Calling all creators! Embrace Fall vibes and launch seasonal merch to compete in our Fall Design Challenge!
What’s the deal?
Spring into the 2023 Fall Merch Design Challenge. Launch fall seasonal merch for your chance to win $1000 in merch samples, which can help elevate your content and be used as giveaways for your fans.
Additionally, your fall-inspired creations will also be featured on our social channels, amplifying your reach.
The deadline to enter is September 14th. Don’t miss this opportunity to launch, inspire, and make your mark!
What do I create?
Anything you want! Just make sure your merch & messaging embraces everything we love about autumn. Think: cozy fall sweaters, autumn-inspired art prints, or anything else that screams “fall.” Be creative!
How do I enter?
It’s easy! Simply launch fall-inspired merch and add the word “fall” to your listing title. Once you add that magic keyword to your listing’s title, you’ll automatically be entered into the competition.
What’s the prize again?
The creator with the best fall-inspired design will win $1000 worth of product samples, plus a social media shout out across all of OUR socials to showcase you and your brand.
Let’s do this!
The contest is running now until September 14th. So get your creative juices flowing and go create some fall-tastic merch! Just make sure to add the word “fall” to your listing’s title.
In today’s climate, it’s becoming increasingly more important for creators to collaborate with other brands, influencers and content creators. Why go it alone when working with others might be more fun? And more than that, it’s definitely more effective. But first…
What is content collaboration and what are the benefits?
When two or more people get together and produce content, that’s what we’re referring to as content collaboration. Many content creators work with other brands and creators outside of their circle as a way to mutually build business.
Your collaboration can be an ongoing project, a single post or video, or a series (see more examples below). Doing this is beneficial because it helps your brand get in front of a new audience to expand on the reach you already have.
If the idea of collaboration is new to you, no worries, we’ve got tips on how to pursue it.
Find the best partners for your brand
There are a few important actions you can take here:
Set goals. Don’t just start asking people if they want to partner up. Really analyze what it is you want to get out of the partnership. What are you trying to accomplish with joint content? Is it increasing your following? Selling more merch? Getting a foothold into a new niche? Once you know your goals, you are at an excellent starting point for finding the best collaborators.
Make a list. Think of any and all creators who may be a good fit for those goals you just set. Think of people within your own circle, subject matter experts (inside or outside your niche), influencers you admire, or a company you like to use.
Reach out to potential partners. Once you have your list of people, it’s time to reach out. In your initial communication, introduce yourself and your brand and then lay out your goals (be sure to state why these goals are also beneficial to them). Also explain how they can contribute (be clear in your expectations). This initial contact is to gauge their interest in collaborating. Be patient. This step can take time. Here some extra tips:
Attend events. Find places where you can network with other creators. These can be influencer-focused events or events within your niche (expos, fan conventions, fitness conventions, the list is endless).
Network locally. Don’t have the time or money to travel? Search for creators in or around where you live. Maybe a creator in your area is looking to grow their channel. Even if this is on a smaller scale, you are creating a network.
Become a fan. Being a content creator can be time-intensive. But don’t let that keep you from being a fan of other creators. Start following other channels. Comment on other creators’ posts. Being a true fan is the best first step in finding someone you want to work with.
Ways to successfully work with others
As we said, there are many types of content you create with a collaborator. Here are just a few broad examples:
Guest posts. Ideal for creators who post frequently as it gives you twice the firepower when it comes to coming up with new content ideas. Guest posts also bring traffic from the other creator’saudience, too!
Guest appearances. For creators that do videos, having another creator make an appearance, either as an interviewee or to participate in your video, is a quick and easy way to collaborate and shake up your routine.
Roundups. These are larger gatherings of like-minded people and can help push your reach outside your niche. It helps to include people who are considered by your audience as an authority on a specific topic.
Social media takeovers. Let one of your social media platforms get taken over by another creator who then posts from your account on an agreed length of time. This brings their audience over to your account for longer than just one post. Obviously you would only do this with a trusted partner that is aligned with your brand and following a set of predetermined expectations.
Giveaways. Definitely a way to get engagement for your brand, but giveaways are also a great opportunity for content collaborations. There are numerous methods of doing this, but two common ways are asking for donations or co-hosting a contest.
