Author: Danielle Pederson

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Creator success

7 Tips to Help You Master Brand Deal Negotiations

Whether you’re a seasoned creator or just getting started, partnering with brands is an important step in monetizing your brand. Whether you’re aiming to utilize strategies like product gifting, paid product collaboration, press trips, or giveaways (if you’re not familiar with these, this is a blog for another time), we can help you navigate the negotiation process with brands. 

First, let’s try to cut out a key component of what could be stopping many of us. Human beings are emotional beings. However, emotion has no place in business (unless of course it aids the sale) and certainly not in negotiations. Knowing this, it’s easy to see why both sides at the negotiating table really need instruction. We’re not claiming you’ll be an expert negotiator after this blog (although you may be), but we’ll give a quick rundown on the basics so you can start getting paid for your hard work! 

Here are 8 tips for negotiating brand deal contracts as a creator, because at the end of the day, a solid contract is the roadmap to a lucrative relationship. 

1. Learn the Value of Your Platform

You’re putting yourself at a disadvantage if you begin negotiating without knowing your platform’s value. Analyze your metrics––likes, comments, shares, views, etc. This includes the demographics and size of your audience. Why do you need to know this? Because it’s the first thing the brand you’re negotiating with is going to research. It’s how they will determine what to offer you. You might as well be ahead of them in the game. However, the numbers alone are not the value of your brand. Your unique perspective and voice is an asset that only you bring to the table. Brands are eager to take risks when they see someone interesting. Never be shy about pointing out these qualities when it comes to discussing potential partnerships. 

2. Incorporate Other Platforms

This is simple. The more platforms, the more audience you can reach, the larger the collaboration, the higher the ROI, the higher rate you can ask. For example, if in addition to YouTube and IG you also have a blog, add the blog post to the campaign, as that content will stick around for years, adding long-term value to the brand. 

3. Research Market Rates

It’s a known practice for brands to undercut in offers. But if you don’t know the market rates, how are you supposed to know if you’re getting a fair deal? Familiarize yourself with market rates for creators. Check out the latest posted rates per platform here. This information is key for you to use as a benchmark in your negotiations. 

Note these calculations depend on a few factors:

  • Engagement rate: The higher your engagement rate, the higher you can raise your rates!
  • Exclusivity: Let’s say you partner with a T-shirt brand and they say you cannot work with other T-shirt brands for 6 months (exclusivity). This could be a loss of income for you, which means you can charge the brand more for exclusivity terms.
  • Rights to content: If brands are going to use your content in the campaign and not give you credit for it, make sure it’s in the contract that you are to be compensated extra for that! 

Remember that rates are never set in stone. If you feel strongly that your audience and content are valuable to a brand, it’s perfectly fine to ask for more than the average rate. You know your value. Stay true to that. 

4. Ask for Compensation if it’s not Offered

Just because a brand doesn’t mention compensation when they reach out to you to be part of their marketing campaign, it doesn’t mean they don’t have a budget. You have to ask. Most won’t even bring it up, because if you don’t have to pay for something, why would you? A nice way to approach compensation might be, “Thank you so much for reaching out to me. This campaign is a great fit for my audience. Does (brand name) have a budget for this?” Attaching your media kit at this stage (including the value you determined in step 1) is a great move. 

If they say they have no budget, it’s up to you if you want to continue with a collaboration. Based on the time it takes to create content (a lot), you must decide if it’s worth it. 

5. Clearly Define the Scope of Work & Deliverables 

Clear communication is the key to everything in life. It really is. What does this brand expect from you? What do you expect from them? Deals fall apart every day because of misunderstandings or miscommunication. Define the scope of your work. Outline the deliverables (this means specifics––Instagram stories, YouTube videos, sponsored posts, etc.). But go even further. Are there content usage rights or exclusivity clauses? Are there any additional requirements from either party’s perspective? When you and the brand both have a clear understanding of what’s expected from the partnership, there is a solid foundation for a working relationship.. 

6. Negotiation is Not to be Feared

People fear this stage. When you switch your attitude and look forward to this stage, you’re ahead of the game. Don’t accept the first offer. Negotiation is not only a part of the process, but most brands expect you to counter. Be professional and respectful. Use clear communication in your reasoning behind your counteroffer. Be open to compromising on a middle number that satisfies both you and them. Negotiating is not just about money. You can negotiate content usage rights, the duration of the partnership, the scope of the work, the list is endless. Just know that negotiation is normal. 

7. Aim for the Long Play

Sometimes we want the big money score, but sometimes it’s good to look at growth opportunities and/or long-term partnerships. Before negotiating, look past the monetary gain and consider the potential of the partnership long-term. Does this brand present opportunities for increased exposure, long-term perks, or ongoing collaborations? In other words, can it result in much higher revenue-stream down the road? If so, you may want to consider a lower rate initially. However, you must clearly communicate your intention of establishing a long-term partnership and mutual growth opportunities before the deal. They must understand you’re accepting the lower rate due to the potential. Being clear about this not only opens the door to a great relationship, but to more lucrative opportunities and a stronger and more diverse portfolio of partnerships in the long run. 

And there you have it. We’re all human. When it comes to negotiating, remember which aspects of humanity to employ and which ones to leave at the door. And as a final reminder, always ensure the brands you’re working with align with your niche & values. Nothing is more human than that. 

Categories
Creator success Design tips

How to take the best product photos for your socials

We are now in the era of social commerce. Product photos are as important now as ever. It really is the deciding factor on whether someone clicks on your post––or not. But as always, Spring has your back. While you can’t do custom product photos on Spring (yet), you’ll want to order a sample so you can take custom photos for your social platforms. 

Here are 11 great tips on how to take the best product photos for your socials. 

1. Native.

Take a photo of the item in its native environment. This means either take a photo of the item with you, or wherever it would naturally be used. For example, if your product is a beach towel, put that baby on some sand. 

2. Natural Lighting.

Lighting is key to great quality. Use natural lighting when possible. This will show off the true colors of the product. It’s easy to become obsessed with the correct lighting equipment but natural lighting not only offers a more cost-effective method but is true-to-life.

NOTE: You can’t control natural lighting. Maybe it’s sunny now and overcast in an hour. In that case, have a cheap lighting kit as a backup but try to combine natural lighting with artificial lighting. If you need to use white bounce boards to get rid of shadows or a diffuser sheet (if the sun is too bright), you may want to invest in those items. 

