The Top 5 Things I Wish I Knew Before Starting a Print on Demand and Etsy Business
Oh hey there!
When I first dove head first into the world of Print on Demand (POD) and Etsy, I was so freaking pumped! I had wanted to start my own business for FOREVER and would just dream all day long of having passive income, creative freedom, and hearing “cha-ching” notifications all day long from making sales.
But let me tell you my journey was not all rainbows and butterflies and actually got off to a super rocky start. There were so many things I had to learn the hard way!
Now, don’t get me wrong—starting a POD business on Etsy is one of the BEST decisions I’ve ever made. But if I could go back and give myself a few pointers, I would definitely spill the tea on these five game-changing secrets to myself so I could save HOURS of countless work.
So, grab a cup of coffee (or your favorite beer, wine, bubbly drink, or whatever you’re into 😉), because I’m about to share the top 5 things I wish I knew before starting a POD and Etsy store and launching my Shop. Trust me, they’ll save you SO much time, stress, and “what-in-the-he%$-am-I-doing?” moments!
1. Be Prepared for a Real and Steep Learning Curve
Running a print-on-demand business sounds super simple, right? Just upload a design, list it on Etsy, and watch the sales roll in! Well… that’s not entirely all of it.
There is SO MUCH misinformation out there about how to actually make a SUCCESSFUL product and listing. While the concept of POD is easy to grasp, the real magic (and legit hardships!) happen in the details BEHIND THE SCENES. From mastering/learning design software, setting up your Etsy shop, figuring out how Etsy actually works, understanding production and shipping times, understanding POD platforms, learning how to do proper market research, and handling customer questions, there’s a lot to learn and juggle!
But don’t panic! Trial and error is totally a MAJOR part of the journey, especially in the beginning. You are going to have to create designs to see what works and what doesn’t in the beginning. Honestly, you are also going to have to try different niches out to see what will be successful as well! It is the only way you can grow as a designer and business owner and to figure out what you’re doing and what will actually sell! It takes time to be good! You’ll get there but don’t get super annoyed when things seem overwhelming. Learn, grow, and pivot until you find success. That is what it truly takes to make it in this industry.
✨ My Tip: Don’t overwhelm yourself by trying to do everything at once! Start small—focus on creating quality listings and learning as you go. Seriously having one great listing is better that 100 meh ones? Trust me!
Also, consistency Consistency CONSISTENCY ! Try adding 3-5 new listings a day—this tells Etsy you’re an active seller, helps you hone your design skills, and makes navigating Etsy and your POD platforms feel like second nature. You want to be able to get the hang of creating a quality listing quickly and efficiently so by making daily listings, you are making sure that you are growing as a designer and business owner.
2. Master SEO and Keywords
You can create the most gorgeous, jaw-dropping, must-have designs in the world, but if no one can find them… well, then you are not going to be making any sales. That’s where SEO (Search Engine Optimization) comes in! I always tell my students in The Print on Demand Playbook that SEO is like gas, and your product is the car. You could have the coolest car on the planet, but without gas? It’s going nowhere! The same goes for your listings!
So what’s the key to getting your products SEEN? Learning how to research and sprinkle the right keywords into your titles, descriptions, and tags is KEY to a successful POD and Etsy shop. The better and stronger your SEO, the more likely your shop will show up in searches—helping you stand out in a sea of competitors!
✨ My Tip: Using Research Tools will help cut down on time and effort when trying to figure out SEO. Use tools like Sales Samurai or my personal fave, Everbee, to analyze high-performing keywords. And don’t forget—your titles, tags, and descriptions should be crystal clear about what you’re selling (product type) and who it’s for (him, her, Dad, etc)! Use all 140 character spaces for your title, 13 tags, and focus on your first 150 character spaces of your descrption to maximize visibility. When the right people find your listing, that means one thing and one thing only… cha-ching!
3. You Can’t Just Make Products You Like—You Need to Make Products Your Audience Likes
When I was first starting out, this was one of my BIGGEST pitfalls. It’s SUPER tempting to create products you personally love or think are great or funny, but what you like isn’t always what your customers or the general public will buy. Your business needs to be customer focused which means you need to truly understand your niche and create products that resonate and speak to your target audience. Your designs should reflect your audiences vibe so to speak and speak to their interests and design styles, not just your own style or preference. This is why researching your audience and staying tuned into their needs is VITAL for any POD and Etsy shop to survive.
✨My Tip: Before you launch your shop, spend time researching your target audience’s likes, needs, and spending habits. Look at other successful shops and best selling products in your niche and identify what’s working for them. In addition, always remove personal bias! Sometimes, when you think something is cool, funny, or awesome it could be great but always ask yourself ,“Would thousands of people be interested/ NEED to have this product with this particular design?”
