All Posts

Scheduling Tools For Your Brand

Scheduling tools are great for managing your brand. You can plan content weeks or months in advance that will post automatically. This way, you have more time to focus on the day-to-day aspects of your business.

When you can plan content like this, it also gives you the opportunity to get the most out of it. Recycle old posts or find new ways to promote a piece of content. A social media scheduling tool is going to make your life so much easier. There are a lot of scheduling tools out there, so how do you choose the right one? We have some options for you to consider:

Buffalo Your Content

Before we get into the scheduling tools, it’s important that you have a good method when it comes to creating your content. Back on the plains, the Native Americans used every piece of a buffalo when they killed it: they didn’t let anything go to waste. Different parts of the buffalo would be used for food, clothing, shelter, and tools. That’s also a great way to approach social media content and marketing!

It all starts with one good piece of social media content. Could be a blog post or a long form podcast, etc. You take that content and chop it up into different segments. But it shouldn’t be a copy and paste situation; it’s all about serving the socials and being authentic with your tone of voice. For example, you’ll likely have a different voice on Youtube than you do on TikTok.

It takes time and effort to craft something like a blog post, so make sure you’re using it for all its worth. Don’t go on to the next thing without considering how much value you can get out of that one piece of content. Your posts will be plentiful and consistent when you stick to this content method. And it’s easy to do that when you use a good scheduling tool.

Hootsuite

Hootsuite is one of the most popular scheduling tools on the market. They’re a trusted brand used by big companies and small creative teams, alike. Their business model is built for collaboration and integrates with the most popular social platforms. You can do so much from Hootsuite that you don’t even need to sign-in from your individual social channels.

See what your followers are saying and responding to right from your Hootsuite inbox. Monitor engagement with your posts on all social channels – this makes responding to comments and re-sharing content so much easier. The social analytics dashboard also allows you to see what content is trending or not meeting expectations. This is useful in determining what you want your social strategy to be moving forward. You can even chat with co-workers and collaborators within Hootsuite – no Slack channel needed!

You can start Hootsuite with a 30-day FREE trial, and after that you can pick what kind of plan you want. A professional plan allows one user to access the platform and up to 10 social accounts to be connected. The team plan grants three users access with integration for up to 20 accounts. If this isn’t the right fit for you, don’t worry, there’s other options.

Metricool

Metricool is a more affordable option for small creators and businesses just starting their brand. It covers all the core aspects of your business: social posts, ads, and reports. It’s also easy to navigate for people who don’t have experience managing content calendars and dealing with the promotion of their product or services.

The FREE version of Metricool allows you to connect one profile per social platform. You can run ads on Google, Facebook, and TikTok and track their performance. You also have access to all scheduling features to best plan and manage your content. Even access Instagram Story analytics and more within Metricool. If you want to view reports of your social performance you need to be on the Pro 5 plan ($18 monthly).

You can consult this data anytime you need to so you can improve your strategy. Beyond that, you can also monitor your competitors’ strategies to see what people are doing within your field. Knowing what works for you and is successful in the market is only going to make it easier for you to grow your brand.

CoSchedule

Another leading social media scheduling tool is CoSchedule. CoSchedule allows you to manage posts and social projects. This is a great option for individuals or teams that need manage a lot of different content: socials, video, blog, etc. You can decipher content by colors to make your work flow go smoother.

CoSchedule has a FREE tier, but their monthly plan ($29) gives you way more features. Add more social accounts and manage work flow with different templates and lifecycles for your content. This is using the buffalo content method to its fullest – you’ll be getting more out of your content and save time and effort in the process. This automatic life cycling of posts will help ensure you always have a stacked content calendar.

You can even select certain posts to be part of a ReQueue. This content will automatically go out on days where there’s nothing already scheduled for that social channel. It’s a great backup when you find yourself away on vacation or tied up in other aspects of your business.

Airtable

Airtable prides themselves on the fact that you can begin building on day one. They have templates that will help you fulfill whatever content needs you have, which feels less overwhelming to people new to social media marketing. Airtable gives you the power of personalization. It allows you or individuals of your team to focus on the things that matter most.

