| Many entrepreneurs have discovered the | | | | people? You can now tailor your designs specifically |
| opportunities that abound within the T-Shirt Industry, | | | | for you potential customers. It's a great truth that to |
| and therefore the market is becoming increasingly | | | | be successful all you have to do is find out what a |
| saturated. These days, in order to differentiate | | | | certain group of people want, and give it to them! |
| yourself from the masses, it has become extremely | | | | 3) ONLINE MARKETING STRATEGY |
| important to find out what will make your t-shirt | | | | This world has not seen a greater opportunity than |
| business unique. Before you even think about starting | | | | that which exists today with the marketing power of |
| on production, take a look at the list below and think | | | | the Internet. Without a strong Online Marketing plan, |
| very seriously about each of these points. If you are | | | | you will definitely not be working you t-shirt business |
| aware of these things before you start your plans, | | | | to it's fullest potential. The Internet has made the |
| you will already have a head start and a competitive | | | | sale of t-shirts extremely easy, so target your |
| edge over the sea of t-shirt businesses within the | | | | customers Online and lead them to your store. There |
| market today. | | | | are hundreds of creative ways to draw targeted |
| 1) WILL YOUR DESIGNS EVEN SELL? | | | | traffic to your website, many of which are free. |
| So you've thought up a great design and you're | | | | Start by looking into such things as: |
| busting to get it onto some t-shirts and to start | | | | - Blogging |
| bringing in the cash? But how do you know if people | | | | - Forums |
| are going to be as excited about your designs as you | | | | - Social Bookmarking |
| are? It's easy to get caught up in your own little | | | | - eBay |
| world, thinking that your tee shirts are going to sell | | | | - MySpace - Facebook |
| like hot cakes. This may be true, but it's extremely | | | | - Pay Per Click Advertising |
| important to know for sure before you start | | | | - Search Engine Optimization |
| spending your hard earned dollars on production. | | | | - Email Marketing |
| One of the methods I suggest to aspiring t-shirt | | | | The list goes on and on! |
| entrepreneurs is to do a little bit of market research. | | | | 4) OUTSOURCING |
| There are plenty of websites that accept designs | | | | If you don't absolutely love a particular job within |
| and allow users to comment and vote on their | | | | your business, then find someone who does! If you |
| favorites. By visiting such sites, you are able to see | | | | love graphic designing, then find someone to print for |
| which designs are the most popular and can get a | | | | you! If you're a printer, then find someone who loves |
| very good idea of whether your own designs will | | | | to design! Maybe you have no interest in Online |
| have appeal or not. Another method is to visit sites | | | | Marketing - then leave it to an expert! |
| that sell t-shirts and find out which are the best | | | | Granted, this will cost you a little bit more, but you |
| sellers. Of course you don't want to copy them, but | | | | can't always do everything yourself! Besides if you |
| you will begin to see the types of designs that | | | | don't absolutely love what you are doing, you will |
| people are willing to fork out money for. Remember, | | | | eventually want to give up. If you hate your |
| that if your designs don't sell, it will be extremely | | | | day-to-day activities - then you won't last long in this |
| hard to continue doing what you love - so do a little | | | | business. |
| bit of homework first! | | | | 5) CUSTOMER SERVICE |
| 2) FINDING A NICHE OR TARGET MARKET | | | | Your customers are the most valuable asset of your |
| Because of the quantity of t-shirt designs available | | | | business. Treat them well and they might buy from |
| and business competition these days, it's imperative | | | | you again, treat them like royalty and not only will |
| that you find your own little subculture or niche to | | | | they be your customer for life - they'll become a |
| market to. By going after a specific target market, | | | | raging fan and do most of your advertising for you, |
| you can increase your chances of success | | | | by referring their friends and colleagues! Even if it |
| dramatically. Some questions to ask yourself: | | | | means losing a little bit of money to keep your |
| What does your target look like? What are some of | | | | customer delighted - it will be well worth it in the long |
| the places that they like to hang out? How old are | | | | run. I've had instances where a t-shirt order was late, |
| they? | | | | so I organized an employee to jump on a plane and |
| By knowing the answers to these types of | | | | fly the package out to the customer. Yes, it cost |
| questions, you are limiting your target market down | | | | more than the profit I made - but I made my |
| to a specific group of people. You will now have the | | | | customer's day! This one truth has the power to turn |
| advantage of being able to think like them. What are | | | | your business into a thriving multi-million dollar |
| the types of designs that would appeal to these | | | | company. A customer focused company. |