Print-On-Demand Clothing: how to do SEO [SEO Checklist]

SEO isn't just for tech giants and e-commerce behemoths—it's a game-changer that the most successful print-on-demand clothing brands leverage to attract customers.

We understand that you're busy designing unique apparel and managing your brand, and the idea of optimizing your website might seem like an added stress.

But here's the thing: you don't need to be an SEO guru or break the bank to make it work. Just a few straightforward steps can dramatically boost your online presence and drive more traffic to your store.

To assist you, we've created a free SEO checklist - and for a comprehensive action plan, please check out our marketing tactics and strategies pack for print-on-demand clothing brands.

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What is SEO for on-demand brands exactly?

Simply put, SEO is all about making your print-on-demand clothing brand’s website more attractive to search engines like Google.

When someone searches for "unique custom t-shirts" or "personalized hoodies," SEO helps your clothing brand show up in the results. The goal is to get your website higher up on the search results page so more people can find and shop from your brand.

Why is SEO Important for Print-on-Demand Clothing Brands?

SEO is incredibly important for clothing brands, and here’s why:

Increased Online Visibility:
The higher your website ranks on search engines, the more people will see it. This means more potential customers discovering your clothing brand online, especially when they're looking for unique apparel options.
Higher Rankings on Search Engines:
Most people don’t look past the first page of search results. By optimizing your site, you can climb those rankings and beat out the competition. Imagine someone searching for "custom graphic tees" and finding your brand right at the top!
Attracting More Targeted Customers:
SEO isn't just about getting anyone to your site—it's about getting the right people. By targeting specific keywords related to your niche, you ensure that when someone searches for custom clothing, your brand pops up. This means more sales and a growing customer base.

Key Components of SEO

Now, let’s break down the main parts of SEO specifically for your clothing brand:

On-Page SEO

This involves making sure the content on your website is optimized. It includes things like:

Keywords:
Using the words and phrases people are searching for in your titles, descriptions, and content. For example, if you offer eco-friendly apparel, make sure you use phrases like "sustainable fashion" or "eco-friendly t-shirts" on your site.
Content Quality:
Providing useful, engaging, and fresh content about your clothing brand. Share your latest designs, special offers, customer testimonials, and stories about your brand and team.
Meta Tags:
Using meta titles and descriptions that are relevant and appealing to searchers. For instance, a meta description for your homepage could be "Discover unique custom t-shirts and hoodies at [Your Brand Name], your go-to for personalized apparel."

Off-Page SEO

This focuses on actions taken outside your website to impact your rankings:

Backlinks:
Getting other reputable websites to link to your site, which signals to search engines that your site is trustworthy and relevant. This could be from fashion bloggers, industry news sites, or influencer collaborations.
Social Media:
Being active on social media with your brand’s page can drive traffic to your site and improve your online presence. Share your latest designs, customer reviews, and special promotions to engage with your audience.

Technical SEO

This ensures your website meets the technical requirements of search engines:

Site Speed:
Making sure your website loads quickly. No one likes to wait, especially customers eager to browse your latest designs!
Mobile-Friendliness:
Ensuring your site looks and works well on mobile devices. Many people shop for clothing on their phones while on the go.
Secure Website (HTTPS):
Having a secure website that users (and search engines) can trust. This is especially important if you have an online store where customers enter their payment information.

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Which keywords should you target for your print-on-demand clothing brand?

Print-on-demand clothing brand owners, like you, must target specific keywords in SEO because it helps your website appear in search results when potential customers look for the type of apparel or designs you offer. This increases the chances that people will find and purchase from your brand.

For example, if you specialize in custom t-shirts, targeting keywords like "best custom t-shirts" or "unique t-shirt designs" helps attract customers searching for those terms. This makes it easier for people interested in personalized clothing to find your brand online.

Here are some keyword ideas for you. If you want a more developed strategy with actionable steps, go check out our strategy pack for clothing brand owners.

Keyword	Competitiveness Level	Tips and Initiatives
Best custom t-shirts in [Your City]	High	Optimize your website with high-quality images of your designs, gather customer reviews, list on local directories, and use local SEO strategies.
Where to buy unique t-shirts	Medium	Create blog posts or pages on your website highlighting your best designs, use keywords naturally in content, and engage with fashion bloggers.
Custom clothing near me	Medium	Use beautiful imagery of your products, gather positive customer reviews, and ensure your Google My Business profile is complete.
Best place for custom hoodies in [Your City]	Medium	Feature specific product types prominently on your website (e.g., hoodies, sweatshirts), use local SEO tactics, and promote specials on social media.
[Your Niche] clothing in [Your City]	High	Highlight unique aspects of your niche, create SEO-friendly content about your designs, and engage with the local community online.
Top-rated custom apparel near me	High	Encourage satisfied customers to leave positive reviews, optimize your website for mobile, and ensure accurate information on local listings.
Affordable custom clothing in [Your City]	Low	Highlight affordable options and specials on your website, use keywords related to value, and promote deals on social media.
Where to find custom designs near me	Medium	Use local SEO strategies, create content around popular designs, and ensure your website is optimized for mobile users searching nearby.
Popular custom clothing in [Your City]	Medium	Use social media to share popular designs, engage with local influencers, and gather customer testimonials to build credibility.
Best custom clothing for families in [Your City]	Low	Create family-friendly content, highlight family-oriented designs on your website, and host family-themed events to generate buzz.

