Month: February 2023

Categories
Creator success

7 Powerful Tips For Making Money on TikTok in 2023

TikTok is quickly becoming the go-to platform. With an effective strategy, and armed with the right tools, there’s a LOT of money to be made on TikTok by Spring creators. Before we dive in with proven strategies, let’s check some boxes. 

To start making money on TikTok you must:

  • be at least 18 years of age
  • be based in the US, UK, France, Germany, Spain, or Italy
  • have a minimum of 10,000 followers (but only 1,000 for Virtual Gifts)
  • have 100,000 video views in the past 30 days
  • adhere to the TikTok Community Guidelines and terms of service

What if I don’t have 1,000 followers? 

Perhaps we’re getting ahead of ourselves. Before we give you some money-making strategies, here are some basic key elements that will help you gain followers:

Unlike Instagram or Snapchat, TikTok is way more personal. Authenticity wins the game here, which means be yourself. Post a steady stream of content, go live often, and interact with your followers as the REAL YOU. 

And making money on TikTok will be easier if you Find Your Niche. Browse through the communities you feel you best fit and engage with their content. That way, TikTok now knows what content interests you, which means once you post, TikTok will show your content to the appropriate audience. 

Most importantly, Have Fun. People who only do things for money rarely succeed. Passionate people make others passionate – that’s the definition of a “fan” and when your passions are clear, the fans will come. 

Now, on to the tips.

1. Consider Running Ads

You might consider placing ads in your videos if you’re willing to spend a little to expand your content’s reach. You can easily set it up with TikTok Ads Manager. TikTok lets you personalize your ad targeting by location, interest, age, etc. Plus, you can select the best format for your brand. The most popular types of TikTok ads include:

In-feed video: These appear on the “For You” page of the TikTok users you prefer to target. 

Brand takeover: This allows your ad to expand to the width of the whole screen for a few seconds before becoming an in-feed video ad.

Don’t oversaturate your audience with ads! Show a good chunk of your content first and consider backloading your ads so you don’t lose viewers right away. 

2. Sell Branded Merch with Spring

Whether you’re a singer, dancer, or just showcasing your fashion, you’re really selling yourself. Many successful creators don’t just sell standard products, they design custom products.

Brand your merch. Customizing your designs gives your fans a personal connection to you and your brand. Plus, every follower that wears (or uses) your merch spreads the word about your brand out in the “real world.” 

Create a TikTok Business account, if you don’t already have one, and then connect SPRING to your account. With our TikTok integration, you can connect your virtual store and showcase your items directly on the platform. Here’s a quick low-down on our TikTok integration tool.

3. Go Live and Collect Virtual Gifts

If you’re livestreaming, Live Gifting is one of TikTok’s most useful features for creators looking to monetize their content.

TikTok is the only social network that allows followers to send Virtual Gifts in real time, which can be redeemed for payment. This is great for building relationships with fans because they develop a personal stake in your success. 

Here are a few tips to help get the most out of going live on TikTok:

  • Pick the right time. Go live when most of your followers are online. Check your analytics tab for the best window.
  • Stay live longer. Most only watch a portion so staying on longer means more people will catch some of it. 
  • Post a video during your livestream. Viewers will see your link, which in turn grows your views. 
  • Use TikTok hashtags. Use relevant hashtags to increase the reach of your videos. 

4. Partner with Influencers & Other Brands 

One of the most creative ways TikTok lets its creators make money is through its Creator Marketplace. It’s a useful tool for connecting the right brands to the right influencers, allowing partnerships to form while creating valuable sponsored content. You can also connect with other creators whose audience will be a good fit with your brand.

5. Try Affiliate Marketing

Score some sponsorships. Plug products for others. They’ll pay! Approach companies that you are already plugging or would like to. Promote products that you like, trust, and that will appeal to your audience. Share links or codes to track any purchases so that you receive your commission. 

6. Offer Fan subscriptions

You might consider using a creator-based subscription platform like Patreon. You can charge whatever you want, even as low as $1 a month. That’s an easier sell to a new fan. And as your fans grow, so do your dollars! 

