Music & Tech: The Beginner's Guide to Selling More Merch
If you're an artist, chances are you've thought about selling merch at some point.
Whether it's to make a little extra money on the side or to support your music career, selling merch is a great way to connect with your fans and give them a physical embodiment of your art.
Plus as you may know, royalties from streaming platforms are not promising at all.
However, if you've never sold merch before, it can be daunting to know where to start.
One of the most common challenges people face when trying to sell more artist merch is not knowing where to start.
There are so many different types of merch and products out there, that it can be tough to know which ones will sell best or how to create your own merchandise.
Another challenge is marketing your merch effectively. You need to find the right platform and strategies to get your merch in front of potential customers.
In this guide, we'll walk you through everything you need to know about selling more artist merch, from choosing the right products to sell, to marketing your merchandise effectively.
By the end of this guide, you'll have all the basic tools and knowledge you need to start selling more merch and generating additional revenue for your music career.
What is artist merch and why should you sell it?
Artist merch is any type of physical product that is sold to promote an artist or their music. This can include items like t-shirts, hats, stickers, buttons, posters, and more.
What are the benefits of selling artist merch?
Artist merch is a great way to connect with your fans and give them a physical embodiment of your art.
It can also be a great source of revenue for artists, especially when sold online.
In fact, artist merch has become so popular in recent years that many artists now prefer merch sales over music sales!
Types of artist merch to sell
As an artist, it's important to choose the right type of merch to sell. There are many different types of merch out there, and not all of them will be right for every artist.
Some of the most popular types of artist merch include t-shirts, hats, stickers, buttons, and posters.
T-shirts
T-Shirts are one of the most popular types of artist merch. They're affordable, easy to produce, and can be designed to appeal to a wide range of fans.
Best of all, you can get another company to handle making the shirts, or you can buy inexpensive equipment to make your own shirts. You have plenty of options.
Hats
Hats are another popular type of merch that can be sold by artists. They offer a great way to promote your brand and show support for your music.
There are many different types of hats, from baseball caps to beanies, so you can choose the style that best fits your image.
Stickers
Stickers are a great way to get your name and face out there. They're easy to produce and can be sold for a low price.
They're also very versatile; you can put them on cars, laptops, notebooks, or anywhere else people will see them.
Buttons
Buttons are another popular type of merch that can be used to promote your brand or show support for your music.
They're easy to produce and can be very affordable, making them a great option for artists on a budget.
Posters
Posters are a great way to show support for your music and promote your brand. They can be hung up in homes, offices, or anywhere else people will see them.
Plus, they're easy to produce and can be very affordable.
How to design and create your own merch
If you want to sell more artist merch, it's important to know how to design and create your own products — especially when you're starting off and don't have enough money to pay for materials AND designers.
Knowing how to design and create your own merch allows you to control the look and feel of your products and create items that are unique to your brand.
Designing Your Merch
There are a few things you'll need to consider when designing your merch, such as:
- The type of product you want to sell
- Your target audience
- Your budget
- The overall look and feel of your products
With these in mind, you can use free tools like Adobe Express, Canva or Cricut Design Space to design your merch. These tools are free (or affordable) for nearly any budget.
The key is to KEEP YOUR DESIGNS SIMPLE.
Save the complex ideas for later on when you have the resources to pay talented designers who can bring your complex ideas to life.
Creating Your Merch
Once you have your design, it's time to create your merch.
If you're on a budget, you can start by creating your own merch using inexpensive materials and equipment.
For example, you can make your own t-shirts using a t-shirt printing kit — mainly a Cricut cutting machine and a high-quality compatible printer.
Or you can make your own hats using a hat-making kit.
Cricut Machines and accessories, in general, are all you need to
If you're not on a budget, you can also hire someone to create your merch for you.
Selling your merch online
Selling your merch online is a great way to reach a wider audience and increase your revenue.
There are many different ways to sell your merch online, from setting up your own website to using online marketplaces like Etsy.
The key is to find the right platform for your needs and to price your products competitively.
Setting up your own online store
If you want to have complete control over your merch sales, setting up your own online store is the way to go.
This gives you the ability to design your own store, set your own prices, and market your products however you see fit.
The downside is that it takes a bit more work to get started, unless you use the right tools like Fourthwall. Fourthwall is an amazing platform to sell your merch.
There are no monthly fees and Fourthwall only makes money when you make money, so risks are incredibly low.
Selling through online marketplaces
If you want to get started selling your merch in a place with lots of traffic without a lot of hassle, using online marketplaces is the way to go.
Etsy is a great option for artists who want to sell their merch.
It's easy to set up and you can start selling immediately.
The key is to price your products competitively and to take advantage of Etsy's marketing features to reach as many people as possible.
Pricing your products
When it comes to pricing your products, it's important to find the right balance between what you need to make and what people are willing to pay.
To do this, take a look at your competition (within your genre with a similar sized fanbase) and see what they're charging for similar products.
Marketing your merch
No matter how you sell your merch, you need to market it effectively if you want to increase your sales.
There are many different ways to market your merch, from using social media to running ads.
It's imperative to have the right tech stack of marketing tools to promote your merch properly.
Offline methods of selling your merch
Selling your merch offline allows fans to connect with your products and get a better understanding of who you are as an artist.
It also helps you build a personal connection with your fans, which can help increase loyalty and encourage word-of-mouth marketing.
Selling Merch @ Live Shows
One great way to sell your merch is by taking it to live shows and selling it in person.
To sell your merch at live shows, you'll need to invest in a good quality display and learn how to properly package and ship your products.
You'll also need to make sure you have enough inventory on hand to meet demand.
Selling Merch @ Brick and Mortar Retailers
Another great way to sell your merch offline is through brick-and-mortar retailers.
To do this, you'll need to find the right retailers that fit your brand and approach them about carrying your products.
You'll also need to have a good understanding of wholesale pricing and minimum order quantities.
Wrapping it Up
Selling merch is a great way to increase your revenue and build a successful career in the music industry.
There are many different types of merch to sell, from t-shirts to hats, and the best way to sell it depends on your needs and audience.
And finally, no matter how you sell your merch, you need to market it effectively if you want to increase your sales.
The key is to have the right tech stack of marketing tools to promote your merch properly. Thanks for reading!
Peace and Love
About the Author
Jesse Young El is a creator who has been working for 20 years professionally in the creative industry. He specializes in video production, content marketing, online courses and web design. On JesseYoungEl.com, he writes about the best tools for creatives and the strategies he uses in his own life and how they can be used to help others.