Introduction: Make and Sell Custom Shirts w/ Merch by Amazon from Udemy

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Syllabus

Introduction to Merch By Amazon

In this intro video, your instructor, Chris Green, gives an overview of the Merch by Amazon platform.

QuickStart Guide - Creating a Shirt with Merch By Amazon

In this video, we upload the artwork and create a brand new shirt listing on Amazon using Merch by Amazon to show just how easy it is to create product pages. The finer details of this process are broken down in later videos.

Just three weeks into the launch of Merch by Amazon and there are already two big changes!

First, they are limiting the number of shirt designs that a creator can upload. They now have a tiered system where you will be limited on how many listings you can upload related to how many shirts you are actually selling. I was worried that this may happen because in all of my experience with Amazon, I know that they want a great customer experience on the Amazon website and it wouldn't take long for some creators to start uploading 'I Love Frogs' and 'I Love Sushi' and 'I Love Leaves' and then 'Bill Loves Frogs' and 'Bill Loves Sushi' and 'Bill Love Leaves' and then 'Sally Loves Frogs' and well I think you get what I'm trying to say.

In this video, we walk through the basic account settings that need to be configured prior to uploading shirt designs. These settings include your business info, your banking info (to receive royalty payments), and your tax information.

In this video, we take a detailed look at the Merch by Amazon dashboard. The features here include Creating, Promoting, Managing, and Analyzing your items.

Merch by Amazon provides some amazing resources for their users. In this video, we walk through each section and outline the information in each.

These are the Best Practices directly from Amazon. Direct link also provided to stay up to date on any possible changes.

These are the Content Policies directly from Amazon. Direct link also provided to stay up to date on any possible changes.

In this video, we take a detailed look at the Photoshop PSD file and how you can use it to create great Merch by Amazon shirt designs. Direct downloads of Amazon templates included.

I ordered several shirts with the full 4500 x 5400, 300 dpi images used and they are a bit big. This is a 15" x 18" images on a shirt. Amazon's own Best Practices state:

Artwork sizing and placement

While you can certainly use the entire 15" x 18" in space, often customers find a print that is 18 inches to be overwhelming. By and large we find that keeping your maximum dimension to 12 inches or less results in higher conversion rates.

I will be making many of my shirts with 12" x 12" images moving forward, and this video will show you a few tricks to making sure that they stay centered on the 15" x 18" required template size.

In the video tutorial series, I use Photoshop CC. Others are using GIMP or Paint.NET.

Need to learn to edit photos? There are some awesome sites out there that can help you learn photo editing including YouTube, Udemy, and Lynda.

In most of my videos, I use Photoshop CS5. Full installs of Photoshop can be expensive. Adobe does offer a version for $9.99/month called Photoshop CC (Creative Cloud). In the following videos, I'll show the Photoshop techniques that I use within Photoshop CC. There are many different photo editing programs out there. Some install on your computer, some run in a browser, some are free and some are paid. There are A TON of free videos online (YouTube especially) with free tutorials for any specific Photoshop task that you are trying to do.

If you use Photoshop CC, PLEASE watch the free tutorial videos in their Welcome section.

In this video, we look at using the Photoshop tool called Magic Wand as well as demonstrate Photoshop Layers.

In this video, we take an image and copy & paste the part that we want to edit into a new image. Then we transform and resize the image. We use the Magic Wand and several keyboard shortcuts. This video will help you learn how to manipulate images in Photoshop.

In this video, you'll learn how to take a screen capture or screen cap, create a new image, and paste the screen capture to create an editable image. On Mac, use Command + Control + Shift + 3. For PC, you may have to Google how your setup takes screen captures. Once you have a screen capture created, you can then crop the image to get just the part that you want.

In this short video, we look at how to search for someone to hire on Fiverr.com to help you with photo editing. You can see their response time, their delievery times, and even contact them ahead of time.

In this video, we'll look at a shortcut way to see ALL of the Merch By Amazon listings, how to see if your keyword or design idea is currently being made by any Merch By Amazon sellers, and a bonus tip on learning new vocabulary words in order to be first to market with trending topics.

Here is a list of five popular websites to check daily to stay on top of current events, news, politics, sports, pop culture, memes, trends and more.

There are many other funny graphic t-shirt companies out there. Visit their sites to get ideas and inspiration for your own shirt designs. Compare designs for what is NOT on Amazon or on Amazon with NO Prime Eligible offers. Also watch for awesome SEASONAL ideas that you can bring ot market on Merch By Amazon.