Pick extensions from their Marketplace that will help you take your brand to the next level. Add a color palette that houses your brand colors and makes it easy to generate quick content. Visualize data through different charts if you want to get a bigger perspective. Add Google Hangouts so its easy for you and your team to jump on a quick call. They have more extensions to use, but what you get is also up to the plan you choose:

– FREE: 1 extension

– Plus ($12 monthly): 3 extensions

– Pro ($24 monthly): 10 extensions

Airtable wants you to pick solutions that work for your business, whether that’s paid or unpaid. They provide you with the ability to scale your business however you see fit.

We hope this gave you a better idea of some of the scheduling tools that are out there. Determining what kind of content you want to promote and what you want your business model to be will make it easier when choosing a scheduling tool for your socials. And your whole brand will run smoother!

Merch is a great way to promote your brand. Start making and selling your own merch for FREE today!

10 Mistakes People Make Selling Merch

Spreadshop makes it easy to make and sell your own merch, but promoting and generating merch sales can be an endeavor. There are mistakes every first-time shop owner makes. There are ways to avoid them, though.

Being authentic and connecting with your audience is key. If your merch doesn’t resonate with them, they’re not going to buy it. That’s why it’s important to get specific and tap into your niche. It’s better to have a small group of supportive followers than a large community that doesn’t engage with your content/endeavors.

We hope knowing these 10 common mistakes merch sellers will save you some time and frustration when you launch or revamp your merch!

Word of Mouth

Its cliche, but word of mouth is still one of the most effective tools for businesses big and small. Thanks to the different social channels we use, it’s more amplified than ever. If you have merch or a new project you’re working on, no one’s going to know unless you talk about it. And it doesn’t have to be something profound, either.

It can be as simple as directing someone to the link in your bio at the end of a TikTok or Twitter post. It’s important for social content to be informative and have a call to action so your followers will engage with your content. And the content doesn’t have to be related to merch, necessarily. It’s just a good reminder for people who might not see everyone of your posts on their feed.

Word of mouth can mean good old-fashion networking, too. Talking about your brand at in-person events or community spaces online is important to see growth. You’ll attract potential costumers and collaborators the more you intersect with different creators. And it’s only going to make you feel more comfortable talking about your merch.

Don’t Want to Hear It

Creating merch designs that resonate with your customers AND generate sales can be difficult. So, why not go directly to the source? Your followers have a different perspective of your brand and content than you do. They might know you better than you know yourself. They’re more likely to catch on to the fact that you repeat certain “catch phrases” or have mannerisms you do over and over. Use this to your advantage to help create merch that has a meaningful connection to your audience.

If your followers are more involved in the design process, they’re more likely to buy your merch. It shows you value their opinion and understand how important they are to your success. Here are some ideas for how to engage them:

– Ask an open-ended question in posts

– Run a poll so people can pick their favorite design

– Go live to talk about your merch

Having Trouble Finding Your Audience?

Having a niche is going to make it easier for you to market your brand and connect with the right people. When people launch their merch lines, they often don’t take the time to think about who their target audience is. As a result, they end up merch that appeals to a wide range of people, which can be difficult to market effectively. It’s important to have a clear understanding of who your target audience is so that you can create merch that speaks directly to them.

Someone like Clueless Bushcraft, for instance, knows who his audience is: people who want to survive in the wilderness. His brand of content is a subsection for people interested in wildlife and the outdoors, but it’s niche enough to be its own thing. Like his audience, he’s new to learning a lot of these things. His merch features catchphrases he uses and other fun graphics. This survival 101 design fits perfectly into his brand. Having a niche may sound limiting, but it actually gives you the power to fully be yourself.

Build on Your Brand

As a shop owner, it’s important to make sure that your merch designs are an accurate reflection of your brand. Unfortunately, many shops don’t take the time to flesh out their designs, resulting in merch that doesn’t feel authentic or representative of who they are trying to sell to.

If you want your merch to be a true reflection of your brand, there are a few things you can do. Take the time to design your merch with intention. Consider what message you want to communicate with your designs, and make sure that they are cohesive with the overall aesthetic of your brand. Canva is a great tool for this. You can upload your brand colors and any logos you may have. Plus, they have a large stock library of images and graphics to choose from.

But don’t be afraid to experiment! Try out different design elements and see what resonates with your audience. Then you can ask for their feedback on socials. This will make the design process feel way less intimidating.