What really matters when you do SEO for a print-on-demand clothing brand

Actually, we think that SEO often follows the 80/20 rule, meaning that 80% of your results come from 20% of your efforts. For print-on-demand clothing brand owners, like you, this means it's crucial to focus on the right strategies to maximize impact without feeling overwhelmed.

Action / Initiative	Why It Matters / How It Helps Bring New Customers
Optimize Google My Business profile	Ensures your clothing brand appears in local search results, provides essential information (hours, location, product range), and collects reviews to build trust.
Gather and respond to online reviews	Positive reviews build credibility and trust. Responding to reviews shows you value customer feedback, encouraging more people to shop with you.
Create high-quality content with targeted keywords	Helps your website rank higher in search results for relevant queries, attracting customers looking for specific types of clothing or fashion trends.
Optimize for local SEO	Ensures your brand shows up in local searches (e.g., "custom t-shirts near me"), driving traffic from nearby potential customers.
Ensure website is mobile-friendly	Most users search for clothing on their phones. A mobile-friendly site provides a better user experience, leading to higher engagement and conversions.
Use high-quality images of your products	Attractive photos entice potential customers, showcasing your clothing designs, which can significantly influence their decision to purchase.
Include detailed product descriptions with keywords	Allows search engines to index your products, helping you appear in searches for specific items, and makes it easy for customers to understand what you offer.
List your brand on fashion directories	Increases your online presence and backlinks, improving your search engine ranking and making it easier for customers to find you.
Engage with fashion bloggers and influencers	Generates buzz and word-of-mouth, reaching a wider audience and attracting customers who trust these fashion voices.
Promote special collections and offers	Creates a sense of urgency and excitement, encouraging potential customers to shop for unique and limited-time items.
Utilize social media to share updates and engage with customers	Builds a community around your brand, keeps customers informed about new designs, and drives traffic to your website.
Ensure accurate and consistent NAP (Name, Address, Phone) information across all platforms	Prevents confusion, helps search engines trust your business information, and improves your local SEO ranking.
Offer easy online ordering and customization	Makes it convenient for customers to purchase and personalize their clothing, leading to increased sales and customer satisfaction.
Create blog posts about your designs and fashion tips	Attracts visitors to your site through informative and engaging content, improving SEO and showcasing what makes your brand unique.

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What is always useless when you do SEO for a print-on-demand clothing brand

We have studied a lot of print-on-demand clothing brands when we built our strategy pack and we saw a lot of SEO-related initiatives that don't help attract new customers. We explain here why they might be a waste of time or even counterproductive.

Action / Initiative	Why It Doesn't Matter / How It Doesn't Help Bring New Customers
Using meta keyword tags	Search engines no longer use meta keyword tags to rank pages, so focusing on them doesn't improve SEO for your clothing brand.
Keyword stuffing in product descriptions	Overusing keywords in product descriptions makes them hard to read and can be penalized by search engines, turning away potential customers.
Paying for backlinks from unrelated websites	Backlinks from non-fashion related or low-quality websites don't improve your SEO and can even hurt your ranking if considered spammy by search engines.
Using exact match domains like besttshirtsintown.com	Having an exact match domain has minimal impact on SEO and can appear spammy, especially if it doesn't reflect your brand well.
Creating multiple pages for the same product	Duplicate content confuses search engines and can dilute your SEO efforts. Focus on one high-quality page for each unique product or topic.
Using Flash for product galleries	Flash is outdated, not supported by many devices, and negatively impacts SEO. Modern alternatives like HTML5 should be used instead.
Focusing only on desktop optimization	Many customers search for clothing on mobile devices. Ignoring mobile optimization leads to poor user experience and lower search rankings.
Using automated link-building tools	These tools often create low-quality or spammy links that can be penalized by search engines, hurting your clothing brand's SEO efforts.
Ignoring structured data for products	Structured data helps search engines understand your products better. Ignoring it means missing out on potential SEO benefits like rich snippets.
Not updating your product catalog regularly	Outdated product information can frustrate customers and harm your SEO. Regular updates keep content relevant and maintain search rankings.
Using irrelevant stock photos on your site	Low-quality or irrelevant images can negatively impact user experience and SEO. Use high-quality photos of your actual products.
Over-optimizing anchor text in links	Using exact match keywords for every link appears unnatural and can be penalized by search engines. Use varied, natural anchor text instead.
Ignoring page load speed for your website	Slow-loading pages frustrate users and can lead to higher bounce rates, negatively impacting your clothing brand's SEO. Ensure your site loads quickly.
Using too many ads above the fold on your homepage	Too many ads at the top of the page can be off-putting for users and may be penalized by search engines, impacting your SEO negatively.