You made it through the course! Awesome! This BONUS lecture has a special offer on my Advanced Merch by Amazon Udemy Course.

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Provides a practical guide to leveraging Amazon's platform for creating and selling custom-designed merchandise, which can be a valuable skill for entrepreneurs

Offers a step-by-step introduction to Merch by Amazon, which can help beginners understand the platform's functionalities and requirements

References older versions of Photoshop (CS5) in some videos, which may be useful for learners who do not have access to the latest software

Explores business opportunities beyond personal use, such as offering Merch by Amazon services to bands, restaurants, and fundraisers, which can be a source of revenue

Highlights the importance of staying updated with Amazon's best practices, royalty calculations, and content policies, which are subject to change over time

Includes a lesson on trademarks and copyrights, teaching learners how to search the USPTO website, which is essential for avoiding legal issues when designing shirts

Reviews summary

Introduction to merch by amazon business

According to learners, this course provides a solid introduction and a quick start guide to the Merch by Amazon platform, making it accessible even for beginners. Students appreciate the clear and concise explanations of key aspects like image requirements, royalty calculations, and content policies. While the course is highly effective at explaining the Merch by Amazon system itself, learners note that it largely assumes prior knowledge or the ability to acquire skills in graphic design software necessary for creating the actual shirt artwork. Some aspects of the course may become slightly outdated as Amazon updates the platform, but it serves as a strong foundation for anyone looking to start selling custom shirts.

Merch by Amazon platform evolves over time.

"Some information in the course was slightly outdated due to platform changes."

"Amazon updates the Merch platform frequently, which can affect the course content."

"The course mentions the possibility of changes, which is realistic."

Provides actionable steps for getting started quickly.

"The QuickStart Guide was incredibly helpful for getting a shirt listed fast."

"The course gives practical, step-by-step instructions."

"I felt confident in uploading my first design after this."

Instructor explains concepts clearly and effectively.

"The instructor is very clear and easy to understand."

"Explanations were concise and to the point."

"I appreciated how well the technical aspects were explained."

Great starting point for understanding the platform.

"This course is a great introduction to the Merch by Amazon platform."

"It covers the basics well and gives you a good overview."

"I learned exactly what I needed to know to get started with Merch."

Focuses on the platform, not graphic design itself.

"The course doesn't teach you how to actually design the shirts, only how to use the platform."

"You need to already know how to use Photoshop or GIMP for the design part."

"It's assumed you have graphic design skills or are willing to learn elsewhere."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Introduction: Make and Sell Custom Shirts w/ Merch by Amazon with these activities:

Review Amazon's Best Practices for Merch by Amazon

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Familiarize yourself with Amazon's guidelines to avoid common pitfalls and ensure your designs meet their standards before starting the course.

Browse courses on Best Practices

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Locate the official Merch by Amazon Best Practices document.
Read through the document carefully, paying attention to image requirements and content policies.
Take notes on key points and potential areas of confusion.

Brainstorm 20 Niche Ideas for T-Shirts

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Generate a list of potential niches to target with your t-shirt designs, helping you identify underserved markets and create more targeted products.

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Research current trends and popular interests online.
Identify specific niches with passionate fan bases.
Brainstorm design ideas for each niche.

Read 'The T-Shirt Book'

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Gain a broader understanding of t-shirt design and the t-shirt market to inform your Merch by Amazon strategy.

View Melania on Amazon

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Obtain a copy of 'The T-Shirt Book'.
Read the book, focusing on sections related to design trends and printing techniques.
Reflect on how the information can be applied to your Merch by Amazon designs.

Four other activities

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Practice background removal in Photoshop

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Improve your image editing skills, specifically background removal, which is crucial for creating clean and professional-looking shirt designs.

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Find several images with varying levels of background complexity.
Use different Photoshop tools (Magic Wand, background eraser) to remove the backgrounds.
Experiment with different techniques and settings to achieve the best results.

Analyze Top Selling Shirts on Amazon

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Understand what types of shirts are currently selling well on Amazon to inform your own design and marketing strategies.

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Search for popular t-shirt keywords on Amazon.
Analyze the top-selling shirts, paying attention to design, color, and pricing.
Identify common themes and trends among the top sellers.

Read 'Logo Design Love'

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Learn the principles of effective logo design to create more impactful and marketable t-shirt designs.