3. Different angles.

When consumers see a product from multiple angles, they are more likely to imagine themselves using the product. There are many angles to shoot from, but the 6 angles that will serve you best are:

Front

Profile (side)

45-degree

Back

Top (shot from above)

Macro (tight or close-up shot)

4. Flat lay your products with other items.

Associate your products with complimentary items. For example, T-shirts w/ pants and a bag or handbag, or a mousepad near the computer, or a person holding a mug with coffee in it, etc. This form of product photography also helps your brand tease other new products, piquing consumer interest and ultimately driving more traffic to your Spring store.

5. Neutral background.

Still photos work best with neutral backgrounds (white or black for example). When in doubt, use a white background. This is for two reasons:

White backgrounds have great light reflection, meaning you don’t need a huge lighting setup.

White removes distracting or confusing backgrounds, keeping the focus on the only thing that matters––the product. 

6. Know the aspect ratios of your platform.

Different aspect ratios may dictate how you shoot. For example,

Instagram – Keep a Consistent Photography Theme. The types of photos you use on your Instagram profile will impact its visual appeal. There are many Instagram themes that you can use, just ensure your Instagram photos showcase your products in the best way possible. Instagram post sizes are: Landscape: 1080 x 566 pixels Portrait: 1080 x 1350 pixels Square: 1080 x 1080 pixels.

Threads (Instagram’s Twitter twin) – The standard link share image will be cropped to a 2:1 aspect ratio on Threads.This is a little bit wider than link share images on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn, but the same images should work just fine on Threads.

Facebook – Facebook timeline photo and post sizes: FB automatically resizes and formats your photos to be 500 pixels wide and to fit the 1.91:1 aspect ratio. But avoid pixelation or slow load times by remembering these sizes: Recommended size: 1200 x 630 pixels Minimum size: 600 x 315 pixels

LinkedIn – Sponsored content images: 1200 x 627 pixels (1.91:1 aspect ratio) Sponsored content carousel images: 1080 x 1080 pixels (1:1 aspect ratio)

Twitter – Twitter image sizes for in-stream photos: 1600 x 900 pixels (recommended) or any aspect between 2:1 and 1:1 on desktop; 2:1, 3:4 and 16:9 on mobile.

Pinterest – Pinterest image sizes for ads and carousels: App install ads: 2:3 aspect ratio is recommended; 1000 x 1500 pixels recommended. Carousel Pins and ads: aspect ratio of either 1:1 or 2:3. 1000 x 1500 pixels or 1000 x 1000 pixels recommended; Up to 5 images can be included in a carousel. Shopping ads: 2:3 aspect ratio is recommended; 1000 x 1500 pixels recommended.

Snapchat – Snapchat ads image size: 1080 x 1920 pixels (at minimum) Aspect ratio: 9:16.

7. Tools (hardware or apps) you may need. 

Phone – Much cheaper than a professional camera, your smartphone has professional camera tools that can do the job perfectly. 

Tripod or stand – You will be surprised how handy it comes in for certain shots but if you do product shots, it’s a must to keep the camera steady. 

Backgrounds/Backdrops – These are real (not digital) backgrounds/backdrops that you place under and behind your products so that you don’t see a seem, as you would if you simply shot with a white wall behind the product. Worth every penny, considering how essential it is to have certain backgrounds. 

Wireless remote.

Add-on lenses (optional)

Adobe Lightroom app (which has a free version, or you can opt for the paid version which comes with additional features). This allows you to edit your photos, whether it be cropping, coloring, etc. 

Lightricks’ suite of photo editing tools (Facetune, Filtertune, and Photoleap). If you don’t want to invest in paid third-party apps, most smartphones come equipped with some decent native photo-editing tools. Experiment with your phone’s built-in contrast settings, creative cropping, portrait mode, and more to create some stunning effects — without professional photography skills!

8. The Rule of Thirds.

This is a known rule in photography (video or stills). Imagine your image is cut into 9 equal squares, meaning you will have two evenly spaced lines horizontally and the same vertically. 

A red grid showing the rule of thirds grid (two horizontal lines and two vertical lines)

The focus of the photo should be approximately where these imaginary grid lines intersect. If your subject is in the upper right intersection, for example, this would leave the other two thirds of the space open, attracting and drawing the viewer’s interest. Most smartphones have a “rule of thirds” feature that you can activate. If you have that feature, try following these steps: Open Settings > Click Camera. >Toggle on the Grid option under Composition.

For Android: Open the Camera app. > Click Settings. >Turn on Assistive Grid. 

Note: You won’t see the grid on the final photo, only when you take the photo. Keep in mind the rule of thirds is not a universal law. There are occasions when a perfectly centered shot is more appropriate. Use your judgment. 

9. Set your pixels correctly.

To put it bluntly, it doesn’t do you any good to go through all the effort to produce a professional-caliber photo if you don’t set your pixels correctly. For example, a 5 X 7 print on your refrigerator requires a lot less pixels than a giant billboard on a building. Your pixel count tells you how detailed an image will be, and goes hand in hand with photo resolution. Nowhere does resolution matter as much as on social media. The higher the resolution, the more details. Conversely, with a low resolution photo it won’t matter how good your production value was when you took the photo. It will look unprofessional. Crisp images with the highest level of detail is what you’re aiming for. You’ll want at least 10 to 20 megapixels. There are smartphones out there that can shoot up to 40! 

10. Set your white balance.

Based on the light temperature in your setup, touch the WB button on your smartphone, then touch the white background. Check the exposure. Tap the circular Exposure button, then tap your product so the camera knows to expose it.

Keep everything in focus. Now touch the circular Focus button, then tap your product so the camera knows to properly focus on the product. Lock your camera settings. Next, tap each button again to lock the settings in place. This will stop the camera from adjusting settings while you’re taking shots. 

11. #Hashtags.

Regardless of your niche, add relevant hashtags to your posts so that your brand can get the exposure it deserves. In many cases, customers would not have discovered stunning product photos if the creator hadn’t included the hashtag in the post. 

4 LITTLE BONUS TIPS:

Don’t do selfies (you might be in focus, but your product won’t be), don’t use the flash (overexposure), and don’t zoom (lower resolution). These 3 things lower the overall quality of your photos. And the fourth tip is if you’re using a smartphone, go horizontal instead of vertical. Landscapes are easier to crop. You’re welcome.

Start taking your social product photos now! 

Don’t feel obligated to get every piece of equipment right off the bat. Apply these tips gradually to see what paints your products in the best light, and adjust your approach as you improve. Happy shooting! 

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Uncategorized

Amaze Social Wall

Categories
Creator success

5 Powerful Strategies for Promoting Your Fall Merch in 2023

Now that you’ve selected your fall products and designed and launched your merch, it’s time to promote your seasonal collection! 