Patreon also allows you to offer exclusive content to your subscribers. Use TikTok to promote the membership, and to keep fans invested, you can hold merch giveaways and provide exclusive content. Add the link to your Patreon page to your bio or in your videos. 

7. Join the TikTok Creator Fund

Already have a decent following? You might consider making money through the TikTok Creator Fund. This is basically money the platform has put aside to reward valuable users for their standout content. Any money they give out is based on the size of your audience, engagement with your posts, and other factors.

If you’d like to apply to the TikTok Creator Fund, apply through your account settings under Creator Tools.

There really are a variety of ways to monetize your content on TikTok. Start with a few of the tips above and see what works for you and your brand.  

Categories
Creator success Creators

8 Ways to Increase Traffic to Your Website

So you have a webs​​ite. Now it’s time to get people to engage with it! When it comes to building a community and generating interest in your website, you need traffic—an inflow of internet browsers who find and click on your content. Luckily, there are lots of steps you can take to get your website discovered. Here are 8 solid ways to increase your traffic! 

1. Optimize For Speed & Mobile View

It feels silly kicking off our list with something technical, but it is essential to start off with the right tools. Your readers aren’t going to sit around waiting for your website to load. They’ll click out of the page and move on to someone else’s site faster than you can say “competitor.” 

First, check your site speed. If you want to know your speed score or get any additional tips, use Google’s Page Speed Insights tool. 

Second, embrace mobile. People spend at least three hours a day on their tablets or phones. Your website needs to look good on a small screen. WordPress plugins help create versions of webpages that have been optimized for mobile: 

2. Know Your Niche & Target Strategically 

You have your interests and passions, and that’s awesome. Make sure there’s an audience for it, or change direction to meet the closest audience to what you’re going for. Ex: You love hiking and skiing, but your ideal audience is interested in skiing. Also, readers are more likely to keep returning to a website that is specific and has something relevant to say and is enjoyable to read. 

Here are tips to strategically reach your audience: 

  1. Find your peeps and engage. Spend time in online communities where your target audience lives. Understanding your audience will greatly help you build referral links from relevant websites, too! Post blog comments or links when appropriate. Leave comments on other blogs. Don’t be spammy. Offer to write for other bloggers and be their guest and for them to be your guest in return. In both cases it will drive more traffic to you. 
  2. Use Google Analytics. Once you know where your audience lives, use Google Analytics to see which websites the referral traffic is mostly coming from. 
  3. Go evergreen and do it more often. This means creating content that won’t become irrelevant over time. Ex: A blog about the Grammys coming up next month vs. the best songs that never won a Grammy. The best content also meets a specific need. You know what your audience wants and loves. Give it to them. Either make it funny & cool or educational & useful. The goal is to create content your audience will want to link to and share. And the more of it you create, the more traffic you’ll get to your website. Update your blog at least twice a week to help drive more traffic to your site. 
  4. Get your content in niche newsletters. Contact the editors. Only reach out with your best content. A great relationship with an editor is key. This will come with time. 
  5. Ask (in a non-spammy way) for more traffic. Humans respond to a CTA (call to action). Ex: Simply ask for a retweet. 

If you’re struggling to find a topic that will get enough eyeballs, enter a relevant keyword into Ahrefs’ free keyword generator tool and switch the tab to Questions.

3. Write Catchy Blog Titles 

Blogs are a great way to drive traffic to your website. Titles are equally important to the body of the blog because the reader will just move on if the headline doesn’t capture their attention or interest. Get crafty. The best titles either promise a solution or promote a big reveal. They compel a “click.” You’ll get views if you’re matching your title to popular searches like “best workout for triceps,” but that’s not enough. Your competition is doing the same. What will make you stand out? Here are some tips:

  1. Specificity. Instead of “Tips on How to Get Dates” try “How To Get More Than One Date A Week.”
  2. Create curiosity. Make them click. Ex: “How to Create the Perfect Blog Title.”  It begs the questions: A perfect blog title? Does that exist? I need one. Let me check it out.

