by 7 people |
In this series of articles, I will help you to find new ways to make money with CafePress, whether it's an existing store, or a brand new one. (Hey, don't knock CafePress if you've not seen the product for a few years; it's getting great!)
In just one year, I've found ways to promote my art, illustration and design, and make money all at the same time! You can do the same! Try some of the techniques that I describe, and you should see your sales climb!
This article is about the #1 key to CafePress success: Marketing.
See my store at www.cafepress.com/monstermachine, and my main site at SteamCrow.com and my web comic at MonsterMachine.net.
Be sure to check out my other articles in this series:
Make Money with CafePress #1 - Focus
Make Money with CafePress #2 - Design
Marketing = Getting Seen
Get your designs seen.
You can have the finest CafePress designs in the world, but they won't do you any good until you get them seen. I employ as many methods as possible to get people to see my artwork, and CafePress designs.The more people that are interested in my artwork equal more people that might be willing to make a purchase.
Most, if not all, of these techniques can work for you as well.
Caught Creatures
My Monster Haiku Book
Caught Creatures
Caught Creatures is the world's finest Monster Haiku book. Yes, that's probably the best way to describe it. It is full of monsters (mostly those that are caught), a Haiku for each one, and well, lots and lots of full color monster art. 48 pages, in fact.
Amazon Price: $20.00 (as of 07/11/2009) 
Start a Blog
Use your own blog to attract customers
Blogging is by far the easiest and fastest way to have your own website. It also can help establish yourself as an expert or personality on any particular subject.Now, if you followed my advice in article #1 Focus, you ought to have a good idea of what kind of CafePress store you have or want to have. Now, extend the subject and your audience with a daily blog.
For example, if you do a lot of cocker spaniel designs, start a cocker spaniel blog. Talk about cockers, link to other cocker sites, and most of all, feature a cocker spaniel design with every post. Now, people with have twice as many ways to find your designs.
Don't want to be tied down to one subject? Start a CafePress blog, and simply feature one great design per day. (With affiliate linking of course!) Be sure to describe the design as well, (and why you like it) so that search engines will have a good chance to find you over time. Your audience will appreciate that you're helping them through all of the millions of CafePress designs out there.
Also, don't fret, it takes time to build an audience, just as it takes time to build customers.
Blogging Tips:
1. Post on a regular schedule. Daily is the best.
2. Get you blog listed on Technorati.
3. Add your blog or site address to your signature in email, or your profile on forums.
4. Have a distict focus.
5. Make friends with other related sites, and exchange links.
6. Don't give up... it takes time.
Blog Links
- WordPress
- WordPress is my favorite blogging software. It's easy, powerful, and very pleasant to use.
Though I have my own domain, you don't have to have one to use WordPress. Just go the WordPress.org, and sign up, and they'll host you too.
However, if will be easier to market your domain name. - Blogger
- Yes, Blogger is another quality blogging software, that I'm certain you've heard of. Just go there, sign up, and you'll be rolling in no time.
- DreamHost
- The best webhost I've ever had, DreamHost also has 1-click installs that will have you, your own domain name, and WordPress running in a matter of minutes. No, really, they're great.
Some Examples of my CafePress Stuff
Designs to make a monster blush
For me, I focus on it every other month or so, and add a bunch of designs.
Lucha Masked Wrestler Organic Cotton Tee
A halloween favorite, this double-team luchadore is ready to wrestle. The Monstruo Libre has what it takes to rule the ring, and is a cute cartoon character while he's doing it. Nice retro colors!
Price: 28.99
Lucha Masked Wrestler Jr. Ringer T-Shirt
A halloween favorite, this double-team luchadore is ready to wrestle. The Monstruo Libre has what it takes to rule the ring, and is a cute cartoon character while he's doing it. Nice retro colors!
Price: 25.99
Lucha Masked Wrestler Value T-shirt
A halloween favorite, this double-team luchadore is ready to wrestle. The Monstruo Libre has what it takes to rule the ring, and is a cute cartoon character while he's doing it. Nice retro colors!
Price: 17.99
Monster Head Black T-Shirt
Monster Machine is a webcomic that is sweeping the bus stations across the country. This design features Monster, a cute, adorable little demon, who just wants to be loved. www.monstermachine.net GO!
Price: 27.99
Monster Head Jr. Ringer T-Shirt
Monster Machine is a webcomic that is sweeping the bus stations across the country. This design features Monster, a cute, adorable little demon, who just wants to be loved. www.monstermachine.net GO!