How you promote your fall products and apparel can determine how much traffic you bring to your store and how many sales you make.

We’ve gone ahead and outlined the best strategies our top performing creators use when promoting their fall merch. Implement these tactics to make this your most profitable season yet!

1. Share on social

This step seems self-evident, but it’s more involved than just adding a link to a post. Some extra steps to consider before we go deeper:

  • Run a fall promotion on best-selling products
  • Use fall hashtags to attract holiday lovers
  • Boost engagement with interactive posts
  • Hold a fall-themed event to showcase your products
  • Have a fall giveaway (especially for Halloween & Thanksgiving, or both)

Social Media is a powerful tool. So it’s worth an even deeper dive. Let’s get into the weeds with some additional tips on how to use your socials to your advantage. 

Provide stellar customer support.

Selling merch to fans brings you profit, sure, but also creates responsibility. When customers spend their money, they expect customer service. To keep them happy, you’ll need to deliver. So how does your customer support help you promote? It happens in the comments for all to see. This is both good and bad. How you react to it is what can make it good. Customers will usually come to you to:

  • Get more info
  • Inquire about products
  • Give feedback
  • Interact with you or engage with your content
  • Give perspective on what they want

Here’s where you get to show off your gold as a brand and creator. When you respond in a positive way, it creates social proof and that creates a positive reputation for all to see. When these interactions are visible, sales go up because you are displaying to your public that you know how to handle complaints and that there’s integrity behind your products. 

Start social listening.

Wouldn’t you find it helpful if you knew who was talking about you and your brand outside of the comments? That’s exactly what social listening is. On social media, all of that data is available to you. This “Social Listening” offers insights, including:

  • Which products customers love the most
  • Problems or issues that occur
  • The overall feeling about your brand 

This is pretty invaluable information. Armed with this data, you can pivot your message to meet their needs/wants, address issues, and jump on opportunities. If you’re interested in social listening tools, here’s a list of some free ones.

Collaborate with others.

A few of the most effective social e-commerce marketing tactics are social proofing products, expanding your reach, and winning new followers. BUT…collaboration has become equally important. Partner with brands and/or other creators who have similar audiences. When you partner, some tactics include promos or high-value giveaways to your respective followers, which will validate your services & products, and multiply sales to a larger social media audience. 

Couple more key tips on collaborating with others:

  • Find influencers that align with your brand and values to collaborate with. 
  • Send them samples to show to their audience. This can amplify your reach and make your merch more relatable and authentic. 

Use videos!

Video is the way of the internet now, making it a very effective promotional tool as it’s how most customers decide what to buy. Consequently, Instagram and TikTok are two of the biggest platforms where paid and organic video content is the best way to engage users. Your video need not be pricey. Don’t go for the special effects or that Hollywood production value. Just speak to your audience, show your personality, and the value of your merch. And bonus points for heading out into nature to enjoy autumn with your fall-inspired merch! 

Use samples in photos and videos.

Order samples and take fans through the purchase process. First, demonstrate unboxing your merch and give your initial thoughts. Second, start wearing or using your merch so fans can see it come alive outside of a boring product image. For example, creator Indeimaus launches a Halloween store called Shocktober every fall and orders samples to show off on social media. Last year, he drove $225,450 GMV From October 2022 – November 2022!

Post user-generated content.

One simple way to promote your merch on your socials is to repost user-generated content. Examples include fans discussing the items they purchased and giving user reviews as well as unboxing your products. Give your fans as much opportunity to share your merch photos and videos on social media as you can. Cultivate it. Encourage it. Ask them to tag you.

One fun example on how to showcase UGC would be to ask fans to snap a pic of themselves wearing your fall merch and “tag me for a chance to win XX”. Reshare their post to your own profile, which means now your content has been social-proofed! This will also show your fans you hear and value them, and make them feel more connected with your brand. 

Be strategic about when you post and do it often.

You want to be prolific when it comes to promoting on social media. It helps you build that following, gain the traction you’re going for, and learn what works. Create a consistent posting schedule (Hint: early morning weekdays are typically best for most platforms).

2. Use email marketing 

Fall is a good reason to try to convert store traffic to sales. There is a great tool to help you do this—Spring’s Boosted Network—a service that helps boost sales by as much as 15% through enhanced promotional efforts, like email marketing. We’ll help keep on top of traffic to your store by sending out product recommendation and cart abandonment emails to past purchasers. To learn more about our Boosted Network click HERE. 

3. Create promo codes

Promo Codes are always a great go-to for any campaign, as they provide incentives for fans to purchase right away or else they’ll lose out on a deal. For a refresher on how to create promo codes, click HERE. 

How do you create FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out)?

  • Limited time promo codes make fans want to act before the time runs out. This especially works when promoting holidays, like Halloween.
  • Limited-edition merch can create an extra sense of urgency. Check out DonMarshall72 and his incredible Lord of the Rings calendar. He lets his fans know he needs to tell his distributor how many calendars to make, so they should join his email list in order to secure one for themselves! (Watch TikTok his video here)
  • Free shipping promo codes also do really well! 

4. Create emotional connections through storytelling

Don’t just post your merch on social media with “buy this.” Tell your fans the meaning behind your designs and product choices. Connect with your audience on a personal level through relatable tales. 

Take a look at Spring creator Trafficconesaxman. He created a shirt that his true fans knew the meaning behind. When promoting it on his socials, he just states, “For those of you who have been following me for a long time, then you know what I’m talking about.” (Watch his TikTok video here)

You can also use fall themes to create narratives that resonate with your audience. For example, explain WHY you created a pumpkin spice latte hoodie – you wanted to capture the warm, delicious feelings you get when you indulge in your favorite fall treat – rather than just posting your design and telling fans to go and buy it. 

5. Use Spring shelf integrations

We could have easily put this one under social media, but it merits its own section. Integrating your digital store with your social media pages nowadays is a must. No other tip on this list will be as important. You want to make it simple for your fans to bounce back and forth between your site and social platforms. And Spring makes it simple for you. 

You can use the Integrations Tab on your Dashboard to activate and customize your products on Instagram, YouTube, Twitch, Instagram, and others. This way, fans will be able to see the items on your merch shelf within the platform. And it’s just one click for them to get to your store to purchase. 

Need a basic refresher on how? Click  HERE, or also HERE. 

And here’s a fun fact: Creators who use the YouTube merch shelf integration earn 20xs more on average than those who don’t. Once you connect your Spring store to YouTube, you can also tag merch directly in your Shorts and Lives to make it easier for fans to shop!