4. Incorporate Keywords and Make Sure You’re Matching Search Intent

Billions search Google every day. Keywords are the linchpins of SEO. Have a keyword strategy for every page on your site. Here are some basics: 

  1. Have one key phrase for each webpage. Use that phrase in the title, the headline, at least twice in the content, in a featured image, and as part of the link to the page. This helps Google to know what your page is about, and in turn leads to more traffic to your site. 
  2. Use long-tail keywords. This is any search phrase of 3+ keywords. The only chance you have of obtaining a top SERP (Search Engine Results Page) spot in Google is targeting a long-tail keyword. Ex: “health drink” is too broad and general but “health drink on a budget” gives you a much higher chance at ranking. Can’t decide which long-tails to use? Put your finalists into the  Google Keyword Planner to see which phrases drive the most traffic, then pick ones that have high volume and low competition. Google will even make suggestions! Lastly, create your content around your final long-tail. Which brings us to:
  3. Match search intent. You will rank high on Google if you create content that will match the most relevant search from your audience.  

5. Include photos and create shareable images

It’s proven that photos and visuals in websites and blogs boost page session times and readership. If you can, include keywords in the Alt image tag on the image or photo. This will boost SEO (search engine optimization) for your site. Remember copyright laws, you can locate royalty-free images from sites like Clipart.com.

Create shareable images. Your audience may want to share your website or blog images. To make this okay, create royalty-free images with tools like Canva, and if you have the budget, use top designers on marketplaces like 99Designs. Or you can simply take your own photos on your phone.

6. Use Links

Whenever you give a shoutout to another company in your post, link out to that company’s page. That company may link back to you. It’s just good business. Readers also notice when someone plays fair and is even (seemingly) selfless. Give more than you take and you’ll probably end up taking more than you give. The way of the universe. 

Internal links. These are links from one page to another but within the same domain. As long as it’s relevant, a link to those pages can help improve their performance in the search engines. 

Build links. There are multiple ways to build links, but one way is guest blogging, meaning writing for other blogs. Use these opportunities to link back to your (relevant) blog posts. 

7. Promote!!!

Social media. Find out which platforms your communities live on. Ex: Facebook groups, Slack channels, or Discord servers, etc. The audience is already interested! Just don’t be that spammer. Before you promote, first join, study the members, their interests, learn the site’s “culture” and rules.

Build an email list. You get search traffic when you rank on google for your target keywords. You’ll get more traffic on future posts if you can get those people to subscribe to your email list. You may rank even higher on Google if some of those people link to your posts. 

Create a newsletter to showcase your blog posts. Those emails you just collected? Send weekly or monthly emails featuring your best content. The best part: these users already know your blog, which means they’ll now explore the rest of your site once there. 

Start with a give-away: a free product, course, etc. Even have an event, such as “Free (insert product here) Tuesdays”  where you give away prizes for comments and shares. Get companies to sponsor these promotions or donate. 

Here are some more quick tips on promoting:

  1. Promote your blog in your email signature and your bio in any online profiles.
  2. Run Ads. This is the most direct way to get more traffic to your website. You will instantly get traffic if you pay for ads on platforms like Facebook, Quora, and Twitter, and use display advertising on relevant websites. 
  3. Add Video. Maximize the impact of your written content with short videos that are entertaining but also informative. 

8. Refresh, Republish, & Retweet Past Content

Every time you share a new blog post link, a good portion of your audience will miss it. Don’t be shy about sharing past content. As long as it’s relevant, readers won’t care. Repeat your tweets. Rewrite your posts. Republish them. Especially if it didn’t rank or land well the first time. Maybe you’ve improved as a blogger, too. Either way, it’s a smart marketing strategy. 

Bonus tip: Have fun with your website. If it feels like Mr. Incredible selling insurance, your vistors will know. But if you feel the passion that made you want to start a site in the first place, your viewers will feel it, too. 
As always, hit us anytime with questions at creatorhelp@spri.ng.

Categories
Creator success Design tips

10 T-Shirt Design Tips (For Shirts That Will Sell)

A common question we hear from our Spring creators is: How do I improve my T-Shirt sales? Our answer is simple: With better designs! 

