Merch by Amazon is one of the most profitable print on demand platforms.
With several million people using Amazon to shop, there is a large market to tap into.
Understanding what works on Merch by Amazon can be difficult.
The rules on this platform are also stricter than in most of the other print on demand platforms and this makes navigating Merch by Amazon all the more difficult.
Merch by Amazon forums are a great place for sellers to learn what works and what doesn’t work.
They are also a great resource for sellers who have questions about the platform that are not readily available.
In this article, we will talk about Merch Amazon, the forums available to sellers, and why we need more.
What Is Merch by Amazon?
Merch by Amazon is a print on demand platform owned by Amazon.
Once you get an invitation to join Merch, you can submit your designs to the platform, choose the products you want them to be placed on, and start selling.
If your design/s pass through their vetting process, a listing will be created with all your products.
As with most print on demand services, you do not take handle the printing, shipping, and customer service aspects of the business.
This is what makes the print on demand business so attractive to entrepreneurs.
There are also no upfront costs for joining the platform.
However, if you do not have the design skills, you may need to hire a designer or outsource for designs from platforms that sell high-quality designs.
That being said, Merch by Amazon is one of the harder print on demand platforms to get into.
This is because it is an invitation-only platform.
Getting invited can be quite difficult and it is important that you understand the platform and what is required before applying.
Merch by Amazon Rules
There are several rules and guidelines that sellers need to adhere to when selling on Merch by Amazon.
These include;
Your designs cannot infringe on existing trademarks and copyright.
You cannot solicit for reviews.
Your content cannot be objectionable.
This means that your designs should not be pornographic, abusive, contain depictions of child exploitation, promote hate and/or violence, and more.
Sometimes this is also specific to countries.
In the UK for example, designs cannot show depictions of mental illness.
Your metadata should be factual.
No blank images are allowed.
Look, that’s why there’s rules, understand? So that you think before you break ’em.
Terry Pratchett
These rules and guidelines are not comprehensive.
To fully understand what is allowed and not allowed on Merch by Amazon, visiting their rules section would be advised.
There are also guidelines that need to be followed on how your designs need to appear for them to be printed.
These include;
Designs of a print dimension of 300 dots per inch.
Files should not be larger than 25 MB.
RGB colors that allow for a greater range of colors to be printed.
Resources for Sellers
With the growing popularity of eCommerce businesses and Merch by Amazon, in particular, there are several resources that sellers can tap into.
Information is available, however; it can be overwhelming trying to sift through reliable and trusted sources.
When seeking information, you can find yourself aimlessly scrolling through your Google searches and trying to find relevant Facebook groups that will provide you with the information you are seeking.
Online Merch by Amazon communities are few and even the majority of the available communities are closed and sellers have to request to join them.
This makes it difficult for sellers to find the right communities to join and many settling for open Reddit groups and other social media online communities.
What Is a Forum?
A forum is an online messaging board that people use to communicate with each other and discuss various topics.
In these forums, people ask different questions and once other people answer, it creates a thread surrounding that particular topic.
Forums create a great place for people to interact and learn more about particular subjects.
These places are better than seeking our customer support through email since sometimes this can take days.
This means that problems are resolved even faster on forums than on other platforms.
Having a large group of people in the same industry also creates stronger bonds and people can find friends and even business partners who can help them in their journey.
They are also great places where people can share their ideas, get useful advice and learn from other people in the same field.
In these forums, people learn from you as much as you learn from them.
Importance of Merch by Amazon Forums
As mentioned above simply getting onto the platform can be difficult for many people.
Making sales can also be difficult, mostly due to the high competition on Amazon and Merch by Amazon.
Being an eCommerce business, physically finding other people selling on the platform is not easy.
Forums are a great way for other sellers to connect.
Here they can share their struggles, tips, successes, and give each other advice when requested.
If you are struggling on Merch by Amazon, jumping onto a forum and sharing your areas of difficulty is one of the best things you can do.
There will be someone who can offer constructive advice and sometimes criticism and this will influence future decisions you make.
Merch by Amazon forums also give sellers a realistic outlook of what it is like to sell on the platform.
Many sellers get on there influenced by seasoned sellers only to join and get disappointed when they do not make sales as quickly as they expected.
Joining forums will give you a clear picture of what it’s really like to be a seller.
A lot of the issues raised range from designs being rejected for copyright/trademark infringement to getting feedback on how their designs look.