Fall is upon us and we’re here for it! Happy promoting and have a Fall-tastic season!

Categories
Creator success

How to Generate Multiple Revenue Streams as a Creator

Many creators dream about quitting their day jobs and being able to earn enough money through their content. But very few actually can.

Only 12% of full-time creators earn more or around $50K a year, while 46% make less than $1K a year.

However, don’t let those numbers discourage you. If you take the time to hone your craft and learn how to get money from your hard work, then you can join the small percent (7%) of creators earning over $100K a year.

From crafting your digital presence to forming collaborations, monetizing your creations, and sealing the deal with brands, our guide has got you covered. But first, let’s cover a few basics. 

Content Creators vs Influencers: What’s the Difference?

So you’ve probably heard the terms “content creator” and “influencer” thrown around a lot, and most confusingly, used interchangeably. Yes. They are similar. But there is a key difference between the two.

A “content creator”, or “creator” is anyone who creates content (digitally or sometimes even physically, like Spring creators). An “influencer” is a personality who influences their audience to purchase the products or services they promote (which also encompasses some Spring creators).

It’s easy to see why there is so much overlap between the two as most influencers and creators have a great blend of content creation, promotion, and personal branding. If you’re a new Spring creator, you can be both as well!

How Much Money Do Influencers and Content Creators Make?

The short answer is it depends on a number of factors, including your niche, experience, and strategy. Plus the creator industry is still somewhat young, so there is no one-size-fits-all rule for pricing––again, influenced by strategy, experience, and niche.

But there is a statistic that might shed some insight for you: According to Creator Rates Report, 44% of creators have earned over $200 USD from a single Instagram Reel so far in 2023.

So, there is money to be made from content you make and promote, and there are numerous ways to earn it. 

Here are 11 ways how: 😉💰

#1: Build Your Social Media Following Across Multiple Channels

If you’re brand new to this, just focus on one social channel. It’s a great way to engage and build your community. Starting with multiple channels spreads your focus too thin. At first! But once you begin to build your community, cutting out the other platforms limits your reach and ability to make more money.

What you want to do at that point is what is called cross-promotion. Let’s say, for example, your main platform is Instagram. Repurpose your Reels for other social platforms like YouTube and TikTok. This is the beginning of building something big across multiple channels and opening yourself to another level of potential ad revenue, brand opportunities, and partnerships. 

#2: Collaborate With Other Creators and Influencers

Learn which creators and influencers are also in your niche. Team up with them. It’s a great way to engage and leverage followers and more importantly, make more $$$. Put out online courses. Launch products. Do Instagram Collabs (which means it shows up on both of your socials). Or host an Instagram giveaway. Or all of the above. Sky’s the limit.

Note: Another benefit to IG collabs: You’ll share likes, comments, views, and communities, which is why it’s important you both belong to the same niche. Because when speaking to the same target audience, you’re increasing exposure and revenue at the same time! 

#3: Sell Products & Merch

We don’t need to tell you how powerful social media is when it comes to putting your products in front of potential customers. It’s not just about selling one product to one person. That one person will showcase your product to others and so on. Hoodies, T-shirts, hats, mugs, totes, phone cases and so on, the opportunities are endless.

If you know your niche and community, your followers will be excited to support you because they love your products and your messaging. Many times your followers become ambassadors!

Make sure you create a mailing list and newsletter––it’s a perfect way to communicate the promotions you’re running as well as restocks, product launches, and so on. 

#4: Put Exclusive Content on Patreon

If you already have an established online community, with a paid Patreon membership your followers can access exclusive content. The key word here is exclusive, meaning they won’t find it anywhere else.

This content can even drive your followers to other places like your Spring store. With reward tiers valued at $10, $5, and $2, some creators make up to $1K a month just from this method alone!

#5: Brand Sponsorships

Influence starts with a social media following. If you build your audience, other brands will come. Yes, brands will pay you well to promote them to your audience. The bigger the audience, the bigger the reward:)

One rule of thumb is that it’s usually about one cent per follower (or for example $100 per 10K followers) when you first start out. 

#6: Platform Creator Funds

Platforms know content creation is a grind. They’ll pay big time for posts that perform the most. Both TikTok and Youtube have creator funds.

Do you already create high-performing content or have a decent following? Then there is a lot of money to be made.

TikTok alone has said they are investing over $1 Billion in their creator fund because they see the value in high-performing content and they know the resources required to create it. If you’d like to learn more about how to make money on TikTok and the creator fund itself, read our blog here. 

#7: Affiliate Marketing

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.

You can earn commission on the sales and traffic you drive on behalf of brands. Be sure to share links or codes to track purchases so that you receive your commission. Use uniquely trackable links (known as affiliate links) or a custom-made promo code to easily trace clicks and purchases.

You may not make money right away, but if you are consistent, then over time you’ll build revenue. 

#8: Instagram Subscriptions

For creators on Instagram, this is similar to Patreon. IG gives you the option to monetize your exclusive content in what’s called Instagram Subscriptions. It provides a different, new way to make money from Reels and feed posts.

Depending on your preference, you can select from price points ranging from $0.99 per month to $99.99 per month.

This is easy extra income! Since you can do this straight from the app, there is no excuse to not dive in for what’s basically free money for something you’re already doing! 

#9: Teach a Course on Kajabi 

Learning online is really what everyone does nowadays. Utilize platforms like our partner Kajabi to teach online courses (even if your niche is something you might think is insignificant).

This can help you reach a different niche of people from your other channels. And it doesn’t hurt that top-earning teachers can make up to $100K a year! 

#10: Become a Coach or Consultant

Some creators don’t have time to do a full-fledged video series or class. A great way to do it in small chunks is by offering private coaching or consultation services.

You can also offer portfolio reviews. Or go one step further by doing one-on-one consulting zooms. Your followers will always appreciate learning from you one-on-one. 

#11: Promote Your Posts with Social Media Ads

Sometimes you gotta spend some money to make more. The key word is more. Social media advertising is a perfect place to begin. Target Facebook and Instagram users who have never heard of you or your brand with Facebook Ads Manager.

Even people who visit your store but don’t make purchases can be targeted. Basically you’re fast-tracking the process of placing your target audience in front of your products in just a few clicks! 

See? Eleven solid ways to expand your reach and watch the money start rollin’ in! Happy selling and promoting.

Categories
Creator success Design tips

Launching Successful Fall Merch: A Comprehensive Guide

Crafting fall merchandise that resonates with buyers is no simple feat. Many creators struggle with what to design, what colors to use, and how to remain true to their brand while tapping into the fall spirit.