Don’t worry, you don’t need to be a graphic designer to have solid designs that your fans will want to buy. Spring’s Dashboard has simplified the process to customize products with your designs. All you need to start is a great idea. 

So here are 10 T-Shirt design tips for tees that will sell:

1. Create quality designs.

It goes without saying, but internet shoppers can tell if a design looks professional or thrown together. T-shirts don’t have to include intricate graphic designs (they won’t read that well anyway) but they should look like some thought and intention went into them. We’ve got good news if you’re a complete beginner! There are plenty of free tutorials on YouTube to guide you through the design process if using Photoshop or Illustrator. Check out the channels Jazza and Charlie Pangus.

2. Research popular keywords.

Every creator has a niche that they fit into, and every niche has trending words and phrases people are using and searching for. You’ll want to know what these words are, because if you can use them in your design, you’ll have a better chance of catching some eyes. A free way to do this is to check out other creators in your niche, as well as their fans, and see what words or hashtags they are using. Or, you can pay for premium sites like KWFinder, where you can search for different keywords to see what is trending (anything over 1000 searches a month is a strong showing).

3. Browse other designs for inspiration.

Not sure what to design? Look around. We like to click through Etsy. You can get a ton of inspiration on designs. Go to the search bar, type in your niche, then type shirts. Ex: Rock climbing shirt. You’re looking for 3 things: 

  • Is this type of design something you can create on your own? For instance, quotes or words are easy for T-shirts, while drawings are more involved. 
  • Look at the reviews. If one tee has 800 reviews and another has 57, then you’ll have a good idea of what’s resonating with other shoppers in that niche. 
  • Look at what the actual review is, meaning, is it a 5 star, 4 star, etc. Were people actually happy with the design? If the reviews all complain that the image was too small or it sat too low on the front of the shirt, this information will help you when you design your own tee 
  • Keep in mind “inspiration” doesn’t mean copying someone else. Your design will be rejected for copyright infringement. Make sure it’s your own work or that you have a license if it’s someone else’s work.

4. Design for the calendar.

There is a lot of money to be made during holidays. Add a holiday-spin to your designs for special days like Halloween, Christmas and Valentine’s Day! In fact, almost every month of the year has some sort of special occasion you can design for. And it doesn’t need to be a lot, you can add some pink hearts to a fan favorite item just in time for Valentine’s. Take advantage of these special days because fans are already expecting to buy something new for themselves or as a gift for someone else. 

5. Play with price.

If your sales are sluggish, try dropping the price slightly from the recommended price. Ex: If Spring’s recommended price is $21.99, drop it to $19.99. Why? Sure, your profit margin will be lower, but the number of sales might rise because you’ll be lower-priced than the competition. Keep in mind the quality of your materials, as different fabric blends appeal to different audiences: Classic, Comfort, Premium, Triblend, etc. If you want a high-quality product, like an apparel line that you’re very serious about, you’ll want to go with the Premium tee, for example. If you opt to go with the premium line, adjust your price accordingly.

6. Placement matters.

This is not a hard and fast rule, but for new designers, using a tall rectangle on the front of the t-shirt while designing is a good guidepost. What if you’re experienced or just don’t want to use a tall rectangle? Still consider proper placement. Will someone be able to see the design when it’s actually being worn? Keep in mind, fans come in all shapes and sizes! You want to make sure your design is clearly visible on all body types! If you’re not going to use the tall rectangle method, make sure the design is still near the middle of the chest otherwise it could get lost when worn. 

7. Fonts matter.

They convey feelings. They can even change the implied meaning. Ex: I will always find you. If it’s in a cutesy font it has one meaning, but in horror font, it’s quite the opposite. Also, keep fonts big, bold, and easy to read. 

8. Use color wisely.

The colors you use depend on your brand and your audience. For example, you may have fans that would be turned off by bright colors like pink, yellow, or orange. In that case, go with popular neutrals like be black, white, or gray. On the other hand, your audience may want colors that are LOUD. In either case, you need to have contrast. Gray text on a black background does not stand out, but white text on a black background does. Also, don’t forget the base colors of your tee! The color fabric you choose should complement your design. 