View Logo Design Love: A Guide to Creating Iconic... on Amazon

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Obtain a copy of 'Logo Design Love'.
Read the book, focusing on sections related to design principles and visual communication.
Analyze existing t-shirt designs and identify how they apply (or fail to apply) these principles.

Create a Portfolio of 5 T-Shirt Designs

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Solidify your understanding of the Merch by Amazon platform and design process by creating a small portfolio of t-shirt designs.

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Choose 5 niches or themes for your t-shirt designs.
Create a unique design for each niche, following Amazon's image requirements.
Upload your designs to Merch by Amazon (even if you don't intend to sell them).
Review your designs and identify areas for improvement.

Career center

Learners who complete Introduction: Make and Sell Custom Shirts w/ Merch by Amazon will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Print on Demand Designer

A career as a Print on Demand Designer involves creating visually appealing designs specifically for products like t-shirts, mugs, and other merchandise, which are then printed only when an order is placed. This course helps aspiring Print on Demand Designers understand the intricacies of platforms like Merch by Amazon, including image requirements such as dimensions and resolution, and the royalty calculation system. The course provides a foundation in the technical aspects of creating successful shirt designs and optimizing them for sale on Amazon, valuable for anyone looking to excel in this field. Specifically, the course's lessons on using the Merch by Amazon image template and creating shirts on Merch by Amazon are particularly relevant.

See salaries and explore the career path for Print on Demand Designer

Content Creator

The Content Creator produces engaging and informative content for various platforms, including blogs, social media, and websites. This course helps Content Creators understand how to leverage platforms like Merch by Amazon to create and sell merchandise. This course covers essential aspects of the platform such as content policies, royalty calculations, and account settings. The course provides a streamlined path to generating income from custom merchandise. The section on design ideas will be particularly helpful.

See salaries and explore the career path for Content Creator

E-commerce Specialist

An E-commerce Specialist focuses on optimizing online sales and marketing strategies for businesses. They manage product listings, analyze sales data, and implement promotional campaigns to drive revenue. This course helps E-commerce Specialists understand how to leverage platforms like Merch by Amazon to create and sell custom branded merchandise. The course covers essential aspects of the platform such as content policies, royalty calculations, and account settings, which are essential for optimizing shirt designs and maximizing sales potential. The knowledge gained from this course helps an E-commerce Specialist expand product offerings and reach new customers on Amazon. The section in this course that goes over the Merch by Amazon dashboard will be particularly helpful.

See salaries and explore the career path for E-commerce Specialist

Freelance Designer

Freelance Designers work independently, offering their design services to multiple clients on a contract basis. They often specialize in areas such as web design, graphic design, or user interface design. This course helps Freelance Designers learn about platforms for selling their designs on merchandise, such as T-shirts. The course will teach them about image requirements, royalty calculations, and content policies. By the end of this course, a Freelance Designer will understand the details of the Merch by Amazon platform. The section covering Photo Editing Services may especially come in handy.

See salaries and explore the career path for Freelance Designer

Digital Marketing Consultant

As a Digital Marketing Consultant, you would advise businesses on how to effectively market their products and services online. Often this involves leveraging various e-commerce platforms. This course helps a Digital Marketing Consultant understand the potential of platforms like Merch by Amazon for creating and selling custom merchandise. Specifically, this course covers the technical aspects needed to create and sell shirt designs on Amazon. The course reviews content policies, royalty calculations, and image requirements, helping you give your clients tangible ways to promote their brand. You should pay close attention to the Merch by Amazon business ideas section.

See salaries and explore the career path for Digital Marketing Consultant

Brand Manager

Brand Managers are responsible for overseeing all aspects of a brand, including its identity, marketing, and overall strategy. This course may be useful to Brand Managers who want to explore new avenues for brand promotion and revenue generation. Learning about Merch by Amazon helps Brand Managers understand how to create and sell custom branded merchandise on Amazon. The course specifically covers image requirements, royalty calculation, and content policies within Amazon's ecosystem. The course's review of Merch by Amazon business ideas is very relevant.

See salaries and explore the career path for Brand Manager

Social Media Marketer

Social Media Marketers manage a company's online presence across various social media platforms. This course may be useful to Social Media Marketers that want to create promotional campaigns utilizing custom merchandise. Learning about Merch by Amazon helps Social Media Marketers understand how to create and sell branded merchandise. This course also looks at the technical aspects such as image requirements, royalty calculations, and content policies. The course's review of design ideas is very relevant to learning how to create compelling social media campaigns.