Podcasts. They’ve grown a lot in popularity in recent years. Find podcasters with small but growing audiences and then reach out to set up appearances. You can promote the podcast on your channels to in turn help grow the podcast’s reach.
How to successfully collaborate
Once you have found the right partners and decided what types of content you will be collaborating on, it’s best to follow a step-by-step guide through the collaborative process, especially if your partnership will be long term.
Write a brief. Outline the scope of your partnership, what you’re going for, and what you want to accomplish. By documenting all this, you make it easier for everyone to stay on target.
Map out a timeline. What are the tasks required to achieve your goals? We recommend using a collaboration tool (we don’t want to be biased, so google it) to list out the tasks that must be completed before you can execute your content collab successfully.
Set deadlines and assign tasks. Once everything is mapped out, start from your launch date (when the content will go live) and work backwards. Set due dates for each task and make sure all participants know what they are responsible for.
Remember to balance your focus. Don’t forget to maintain your brand and attend to your current audience. Working with other creators is a balancing act between your collaboration and your regular posting schedule.
Stay loyal to your current fans. As you continue to grow your base with new partners, continue to nurture your current audience. If you rebrand just because you’re trying to please a new partner(s), it will be seen as a cash grab by your audience and will have the opposite effect you’re aiming for. You can’t please everyone, but you already know what pleases your base.
We know this may seem overwhelming as there are many partnership possibilities. But the main goal, regardless of your method, is to cut your efforts in half and double your reach. That’s exciting, isn’t it? Start with a goal and get started!
Summer is sizzling and new trends have arrived. We know you want to keep sales flowing throughout the season, so check out the top trending products we’re seeing this summer below.
Whether a classic, premium, women’s flowy tank, or women’s racerback tank, these tanks are always a seasonal go-to bestseller. Tanks are great for a walk in the park, hitting the gym, and other summer activities. With a feel-good design and the right color, this could easily become your hottest trending product.
Sometimes it’s best not to reinvent the wheel and just go simple with essential summer products – give your fans exactly what they want! Beach towels lend themselves to beautiful, vivid designs. Leveraging the latest colors and trends along with your branding makes beach towels a sales-boosting addition to your Spring store.
Hydration is at the top of our to-do list, helping fans stay cool in the summer heat. Spring’s stainless steel bottle is good for the planet, and with a great design, like this one from cncdesignshop, it can be one of your bestsellers.
Different bags for different getaways. With the right designs, this could be the trendiest thing in your arsenal (to carry all your other trendy things!) All three totes are just waiting for your amazing designs. Check out this tote created by Inner Princess Journey for inspo!
Fanny packs are seriously back on trend and getting the respect they always deserved due to their safety and comfort––especially with the right design. So customize with your brand to match your tanks and tees and watch them sell like hotcakes.
Sometimes on vacay we want to remain conspicuous. Maybe you’re grocery shopping in Hawaii and don’t feel like making yourself presentable. Good problem to have. Offer your fans a variety of hats to choose from on your Spring Store. Low-key and fashionable––a great combination. And with a great logo, an even bigger seller.
If you’re looking for an underdog, look no further than a spiral notebook. It fits perfectly into that tote you just designed. And who doesn’t need a notebook lying around?
Of course your selling point can also be “Back to School” so hit your fans with it early to get ahead of the game.
A summer-themed pillow is a great seasonal addition to the home, and one that can be used year after year. Why not offer a variety of on-brand options? Fans might buy more than one!
Tees are never out of trend and are the bread and butter of summer apparel. Tie-dye and spiral designs are popular right now, but so are the classic graphic tees, like this one by French Bulldog. Sell them to fans and design a matching one for their pet!
Summer is about dressing down. We secretly love being able to casually dial it back and joggers are the perfect start. Active people (especially in the summer) aim for comfort, even while working (from home). It’s the perfect merch to give your fans for their daily activities throughout the summer and into the fall.
Come on. Admit it. Many of us want to just kick our feet up after a long day with a glass of wine. But in this case, it’s a wine tumbler! Watch your fans toast their friends with your custom-designed wine tumblers after a long summer day.
Leggings have become a year-round staple. Sporty, relaxing, and form-fitting fabric for almost any outing. They’re sure to be a summer hit with your fans, especially with an all-over print that stands out.