9. Make your designs easy to understand.

Your t-shirts are a walking billboard. A stranger walking by has 3 seconds or less to see your shirt and register what it says. Don’t overcomplicate it. Make it easy to read and understand. Don’t make the words too small, and make sure the artwork is clear. Remember: 3 seconds tops. 

10. Design complimentary items.

Your t-shirt can lead to a matching outfit! Design another product like the classic pullover hoodie or leggings with the same or matching design. You’re building your brand! 

Don’t forget to take advantage of Spring’s deep well of design resources, where you can even collaborate with a professional designer! We’re here to help you flourish! 

And as always, hit us with questions anytime at creatorhelp@spri.ng.

Categories
Creators

Celebrate Black History Month With Spring Merch!

Many Spring creators are celebrating the diversity of their fans by creating content that’s both engaging and authentic.

And in honor of Black History Month, we’d like to give a special shoutout to some awesome merch created on the Spring platform! Check ‘em out and help your fellow creators spread the love. 

  1. Black History Month Die Cut Sticker 

This colorful Africa-shaped Die Cut Sticker has a strong vinyl adhesive that’s suitable for outdoor use. Bonus feature: a UV gloss laminate finish will preserve the design so you can enjoy it long after BHM. 

  1. “Cultural” Kente Phone Case 

Display Black Excellence every time you pull out your phone. Cell phone case styles include most generations of iPhone and Samsung.

  1.  Black History Month T-Shirt 

This colorful Black History Month T-Shirt has a slim fit and an intricate all-over design. It’s got high-quality, custom workmanship and is made with a cozy polyester jersey material.

  1. Black History Year Crewneck Sweatshirt

Celebrate black history every month! This classic fit Sweatshirt is a cotton-poly blend and you can get the same design in a short-sleeved Tee so that you can carry the sentiment through every season.  

  1. Afro Pride Black History Month Women’s Long Sleeve 

This classic long sleeve tee is Unapologetically Dope! What all can you spot in the design?

This is just a small sampling of all the fantastic black history merch available on Spring. Happy BHM!

Categories
Creator success News

Expanded Catalog + Faster Shipping for Fans: Amaze and Mad Engine Partner to Drive Creator Success

SAN FRANCISCO, February 7th, 2023 – Amaze Software, Inc. today announced its partnership with Mad Engine, a leading manufacturer and distributor of graphic apparel. Starting this month, Mad Engine will begin to print and distribute apparel and accessories for Amaze Software’s creator platform, Spring. 

Mad Engine’s rigorous quality standards and competitive pricing have allowed the wholesaler to secure partnerships with iconic brands, such as Disney, Target, FYE, and more. Joining Mad Engine’s list of impressive partners, Amaze Software will now be able to provide the same premium products and printing services used by major retailers. 

“This new partnership benefits both Spring creators and their fans alike,” said Aaron Day, CEO of Amaze Software. “Leveraging Mad Engine’s services enables us to maintain higher quality standards, while also improving creator profitability and providing faster turnaround times to the benefit of our creators’ fans.”

Creators will have access to Mad Engine’s broad and flexible catalog, expanding on the wide range of products available to customize and sell. The addition of high-velocity categories, such as pet apparel and access to new brands, allows creators to provide a more diverse line of products and appeal to a wider audience.

Additionally, the partnership will ensure faster production times for apparel and accessories. Mad Engine’s strategically-positioned facilities will also streamline delivery times for all creator products, including custom projects. Faster production and delivery times will help Spring creators increase fan satisfaction and drive repeat customers.   

Thanks to the services Mad Engine will provide, Amaze Software is able to enhance its printing and distribution services, helping creators achieve even greater success on its Spring platform. This partnership is the first of many strategic plans Amaze Software will be rolling out in 2023 to support the growth and improvement of its offerings.

About Amaze Software  

Amaze Software, Inc. is an all-in-one, end-to-end commerce solution for any creator looking to generate sustainable monetization and depth of community connection. Our creator success solutions include a merchandising platform, advanced commerce design application, and scalable managed services that helps anyone sell anything, anywhere. 