Make Your Shop a Stylized Experience

How your website looks will directly impact your sales. If it looks unfinished, people won’t feel comfortable making purchases. Spreadshop gives you the power of personalization, so use it to your advantage! We have different themes you can use to highlight different aspects of your brand. You can put your products front and center, or make it feel more like a part of your brand. Our classic theme allows you to have a banner on your homepage. This is a great place to put a picture of yourself or team.

It gives customers reassurance to see you took the time to have these details. It also will make you feel more confident when you’re out there selling your merch. Having pride in your brand will only propel you to achieve greater success.

You Don’t Have to Do it Alone

People often think they have to do everything on their own when it comes to their merch line. But that’s not true! Asking for help from friends and family can be a huge help. And you never know, they may have some great ideas for product photos or merch design. Use the people in your life and you’ll be surprised at how much support you have.

If there are small businesses in your community that you admire, ask them how they found success. Most people are more than willing to help people just starting their business journey. At Spreadshop, we have so many small business owners that use as for their merch needs. Selling merch is a great tool to grow your small business.

Compliment Your Merch With Great Photos

Most of the time your merch designs don’t sell themselves – you’ve got to put some extra effort in! That’s why you need to have high quality photos of people wearing your merch. It seems simple enough, but it can be a determining factor on whether your followers connect with your brand or not. It also makes for great social media content.

Shop owner Nikki Connected is killing it with the merch photos on her Instagram! People are going to buy her merch cause they follow her Youtube channel and like her content, so it only makes sense for her to be in the pictures to make that connection stronger. This way, she’s the face of her brand without having to put photos of her face on a t-shirt. If you don’t feel comfortable being in front of the camera, recruit people in your life to be in photos. Use it as an excuse to get together with friends you haven’t seen in ages. Plus, you’ll get a nice memory out of the experience.

Amplify Your Merch With a Microphone

Some people get nervous about the idea of “selling” something. But if you have the platform, you might as well use it. Don’t be scared to cross promote your merch. Your followers follow you for a reason and would love to show their support. Talk about it on a podcast you host, or your Youtube channel. You never know who might be interested in buying some merch to support your work!

Plus, merch is a great way to make extra money and keep your fans happy. So go ahead and give them the chance to show their love for you by buying your merch!

Merch Makes Good Content

Since we have so many products, you can find any kind of merch you want to feature in your content. The easy way: wear a t-shirt whenever you go about making your everyday content. But there’s ways to make your content AND merch feel more stylized. Incorporate unique items like fanny packs and bucket hats when you’re making trendy or fashion-related videos. Even use merch as a way to teach your audience something.

Clueless Bushcraft made a TikTok testing our water bottles in frigid temperatures. He discovered that our insulted water bottle prevented water from freezing, and that our regular water bottle would come in handy if you needed to boil water. He found a unique way to promote his merch but still provide value with his content. These are the kind of tips and tricks that his audience wants to learn from him. How can you use merch in your content?

Figure Out Your Brand

You already have all the tools needed to build a brand, you just don’t know it yet. Celebrities and corporations aren’t the only ones capable of branding. Creators, artists and more are in a position to brand themselves. And it doesn’t have to feel overwhelming.

Spreadshop is here to help bridge the gap between creator and consumer. Merch helps deepen that relationship and is essential in building a brand. But you may think: “What can I make for my merch?” You have an online presence that’s worth something, whether you have 100 or 100,000 followers. Discover what makes you unique and sets you apart from other creators. Your followers should be involved in the process. Find your logo/brand imagery, identify what you want to say that’s going to make an impact. Building a brand isn’t as daunting once you start to break it down.

If you avoid these 10 common mistakes, there’s no telling how far you can take your merch. Open your own Spreadshop and start making and selling your own merch for FREE!

Merch For Summer

It’s officially summer! And with a new season comes a whole new wardrobe. We have merch for whatever you’ve got planned this summer: camping, baseball games, or even just lounging by the pool.

There are some pretty amazing people that use Spreadshop for their merch needs, so we thought we’d give them a shoutout! Here are some shops selling some of the must-have merch items for summer 2022:

CFL Plants

You can’t go wrong with a classic white tee – it never goes out of style! Cayla is a passionate plant mom that runs CFL Plants, a plant swap business. She cares about the impact plants have on her community and wants to educate others on how they can be the best plant parents. Her merch is clean and aesthetically pleasing. She has different phrases she uses and logos that reflect her social handles and look of her business.