You will undoubtedly need to pick up your design game to compete with this retail favorite. Shorts are the hottest sellers, but also the most competitive market. That’s definitely where the all-over print comes in. You can go a number of routes with the design––a logo that’s toned down accompanied by iconic graphics, like these shorts from Be L3gendary, or sleek patterns.
With these summer staples you will be combining style and comfort so your fans can enjoy workouts, daily activities, or just lazy summer days.
Custom-designed backpacks are popular in summer, especially as many of us are out and about again: hiking, road trips, and other activities will be more fun with your epic designs.
And there you have it: 16 trending products to launch your merch store into the stratosphere. Create & design early and often. But don’t forget to have some fun in the sun, as well by ordering samples and showing them off on your socials!
CALIFORNIA, June 22nd, 2023 – Amaze Software. Inc, the world’s leading creator commerce platform, and parent company of the Amaze, Spring, and Outfts platforms, joins forces with TikTok, the globally renowned video sharing platform to unveil an integration that revolutionizes the way content creators monetize their TikTok presence. This collaboration empowers creators to effortlessly sell their own custom products, boosting their earnings and transforming the landscape of digital entrepreneurship.
The Amaze and TikTok integration liberates creators, granting them the power to unlock their full income potential on TikTok Shop with unparalleled ease. Creators now have the ability to curate, showcase, and sell their own products, seamlessly transforming their devoted fan base into loyal customers. This integration empowers creators to monetize their TikTok videos, engage fans through livestreams, and create captivating shopping experiences, all while Amaze handles the logistics of payments, shipping, and inventory management.
Aaron Day, CEO of Amaze Software says: “This integration is the latest in a long line of innovation, which we have been proud to bring to market through significant partnerships with the biggest social platforms on the planet. With YouTube, Instagram, Twitch – and of course TikTok – we have introduced breakthrough integrations that are firsts for the sector, empowering creators to truly transform the way they monetize their talent. Amaze and TikTok share an ethos of investing in our creators; our collective goal is to unleash creator potential and make it easier for this powerful group to create, share, and earn.”
TikTok sensation, Jon Dretto, one of the first to use the integration expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “The integration has transformed the way I connect with my fans. Being able to offer them my own merchandise seamlessly through TikTok Shop has opened up both a new way for me to monetize and connect with my community. I’m thrilled to continue providing my fans with unique products that truly reflect my passions and brand identity.”
Visit here to find out when the Spring + TikTok Shop integration will be available to you.
About Amaze Software Inc.
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 help 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. Build a no-code web page at www.amaze.co or launch a free store at www.springforcreators.com. For press inquiries, please email us at amaze@ragency.com
CALIFORNIA, June 1st, 2023 – Amaze Software, Inc., The worlds leading creator commerce platform, and parent company of Amaze and Spring platforms, today acquired Outfts, an innovative creator hub that empowers creators to own their audiences and develop new income streams. The addition of Outfts technology will enable Amaze to provide creators with additional tools and services enabling new and sustainable revenue sources.
The acquisition of Outfts holds immense significance as it paves the way for brands of all sizes to access a broader ecosystem of creators through the Amaze creator ecosystem, seamlessly integrating creator-branded merchandise with highly relevant third-party brands. This acquisition will also introduce a host of exciting new features for creators to elevate their brands, including user-friendly media kits, easily-managed Link In Bio tools, and access to over thousands of brands’ product catalogs. With enhanced creator-to-brand relationship capabilities, Amaze empowers
millions of creators with an extensive range of monetization opportunities.
“We are thrilled to welcome Outfts to the Amaze family,” said Aaron Day, CEO of Amaze Software. “This acquisition underscores our dedication to creating a unified platform that drives all creator commerce capabilities, accelerates creator growth, and supports authentic brands. Creators are building unique communities with Amaze Software and the addition of Outfts will amplify our ability to equip creators with the tools they need to succeed in the ever-evolving creator landscape.”
“At Outfts, we’ve dedicated ourselves to building a platform that empowers creators to establish thriving businesses and achieve sustainable monetization. By uniting with Amaze, our powerful creator commerce solutions gain the ability to connect creators at an unprecedented scale, enabling them to execute brand campaigns in a manner that perfectly aligns with their unique brand identities,” expressed Nicolas Baxter, Founder of Outfts
Amaze continues to pursue strategic acquisitions, seeking out innovative companies that align with its vision of enabling creator monetization and providing an ecosystem of resources and opportunities for creators worldwide.