We believe anyone can be a creator and that everyone should be empowered to tell their unique story, cultivate deeper connections with their customers, and create authentic, shoppable experiences that allow them to monetize their passion. 

We’re on a mission to unleash potential and make it easy to create, share, and sell products and services. Learn more about Amaze Software and www.amaze.co and start a free store at www.spri.ng.

For press inquiries, please email us at info@amaze.co.

About Mad Engine 

Mad Engine is a leading global apparel and accessories company that caters to all genders and sizes across a full range of licensed, private label, branded, and influencer/celebrity products. With an evolving omni-channel distribution network, Mad Engine services direct-to-consumer, e-commerce, mass retail, mid-tier, department stores and specialty retail. Mad Engine has facilities dedicated to design, innovation, customer service, sales, sourcing, quality assurance, and distribution strategically located around the world. For additional info, visit: https://www.madengine.com

Categories
Creator success Creators

How to Become a Successful Content Creator

Spring’s mission is to help creators sustainably monetize their business and become successful. We’ve seen creators with a small following grow their community and bring in thousands every month. We’ve also seen creators with mid-size followings earn next to nothing for all of their hard work. 

So what does it take to become a successful content creator? Read on below to learn the five most impactful steps we’ve seen creators take to earn a bigger payout. 

1. Target 🎯 your audience

First, being a content creator means you are in business for yourself. And when you’re creating content for social media, it is vital to the success of your business to know your target audience. Who will connect emotionally with your brand? Don’t say “everyone” because that could end up being “no one.”

The hard part isn’t grabbing people’s attention–it’s keeping it. You can engage your audience by knowing and producing the type of content that benefits your target audience.

How to do this? Visit the socials of other creators you feel are similar to you and your brand and scroll through their engaged followers. Who else do they follow? If you were to reach these followers, what type of content would you create?

2. Choose a platform

Knowing your brand and target audience will guide you to the appropriate platform. 

It’s great exposure for your brand to be on all platforms, but it’s not always practical. In the content game, depth is better than breadth. Plus, not all social media platforms are created equal— some are better for photos, like Instagram and Pinterest, and others for videos, such as YouTube and TikTok. 

If your core audience is on LinkedIn, it may not benefit you to hustle on TikTok. You know your brand better than anyone, so think about where your content will fit best. 

3. 📣 Create your brand voice

A brand voice is unique to you. It’s your personality, the language you use, and how you use it.

What is the voice you currently use to speak to your audience? What voice should you use? You may need to conduct informal surveys to determine what is working and what isn’t regarding your content and style. Finding your unique and authentic voice takes time, but once you hit on it, fans will follow. 

4. Build your fanbase

Now it’s time to grow your following. Here’s a hint: it helps if being your fan is fun. Whether you’re gaming, explaining, complaining, or entertaining, if fans enjoy what you’re doing, then your fanbase will grow.

Here are some other tips:

  • Collaborate with others for cross-marketing
  • Run contests and giveaways
  • Continuously post new content! The more often you post, the more people you engage. 

5. Monetize!

Sure, you can make money off your fanbase on your socials, but you can make even more money by selling merch to your fans. Customizing your products is the gift that keeps giving because you can keep offering fans something new. 

When people wear your merch, it spreads the word and creates more demand. That’s a great place to be! Plus, you can offer promotions on your social channels to drive sales at opportune times. The best part? You can do all this easily with Spring, and it’s free. 

Here’s how:

  • Create a free account here
  • Choose from 180+ products to customize 
  • Connect your social accounts 
  • Promote your launch 
  • Show off a sample to your community

In short…

Finally, the question that’s been on your mind all this time. Will becoming a content creator pay off? Can I make money? 

Whether you live content creation or you’re a part-timer, there’s definitely revenue potential. It will take some time before you start seeing fruits (just like with any other business), but if you’re disciplined and you improve and expand your skills continuously, there’s a market for you. 

To give you an idea, Spring creators made just over $1.2 billion in 2022! 

So take our advice and stick with your passion. It will pay off. 

Check out our blog for more creator success tips.