We love how her logo looks with the different plant leaves. This would be perfect for other plant parents to wear while they tend to their garden; white is the most breathable option, after all. We also like the idea of wearing a white tee over a swimsuit, by the pool or on the beach.

Windy’s World

If you’re into Minecraft or pixelated art in general, Windy’s World has some summer merch for you! They create original pixel art designed to brighten your day, like this super cute cinch backpack (cat not included, unfortunately).

This type of backpack is perfect for a day where nothing’s set in stone and you need room for all your essentials. Throw one of our reusable water bottles in there and same protein bars if you’re going on a hike. Taking a day trip to the beach? Store your bathing suit, sunscreen, and a book perfectly in this backpack. You can even personalize it with buttons or patches, like Windy’s World did with buttons they also sell in their shop.

Junkyard Fox

Junkyard Fox has a pretty great shop motto: for those that go out and get their boots dirty. If you’ve got any hiking or camping trips planned this summer, they’re gonna help fulfill your merch AND survival needs. Their Youtube channel teaches viewers how to adapt to the wilderness through hunting, gathering, and other survival tips.

Camper mugs are an essential merch item for the summer in more ways than one. Use them for hot coffee in the morning, or for mixed drinks at night. We even like the way they look as decor on shelves. But camper mugs can also come in handy if you need to boil water over a fire and don’t have a pot or larger container. We love a multipurpose item!

Soso_Swag

The best thing about merch: seeing your fans, friends, and family wear it. TikTok creator Sophia, soso_swag, has found a dedicated following on the platform thanks to her hilarious content. She posts fun commentary videos about what it’s like to be a lesbian in the dating world. And it’s resonating with her audience! We love this photo one of her followers snapped in her merch.

Tie dye is a summer staple. It’s timeless like the white tee, but in a different way. There’s a fun, hippie sensibility to it and it really makes different merch designs pop. Tie dye is perfect attire for whatever you’ve got planned this summer.

Nikki Connected

Nikki Connected has been a content creator for 7 years and just dropped her own merch for the first time! Designed with girl bosses and hustlers in mind, her shop is a perfect representation of her brand as a finance blogger. And she’s got some fun merch items to bring out your inner girl boss this summer.

Also available in red, navy, and heather gray, this baseball cap is perfect for shielding your face from the sun. Put a logo or a fun design on the front. If you’re looking for cute summer graphics to design with, Canva has plenty of options to choose from. Make merch that your friends and family will envy!

We hope this inspired you to get some summer merch essentials. But why not sell them in your very own shop? Launch your Spreadshop for FREE today!

Why You Need to Be Making Instagram Reels

As a creator or small business owner, you know that engagement is key to growing your brand on Instagram. And what better way to engage with your followers than through Instagram Reels?

Instagram Reels are the perfect platform for you to showcase your personality and connect with your audience. With quick, engaging videos, you can reach a whole new audience and introduce them to you and your brand.

If you’re not already making Instagram Reels, now’s the time to start! Here’s why:

Engagement is Key

Instagram Reels are a great way to connect with your audience and encourage engagement. Here are some tips on how to create engaging Reels:

– Use interesting and creative visuals: people are more likely to engage with content that is visually stimulating. So make sure your reels are eye-catching and have some fun visuals. Capcut makes it easy to upload video clips and create reels. And they have text and graphic icons that you can use!

– Keep it short and sweet: nobody wants to watch a long, dragged-out reel. Keep your reel concise and to the point, so that people will actually want to watch it all the way through. Have an action item, like directing people to click the link in your bio.

– Be interactive: ask questions, run polls, or include some other element that encourages participation from your viewers. The more interactive your reel is, the more engagement you’re likely to receive. Make sure to share your Reels to your Stories so your followers have a better chance of seeing them.

Showcase Your Personality

Instagram Reels allow you to share your personality with your followers in a fun, unique format. When you use Reels, people will get to know you and your brand better. They’ll feel more connected to you and be more likely to support your business. It’s a win-win!

You can also find more creative ways to market your product or service through video content. Spreadshop brand ambassador Clueless Bushcraft (Tom) makes videos about how to survive in the wilderness. He made a TikTok testing our water bottles in frigid temperatures. He discovered that our insulted water bottle prevented water from freezing, and that our regular water bottle would come in handy if you needed to boil water.