About Amaze Software Inc.
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 help 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 at www.amaze.co and start a free store at www.spri.ng.
For press inquiries, please email us at info@amaze.co.
Summer is rapidly approaching and it’s time to get your summer merch ready! We’re talking totes, slides, tees, tanks, you name it!.
The following is a solid list of guidelines for creating trendy summer merch:
Color palettes. Unless you live somewhere chilly (like Alaska), or are a surfer (see below), go minimal with black. Summer is bright, not bleak! You will find endless advice online about how to combine white with various clothing items like shoes, accessories, slides, etc., so be mindful about your color palettes. White will go with almost anything depending on the style..
Candy Pastel Palettes. Besides classic white, a fantastic alternate is a pastel palette, which goes with pretty much anything, including neutrals. If you’re an Instagram user, you’ve no doubt also seen minimal pastel pics gradually taking over in the last year or so. Watch for this trend to take over this summer.
Product types: On your Spring Store, play around with different types of tees for different types of fans, from classic fit, tanks, v-necks, boyfriend tees, there are lots of different options.
Bold and decorative typography: Summer is hot! And your merch font should be too! Typography encompasses scripts, graffiti styles, handwritten fonts, etc. Think footloose and fancy-free. If you’re not able to visualize it, check out this example.
Daring. If this is more your jam, use large and bold t-shirt designs to create impactful slogans.
Strong & vivid. If you opt for this font route, you can accentuate your illustrations and graphics or create typography designs using decorative fonts.
When it comes to bold and decorative typography, it’s not just about being strong with the lettering but also about being super expressive. Hit it hard on the nose. In the world of bold, subtlety lives elsewhere. Employing these traits in your T-shirt designs (and all merch) will make people remember your brand. Think hard on how the colors and forms of your design aid the message you want to convey.
Surfer Prints. Surfers unite! Whether you’re a beach bum or just like tees with cute quotes, you can achieve the bohemian look a few different ways. Here’s an example of where black can work when paired with bright colors combinations.
Tropical look: Don’t want the beach thing but still want to give your fans the tropical or “on holiday” look without even leaving the comfort of home? Floral print along with a splash of color is the way to go..
Psychedelic Look: Swirls, intense colors, free-flowing lines, paisley prints, and eye-catching graphics like kaleidoscopic patterns––along with messages of peace, love, nature, or other positive messaging in typography that is “groovy”––play a fun role in the psychedelic design trend.
Tie-dye is closely related enough to this style and is still on trend, so ride that popularity wave through Summer ‘23.
Punk Aesthetics are back! It’s a Punk Summer! You know the look! Tattoos. Piercings. Metal studs. It’s back big time, if it ever even left. Don’t overlook this trend because there’s serious mining to be done here. A punk design might include disorderly fonts, collages of mixed media, newspaper clippings, or anything else that shows off the raw and powerful style of punk.
Surrealism. You know the place between reality, dreams and the unconscious mind? There’s a market there this summer. And it will most likely increase in today’s “reality” of AI and the Metaverse. Experiment with escapism and unimaginable landscapes. Your T-shirt doesn’t need to be the work of Salvador Dali, but by getting familiar with the art style, you have another weapon in your design arsenal. Surrealism is about appearing to not have a specific design intent. Let your imagination flow freely.
Mixed Media. We’re supposed to only have 2-4 hours of screen time a day. Yeah, right. Who does that nowadays? The truth is we are so intertwined with the digital world now, it’s about leaning into the future. What does this mean when it comes to designing merch? Fun illustrations. Brilliant colors. Odd patterns. All with the intent to stimulate that sense of imagination, sense of wonder within your fans, reminding them how much magic and creativity we all have within our own souls. You can choose to do this by mixing media:
Watercolor paintings combined with typography
Collage of graphic elements & photographs
Embroidery & screen printing
Hand-drawn illustrations combined with digital elements
Multi-layered designs using overlapping elements & transparencies
3D designs & elements with flat graphic design
Tip: You can discover great mixed media designs & art pieces on Pinterest. You may find creating Pinterest boards for this trend and all the other ones you like in this list very useful.
