I’m going to be sharing with you the seven most common mistakes that new print-on-demand sellers make. I see these mistakes time and time again, and some of these mistakes can even get your account banned. So, if you are just getting into print-on-demand,  I think you’re going to find it very helpful.

Choosing General Niches

The fifth mistake is choosing niches that are too general. General popular niches like dogs, cats, tacos, and coffee are very competitive. Instead, focus on sub-niches where there is less competition.

Not Customizing Designs Enough

The third mistake is not customizing designs enough. Now, many people use T-shirt design templates. While these templates are useful, you must customize them to make them unique. Change the colors, fonts, and graphics. If you upload the template as is, it could be a duplicate of what someone else has already uploaded, which won’t help you stand out.

Infringing on Trademarks

The sixth mistake is infringing on trademarks. This can get your account banned. Ensure that your designs, titles, and descriptions don’t include any trademarks or copyrighted content. Always check your slogans and designs for trademarks before uploading.

Expecting Sales Overnight

The first mistake that I see new print-on-demand sellers make is expecting sales overnight. This is probably the most common mistake, and I don’t blame anyone for this. When you’re starting a business, you want to start making money as soon as possible, but you might not know what the timeline looks like. Typically, the average time to start seeing sales is about 30 days from when you start posting your designs. However, I’ve seen people get sales in the first few days, especially if they hit a trending niche.

Not Uploading Enough Designs

The second mistake is not uploading enough designs. Think of print-on-demand as fishing: the more lines you have in the water, the more fish you can catch. Some people focus on creating one perfect design, but it’s better to upload as many good designs as you can. This diversifies your portfolio and increases your chances of making sales. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.

Uploading Designs Too Quickly

The fourth mistake is uploading your designs too quickly. If you flood your account with designs, especially as a new seller, print-on-demand platforms might flag your account as spam. Start slowly by uploading one design per day and gradually increase the number. This helps establish you as a genuine user.

Not Using Keywords

The seventh mistake is not using keywords in titles and descriptions. Keywords help your designs get found in search results. Make sure to include relevant keywords that describe your design accurately. This will help your designs rank higher and get seen by more potential customers.