Should you pay someone for the SEO of your print-on-demand clothing brand?

Well, let's be upfront. Here’s the thing: SEO can get pretty intricate, and having some support can really make a difference. Imagine trying to juggle designing new apparel, managing orders, keeping customers satisfied, and then on top of that, diving into the world of search engine optimization. It’s a lot, right?

Having someone handle your SEO means you can focus on what you do best—creating and selling unique clothing. SEO experts know the ins and outs of getting your website to rank higher on search engines. They stay updated on the latest trends and algorithms, which means your site will be optimized correctly and consistently. This can lead to more people finding your clothing brand online, and ultimately, more sales.

But here’s the kicker: there are a lot of low-hanging fruits in SEO that you can tackle on your own, even if you don’t know much about it.

You will find a lot of low-hanging fruits that cost nothing, are quick to implement, and will make your clothing brand’s website much more visible in strategy pack for print-on-demand businesses.

Simple actions like optimizing your Google My Business profile, ensuring your website is mobile-friendly, and using relevant keywords can significantly improve your online presence. These tasks don't require deep technical knowledge but can make a big impact.

So, should you increase the marketing budget of your clothing brand and pay someone to manage your SEO? If you can do it, it’s a worthwhile investment. But don't underestimate what you can achieve on your own. Start with the basics, see the results, and then decide if you need more specialized help.

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Useful tools on-demand brand founders can use for their SEO

Here are some essential tools that our team has collected and listed, to help you improve your print-on-demand clothing brand's online presence and SEO.

Tool	How It's Useful
Google My Business	Ensures your clothing brand appears in local search results and Google Maps, provides essential information (hours, location, product offerings), and collects customer reviews.
SEMrush	Helps identify the best keywords for your clothing brand, analyze competitors, and track your search rankings. Provides insights to improve your content and visibility.
Yext	Manages your brand's listings across multiple directories, ensuring consistent NAP (Name, Address, Phone) information to boost local SEO.
Google Search Console	Monitors your website's performance, identifies issues, and provides data on search traffic and keywords to optimize your SEO strategy.
Yelp	Collects customer reviews and ratings, which improve your brand's online reputation and visibility in local search results.
BrightLocal	Offers tools for local SEO audits, citation building, and review management, helping your brand improve its local search presence.
Moz	Provides keyword research, link building, and site audit tools to enhance your brand's SEO efforts and improve search engine rankings.
Ahrefs	Analyzes your brand's backlink profile, identifies top-performing content, and tracks keyword rankings to boost your SEO strategy.
Screaming Frog SEO Spider	Crawls your website to identify technical SEO issues, such as broken links and duplicate content, helping improve site health and rankings.
AnswerThePublic	Generates content ideas by showing what people are searching for related to your clothing brand, helping you create relevant and engaging blog posts and pages.
Canva	Helps create visually appealing social media posts and graphics for your website, which can improve user engagement and indirectly boost SEO.
Hotjar	Provides insights into user behavior on your website through heatmaps and session recordings, helping you optimize user experience and reduce bounce rates.

Copy the SEO tactics of the best on-demand brand founders

We understand why many aspiring entrepreneurs might shy away from SEO and marketing for their print-on-demand clothing brand.

Running a clothing brand is already a full-time job, and the concept of SEO can seem vague and foreign. The terminology can be confusing, and it often feels like marketing is a luxury only big corporations can afford.

Plus, there's the constant worry about costs and whether any marketing efforts will actually pay off. We get that you prefer to focus on immediate, tangible improvements to your brand rather than dive into something that seems complicated and uncertain. No need to deteriorate your brand’s budget here.

That's why we've created a "marketing pack" specifically for print-on-demand clothing brands like yours.

Our pack is designed to address all these concerns head-on. It includes easy-to-follow guides that break down SEO and marketing into simple steps, so you don't need to be a tech expert to understand. We offer cost-effective strategies that fit within tight budgets, and our step-by-step plans ensure that you can implement a good marketing strategy for your clothing brand without feeling overwhelmed.

Plus, we've included real-life examples and tips that have worked for other small clothing brands, so you can see the tangible benefits before you even start.

Our goal is to make marketing accessible and practical, helping your clothing brand thrive without adding extra stress to your already busy life.

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