Whether you place your summer designs on T-shirts or other popular products like slides, totes, hats and tumblers, take advantage of these trends!
Was all or some of the above too overwhelming? Spring has a top notch design team to help you with merch design services. Check out our blog for more creator success tips.
Winning design featured in emails to millions of potential buyers.
Launch products that celebrate Pride Month to be eligible to compete and boost sales. [Stat amount] of Pride merch was bought last year!
Now let’s talk merch design! Pride Month is right around the corner. Here’s a refresher on tips for creating designs your fans will love:
Cater your message to your fans’ interests. “Pride Month” is a broad category. Which messaging will resonate with your fans, specifically? What is in line with your brand voice? You’ll want to have visuals and slogans that will speak to your fans’ interests. To determine what that is, interact with them directly on your socials, either through polls or by asking feedback in the comments––it helps build a relationship and makes fans feel like they helped create the merch that they are going to eventually buy.
Get Inspired! This is the fun part! After determining your message, it’s time to execute. Check out our pride shop for inspiration and ideas. If you’re having “designer’s block,” you can find a designer to create for you. For top-quality designs that are affordable, check out the professional design services being offered exclusively to Spring creators.[link] Be sure to explain what you want in a clear way and provide as many details as possible (such as your aesthetic, preferred font style, color scheme, etc).
Choose the products that will best showcase your design. Once your designs are finalized, you’ll need to place them on products! What will look good? Is your design big and bold, best for a t-shirt or hoodie? Or is it small and simple and best for a hat or tumbler? Lastly, which products will actually be useful to your fans during Pride Month? Tees and pendants are great for events and marches. Spring has an expanded catalog of products for you to choose from! Be sure to order a sample, so you can see the product the way your customers will and then you can use that sample to promote your merch to your fans in social content.
Start selling! Creating and selling merch is the key to creator success and with Spring, these steps are easy. If you want tips on how to generate more sales, check out our blog on creating and selling merch.
Give your fans merch that showcases their Pride. When your brand is in line with their values, customers become loyal fans that generate revenue for you while spreading the word about your brand.
Why is it so valuable to have a custom domain for your store? Before we dive in…let’s take a step back. What is a custom domain?
Most every social media campaign has a link leading the user somewhere to do something (usually to buy merch). That link is a web address, or URL. Whether it’s for a promotion, contest, giveaway, or a landing page to promote your mech, a URL is what directs people there.
A major component of your URL is the domain name. Simply put, a domain name is the unique part of the web address, sandwiched between the necessary parts of https://www and (dot)com. This domain can be random or customized (your name or your brand name).
When driving fans to your business, wouldn’t it be better if your link was purposeful and identifiable to you versus a random string of letters and numbers?
Of course. Still, here are 3 more specific reasons custom domains have value, followed by 4 ways to get the most bang out of your domain:
Your BRAND needs to be the first thing seen. Purchasing a domain name is the smartest decision you can make for brand recognition. A custom domain helps promote you and your brand. Website and campaign-building platforms tend to use generic names related to that platform. EX: Your company’s name is Grape Dew. Instead of a generic URL like http://1.www.godaddy.com/123abc, your campaign’s URL might be http://giveaway.Grape-Dew.com/123abc. By seeing the brand name in the URL, customers are associating the name of your brand with the link they are clicking, thereby building in their mind brand consistency and product identity. And for those customers who get confused or tend to be more leary than others, at the very least having a custom domain tells them they are in the right place. Which brings us to:
Trust. Unfortunately, we are living in an age where it’s not surprising to hear about this “scam” or that “identity theft,” etc. The inevitable result is reluctancy by potential customers to click on links. If a link is clearly connected to your business, this greatly decreases skepticism.
Make your brand DISCOVERABLE. Here’s a quick rundown just in case you’re unclear: On websites, the root domain is what search engines see. Your search engine optimization (SEO) is greatly improved by having a custom domain, and here’s why: Let’s say a user is searching for something very specific and relevant to your brand, but you have a generic domain. You won’t pop up. However, a custom domain will. The benefits don’t end there. Your site will then become ranked higher. And the more campaigns you run with the same custom domain, the higher your search ranking will be. Every time you run a new campaign with the same domain name you previously used, you now have an even greater chance of being seen at the top of the search results!