To help you out, we’ve outlined the best strategies and fall trends our top creators lean into in order to launch highly successful fall merch. Use these tips to maximize your success this season and rake in the sales!

Creating Fall Designs That Sell. 

Fall is a season of coziness, comfort, and nostalgia. Nothing says fall like snuggling up next to a fire with your fall-themed blanket, fall-themed pillow, and a fall-themed mug filled to the brim with your favorite holiday drink. 

To create designs that invoke fall emotions within your fans, tap into design elements that evoke these emotions, like:

  • Autumn leaves 
  • Cozy patterns
  • Pumpkin spice
  • Pumpkins
  • Football
  • Warm drinks
  • And more! 

You can also create merch that connects with fall holidays (Thanksgiving & Halloween). Halloween designs do exceptionally well during this season. In fact, Halloween is one of the biggest selling times of the year, but you need to start early so your fans have enough time to order! 

Fall-ify Your Best Sellers. 

Add a fall-inspired twist to your best-selling designs. No need to reinvent the wheel. For those of you who are already successful sellers, it’s simple to put a cozy fall twist or creepy Halloween spin on your products by changing your colors and imagery. 

Get creative with autumn elements to create a unique fall vibe. Utilize those spooky ghosts and ghouls, nature landscapes and woodland creatures, Thanksgiving themes, and whimsical cottagecore that celebrates nature-inspired and “simple rural life” vibes. If you don’t know what cottagecore is, consult Dr. Google. We could do a whole blog about it and it’s perfect for fall designs. 

Just make sure to maintain your brand identity! This can be difficult, but you don’t want to embrace autumn if it means losing your creative identity. Here are some tips to keep in mind in order to maintain brand identity while pivoting to a fall design:

  1. Keep the Messaging Consistent. Your fans know your voice, so don’t change it just to get across a seasonal theme. 
  2. Place the Logo Everywhere. Your logo is your stamp, so find a way to creatively keep it on your merch.  
  3. Don’t stray too far from your core audience. While you always want to bring in new fans, you don’t want to forget the ones who have been there since the beginning. In other words, Don’t just do fall stuff and lose your identity. It’s about blending fall into what you’ve already been doing. 

Craft A Winning Palette.

Fall color schemes deliver an emotional impact. Orange (a warm, bright color) represents emotions that are positive, such as joy and happiness, as it combines the stimulation of the cheerfulness of yellow and red. The color that’s considered the main color of fall is a rich, dark shade of orange (we can most likely thank pumpkins for that).

You should also identify versatile color combinations that resonate with fall-loving customers. Before we get into combos, the main four colors of fall are orange, red, yellow and brown, due to the havests and changing colors in the leaves. However, there are relatives of those colors that make great color palettes. There are dozens of different fall color combinations, but here are five of the top fall palettes:

  1. Deep Greens + Cream + Orange-y Tans
fall color palettes
  1. Tan + Light Brown + Deep Cool Brown
fall color palettes
  1. Deep Blue + Deep Reds + Light Yellow
fall color palettes
  1. Dark Sienna + Rust + Deep Red + Light Yellow
fall color palettes
  1. Pale Pink + Rosy Browns + Ash Gray
fall color palettes

Tips for harmonizing colors. One surefire way to not use clashing colors is to use colors that are next to each other on the color wheel. “Analogous” is the term used to describe those colors. Many people like to use analogous colors in combination with monochromatic colors (grayscale colors). 

Optimize Listing Titles and Descriptions. 

Use strategic keywords to enhance the visibility of your fall merch listings. There is the WHAT and the WHY when it comes to choosing keywords. The WHAT is the word itself, and the WHY is the traffic the word can drive, which adds value to your products. A SERP (Search Engine Results Page) is a valuable tool that will show where you rank and in turn help dictate what keyword strategy you employ.

Beyond using keywords, you also want to craft attention-grabbing titles that emphasize the fall theme. Get creative. There are many designs by creators that don’t even have images––just text! Come up with that attention-grabbing title that stays on brand and evokes fall season vibes at the same time! 

But even with that killer text, a fall image never hurts. Here’s a perfect example from Spring creator Indeimaus: “Every day is Halloween.”

Indeimaus – Shocktober

IMPORTANT: Make sure to add the word “fall” to your title listing in order to enter the Fall Design Challenge for your chance to win $1000 in merch samples and a social media spotlight on Spring’s channels.

With these 4 rock star tips, you’re well on your way to hitting your sales goals for the fall. And remember–we always have your back. Don’t hesitate to reach out with questions.  If you need help on how to create a listing, here’s a link to how: https://spring4creators.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/16437213075725-How-to-Create-a-Listing

And if you want to learn the best promotion tips and tricks, look for our next blog in our fall series!

Categories
Creator success Design tips

Content Creation Revolution: 10 Essential AI Tools You Can’t Miss

Artificial Intelligence. It’s here. Is it the next great invention or dawn of the apocalypse? No matter your feelings on AI, there are some ways you can use it to your advantage. It’s not quite as proficient as talented humans (yet), but here are 10 of the best AI tools you can use if you’re concerned your talent may not be up to snuff or you just want some extra help. 

Top 10 AI Content Creation Tools

Different tools are best for different purposes in your content creation process. The good news is that most of the tools on this list offer a free trial so that you can see how it works and if it will help you produce your best content. Ready for some AI? Let’s go!

1. Jasper.ai

Jasper.ai Is one of the most popular AI content because it can be utilized for most marketing purposes. It allows you to generate content ideas 10x faster and keep up with your production of content at a steady pace, depending on your needs. This is one of the AI tools that has a free trial of 10,000 words. 

Key features:

  • Ad creatives. Grab the attention of your target audience. 
  • Art & images. Create the imagery you need for social media. 
  • Content strategy. Jasper can help you come up with content ideas for video content, audio, long form, and text. 
  • Content writing. Email subject lines and texts, product descriptions, etc. This makes content for your target audience more effective and relevant. 
  • Social media posts. You can create months of social media content ahead of time! Content ideas, catchy video scripts, captions in posts, or just engaging creatives. 

Pricing

  • Free Trial: 7 days
  • Starter: Starts at $29/month; $24/month annually up to 20,000 words/month.
  • Boss Mode: Starts as $59/month; $49/month annually up to 50,000 words/month.
  • Business: custom plan; you have to contact support for details.