Part of your research when deciding to join Merch by Amazon should be done on these forums.
Here you will understand what you need to do (and not do) to get an invitation.
You will get insight into what it takes to go from one tier to the next.
Information on how to place keywords in your descriptions and bullets and so much more.
You may also gain insight into what niches are trending, what kind of designs other sellers are creating, and marketing tips and tricks that will prove useful to your Merch by Amazon account.
Apart from advice, it is also a platform where people share their success and people get encouragement from other sellers.
Merch by Amazon forums are also amazing platforms for people with unique problems to find solutions from other sellers who have gone through the same problem.
On these forums, people can also network and source for information and services easily.
If you need a designer or you need more information on which is the best tool to use for your business, you can find the answer on a forum.
A lot of people also use these forums to market their own designs.
Although you are interacting with other sellers, there may be someone who wants to buy one of your products.
The Need for More Merch by Amazon Forums
A lot of the available Merch by Amazon forums and social media groups have large communities.
This can make it difficult for people to get their questions answered – especially if it is a complex problem.
Reaching customer support can be difficult and these forums are a great resource for sellers.
Research has shown that 90% of people prefer seeking information through online forums and platforms before contacting a company.
Speaking to someone who is your “peer” and who has gone through the same challenges is always more preferable.
It is often easier to relate to someone who is going through the same difficulties.
They are also able to give you tips and tricks that may not necessarily be provided officially by Merch by Amazon.
These forums are also great ways for sellers to source ideas.
Having more Merch by Amazon forums means that there is an abundance of helpful advice available to new sellers.
It makes it easier for them to navigate the platform and understand what works and what does not work.
In short, forums are a great place for people to learn more about a certain topic.
There is a need for more Merch by Amazon forums where people can learn more, ask more questions, collaborate, and network.
Things to Remember
Just like with any other platform, there are rules that users need to abide by to ensure that platforms are being used for their intended purpose.
These are;
- Follow the rules and regulations of the forum.
- Stay on topic within each thread.
- Avoid starting other unrelated discussions when answering someone else’s problem.
- Provide as much information as possible when asking your question to make it easy for others to understand you and help you.
- Review all your messages before posting them to make sure they are clear and not offensive.
- Participate when you can.
- When you have information to share, always take the time to help someone else out.
- Use this opportunity to network and make meaningful connections.
- Before asking a question, check to see if it has recently been answered.
- Very few people like answering the same question more than once.
- If your question gets answered, be sure to respond back to the person/people who took the time to answer and give you advice.
Once you are active in the forum, create posts that allow people to share.
Questions are great but beginning conversations is a great way for you to interact and gain ideas from other sellers.
Usually, people are willing to share their experiences.
Since Merch by Amazon is competitive, they may not be willing to give out too much information.
They may not want to tell you which niches are working for them but they may be willing to tell you the mistakes they made when they started out on their journey.
How to Find the Right Forum
When choosing a platform to join, it’s important to find platforms that are credible.
These include the main Merch by Amazon platform or platforms owned by other credible Merch tools like Merch Titans.
Seasoned merch sellers may also have forums where sellers can join.
In Conclusion
Navigating Merch by Amazon can be difficult – especially if you are a new seller.
Being part of a forum where you can participate and seek more information is an amazing asset for many people.
The forums available for merch sellers are few, and even the ones available are extremely crowded.
Having smaller community forums where people can interact easily with each other and get answers in a timely fashion would be ideal.
The official Merch by Amazon forum, for example, is an amazing resource for sellers.
You can browse through the questions to find out if your issue has been previously addressed.
However, if you start a new thread, it could take some time to get the right attention and to get your problem solved quickly.
You have to test your ideas in a public forum.
Hillary Clinton
This is why there is a need for more Merch by Amazon forums with fewer members and quicker interaction.
Research and automation tools available for Merch by Amazon sellers also have forums and community pages where people can discuss these tools.
In these forums, people also talk about various elements of their merch business and seek advice from other sellers.
Social media, and especially Facebook, is a great place to find Merch by Amazon forums and communities.
Just make sure to join productive groups that will add more value to you and your business.
Information is power and using the right information can be what sets you up for success.
There is definitely a need for more Merch by Amazon forums where sellers can learn more about the platform.
Until then, it would be best to carefully leverage the existing platforms for relevant information that will help you throughout your journey as a merch seller.