4 ways to get value out of your domain name:
Include your Spring store website in the domain name. The value of a domain name comes from the website in the name. Your brand and your Spring store website should be in your custom domain name. When your domain name includes your website, it increases your options on what you can link to and what you can do with your domain name.
Use your Spring custom domain in your custom email address. When you use your domain name in your email address from a custom email account, it doesn’t just advertise your website, it adds to your email address a level of professionalism and makes it easier to send branded communications. You can also manage your custom domain email accounts from your personal email by having them automatically forwarded to your personal email account.
Forward your domain name to social media. You don’t want to keep telling people, “Find me on Twitter” or “Look me up on IG.” Forward your domain name to your social platforms. Ex. Facebook.JohnDoe.com, Twitter.JohnDoe.com, etc. This keeps on brand across the board, all platforms, and all mediums. If you want to know how to forward your domain to socials, each platform has a different set of steps. You will have to google the steps for each one. In the end it’s worth it!
Pick as valuable a domain name as possible. The ideal domain name is determined by you and your brand. Assuming you have a handle on your brand and who your audience is, pick the domain name that will most connect with them and be the most relevant to them, increasing the overall value of your domain. Ex: If you’re a swing dance instructor, Swing-Dance-Instructor.com is better than Dance-Instructor.com, and Dance-Instructor.com is better than Dancer.com, and so on. Get as specific and as relevant to your audience and brand as possible.
As you can see, brand identity is important and a custom domain name is a major component of that. If you’re a Spring creator, we’ve made it easy to have a custom domain. You can go buy one yourself and connect it to your Spring storefront or you can buy one directly in Spring. So register that custom domain asap and Happy Prospering!
Think of a logo as a promise your brand makes to your customers, followers, and fans. Why? Your logo is making a visual statement about who you are as a brand. It better be an accurate representation! How many famous brands do you recognize just by the logo? Most, if not all. That’s because a great logo communicates a message that is understandable and clear.
However, it can be tricky to create a logo that perfectly matches your brand. How do you blend your business ideals with a logo design that not only helps your business stand out/be memorable but also fits the brand? Don’t worry, Spring by Amaze can help with our Design on Demand services offered by affinityX. But more on that later.
First, here are some tips on how to create the perfect logo for your brand:
Do some soul searching about your brand
Many people think they need to start with a logo and then develop the brand. That’s actually backward. Know your brand first and the logo will follow. First, you need to get to know yourself. Your brand is an extension of you who are, so ask yourself the tough questions about what you want to put into the world. If you truly understand who you are and what you’re about, it will help you understand the feelings you want your company to evoke. What do you stand for? What is the “why” for creating? Don’t rely on making money – that’s a (great) by-product. What is your mission? You’re on the right track if you can answer why you’re doing this and the answer isn’t to “just make money.” When you know the why, what does it look like in the form of a visual presentation? Now you’re ready to imagine your logo.
Simple is always better
We mean it. Simple IS always better. You don’t want to complicate the visual representation of your brand. You want to be instantly recognizable and not get lost in the fray. Complicated logos tend to succumb to that.
Go minimal. You want to go as minimalistic as possible, especially if you include your brand name in your logo. Don’t clutter up the space with unnecessary words. Any letting on your logo should be easy to read and short.
Keep it clean. What do we mean by clean? Your visual should have empty space. If you’re unsure if an element needs to be there, remove it. Sometimes simple shapes are all you need. An example is a camera company that just uses a circle and two brackets.
Be literal. For the best impact, be simple, literal, minimal, and clean. For a great example, check out this Spring creator and their logo “Work for your beer.”
If you’re stuck, you can hire a design professional to help you arrive at a minimalistic, yet instantly recognizable logo.
Land on your vibe
Remember, your logo is what will tie your visuals together. It’ll be on your channels, your site, and your merch. Logos are part of what gets fans to emotionally connect with a brand. How do you want your fans to feel? What vibe do you want to give off? Playful? Intense? Excited? Or would you rather be all business and keep it practical? Whoever your ideal customer is – based on the emotion your brand evokes – pick the right colors, iconography, and typography that will strike an emotional chord.
