Teepublic Review – Print-On-Demand Marketplace for Creators
If you’re a digital artist or a passionate creator, you might be interested in turning your designs into tangible products that you can sell online.
That’s where Teepublic comes in. As a print-on-demand platform, Teepublic allows creators to upload their designs and sell them on various products, including t-shirts, phone cases, posters, and more.
So, in this blog post, we’re going to review Teepublic and everything it has to offer for creators like you.
What is Teepublic?
TeePublic is a print-on-demand marketplace where artists can sell their designs on a variety of products, from t-shirts to phone cases, and home decor items etc.
This model allows creators like me to sell their artwork on a variety of products without investing in inventory or worrying about logistics or customer support.
Here’s how it works: when a customer purchases a product with an artist’s design on Teepublic, the order is sent to one of Teepublic’s fulfillment centers.
The design is then printed onto the product and shipped directly to the customer.
The artist earns a royalty from the sale, and Teepublic handles all the customer service and returns.
This model eliminates the risk of unsold inventory and the hassle of fulfillment, allowing artists to focus on their craft and creativity.
Teepublic’s user-friendly platform and wide range of product offerings make it an ideal choice for creators looking to venture into the world of print-on-demand.
How Much Money Can You Make on Teepublic?
The amount of money you can make on Teepublic depends on the amount of effort you put into it.
The more designs you upload, the more sales you can generate and the higher your earnings potential will be.
Teepublic’s royalty is set at a fixed rate, distinguishing it from other print-on-demand platforms that allow users to customize pricing according to their preferences.
In general, you make 18%-22% from each sale.
TeePublic classifies creators into two categories: Artisans and Apprentices.
Artisan Accounts are typically held by artists who create unique and attractive products that are likely to catch the attention of customers browsing through the TeePublic Marketplace.
This can include both established top sellers and newcomers just starting out. What they all have in common is their emphasis on originality and quality, which is reflected in their designs.
As an Artisan, you earn $0.25 – $4 from Apparel, Home Goods, and accessories sales and $1,50 – $21 from print sales
On the other hand, Apprentice Accounts are typically used by artists who may be less selective about their designs. These designs are less likely to attract the attention of customers in the marketplace. Artists with these accounts may focus on automated content, or they may produce content in high volumes, occasionally even spamming the marketplace. They may also be artists who haven’t uploaded enough unique art to distinguish themselves from other creators.
As an Apprentice, you earn $0.25 – $3 from Apparel, Home Goods, and accessories sales and $1,50 – $21 from print sales
The category of an account is not solely determined by the number of sales it generates.
Read more about the earnings breakdown from here: https://www.teepublic.com/earnings
Earn More by Joining The Affiliate Program
TeePublic also offers an affiliate program that allows users to earn commissions by referring customers to the platform. It is a great way for artists and creators to make more money on the side.
With this program, you have the opportunity to earn up to 31% commission on sales of your own designs and up to 11% on designs created by other artists. You can use social media, email campaigns, or your own website to refer people to the Marketplace.
However, I can say from many years of experience that this is much more difficult than it sounds. It takes a lot of effort, consistency, and dedication to build an audience that will respond positively to your promotions.
But if you’re willing to put in the time and energy, it can be a lucrative option.
What Sells on Teepublic?
The most successful Teepublic sellers are those who create high-quality, unique designs that appeal to a broad audience. T-shirts, stickers, mugs, and phone cases are all popular items on the platform.
T-shirts, in particular, are very popular due to their universal appeal and the endless possibilities for design variations.
To maximize your sales, it’s advisable to focus on niches that you’re passionate about or have extensive knowledge of.
This could range from hobbies, pets, activism, fitness, to elements of pop culture.
The key is to create designs that resonate with your target audience. When you manage to tap into their interests and passions, your products are more likely to captivate and convert them into customers.
Remember, success in this space often comes from originality and understanding your customer base.
Marketing Your TeePublic Store
Marketing is not necessary when selling on Teepublic. However, building an audience increases the likelihood of selling more. Sales will still occur without marketing too, but if you are interested and are committed, here are some tips on what you can do.
Firstly, social media is one of the most effective tools for promoting your print-on-demand products.
Platforms like Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, and Twitter allow you to showcase your designs in a visually appealing way and engage directly with potential customers.
Regular posts about new designs, sales, or behind-the-scenes glimpses into your creative process can help keep your audience engaged and interested.
Another powerful marketing tool is email marketing. By building an email list, you can send regular updates and exclusive offers directly to your customers’ inboxes. This helps to build a personal connection and encourages repeat purchases.
You could also consider collaborations with other designers or influencers in your niche. This can help to expose your brand to a wider audience and attract new customers.
Remember, successful marketing requires consistency and creativity. Keep experimenting with different strategies and analyzing what works best for your unique brand and audience.
Is Teepublic Worth The Effort?
Just like on any new print-on-demand site, building a substantial library of designs takes time.
When it comes to selling art online, it’s all about striking the right balance between quality and quantity.
You need quantity to reach more people and quality to make people actually pay for the product.
For those who might be considering signing up with TeePublic, I think the key takeaway here is that if you are willing to invest some time and effort in learning about the platform, creating designs that customers will love, and optimizing your listings for SEO, then TeePublic could be a great option for you.
That said, it is important to remember that whether you are selling on TeePublic or another marketplace, it can take months or even years to build up a steady income.
