Selling Merch: A Step-by-Step Guide for Podcasters
A complete walkthrough—from idea to launch—to help you turn your podcast audience into loyal customers.
Why Podcast Merchandise Matters
Merchandise not only generates revenue but also strengthens your community. When listeners wear or use your branded items, they become walking billboards for your show.
Step 1: Validate Your Merchandise Ideas
Before investing in inventory, survey your audience. Use social polls or your show’s sponsorship outreach page to ask:
- What types of products would you actually buy?
- Which price points feel reasonable?
- Do you prefer apparel, mugs, stickers, or digital swag?
Tools for Surveys
- Typeform – great for interactive forms
- Google Forms – quick and free
Step 2: Choose a Fulfillment Model
You have two main options:
- Print-on-Demand: No upfront inventory. Services like Printful handle printing and shipping.
- Bulk Ordering: Better margins but requires storage and shipping on your end.
Step 3: Design Your Products
Collaborate with a graphic artist or use DIY tools like Canva to create eye-catching designs. Keep your branding consistent with your podcast logo and color palette.
Step 4: Set Up Your Online Store
Integrate an e-commerce platform with your podcast’s website or social channels. Popular choices:
- Shopify
- WooCommerce (for WordPress sites)
- Gumroad
Step 5: Launch and Promote
When you’re ready to go live:
- Announce on your show and in your newsletter.
- Share product photos on social media.
- Offer a limited-time discount for early buyers.
Step 6: Analyze and Iterate
Track sales, gather feedback, and tweak your offerings. Consider adding seasonal items or collaboration drops to keep momentum.
For more podcast growth tips, visit the our homepage.