2. SurferSEO

SurferSEO is great for SEO (Search Engine Optimization). It can combine content editing, keyword research, SERP (Search Engine Results Page) analysis, and domain analysis with content planning. 

Key features:

  • Grow Flow. Get SEO insight to optimize your content weekly. 
  • Content editor. Get content recommendations, writing tips, and an HTML document editor.
  • Create an AI outline. Based on your keyword research, it will make suggestions for headers, titles, and subheadings. 
  • Content planner. Conducts keyword research and examines Google’s SERPs, then organizes the resources you’ll need in order to write the content. 
  • Check for missing keywords. Evaluate your keywords against your competition in an audit! A great tool to review earlier material and make sure you’re still ranking above competition.
  • Writing Masterclass. Learn the ropes for SEO writing. Free to subscribers. 
  • SEO Writers Directory. Use this to discover writers for hire who understand how to develop SEO-optimized material. 

Pricing (7-day money back guarantee)

  • Basic: $59/month; $49/month annually
  • Pro: $119/month; $99/month annually
  • Business: $239/month; $199/month annually

3. AdCreative.ai

AdCreative.ai is best for ad-creatives, seems self-explanatory but this tool will generate content for ad copy you can run on Google and elsewhere. It also provides real-time information about the success of your marketing as it generates the text. The tool claims you can create posts easily and get 14x better conversions. 

Key features:

  • AI writing tool. Tailor headlines and conversion-focused text to the platform of your choice. 
  • AI generated content for social media. Whether for Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, and others, you can generate content in a matter of minutes. 
  • Generate conversion-focused ad creatives. While staying true to your brand, generate ads in minutes with less time spent on the design process.

Pricing 

  • Free Trial: 7 days
  • Startup plans:
  • Starter: $21/month; $217/annually
  • Premium: $44/month; $442/annually
  • Ultimate: $74/month; $742/annually
  • Ultimate 2: $111/month; $1117/annually
  • Professional plans:
  • Starter: $141/month; $1417/annually
  • Premium: $186/month; $1867/annually
  • Ultimate: $299/month; $2992/annually

4. InVideo

InVideo is an AI tool best used for video content creation. It makes the process simple, user-friendly, and creates videos of a professional caliber. Just use the template and you’re done!

Key features:

  • 5000+ templates. InVideo has great video templates for short form content and long form content.
  • AI content generators. Remove backgrounds and make videos pop with just a few clicks.
  • Time saved! Take existing content (like copy in a post), then use the content generator to change it into a video in minutes!

Pricing 

  • Starter plan: Free
  • Business: $30/month; $15/month annually
  • Unlimited: $60/month; $30/month annually
  • Lifetime: $399/on-time-payment for lifetime access

5. GETgenie

GETgenie is an all-in-one SEO assistant that you can integrate with your website by downloading the plugin. The tool also helps you analyze competitors, research keywords, and write content that will help you earn money from search volume as well as rank. 

Key features:

  • Keyword research. Getgenie analyzes competitors and finds the right keywords to make sure your content is top-notch when it comes to SEO-scores.
  • Unlimited ideas for content. With GETgenie, you’ll never run out of ideas for headings or email subject lines.
  • Content generator. As Getgenie writes text for you, it also helps you look at your SEO-score so you know what to improve.
  • 30+ templates to choose from. When it comes to optimizing your content and campaigns, choose from all those templates for meta descriptions, product descriptions, and more.
  • All-in-one. This feature actually replaces several other apps that you would otherwise need to use to arrive at the same results.

Pricing (14-day money back guarantee)

  • Freemium: 1,500 free words/month
  • Writer: $19/month; $15/month annually
  • Pro: $49/month; $40/month annually
  • Agency: $99/month; $82/month annually

6. Synthesia

Synthesia is a video-content platform where you can make videos with AI characters. It has an easy to understand web-based interface that allows you to add written text and to make professional videos. Choose the type of voice and AI-character you want, as well as opting from 120+ languages. 

Key features:

  • Easy to use. No need to learn a program or download software to use this web-based interface. 
  • AI-characters. Choose from an array of voices and characters. 
  • AI content generator. No setup required, generates AI videos in minutes. 
  • Time efficient. Produce professional videos 10x faster than average and for a fraction of the cost. 

Pricing (1 Free AI video)

  • Personal: $30/month
  • Business: price by request

7. Pictory

Pictory is best for automated short form (brand-focused) video content that is created from your existing assets. It’s not expensive, it’s simple, and does not require technical knowledge or other expensive software. You can quickly convert sales scripts into videos, automatically add captions, and generate short branded films.

Key features:

  • Save time & make videos quickly. 
  • Professional quality video. Over 3 million video clips to choose from.
  • Runs in the cloud. Plus you can use your own voice or AI, which has crystal clear narration.

Pricing 

  • Free Trial: (3 video projects, each up to 10 minutes long)
  • Standard: $23/month; $19/month annually
  • Premium: $47/month; $39/month annually

8. GrowthBar 

GrowthBar is an all-in-one content writing and SEO AI tool that provides keyword research and helps write & optimize your content within the program itself. This means you don’t have to use two separate programs to create your content and conduct research! This includes email subject lines and product descriptions. 

Key features: 

  • Content Generator. Whether you are looking for sales email subject lines or post captions, all can be done inside the Content Generator.
  • Internal Link Suggestions. While you are writing, Growthbar suggests internal links for you.
  • Meta Generator. An AI content detection tool that helps you create meta descriptions for any content.
  • Blog Ideas. Coming up with blog ideas is simple with the help of AI to generate topics.
  • Site Inspector. A feature that allows you to find keywords that rank for a particular site. This could be your website or a competitor’s website.
  • Keyword Research. Discover related keywords, top SERP competitors, how often a keyword is searched, or keyword difficulty. 
  • Rank Tracker. Monitor how well your site performs with certain keywords.

Pricing 

  • Free Trial: 5 days
  • $29/month for a yearly plan, $48/month for a monthly plan
  • $79/month for a yearly plan; $99/month for a monthly plan
  • $127/month for a yearly plan; $199/month for a monthly plan

9. Scalenut 

Scalenut combines optimization tools and keyword research to help write content. The SEO Assistant helps you write content optimized for search engines utilizing techniques and features that automate the process. With a keyword, it gives you a document editor centered around the keyword. The panel on the left shows your competition. Scalenut also allows you to hire pros to help write, design, or produce content, which means if you don’t want AI in that instance, you can hire a human. 

Key features 

  • Free version. No credit card required and free forever
  • SEO Research. Keywords are easily incorporated with the SEO Assistant.
  • Short-form AI writing. Captions, social media posts, and more!

