an Etsy store, check out this blog: How to sell on Etsy for beginners: 12 easy steps,

3. Find a trusted POD partner and connect

Since you want to have an Etsy print-on-demand business, the critical thing is to choose a trustworthy POD partner for your company. On Etsy, you will have two of the most popular Print on Demand options for sellers, Printful and Printify. Besides, there are some more partners to consider such as Gooten, Gelato, and Teelaunch. Each service has its pros and cons in terms of product selection, pricing, fulfillment speed, and integration with Etsy.

Things to consider when choosing a POD partner:

• • Product variety: Make sure they offer the products you want to sell.
  • Shipping costs and times: Some POD providers ship from international locations, which could mean higher costs and longer delivery times.
  • Customer service: You’ll want a partner that provides excellent support, especially when handling returns or product issues.

Once you’ve chosen a provider, connecting your POD service to your Etsy shop is simple.

• • In Shop Manager, choose Settings.
  • Select Partners you work with.
  • Select Add a new production partner and fill out a form telling Etsy and the community about your partnership. The information not marked Private will be shared publicly in your shop.
  • Select Save Partner.

4. Upload & Optimize Product Listings

Once your shop is set up and connected to a POD provider, it’s time to create your listings. This is when you can upload your product designs and craft compelling titles and descriptions for them.

Therefore, you might need some Etsy SEO knowledge to optimize your Etsy print on demand store listing. Using the right keywords in your listings can make all the difference in getting your products noticed.

SEO Tips for Etsy Print on Demand Listings:

• • Include your main keyword (like “t-shirt,” “mug,” or “wall art”) in the product title and description.
  • Use relevant tags that reflect what your target audience is searching for.
  • Write detailed descriptions, focusing on the product’s benefits and how it solves a problem or meets a need.

Pro Tip: Etsy’s algorithm favors shops that regularly add new listings, so try to update or add new products frequently to boost your visibility.

5. Design your products for Etsy

Design is the heart of your Etsy print on demand business. Whether you’re creating original artwork, funny quotes, or trendy patterns, your designs need to stand out in the crowded Etsy marketplace. Then, you create your unique selling points in the customer’s mind.

Tips to create outstanding POD design to sell:

• • Identify your audience’s preferences, interests, and styles, and tailor your design
  • Keep yourself updated about the latest trends and popular themes on Etsy and on social media.
  • Pay attention to details, such as color combinations, typography, and layout.
  • Design products that can be used in various contexts and occasions.
  • Offer a range of products, such as t-shirts, mugs, phone cases, and more.
  • Develop a strong brand identity with a consistent color palette, typography, and logo.
  • Experiment with different design styles, colors, and themes to see what resonates best with your audience.
  • Use mock-up on high-quality images to showcase your designs on actual products – this helps customers visualize what they’re buying.

Tools for designing products:

• • Canva: A beginner-friendly tool for creating simple designs. It might have some limitations if you use the free version.
  • Adobe Illustrator: It is ideal for the more complicated and high-quality design. You may feel a small learning curve operating this software if you’re not familiar with the tools developed by Adobe.
  • Procreate-for iPad: It’s great for hand-drawn designs. To artists, it might make producing digital art easier than ever.

6. Marketing your Etsy Print on Demand Store

When you have your shop live, it is now time to market it. While the organic traffic built-in on Etsy will get you so far, you really need to get creative with the promotion of your products.

Free marketing strategies include the following:

• • Social media: Share your designs on Instagram, Pinterest, or TikTok.
  • Email marketing: You may build an email list of potential customers and send regular updates of new designs or promotions.
  • Collaborations: Partnering with relevant influencers or bloggers in one’s niche is a good way to get products in front of a much larger audience.

Paid Marketing Options

• • Etsy Ads: Target your products to reach more viewers on Etsy.
  • Facebook & Instagram Ads: You can target audiences on these platforms, making sure that your advertisements reach only those most likely to take an interest in your products.

 

Etsy Print on Demand is Perfect for Creative Entrepreneurs

Etsy print-on-demand is one of the most flexible and low-risk methods to kickstart your online business. No matter what your background is, POD allows you to sell unique products without the logistical headaches of inventory management. By following all the steps above and consistently marketing yourself, you will have a great start to running a successful Etsy POD shop!

For worthier insight into the print-on-demand market and the selling community on Etsy, be sure to follow Masstic and read our latest blog posts!

FAQ About Etsy Print on Demand