4. Time and Real Effort Are Required
Running a print-on-demand business is definitely a lower-risk way to jump into the world of making money online, but don’t get it twisted—it still takes real time and effort to make it work! This is not some magical get-rich-quick scheme. If anyone tells you, “Oh, just upload a few designs, sit back, and watch the money roll in,” they are straight-up lying to you. If you keep watching videos online saying “Come watch me design this xyz…” they are not sharing the full story on HOW to make that product a successful listing. Success in POD doesn’t happen overnight!
Building a thriving shop means dedicating CONSISTENT chunks of time to creating designs, optimizing listings, managing your store, and handling customer service. And here’s the biggest mistake new sellers make: expecting instant results. The truth? It often takes weeks or even months of consistent effort to start seeing traction. You can’t design for one week, disappear for a month, then expect to come back and suddenly have a booming business. Consistency is everything!
✨My Tip: Set realistic goals and create a schedule that works for you! Small, steady steps will get you so much further than an all-or-nothing approach. Trust me, you want to avoid burnout while still holding yourself accountable. Be honest about how much time you can dedicate to your shop, stick with it, and watch your hard work pay off!
5. Stop Doing Whatever One Else is Doing…Focus on Unsaturated Products
One of the biggest mistakes new POD sellers make is jumping into oversaturated markets, like t-shirts with generic designs. While you can still succeed in competitive niches with a saturated product like shirts, you will be literally fighting an uphill battle. There are established sellers on the platform that have been selling t-shirts for years and if you decide to only sell shirts or apparel, you will be going head to head with these guys. THIS WAS MY BIGGEST MISTAKE STARTING OUT! I was designing and designing and was barely making any sales. It wasn’t until I branched out and started to design products in UNSATURATED product categories that I truly started to make sales. Seriously, your best bet is to focus on unsaturated products. This means finding product types and designs that haven’t already flooded the market. The more unique your product offering, the better your chances of standing out and capturing customer attention.
✨My Tip: Instead of shirts, think of products that are a little outside the box like puzzles, pet accessories, or yard signs, and journals. These items are popular and can seriously set you apart from your competition!
BONUS: Stop Comparing Yourself to Other Sellers/Shops
When you're just starting out, it’s so easy to fall into a comparison trap. You’ll see other sellers crushing it, check their sales numbers, and start wondering, Why can’t I sell like that? Before you know it, you’ve spent way too much time analyzing their shop and feeling down about yourself instead of building your own success story.
I get it—comparing yourself to others is almost second nature these days. But trust me, it’s a waste of your precious time! This is valuable time that could be better spent creating your first best-seller. The truth is, every successful Etsy seller started exactly where you are now. The only difference? They kept their focus on their own shop, stayed consistent, and didn’t let someone else’s success discourage them.
So, put on those business blinders and keep moving forward. Your journey is yours alone, and if you stay committed, your breakthrough moment will come. Keep creating, keep learning, and most importantly—keep going!
In Conclusion:
Is starting a POD and Etsy shop a cake walk? NO! But do you have what it takes to start a print-on-demand business on Etsy?
YES, YES, a thousand times YES! But here’s the deal…you’ve got to go into it with your eyes wide open and a mindset ready to learn, grow, and to keep pushing forward! Success in POD isn’t about luck or quick wins—it’s about strategy, consistency, and a little bit of trial and error along the way.
From mastering SEO (so your products actually get found), to understanding your audience (so they’re excited to buy what you create), to putting in the time and effort, this journey requires patience and persistence. But guess what? That’s exactly what makes it so freaking rewarding!
The smartest sellers aren’t just throwing up random designs and hoping for the best—they’re focusing on unique, unsaturated products, learning as they go, and refining their strategies along the way. And the best part? You don’t have to figure it all out overnight. Every small step you take is going to bring you one step closer to success!
So if you’re ready to dive in, embrace the learning curve, and go all in on your Etsy POD dream, I promise—it’s totally possible. Just remember to keep learning, keep creating, and most importantly, keep going and growing!
Wishing you all the success in the world—happy selling!
I hope this post helps you on your Print on Demand journey. If you are new to print on demand, curious about selling products online, want to make your first best-seller, and want to learn how to start your Etsy business the right way in 2025, then check out my course The Print On Demand Playbook. I have over 40 videos and 9 hours of Print on Demand video tutorials and information on how to start your very own shop, Keywords/ Etsy SEO, product selection, research validation, design tutorials, content calendars, customer service templates, and so much more!
Hi there! I’m Shay Lynn
If you had told me that a few years ago when I was pregnant that I would be running my own multi 6 figure print on demand buisness, I would have outright laughed in your face! And then would have asked, “What the heck is Print on Demand?”
I’m a proud Mom, Etsy shop owner, Print on Demand business owner, and POD educator. I help women (and Mom’s like myself) start their own Print on Demand businesses and gain financial freedom so they can ditch their 9 to 5 grinds! Check out my course and blog to learn more!
Take care for now my fellow designers! Talk to you soon!
-Shay Lynn ❤️
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