Pricing 

  • Free Trial: 7 days
  • Individual: $29/mo
  • Growth: $79/mo
  • Pro: $149/mo

10. Outranking

Outranking is best used as a content strategy platform. It helps you with content planning and strategy and tracks previous content performance––creating a seamless experience from start to finish.

Key features

  • AI Writing. Email subject lines and post captions. 
  • Content Strategy. Reach the top of search engine rankings.
  • Content Optimization. Unlock your content potential to maximize efficiency.  

Pricing

  • Free Trial: 7 days
  • Solo: $79/mo
  • Pro: $149/mo
  • Company: $219/mo

Now you’re armed with plenty of tools to tackle your content creation needs with AI. Remember, AI doesn’t replace humans. It doesn’t know when a blog is offensive, inappropriate, or even necessarily correct when it comes to spelling or grammar. A human must oversee the process. But, AI can assist when you get stuck. Hope we gave you some helpful AI tools to lift some of the weight off your shoulders. Good luck!

Categories
Creator success Design tips

Cracking the Fall merch code: Secrets to finding fall products and apparel fans will love!

Fall is a season filled with pumpkin spice lattes and those snug, oversized blankets that we all adore. Autumn carries us away from the sunny days of summer into cool evening nights and falling leaves. The season has a distinct vibe. Creators who can capture the essence of fall in products and apparel can connect with their audience in a meaningful and stylish way.

Thankfully, cracking the code of autumn merch isn’t rocket science. It’s about tuning into market trends, getting a feel for your fans’ desires, drawing inspiration from fellow creators, and catering to the season’s unique demands. We’ve broken down this process into four simple steps outlined below, so you can effortlessly roll out those irresistible fall products, delight your fans, and watch your sales shoot through the roof.

Ready? Let’s dive into these four moves that’ll make this fall your most fall-tastic one yet.

Learn the Fall Market Trends. 

Learning the fall market trends is one of the best ways to understand what sells during the autum season. There are specific themes, colors, and styles that resonate with consumers in fall that you’ll want to think about when creating your fall-inspired merch. 

  • Themes. Autumn is a time of warmth, change, and celebration, and your merch should reflect that. Think beyond the obvious with creative themes like the buzz of college life, the richness of harvest season, the beauty of gratitude, the excitement of football game day, fall foliage, and the ever-popular Oktoberfest. These themes capture the heart of fall and will help you create merch that resonates with your fans.
  • Colors. Colors have the power to evoke emotions and capture the spirit of a season. This fall, dive into the trending shades that are stealing the spotlight:
Rose Violet (a deep fuchsia) 
Red Orange (a bright orange)
Red Dahlia (a deep red)
High Visibility (a neon yellow)
Kohlrabi (a bright green) 
And, last but not least, the 2023 Color of the Year: Viva Magenta.
  • Styles. As the weather cools, people are looking to get cozy. It’s the perfect opportunity to offer merch most of us haven’t thought about since winter. Check out these blankets, hoodies, socks, pint glasses for game day, and mugs for all those pumpkin lattes. 

In addition to these market trends, also be sure to offer new products to diversify your store. Expanding your product line will help bring in more fans and give current fans more to choose from. Since games, hobbies, and home decor are on the rise, check out products like puzzles, drinkware, pillows, and blankets to capitalize on current trends. 

Listen to Your Fans and What They Want. 

Your fans are the heartbeat of your brand, and tapping into what they crave is a golden ticket to merch success. So use the tips below to learn the best ways to engage your fans in order to learn what fall-themed products resonate best with them.

  • Utilize social media to gauge fan interests. Social media isn’t just for scrolling; it’s a valuable tool for gauging your fans’ interests. Make use of tools like Google Analytics, Facebook Insights, and Twitter Analytics. With these gems, you can decode your audience’s gender, age, interests, location, and engagement habits. 
  • Conduct surveys and polls to gather feedback on fall-themed products in order to get a better understanding of what your fans want from you. A great way to win fans is to offer a brand new product from a fan comment. It shows you’re engaged with your community.
  • Analyze comments and engagement on your content. Want to win over hearts and create lifelong fans? Listen closely. Sometimes, the best ideas come from the fans themselves. Pay attention to their comments and suggestions – they hold the key to what they truly want. Don’t hesitate to transform a fan’s comment into a brand new product. This kind of engagement doesn’t just show you’re listening; it proves you’re an active part of your community’s journey.

Get Inspiration from Other Creators. 

Sometimes getting started can prove challenging. If you’re feeling stuck at what to create, try checking out the competition. 

Take a stroll through the fall offerings of creators in your niche. This isn’t about copying; it’s about aligning yourself with the currents of creative thought. By checking out what’s trending, you position yourself right in the flow of traffic. Observe what they’re offering and take note of what their fans are wearing. Who knows? This exploration might just spark a new, unique idea that you can add to your Spring store.

In addition to gaining inspiration from their designs, you can also see what’s most likely to be successful. Big brands didn’t reach their heights by accident. There’s wisdom in their choices, and you can tap into it. Explore the most popular fall products they’re offering. Don’t worry – this isn’t about mimicry; it’s about learning from what works.

By studying their successes, you can uncover strategies and designs that resonate with a broader audience. Remember, while you might borrow a page from their playbook, your brand’s voice and identity remain your guiding stars.

Understand Seasonal Needs.

At the end of the day, fall isn’t just about colors and coziness–it’s about entering into a different season filled with new duties and celebrations. Creating merch that speaks to seasonal needs can help you sell more and give your fans what they need. 

Keep in mind these big events: 

  • Back to college. Fall means back to college for many, so offer college essentials and college fashion: 90s fashion trends are in along with tie-dye, for example. And of course, when it comes to fall, hoodies are never out of style. 
  • Halloween and Thanksgiving. These are not just holidays; they’re moments of joy and celebration for your fans. And guess what? They’re getting geared up for it well in advance. It’s your chance to inspire them to shop early, and what better way than with Halloween and Thanksgiving-themed products? From quirky mugs that scream “Halloween spirit” to home decor, your offerings can elevate these celebrations to a whole new level.

So that’s it! Four easy steps. Learn the fall market trends, listen to what your fans want, find inspiration from other creators, and understand seasonal needs. Voila! Now go create that fall-inspired merch when you sign into Spring and have a fall-tastic season! 

Categories
Creator success

How to Attract Brands as a Creator

According to recent data, about 70% of influencers in the U.S. report collaborations with brands as their top income stream. On Instagram, partnering with a brand can bring in anywhere from $10 to $5,000+ per post. Sounds great, right?