Be patient and understand that overnight success never happens in this field. But with the right strategy and a bit of hard work, you might be able to make Teepublic into a viable source of income.
If you do go down this path, I recommend setting realistic expectations and understanding that success is never guaranteed. Don’t be afraid to test out different strategies and see what works best for you!
Tips To Selling Designs on Teepublic
If you want to succeed in selling your designs on Teepublic, it’s important to take your time and pay attention to the details.
- Firstly, make sure you maximize your SEO by carefully keywording and captioning your designs. This will ensure your products are more likely to appear in search results.
- You should add your main keyword to the title and description as well.
- Take your time to come up with descriptive and accurate captions that not only include your main keywords but also highlight the unique selling points of your design.
- It’s also important to take your time in the product setup process, making sure your designs look great on the products
- Finally, use Google Trends to research what’s popular today, and put your own spin on those themes to make your designs stand out.
With these tips in mind, you’ll be on your way to success as a Teepublic designer.
Redbubble-to-Teepublic Store Import
This is awesome! If you already have a store on Redbublle, you can easily import your library of designs to TeePublic!
This feature helps speed up the process of getting started on the platform and makes it easier to get up and running quickly.
However, it only works if you make a brand new store on Teepublic and don’t already have one.
Find out more from here: https://www.teepublic.com/blog/how-to-use-our-redubble-store-importer
Pros and Cons of Selling Art on Teepublic
Selling on TeePublic can have its advantages and disadvantages. Here are some of them:
Pros:
- Ease of Use: TeePublic’s platform is user-friendly. It is easy to upload designs and set up a shop.
- No Upfront Costs: There are no upfront costs or fees associated with starting a shop on TeePublic.
- Automatic Fulfillment: TeePublic handles the printing, shipping, and customer service, leaving creators free to focus on design and promotion
- Product Prices: The products offered on this site are more affordable compared to many other print-on-demand platforms, making it an appealing choice for new customers.
- Store Import from Redbubble: Redbubble users can easily import their entire store of designs to TeePublic
Cons:
- Profit Margins: Since the pricing is fixed, you are unable to set your own prices and optimize your profits.
- Dependence on Platform: Your shop is dependent on TeePublic’s platform. Any changes they make could potentially impact your shop.
- Less Traffic Than Others: The traffic on the Teepuplic website is currently only 3.6 million visitors per month, which is relatively low compared to Redbubble, for example, which receives approximately 29 million visitors per month.
Please remember that experiences may vary and what works well for one person might not work as well for another.
My Personal Experience With Teepublic
As someone who has vast experience in selling stock photos, illustrations, and videos, I was hesitant to start selling POD designs on Teepublic.
I initially had my reservations about my ability to make good designs, but I decided to give it a shot. I managed to create 34 designs, which I added to my Teepublic store during spring 2023.
To my surprise, I made some sales, which is impressive considering that it usually takes a lot more content to start seeing any results when selling stock images.
This has encouraged me to create even more designs, and I’m looking forward to improving my skills as a print-on-demand designer on Teepublic.
Even though this is just a side project for me at the moment, I can already see the potential it holds as a platform that allows me to showcase my creativity and earn additional income.
Conclusion
Teepublic is a good print-on-demand platform for designers who are looking to start selling their designs. It’s easy to use, and you can even make some sales without having a huge portfolio of designs.
However, there are drawbacks that must be taken into consideration. The profit margins may not be as high as other platforms, and the traffic is limited compared to larger POD sites like Redbubble.
That being said, with a bit of effort and creativity, it is possible to make money through Teepublic even if you are just starting out. I personally recommend this platform for anyone looking to sell their designs and spread their message!
It’s also important to remember that there is no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to selling designs online. Finding the right platform for you may take some experimenting, so don’t be afraid to try out different options until you find something that works best for your needs. Good luck!
Hello
First of all sry for the English, a nice translator helps me^^.
To teepublik. How long does it take until a design is published? I have registered there and uploaded a few things. When I search for the latest designs for e.g. mobile phone covers after 24 hours, nothing is displayed on the first 10 pages. So how visible are you, even if only briefly? Without your own marketing, this doesn’t really help newcomers.
Greetings
Karsten
Hi Karsten,
The design should be online soon after publishing it. However, it may take some time to rank on the search results. It’s just how search engines work.
Also, If there are already a lot of designs for the same theme then your design may never come very high on the search results. That’s why it is important to research keywords and find out less-covered themes.
Be patient and keep on uploading new stuff. That is the key. You should have hundreds of design to start getting consistent sales. That’s just the nature how it works when selling stuff online.
Then you can do your own marketing on social media etc if you like and have an audience there.
Hello Jarmo
The problem was that my design was visible in my shop but when I searched on the general teepublic site with my keywords, nothing was found. There is the filter latest design. Nothing was displayed there for weeks. My research on the net led me to people who have the same problem with teepublic. I am familiar with POD sites but I had never experienced anything like this.
I deleted myself from there a few days ago. You have to try to make the best use of your time and resources. And I no longer had a good feeling that teepublic was right for me.
Greetings
Karsten
Hi Karsten,
I still believe that your design just hasn’t been long enough on the site to be ranked on the search. That’s how all search engines work. Sometimes it takes months to rank and sometimes it takes just days.
I get sales with only 34 designs in my Teepublic portfolio so obviously it works for me.
But if you think Teepublic is not your thing, I totally get it. It is better to find something you feel comfortable with. =)