One of the key factors that separate successful print-on-demand (POD) sellers from those who struggle is the ability to find niches with low competition and high demand. Here’s a comprehensive guide to help you excel in your POD business by identifying such niches.
Step 1: Avoid Common Mistakes
Common Mistake: Copying Popular Designs Many new sellers make the mistake of trying to replicate designs they see in popular stores like Walmart or Target. By the time you notice these trends, the market is likely saturated. Instead, focus on finding less obvious niches that still have strong demand.
Step 2: Use a Research Tool
Tool Recommendation: Merch Informer Using a research tool like Merch Informer can take the guesswork out of niche research. Merch Informer gathers sales and search data from Amazon, helping you find what’s trending and what has low competition.
Merch Informer Key Tools:
- Trending Phrases: Shows what people are searching for on Amazon.
- Movers and Shakers: Highlights designs that have seen a sudden increase in sales.
- Competition Checker: Evaluates the competition level of a niche and assigns a grade from A to F.
Step 3: Research Trending Phrases
Navigate to the “Trending Phrases” section under keyword research in Merch Informer. Focus on three-word and four-word phrases for longer-tail keywords. These are more likely to have lower competition compared to single-word phrases.
Example Searches:
- Special Education
- Higher Education Administration
- Educational Psychology
Step 4: Analyze Movers and Shakers
The “Movers and Shakers” section helps you identify designs that are currently trending. This can give you insights into seasonal trends and popular themes.
Example Findings:
- My Golden Retriever is My Valentine
- I’m Not Like Other Girls, I’m Worse (with opossum graphics)
- Vacation and cruise shirts
- Programming-themed shirts
Step 5: Validate Niches with the Competition Checker
Use the competition checker to validate your niche ideas. This tool will help you determine if a niche has high demand and low competition.
Example Validation:
- Searching for “teacher” niche might result in a grade F due to high saturation.
- Searching for “Morse code” might result in a grade A indicating low competition.
Step 6: Ensure Trademark Safety
Before finalizing your design, check for trademarks using the Trademark Electronic Search System (TESS). This will ensure you don’t infringe on any existing trademarks.
Example Check:
- Phrase: “I’m Not Like Other Girls, I’m Worse”
- Result: No trademarks found, safe to use.
Step 7: Create Your Design
Using tools like Merch Informer’s design suite or Creative Fabrica for graphics can streamline the design process.
Example Design Process:
- Download relevant graphics
- Use Merch Informer’s design suite to combine your phrase and graphics.
- Ensure your design is aesthetically pleasing and aligns with the trend.
Step 8: Upload and Optimize Your Listings
Finally, upload your design to your print-on-demand platform (e.g., Merch by Amazon, Etsy, Redbubble, Printify ). Make sure your listings are optimized with the right keywords to attract your target audience.
