If you’re a YouTube creator with a loyal subscriber base but have yet to monetize your channel or already have a monetized channel, selling merchandise is a great idea.
However, to increase the chances of successful sales, you need strong visibility on your content. Many creators choose to buy YouTube views as a strategy to boost their video’s performance and attract more organic engagement, which can ultimately lead to increased merchandise sales.
So, if you’re interested in knowing how to sell merchandise on YouTube, let’s get started!
Benefits of Selling Merchandise on YouTube
Selling merchandise on YouTube helps you earn money beyond depending on monetization and collaborations. Fans also find a new way to support your channel and show their appreciation. Besides this, some benefits are
- You build a brand as your subscribers use your merchandise and promote the channel. Thus, you boost your reach.
- You build a strong connection with subscribers as they have something tangible from you.
- It enhances community engagement when your fans see each other using your merchandise.
How to Sell Merchandise on YouTube?
Selling merchandise on YouTube sounds complicated because it’s not as simple as shooting and posting content. Though it’s something completely new, it’s actually quite easy if you follow these steps.
Step 1: Start Designing
This might seem the most difficult step, especially if it’s your first time designing. After all, sales heavily depend on design. The design must be good enough to make your merchandise impactful.
For inspiration, check out other YouTube creators’ merchandise designs. However, don’t try to copy them.
Some design options are:
- Channel name
- Your alias in the YouTube community
- Channel tagline or slogan
- Your icon/symbol
- Outline of your face
- A phrase you say a lot
Step 2: Choose the Item
Select exactly what merchandise you want to sell. The most common options are hoodies, sweatshirts, t-shirts, hats, tote bags, backpacks, or mugs.
Some rare yet popular ideas are posters, canvas prints, and other wall art or printed denim jackets. If you have a tech channel, you can also offer mouse pads, laptop sleeves, and phone cases.
Step 3: Select a Merchandise Maker
You can produce your merchandise with the help of a manufacturer or a print-on-demand (POD) service. Let’s understand them better here:
1. Manufacturer
You can choose local or overseas manufacturers. You share your merchandise production requirements, and they deliver your order.
Pros
- It offers great flexibility and control of design.
- You have fixed orders on a monthly basis.
- You get highly customized and high-quality merchandise.
Cons
- They usually only take high-volume orders.
- You need your own inventory or buy inventory from them.
- It’s only suitable for long-term merchandise selling.
2. POD Service
In POD, suppliers print only when you send in orders. You upload your design on their website, they suggest mockups, you set a price, and they print and deliver your orders directly to customers. Most people prefer POD services because they have more benefits.
Pros
- You can place smaller orders and avoid huge upfront costs.
- It’s faster and more efficient than manufacturers.
- You won’t be left with unsold or run out of merchandise.
- It’s ideal if you want to test selling merchandise and may not sell them long-term.
- No trouble with inventory.
- Besides the subscription and printing, you get the entire profit.
Cons
- You pay a subscription fee to access the site.
Some tips to ensure a great experience with POD service are:
- Order one or a minimum amount of sample and use it yourself for a quality test.
- Try different PODs before selecting one.
- Select which meets both revenue and quality standards.
Step 4: Seek Subscribers’ Opinions
Before you place a huge order, it’s best to take your subscribers’ opinions seriously. Get the minimum order from a POD service or manufacturer.
Take aesthetic pictures of your products and run polls. Let subscribers choose which mockup they prefer and finalize.
Step 5: Set Up a Store
It’s best to build your own dedicated online store on a platform like Wix, Shopify, or Squarespace to sell your merchandise.
The branded domain will be yours and yours alone, and only your products will show up on this site. You will, however, have to pay a fee to host your shop. Some pros of opting for this are:
- You can customize the site with branding.
- Fans can remember and find the brand domain name easily.
- You can enhance site SEO with content.
- You get your own Contact and About pages to connect with visitors
- You can integrate the shop with other apps to sell on other channels and synchronize it with your YouTube channel.
You can also try out a marketplace where you can build a personal storefront. While it’s more accessible, you can’t customize it like the above choice. You’ll also have to pay listing or commission fees similar to eBay or Etsy.
Step 6: Promote Your Products
Now that everything’s set up, it’s time to promote your merchandise. Let people know about your merch with these options:
Be Your own Model
Wear/use your own merchandise during your videos. Mention your new merchandise once at the beginning and end of each video and provide a link for viewers to order them. If it has anything cooler than the regular products available in the market, mention that.
YouTube Merch Shelf
YouTube Merch Shelf, a digital carousel, lets creators show their merch under the video. However, your channel must follow these criteria:
- The channel got monetization approval and has 1000+ subscribers.
- The channel follows YouTube guidelines and never received Community Guidelines Strikes for Hate Speech.
- The channel isn’t marked “Made for Kids.”
- YouTube Partner Program is available in your region.
Social Media Accounts
Start with a teaser to create buzz before the actual launch. Post behind-the-scenes shots of the design process and the exact launch date.
Post about your merch rollout on different social media platforms as stories and posts. Promote your merch from time to time to remind your audience about your store. Additionally, consider strategies to grow your reach, such as buy YouTube subscribers to build a larger audience base and drive more traffic to your merchandise.
You can also run paid YouTube and Instagram ads.
Final Thoughts
Selling merchandise on YouTube is a game-changer for a creator. While increasing your revenue channels, it connects you with your subscribers. Even if it sounds crazy, you create an emotional connection with them.
However, if you’re uncertain whether your products will sell, create a poll and ask whether your community would like to buy them.
Once you get the green signal, start designing and producing your products today immediately!