Be memorable
Your brand name is important even if it’s not in your logo. Some brands opt to have their name in the logo. If this is the route you’d like to go, your name needs to be memorable, short, and simple. Something goofy, for example, is memorable. Who’s gonna forget the name NerdFace? Being memorable means your customers can easily repeat the name to others. But having a memorable name and recognizable logo generates more residual benefit than just being memorable. It also saves you marketing costs. Word-of-mouth takes over!
Trust your instincts
This may sound abstract but allow us to go a little Obi Wan on you for a second. Temporarily toss the spreadsheets, polls, and reports to the side. Have you ever heard a name or seen a logo in your head and it just felt right? You just know, right? Take a piece of paper and write down the name of your brand. Then write 10 words that represent your mission and your values. Next, bust open a thesaurus and make those 10 words as specific as possible. Finally, find your font, your colors, and watch your logo come to life. You will be looking at your brand’s visual identity. Be Luke, close your eyes and trust the force!
Test logos with family & friends
Not everyone can afford focus groups, but if you can, do it! Let’s assume you can’t afford it. You want to find out what your audience responds to. Make sure to ask friends and family (or a test audience if you have the budget) very specific questions so you can learn what logos/names your audience is attracted to. Identify the emotion behind the attraction, which will then inform your final logo before launch.
SEO can matter
You may be tempted to roll your logo out the second you arrive at your perfect branding. Pump the brakes one last time. Is this a common name or similar logo to anything else? Double check. It’s worth it. You want to stand out and this will be one less headache you will thank yourself for.
It’s time to get creative!
It can be daunting to design a logo, but your brand logo is crucial to your success as a creator. It will go on your channels and your merch. Remember—your logo is a visual representation of who you are, what you do, and why you do it. That’s a lot, right? Don’t worry, Spring by Amaze has got you covered with Design on Demand Services offered by affinityX. You’ll get a professionally-designed logo for an affordable price so you can start using that perfect logo asap!
And as always, reach out with questions anytime to creatorhelp@spri.ng.
This year, Spring is investing heavily in the success of our creators. We want you to maximize your income by doing what you love best.
To help you along your journey, we’ve made significant changes in Q1 that make creating, launching, promoting, and selling merch easier than ever. What’s more, these improvements are just the tip of the iceberg. With your success in mind, you can expect us to roll out many more incredible changes throughout the year.
Here’s what’s new:
Platform Integrations Updates
We started the year by expanding the power of our integrations so that you can promote your merch in the places that matter to you and your broader fanbase. Additionally, many of your favorite social platforms are making changes that help creators realize their potential.
Here are some exciting social shopping updates:
YouTube’s new Vertical Immersive Shopping features give fans a more interactive shopping experience during live streams.
Instagram now allows users to add up to five links in their IG bio, letting Spring creators easily direct traffic to their store as well as promote other important calls to action.
Our partnership with Kajabi, a platform where you can create and sell online courses, allows you to display your Spring merch under each course.
Expanded Catalog
We rolled out a bunch of new, highly-requested products. Check them out and launch your own when you sign in!
We’ve made big investments in the things that matter to you. We’re excited to announce lower base prices, faster shipping times, higher-quality printing, and more! Additionally, we’ve been improving our platform and services to maximize creator success. Check it out.
Lower base prices on products. You can keep the profit or pass the savings on to your fans!
Faster shipping times. We’re committed to a quality fan experience with an updated processing promise. We will be quicker. Read more about how we’re making this happen here.
Higher-quality printing on your merch with new state-of-the-art printing technology.
Premium Design Servicesso creators can access professional designs at great prices: store hero banners, promo image designs, merch graphics, or you can bundle all three!
A new & improved store chatbot! This is part of our effort to offer support tools for your fans as they are shopping in your store.
Team Growth
To provide faster response times, improved resolutions, and a better fan experience, we’ve doubled our Creator Success and Support teams. In addition, we also added some incredible members to our Marketing and Merchandising teams, which will result in new creator tools, design and merchandising inspiration, and opportunities for our Spring creators!
Company News
We started CreateSpace, a series of networking events for creators to get to know each other and share tips on how to grow.
You have made your voices heard. We are responding with a resounding We Got You!😁 We cannot wait for you and your fans to experience these improvements and the ones we will continue to make throughout the year!👍
Questions, comments, thoughts? Reach out to us anytime at creatorhelp@spri.ng! We’d love to hear from you.
