Getting started with print on demand is exciting for many people.
A new opportunity to earn passive income is always something people are willing to invest time and money into.
However, print on demand is cutthroat, especially with its increasing popularity.
That’s why you need the right print on demand tools for different stages of your print on demand journey.
Whether it’s for research, design, marketing or simply getting the right strategies, print on demand tools will make your work much easier and your time as a seller more enjoyable.
Print on Demand Tools for Research
Like with any other business, research is fundamental to your success.
The right print on demand tools will give you the right information that will ensure you are always steps ahead of the competition and you are always aware of new trends.
The Heidorn Report
The Heidorn Report is more than a merch research tool, it’s a strategy guide that you simply cannot do without.
This report works for both Merch by Amazon sellers and sellers using other print on demand platforms.
It goes beyond common research tools by giving you information and helping you understand when and how to use this information to ensure success.
If you want a keyword tool, The Heidorn Report will show you which keywords are popular.
No research without action, no action without research
Kurt Lewin
It goes even further by evaluating each keyword by volume and competition within your niche.
Finding the right niche for your print on demand business will help you create designs and sell products that are in demand and that means you’ll be able to earn a steady income from your business.
The Heidorn Report does a deep dive analysis into each niche and sub-niche assessing potential using its internal tool “Niche-o-meter”.
Apart from that, within each niche, you’ll be able to see which designs are popular, which hashtags, quotes, and keywords are being used by your target audience.
It goes further into helping you find the platforms most favored by your audience.
Within the report, you’ll also find vital important information on strategy including information on how to price your products.
Flying Research
Flying research is a print on demand research tool that will help you perform a variety of functions.
Using this tool, you’ll be able to compare the prices and designs of your top competitors.
You’ll also be able to find new trends that are breaking out on different print on demand platforms.
This will help you find breakout niches that you would have otherwise missed.
Their simple research tool will tell you the best sellers once you search a specific keyword.
You’ll also be able to see the price history of the different products using the keyword/s you’re targeting.
When it comes to print on demand tools for research, Flying Research is one of the best since it works for both Merch by Amazon, KDP, and other print on demand platforms.
You’ll also be able to make searches depending on the location where you sell your products.
So you can make searches for the following marketplaces; United States, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Spain, and Italy.
Flying Research is easy to use with resourceful features like save and filter.
Print on Demand Tools for Design
Design is an important aspect of your print on demand business since it plays a big role in influencing your buyers’ decisions.
Good designs are very important especially because new sellers are coming up every day and you need to maintain your edge.
There are a lot of print on demand tools for design and these are some of our favorites.
ThreadBasket
ThreadBasket is a subscription design platform that gives users access to some of the highest quality designs for print on demand platforms.
Their designs are not only of the highest quality but they are also well-researched to make sure that they are relevant for the different niches that are available on print on demand.
If you can’t hire a designer or you are having difficulty working with the designers you have, then this is a viable solution for your business.
For Merch by Amazon sellers, the creators of ThreadBasket have years of experience with Merch and have achieved success on the platform so they know and understand your design needs.
For sellers who have a team or use virtual assistants to help them perform various tasks, you will be able to give them access and have them handle the process for you.
With each purchase, you’ll get an individual license and that means you have the right to use the image on any of your products.
Not only does ThreadBasket make your work much easier, but it also helps you save on money.
Canva
Canva is an amazing tool that is used by both professional and amateur designers.
If you have absolutely no experience in design, then Canva can also be an asset to you since it has easy-to-use designs that you can tweak for use with your own products.
Its drag-and-drop feature makes designing easier and you’ll be able to do it in just a few minutes.
You can also use Canva to create a logo for your print on demand business, create social media posts and also create images for email and website use.
If you plan to use some of these designs on your print on demand products, you will need to customize them to specific measurements especially for Merch by Amazon where details matter.
Canva has a free and paid option, with the paid option giving users access to more features.
Print on Demand Tools for Marketing
Print on demand is competitive, and that means you’ll need to have more than good designs and good listings to create success.
One of the best ways to do that is through consistent marketing, especially digital marketing.
Buffer
Social media is key to the growth of a business, especially a print on demand business where good visuals are important.
Buffer is a great tool that helps users plan their social media posts to make sure they are consistent and on time.
This is one of the best print on demand tools for planning and organization.
You can plan your posts days and even months ahead.
If you have a team, they can all have access to make sure everything is posted on time.
