Setting Up Your Very Own “Print on Demand” Ecommerce Website

Setting up your own online store can be a daunting task. You have to choose the right platform, design your website, add products, and then hope that people will start buying from you. What if there was a way to set up an online store without all of the hassle? What if you could just print products when someone ordered them? This is where print on demand comes in. In this blog post, we will discuss what print on demand is, how it works, and how you can set up your very own print on demand ecommerce website!

What is Print on Demand?

Print on demand is a process where products are only printed when someone orders them. This means that you don't have to worry about storing inventory or dealing with unsold products. Print on demand is a great option for anyone who wants to set up their own online store but doesn't want to deal with the hassle of traditional ecommerce.

Typically, Print on Demand is more expensive  than traditional manufacturing, but there are no minimum order quantities, so it is a great option for anyone who doesn't want to invest a lot of money upfront. Essentially, you are paying for  the convenience of not having to worry about inventory or minimum order quantities.

How Does Print on Demand Work?

The way print on demand works is simple. When someone orders a product from your online store, the order is sent to a print on demand fulfillment company. The fulfillment company then prints the product and ships it directly to the customer. This means that you never have to see or touch the product!

The best part about it is that most print on demand fulfillment companies allow you to completely brand  the products with your own logo and design. This means that your customers will never know that you are using a print on demand service. They will just think that you are a small business with your own manufacturing process!

Setting Up Your Own Print on Demand Website

Now that we've covered what print on demand is and how it works, let's talk about how you can

set up your own print on demand website.

Choose your print on demand provider

The first step is to choose a print on demand provider. There are a few different options out there, but the two most popular are Printful and Printify. Both of these companies offer high-quality products and excellent customer service.

Some things to look for in a print on demand provider are:

A wide range of products

You want to make sure that the print on demand provider you choose offers a wide range of products. This way, you can offer a variety of products on your website and appeal to a wider audience.

No minimum order quantities

As we mentioned before, one of the great things about print on demand is that there are no minimum order quantities. This means that you can print  one product or one thousand products without having to worry about storage or unsold inventory.

A user-friendly interface

You want to make sure that the print on demand provider you choose has a user-friendly interface. This way, you can easily add products to your website and start selling!

Fees and Pricing

Some print on demand providers charge fees, while others have different pricing structures. Make sure to compare the fees and pricing of each provider before making your decision.

Package Branding

You want to make sure that the print on demand provider you choose offers package branding. This way, your customers will never know that you are using a print on demand service.

Choose your ecommerce website platform

The next step is to choose a platform for your website. Our recommendation is to hire a website development agency such as NFDEVELOPMENT to handle the development and integration of the website and the fulfillment center. Hiring an agency will allow the website to be fully custom, scalable and developed correctly. This will also lift the burden off of your shoulders and leave it up to the experts.

We understand that some small businesses may not have the luxury of hiring an agency and need to DIY their website. In this case, we recommend using platforms such as  Shopify, Etsy, or Woocommerce. These platforms are user-friendly and allow you to get started quickly. However, keep in mind that they are not as custom as working with an agency.

Design and Develop Your Website

Now that you have chosen your platform, it's time to start designing and developing your website. If you are working with an agency, they will handle this for you. However, if you are DIYing your website, make sure that you are designing the website in an ecommerce fashion. Here are a few tips if you are new to designing a website for an ecommerce business:

Choose a theme

Though picking themes will often make your website look  more “cookie cutter,” it will save you a lot of time and energy in the long run. If you are working with an agency, they will be able to design a custom website that is unique to your brand.

Your website should be easy to navigate

Your customer should be able to find what they are looking for in a few clicks. Make sure that your website is easy to navigate and well organized.

Your website should have high-quality product photos

Make sure that you are using high-quality product photos on your website. This will help convert visitors into customers.

Your website should have a strong call-to-action

Make sure that your website has a strong call-to-action. This could be a button that says "Buy Now" or "Add to Cart".

Your website should have product descriptions

Make sure to add product descriptions to your website. This will help your customers understand what they are buying.

Integrate Website and Print on Demand Provider

Once your website is designed and developed, it's time to integrate it with your print on demand provider. This process will be different depending on which print on demand provider you choose. Make sure to follow their instructions carefully. Typically, it's a fairly  easy process and only takes a few minutes to complete. For most providers they will simply ask you to login to your website and connect the API so that they can push products to your store.

It sounds difficult however if you simply Google "How to Integrate <insert website provider here> and <insert print on demand provider here> you should be presented with the instructions.

Add Products

Typically, what you need to do is go to the print on demand provider ’s website, design the products on their website and then "sync" the products to your website. Once the products are added to the print on demand provider and pushed to your website its time to start selling!

Start selling

Once the design and development is finalized and the products  are pushed to your store, it is time to start selling! This is the fun part where you get to see all of your hard work finally come together. We recommend using social media and Google Ads to start driving traffic to your website.

Conclusion:

Print on demand is a great way to sell products without having to worry about inventory or fulfillment. By following the steps above, you will be well on your way to setting up your own print on demand ecommerce website.

If you need help setting up your website, our team at NFDEVELOPMENT can help! Contact us today.