Tom found a unique way to promote his merch but still provide value with his content. These are the kind of tips and tricks that his audience wants to learn from him. Instagram Reels, just like TikTok videos, can provide the same level of value. And they’re only going to help you grow.

Gain More Followers

The Instagram algorithm favors reels over any kind of content; static posts just aren’t enough anymore. The app AND users are more likely to engage with Reels. The average engagement rate for these regular posts are low. If you translate that content into a Reel, Instagram is going to push it to more people.

Having a Reel strategy for your socials will ensure that the content you’re working so hard on is being noticed and recognized. You don’t want to spend months with content that doesn’t get you results. This makes it easier to grow your followers and because they’re sharable, Reels are a great way to get your brand in front of more people.

Popping up on someone’s Explore page is also more likely when you use the Reel format.

Let People Come to You!

Popping up on someone’s Instagram Explore Page is a great sign that you’re reaching your target audience. Everyone’s Explore page is different and is specific to each user. Finding the right targeted hashtags and trying to reach your target audience that way can be time consuming and overwhelming. Reels find that user faster and are more effective than static posts.

Instagram Reels are a great entry point for people new to your brand. You can approach them in a way that feels natural and more authentic. This is going to resonate with people. Connections are made when you appear authentic and dedicated to what you’re doing. People can tell when someone’s not genuine. You just have to be you.

We hope these tips gave you more insight on how Instagram Reels can promote your business and grow your following on the app. If you’re looking to build your brand up even more and make some extra money, merch is a great way to do so!

Launch your own merch line for FREE with Spreadshop!

Shop Spotlight: TikToker soso_swag

TikTok creator Sophia, soso_swag, has found a dedicated following on the platform thanks to her hilarious content. She posts fun commentary videos about what it’s like to be a lesbian in the dating world.

Sophia has formed her own little community with this niche and her merch is helping her form a connection with her followers. Spreadshop has helped empower Sophia as a creator and given her an opportunity to build her brand. See what advice she has for other creators and what Pride month means to her in our Q&A below!

How did you wind up making videos on TikTok?

I started filming videos making fun of my experiences as a lesbian, and not really thinking that I would end up creating content as much as I do now. I quickly realized the community that I could build as we all go through similar struggles and have similar experiences as queer women and that is what has made me want to keep up with it.

Where do you get your sense of humor from? You’re hilarious!

I am a pretty sarcastic person and enjoy making light of challenging situations. I would consider myself to be pretty witty and just sort of say what’s on my mind. A lot of the humor in my videos just comes to me in the moment, I don’t plan it all out or anything like that.

What’s something people get wrong about being a content creator?

People don’t realize that your social media persona isn’t representative of who you are holistically. People see one side of you and think that encompasses all of who you are, which can be damaging and hurtful. I show certain aspects of my life on the internet that I choose to show, many of which are over dramatized and embellished. There is a lot more to me that people don’t see, and it can be challenging to just overlook negative comments or bullying from people.

What advice would you give to other people trying to make it on TikTok?

Be yourself! I truly feel like the best creators don’t have to try to be anybody that they aren’t. Show your passions or show what you love in a creative way.

How did you come up with the merch designs for your shop?

It was all Spreadshop! They truly crushed the game. I had some ideas in mind and they came back with so many designs bringing those ideas to life. I was so impressed and I’m happy to be working with them.

Why do you think it’s important for creators to have merch?

Having merch is just another way to connect with your community. It’s a special way your followers can support you and become a part of the community that you are building.

What plans do you have for your shop this year?

As of right now I have launched four designs, specifically during pride month so that people could have cute options for pride parades, etc. I am hoping to continue to work with Spreadshop in the coming months and see what new ideas we can bring to life.

We’re proud to celebrate Pride month here at Spreadshop. What does being part of the LGBTQIA+ community mean to you?

Being part of the LGBTQIA+ community means being undeniably myself and loving myself for who I am at my core. Although being a queer woman is not my whole identity, in a lot of ways it has become a lens in which I see and experience the world. My queer experience has provided me with a sort of love and compassion that makes me hyper empathetic to the world and the people around me.

Sophia proves you don’t need to have millions of followers to launch your own merch. TikTok creators and people with niche hobbies all have their own unique audience that would be willing to show their support by buying merch.

Start building your brand when you launch your Spreadshop today. It’s FREE!