You can create posts within Buffer and monitor their performance using their extremely useful analytics tool.
MailChimp
Emails are still popular in 2021 and are one of the best ways to market your designs and products to existing and new clients.
Mailchimp is a great tool and resource for creating engaging emails.
They have several templates for you to use with customizable content that will get people to subscribe.
Email has an ability many channels don’t: creating valuable, personal touches—at scale.
David Newman
MailChimp also has a customer journey builder that will send emails to your users based on their behaviors and their interactions.
Just like Buffer, MailChimp has a great analytics feature that will help you see how your emails are performing.
You’ll be able to see which actions your customers took to further understand what’s working and what you need to change.
Print on Demand Tools for Upload
If you are running a full-time print on demand business, then you’ll find the upload process overwhelming.
These print on demand tools will help you get your designs up in little to no time and with minimal effort.
Merch Titans
Merch Titans is more than a research tool, it’s a tool that will save you time by automatically uploading and publishing your designs to up to 9 print on demand platforms.
If you sell on more than one print on demand platform, then this is the upload tool for you.
All you’ll need is a spreadsheet with all your designs and listing information.
Export it onto Merch Titans and you’re good to go.
Merch Titans works with Merch by Amazon, RedBubble, TeeSpring, Zazzle, Printful, Society6, TeePublic, and Spreadshirt.
It also works with other integrations like Shopify.
LazyMerch
LazyMerch is another upload automation tool.
Similar to Merch Titans, you’ll be able to upload your designs onto different print on demand platforms in one go.
Users will be able to edit their listings from within the tool.
They’ll also be able to update your designs to fit the dimensions and format needed by different print on demand platforms.
If you have a PNG design, LazyMerch will be able to convert it into a book design from within the tool.
Print on Demand Tools for Conversion Optimization
Having a print on demand business is great and exciting, however, it’s important that you are able to turn your target audience into paying customers.
Print on demand tools for conversion optimization are a great resource that will help you create a personalized shopping experience for each of your customers.
Attraqt
Attraqt works with AI to have your products delivered to your customers no matter what stage of the buying journey they are in.
By optimizing the customer journey, you’ll be able to know what your customers want at different stages.
Whether they are just curious and searching or whether they have already bought the products and are looking to repurchase, you’ll be able to capture their attention and interest with your carefully placed product.
This is one of the best print on demand tools for sellers who have their own websites since it will be able to make changes to your site speed, site design, and help with your overall engagement.
Attraqt will also sort and rank your products and help with various campaigns.
Barilliance
Barilliance personalizes and automates up-sells and re-sells depending on what stage of the buying journey a customer is in.
For print on demand sellers working with their own websites, you’ll be able to segment your visitors based on certain factors.
This segmentation will help when you are trying to target them to buy certain products or you are trying to get them to buy again.
Barilliance will also create personalized emails to your dormant and anonymous customers who had shown interest in buying but didn’t really follow through.
Apart from all this, they’ll create social proof messaging for your customers and help with your retention marketing.
Apptus
Apptus is a print on demand tool that helps users understand their customer’s behaviors and preferences.
You’ll be able to predict what your customers want to buy and personalize your messages to capture their attention.
Their eSales solution helps businesses grow faster across different markets and that means they have higher conversion rates.
Being able to detect patterns and trends is important when selling print on demand products online.
Why You Need Print on Demand Tools
Print on demand tools are necessary for your success, however, you don’t need all of them.
When getting started, assess your greatest needs and get tools to help with those areas.
If you have the skills to perform some of these functions, then you won’t need tools.
For example, if you are skilled at design, then you probably won’t need Canva since you’ll be able to create your own designs.
Your budget will also dictate which tools are necessary and which tools you can function without.
In our experience, design, research, and marketing print on demand tools are very important.
With good research, you’ll be able to create designs and listings that your audience wants to see.
You’ll find the right keywords that people are actually searching for.
You’ll be able to get into the right niches that are interesting to you and have a sizable market.
Research is a must-have in any business, whether print on demand or otherwise.
If you are a Merch by Amazon sellers, there are several merch research free options you can look into.
Design is also important to a print on demand business.
Being a visual business, the type and quality of your designs will determine your sales.
Do your designs capture your audience’s attention?
Are they of high quality and are they created with your chosen niche in mind?
The right print on demand tools will not only make your work easier but will also help you stay ahead of the competition.