The most successful influencers are those who consistently collaborate with other brands, but the current landscape is changing how to go about it. It wasn’t too long ago that an influencer had to have millions of followers and celebrity status to partner with brands. However, the gates of opportunity are widening. 

Content creators with smaller followings have a chance to land brand deals and paid sponsorships. Instagram, for example, has categorized smaller influencers into groups: nano-influencers (up to 10,000 followers), micro-influencers (up to 100,000 followers), and macro-influencers (up to 1 million). This explains why the global influencer/creator market size more than doubled between 2019 and 2021, and is only continuing to grow! 

You want to get in on brand deals, right? Now’s the time! But how do you start? What do you need to do to get noticed by brands? 

Here are 5 actions creators can take to get the attention of brands. Let’s go!

Identify your niche & research brands that are a fit

Finding your niche is an absolute must in order to create a personal brand that will easily align with other brands. Don’t go in a “general” direction or frequently bounce back and forth between topics and styles. You will be competing with too many people and brands won’t see how you fit into their marketing campaigns. So, if you’re a health nut and all you live for is physical fitness, dedicate your socials to that –– obviously you can interweave pieces of your life here and there, but you will be defined in the minds of your fans as the “fitness girl” or however you brand yourself. Then you have a niche of brands you can approach to collaborate.

Start tagging branded products

Okay, you now have a solid following and industries to target. Now what? There are multiple ways to grab the attention of brands. Some examples are: 

  • Make videos where you rate products and share your results with the company
  • Include branded items in your content more than once to establish yourself as a consistent user
  • Tag the brand’s account in your videos and posts and use brand-related hashtags. 

What you’ll find over time is that these companies will begin to notice your content.

Send out media kits & pitch emails

You can reach out to brands directly. But you’ll want to have all of your marketing materials ready to go. First up is a media kit that you can send out to showcase your content. It is a summary of all your best content in one place to show off what you can do. 

Second, you’ll craft a pitch email. A lot can go into a pitch email, but here are some quick bullets on the basics: 

  • A brief intro about yourself
  • What you love about the product/brand
  • Verified analytics report (this example is Instagram)
  • Media kit
  • Rate card
  • Any relevant brand partnerships you already have or have had in the past

Pitch emails should be no more than 2-3 paragraphs. Try to give an overview of how successful at building brand awareness you’ve been and how you are driving conversion (meaning browsers who have become buyers). Even if you don’t plan to send out many pitch emails, it’s a good tool to have at the ready just in case.

Use influencer marketing platforms

An effective way to grab attention is to sign up on influencer marketing platforms whose purpose is to help creators connect with brands that are relevant to their audience. Creators are then able to set up profiles, preferences, and even submit price quotes for brands to see. Some popular platforms are Captiv8, Grin, CreatorIQ and #paid (just to name a few). 

Ask other creators or brands for referrals 

Have you ever had a great experience working with a brand in the past? Do you have relationships with other creators who actively collaborate with brands? Consider asking for a referral. Referrals demonstrate knowledge and expertise. They boost trust between you and the brands you will potentially work with, and it shows you are proactive and willing to put in the work to build your audience. 

Hopefully the above tips have helped. It may seem complicated, but don’t overthink it. Once you have built a following, you have built the foundation. Now it’s time to grow!

Categories
Creator success

Designing Viral Merch: The Art of Leveraging Trends and Connecting with Fans

In an era where an innocuous TikTok video blows up in a day, finding the recipe for viral success seems like searching for the Holy Grail, but equipped with the right information, your next product launch could be viral in no time.

Merchandise has become a powerful tool for creators to engage with their fans and generate additional revenue streams. 

In this blog, we will explore two key points on how creators can design viral merch: leveraging trending topics and what’s popular, and considering what’s important to their fans. By understanding these aspects, creators can create merch that resonates with their audience and spreads like wildfire.

While going viral isn’t necessarily something that can be controlled, believe it or not, there are some steps you can take to give you (and your merch) the best shot at going viral.

Step 1 – Put Your Spin on What’s Trending:

One effective strategy to create viral merch is by tapping into trending topics, memes, and what’s currently popular. This approach allows creators to ride the wave of existing buzz and capture the attention of a wider audience. Once you find a trending topic, add your own spin to it. Your fans will recognize the trend while feeling tightly connected to your reference that only your fans will understand. 

Here are a few steps to consider:

  • Stay in tune with popular culture: Keep a close eye on social media trends, viral challenges, popular memes, and current events. This knowledge will help creators identify relevant topics and themes that can be incorporated into their merch designs.
  • Seamlessly blend trends with your brand: It’s crucial to find a balance between incorporating trends and maintaining the essence of your brand. Adapt trending elements to align with your creative style, logo, or catchphrases, ensuring a cohesive and authentic representation.
  • Timing is key: Act swiftly when it comes to leveraging trends. Monitor emerging topics and capitalize on them while they’re still at their peak. By staying ahead of the curve, creators can create timely merch that strikes a chord with their fans.

Step 2 Considering What’s Important to Your Fans:

While leveraging trends is important, it’s equally crucial to understand what truly matters to your fans. By creating merch that resonates with their interests, values, and aspirations, creators can foster a deeper connection with their audience. Here are some key points to consider:

  • Conduct fan surveys and engage in conversations: Interact with your fans through social media polls, surveys, or direct messages. Ask them about their preferences, favorite moments, or what they’d like to see in your merch. Their input will provide invaluable insights into what will resonate with them.
  • Perform social listening: What are fans saying in the comments, are there particular phrases from your content they are going crazy over? Are they directly shouting out for specific merch designs or products? We see this a lot. Responding to community driven merch ideas is a one way ticket to success. Especially if you react quickly, it’s almost like magic for the fans. They asked for it. You delivered. 
  • Offer limited editions and exclusivity: Fans appreciate feeling special and part of an exclusive community. Consider releasing limited edition or exclusive merch items that are only available for a short time or to a select group. This creates a sense of urgency and FOMO (fear of missing out), driving fans to grab your merch quickly.

Designing viral merch requires a careful blend of leveraging trends and understanding your fans’ preferences. By incorporating trending topics while maintaining your brand’s identity, and by considering what truly matters to your fans, you can create merch that not only becomes a viral sensation but also strengthens the connection between you and your audience. Remember, the key lies in staying aware of the ever-evolving trends, engaging with your fans, and infusing your unique brand essence into every design. So, go ahead and unleash your creativity to design merch that goes beyond merchandise and becomes a statement of your brand’s impact.