Price: 25.99
Pink Skully Black T-Shirt
The Skully Pink Skull is a delicious candy goth design, so clean and tasty, you just wanna lick it! Well, whatever, we don't care what you do. Classic urban goodness, this design looks good anywhere y
Price: 27.99
Pink Skully Jr. Raglan
The Skully Pink Skull is a delicious candy goth design, so clean and tasty, you just wanna lick it! Well, whatever, we don't care what you do. Classic urban goodness, this design looks good anywhere y
Price: 26.99
Pink Skully Baseball Jersey
The Skully Pink Skull is a delicious candy goth design, so clean and tasty, you just wanna lick it! Well, whatever, we don't care what you do. Classic urban goodness, this design looks good anywhere y
Price: 25.99
Boozie the Drunk Elephant Throw Pillow
Boozie knows that a little drink before dinner never did too much harm. And another little one after never was a big deal. You should listen to Boozie. He likes it when you join him for a little drunk
Price: 24.99
Boozie the Drunk Elephant Baseball Jersey
Boozie knows that a little drink before dinner never did too much harm. And another little one after never was a big deal. You should listen to Boozie. He likes it when you join him for a little drunk
Price: 25.99
Boozie the Drunk Elephant Organic Cotton Tee
Boozie knows that a little drink before dinner never did too much harm. And another little one after never was a big deal. You should listen to Boozie. He likes it when you join him for a little drunk
Price: 28.99
Buddha Blue Black T-Shirt
During the 45 years following his enlightenment, the Buddha gave advice and taught various methods of working with mind and its perfect qualities (fearlessness, joy, and active compassion) to people f
Price: 27.99
Buddha Blue Organic Cotton Tee
During the 45 years following his enlightenment, the Buddha gave advice and taught various methods of working with mind and its perfect qualities (fearlessness, joy, and active compassion) to people f
Price: 28.99
Buddha Blue Value T-shirt
During the 45 years following his enlightenment, the Buddha gave advice and taught various methods of working with mind and its perfect qualities (fearlessness, joy, and active compassion) to people f
Price: 17.99
Bandit Panda Jr. Jersey T-Shirt
Bandit Panda, he like bamboo shoots, but he also like the dance of the blade. He have cute blue eyes, but he also have terrible kick/punch combo. He look sweet, but he just love bandit gold and small
Price: 27.99
Bandit Panda Baseball Jersey
Bandit Panda, he like bamboo shoots, but he also like the dance of the blade. He have cute blue eyes, but he also have terrible kick/punch combo. He look sweet, but he just love bandit gold and small
Price: 25.99
Bandit Panda Women's Cap Sleeve T-Shirt
Bandit Panda, he like bamboo shoots, but he also like the dance of the blade. He have cute blue eyes, but he also have terrible kick/punch combo. He look sweet, but he just love bandit gold and small
Price: 24.99
Get Your Artwork Seen
Fans = Customers
- MySpace
- Okay, I avoided it like the plague for months now. However, the millions of MySpacers just can't be ignored any longer. Looking around, I found that tons of other artists have been featuring their art there, and now I am too. I'd suggest that you'd do the same, as 80 million people can't be totally wrong.
One Key to MySpace is to make friends with others, so that people can find you. Adding comments on profiles is also helpful.
BTW, my MySpace name is:
http://www.myspace.com/steamcrow - DeviantArt
- A long running artist site, Deviant can be a way for you to build up some awareness of your own artwork. Like MySpace and other "social building" sites, it takes time to network with others. On DeviantArt, you have to comment on other people's artwork to be seen.
Mine:
http://steamcrow.deviantart.com - Flickr
- While Flickr isn't about illustration at all, it still has a vibrant and active community of artists that share their artwork in public and private groups. I find that it works a bit better than DeviantArt for me. You could take photos of yourself and friends wearing your CafePress designs, and then link back to your store.
- Mojizu
- If you're a character artist, Mojizu is a cool place to post your designs. You can link directly to your own site, so that you can still promote your CafePress store.
Steam Crow Show
You can use YouTube to promote yourself.
Use Flickr to Promote your art
I use Flickr almost exclusively to promote my artwork. While Flickr isn't at all about illustration, there are some very active and cool groups on there... Look around.
Barack Obama Poster
Korule the Elephant-...
Kelpie
Tiny Army Logo
Lucha Monstruo Print
2008 Flyer Back - Ma...
2008 Book Guide
Building Vector Beas...
After Halloween text...
P is for Peskil
Q is for Quarlo
After Halloween titl...
Work = Sales
It takes a LOT of work to promote your CafePress store online, but it all adds up. Over time, you'll find that as your audience grows, so will your sales. It isn't easy, but it sure is cool to make sales on a regular basis, even when you're taking a month off.Good luck!
- Daniel
by Steam
My name is Daniel Davis, and I'm a graphic designer, webcomic maker, and illustrator of Caught Creatures, a monster-haiku art book.
I love graphic desi...
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