There was a time before the Internet when trying to brand one's own product or service was virtually impossible unless one was looking at a huge trust fund with his or her name on it. The Internet has turned that upside down and now, with online print-on-demand services, there is no excuse to not have one's own brand.

The trailblazer for print-on-demand on the Internet was Cafepress. Then came Printfection. Both are good companies and offer a different variety and quality of products. Signing up is easy, inexpensive and educational. One can sell only t-shirts or expand into the gift and collectible market such as I did with my Londons Times Cartoons images.

As if that were not enough, they also give you a free secure merchant account and a storefront so that your customers can be confident in checking out. You, the merchant must also comply with their terms of service such as a 30-day money back unconditional guarantee (which a merchant should anyway, whether this service existed or not).

The price of one's storefront varies depending on the type one wants and which firm it is using. It is not expensive and can vary from free to seven dollars per month. Of course if that were all there were to the costs, everyone would have a store. But the truth of the matter is, one must budget in advertising and other costs that go along with promoting any service or product. It is not a lot different than running a brick and mortar store except a lot less costly.

How does one learn to design the products and price them? Each site has a tutorial that can be comprehended rather easily. If one hits a stump, there is a toll free number and a forum for answers. It is not rocket science, but, yes, even I, occasionally run into issues which are rapidly solved.

So if you have been one of those starving-artist types with your head in the sand for a long time, its time to pull it out and show your wares. The Internet has opened phenomenal new markets and the buying public loves them (and by the way, orders are quite brisk) at all seven of my stores.

So just build it and they will click their mouse.

I was one one of those creators who put my head in the sand for many years. I had (and have) a critically acclaimed cartoon Londons Times at londonstimes.us. For seven years I let it sit there and gather dust. Fortunately it gathered a following too (we found out about 9 million or 4000 per hour of which I had no idea at the time). Since discovering print-on-demand services I have opened mirthgirthbirth.com (maternity and infant wear), ricklondonwear.com (cartoon designer clothes) ricklondoncollection.com (cartoon gifts and collectibles), LTSuperstore.com megastore of gifts and collectibles, justfunnyaprons.com, justfunnyhoodies.com, and justfunnycoasters.com. The potential is unlimited. All one must do is research a product or products that are selling well, insert art or photography, and get to work.

About the Author

Rick London started Londons Times Cartoons in an abandoned Ms. warehouse. Now it is one of the most visited cartoon sites on the Internet with over 8.9 million visitors off-the-wall comics,and very funny cartoons

Author: RickLondon Total views: 49 Word Count: 512

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