| > | | | | Google keyword tool. The next question is, "Just |
| An online T-shirt shop at a print-on-demand site can | | | | how many competing pages or products will they |
| create another income stream for a writer at almost | | | | find if they type that keyword?" To get an estimate, |
| no cost. To set up shop you need a computer, an | | | | type the keyword phrase, in quotes, into the Google |
| Internet connection, time, an account at a POD site, | | | | search page. If there are too few searches for the |
| and an image editor. To be a success, you need to | | | | keyword phrase, or too many competing pages, it's |
| find and use good keywords. | | | | not worth trying to use it. If you can't find good |
| Q: I'm a professional writer looking for extra income | | | | keywords for a design idea, you'll make more money |
| between writing gigs. What do I need to start a | | | | if you try something else. |
| successful print-on-demand T-shirt store? | | | | You need to attract people to your shop. There are |
| A: A print-on-demand (POD) T-shirt store is a great | | | | three ways you can go about this. First, you need to |
| way to turn a creative, enjoyable activity into an | | | | fill up your shop pages with good keywords. This will |
| income. You set up an online store at a POD site and | | | | help tell the search engines what your shop is |
| put up your designs as graphics files. When a | | | | providing. |
| customer chooses one of your designs for a T-shirt | | | | Second, you can advertise your shop. The problem |
| or other product, the product is printed just for their | | | | with advertising your shop is that the typical markup |
| order and you earn a markup over the price the POD | | | | on a T-shirt is about two dollars, and the typical |
| company charges. The POD company handles | | | | purchase is one T-shirt. Consequently, you want to |
| printing, shipping, billing, returns, and bookkeeping. You | | | | spend less than, preferably considerably less than, |
| don't need to maintain an inventory. | | | | two dollars per customer you attract to your shop, |
| To set up shop, you need an Internet connection, of | | | | and not every visitor you attract with your ads will |
| course, to transfer your designs to a | | | | become a customer. What this means is that you |
| print-on-demand company. You need a computer, so | | | | need to use really cheap advertising. |
| you can edit your designs. You need time to devote, | | | | Third, you can get quality back links to your shop to |
| and you need to devote the time. | | | | enhance its Google page rank. A back link is a link |
| You need an account at one of the print-on-demand | | | | from some other site to your shop. It's a quality |
| web sites. Printfection and Zazzle don't charge you | | | | back link if its anchor text contains your keywords |
| anything to set up shop there. At CafePress, you | | | | and it appears on a page that is important and |
| pay $60 for each premium shop you set up. | | | | relevant to what your shop contains. There are |
| "Premium shop" means the kind of shop you get at | | | | various relatively simple ways to get quality back |
| either Printfection or Zazzle for free. On he other | | | | links, so this is not a major problem. Basically, you |
| hand, CafePress advertises a lot. You will probably | | | | give away information with your back links attached. |
| get more customers through their marketplace. | | | | Those are the main things you need to set up your |
| You need an image editor. You can get one free | | | | own print on demand T-shirt store on the web. |
| from gimp.org: the GNU Image Manipulation Program. | | | | There are two things you do not need: |
| GIMP is more than powerful enough for anything you | | | | You do not need much money. You probably already |
| will want to do with it. | | | | have the computer, the Internet connection, and the |
| You need ideas for designs. The ideas don't have to | | | | time, so they won't cost you any extra. You can get |
| be brilliant. You only have to express the attitudes, | | | | a free account at a quality print-on-demand site. You |
| feelings, and beliefs of your customers. | | | | can get a good image editor for free. |
| You need feedback on your designs. You could just | | | | You do not need great talent as a graphic designer. |
| wait to see how well they sell, but you might have | | | | Text-only T-shirts can sell. Remember, these are self |
| to wait a long time to find out, especially if the | | | | expression products; the most important thing is that |
| designs aren't particularly popular. You can get good | | | | they say what your customers want to say. |
| suggestions about them at the at the | | | | As you can see, you have pretty much everything |
| print-on-demand site's members' forum. The more | | | | you need to start your own print on demand T-shirt |
| experienced members are usually more than happy | | | | store. The major needs are some time and some |
| to help out newcomers. | | | | knowledge. |
| To sell T-shirts or anything else on the Internet, you | | | | How much will you earn? That's between you and |
| need good key words. The first thing you must ask | | | | your customers. Most people who set up shop earn |
| yourself is, "What would people type into a search | | | | nothing: they typically just put up a few designs and |
| engine if they were looking for a product like mine?" | | | | wait. Not knowing how to find good keywords and |
| It may take a while to explore the various ways | | | | use them, they give up in frustration. People who |
| they might say it. The next question is, "How many | | | | know how to promote their shops can earn a decent |
| times do people actually search for that keyword | | | | living. |
| phrase in a month?" You can find that using the | | | | |