See salaries and explore the career path for Social Media Marketer

Online Retail Associate

An Online Retail Associate supports the day-to-day operations of an online store. This includes tasks such as managing product listings, processing orders, and providing customer service. This course may be useful to an Online Retail Associate that wants to expand the product offerings of the company that they work for by using platforms like Merch by Amazon. The course introduces the platform, its content policies, and the royalty calculation system. The skills learned are useful for creating custom branded shirts to be offered for sale on Amazon. Check out the section on using the Merch by Amazon image template.

See salaries and explore the career path for Online Retail Associate

Graphic Designer

The Graphic Designer produces visual content for various media, including websites, advertisements, and merchandise. They collaborate with marketing teams to create designs that capture a company's brand and message. A Graphic Designer can use this course to learn about platforms for selling their designs on merchandise such as T-shirts. The course will bring them up to speed on image requirements, royalty calculations, and content policies. The portion of the course that covers using the Merch by Amazon image template is a must-watch for any Graphic Designer. A career as a Graphic Designer typically requires a bachelor's degree.

See salaries and explore the career path for Graphic Designer

Marketing Coordinator

Marketing Coordinators support marketing teams by assisting with various tasks such as campaign development, market research, and event planning. A Marketing Coordinator can use this course to learn about new marketing channels such as utilizing custom shirt designs. The course brings them up to speed on image requirements, royalty calculations, and content policies. The portion of the course that covers Merch by Amazon business ideas can help provide ideas for marketing campaigns. This may be a valuable skillset for increasing responsibility.

See salaries and explore the career path for Marketing Coordinator

Print Production Coordinator

Print Production Coordinators oversee the entire process of printing materials, from initial design to final product. This course may be useful to Print Production Coordinators seeking to expand their knowledge of print on demand platforms. Learning about Merch by Amazon will introduce them to how to leverage Amazon to create and sell custom branded shirts. The course specifically covers image requirements, royalty calculation, and content policies within Amazon's ecosystem. The portion of the course that goes over using the Merch by Amazon image template should especially come in handy.

See salaries and explore the career path for Print Production Coordinator

Marketing Assistant

Marketing Assistants provide administrative and operational support to marketing teams. This includes tasks such as scheduling meetings, managing correspondence, and organizing marketing materials. Taking this course may be useful to Marketing Assistants seeking to build their skillset and take on more responsibility. Learning about Merch by Amazon will introduce them to how to leverage Amazon to create and sell custom branded shirts. The course goes over image requirements, royalty calculation, and content policies within Amazon's ecosystem. The section on Merch by Amazon business ideas should especially come in handy.

See salaries and explore the career path for Marketing Assistant

Business Development Associate

Business Development Associates identify and pursue new business opportunities to drive growth for their company. This may involve market research, lead generation, and building relationships with potential clients. This course might be useful to Business Development Associates who want to explore new avenues for revenue generation through custom merchandise. Learning about Merch by Amazon helps them understand how to create and sell branded merchandise on Amazon. The course covers image requirements, royalty calculations, and content policies. The section on Merch by Amazon business ideas is especially relevant.

See salaries and explore the career path for Business Development Associate

Creative Director

Creative Directors lead creative teams in the development and execution of marketing campaigns and visual content. They are responsible for maintaining brand consistency and ensuring that all creative work aligns with the company's strategic goals. This course may be useful to Creative Directors seeking to expand their knowledge of print on demand platforms. Learning about Merch by Amazon will introduce them to how to leverage Amazon to create and sell custom branded shirts. The course reviews image requirements, royalty calculation, and content policies. The section on design ideas may be especially helpful.

See salaries and explore the career path for Creative Director

Product Manager

Product Manager is responsible for the strategy, roadmap, and feature definition of a product or product line. This typically involves conducting market research, defining product requirements, and working closely with engineering, marketing, and sales teams to bring products to market. This course may be useful to Product Managers who want to explore new avenues for product development. Learning about Merch by Amazon helps them understand how to create and sell branded merchandise on Amazon. The course covers image requirements, royalty calculations, and content policies. The review of Merch by Amazon business ideas may come in handy.

See salaries and explore the career path for Product Manager

Introduction

Make and Sell Custom Shirts w/ Merch by Amazon

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Reviews summary

Introduction to merch by amazon business

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