Need to Register?

BostonKnucklehed · October 1st, 2009

There is no doubt about, times are tough right now. It seems like whenever you fire up your laptop or even the TV there is some sort of broadcast of a new business or organization crumbling that will somehow affect your daily life or business. With today’s economy owning or starting a clothing line could get tricky and require bringing in the big guns. Don’t worry though! There is a lot you can do as a clothing line owner to really market yourself. There are many different ways to really bring new website visitors to your brand you just have to think outside the box and sleep a little less. Here are some sure fire ways to further your reach online.

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) – Optimize your clothing brands website for search engines. If you have a physical store, there is a good probability that there are specific keywords that people use every day that will help find your store or website. It is time to sprinkle those specific keywords tastefully throughout your web site so your audience can find you. SEO works like a powerful magnet for your targeted audience. The broader the keywords the longer it will take to be visible, but if you have some products that cater towards a “niche” audience then SEO will be your best pal.
Launch a Blog – Launch a blog immediately on your website. The blog will be your brands voice. Depending on what you choose to write about will determine the type of audience you are looking to attract. Don’t expect riches after you launch though. Writing in a blog takes time, patience and quality. You can write about anything and everything linked to your clothing brand. Do you have a physical location with employees or new products launching? The blog is where you can show everything from who stops by your office to Jimmy falling out of the office chair. The choice is yours.
Learn to Write – You are going to have to learn how to write, and well. If you want others to see your vision, you will have to be able to convey that vision through words and text. The reason for this is that you will most likely be broke when you start your brand, most of us are tapped for funds when we first launch. You will find yourself trying to do as much as possible for the least amount of cash spend. Writing articles and press releases will be one great way for others in the community along with the press to start recognizing your brand.
Social Networking – There are many diverse ways to find individuals or groups online. The best part is that most of them are free to use! Setting away sometime every day to grow your presence online through websites such as Twitter and Facebook are so vital it is not even funny. Neglecting them will cause a delay in your success. This is where your audience is hanging out. Make sure you leave your social networking profile links on your website so your web traffic can come over and connect with you. Just start looking for people to connect with and interact. Over time you will see this approach open many doors for your new brand. All it takes is connecting to that one right person and all of a sudden you have an article in a magazine, cool huh?
Email Newsletters! – Your website visitors need to be able to leave behind their information if they want. Have an email sign up form on your website and start brain storming how you can communicate with these people through email marketing campaigns. A weekly or biweekly newsletter to your list is a great way to remind them that you are not gone and still thriving.
Brand Video – Making a video for your brand might sound like a lot of work and money but if you think outside the box there are ways to get it done on the cheap without sacrificing quality. A one minute video that describes your brand is perfect. Pushing that video through all the various video marketing websites is a great way to bring in some new traffic to your brands website. It is also nice to have a video appear in the search results when someone searches for your brands name. There are inexpensive software’s out there that can help you put together a sick little video representing your clothing line. You don’t have to hire a big film crew, just grab someone’s handheld camera and get creative.
Stick Out – The last thing you want is for your brand to be like everyone else’s. Don’t be scared by being too different. Too different is what sells. It is important to be distinctive by putting your clothing brand into a whole new category. Instead of shipping in a brown bag get some custom boxes made. If you don’t have the money get some stickers made and cover the shipping packages with them. This is just one creative inexpensive way to market your brand. When times are tough and money is tight, you can always get creative with packaging! People don’t want to receive a dirty FedEx bag with their tee stuffed in it.
Education, Education and more Education – When you first launching your brand you are not going to know everything, not even close. There will be times where you have to get your hands dirty and learn how to do some things yourself. It costs a great deal of money to be constantly hiring contractors to do work for you.
Exchange of Services – Once you start educating yourself, you will know things others don’t. When first launching your clothing line, offering exchange of goods will be important. Don’t go giving away your gear to just everyone; but if you know a photographer and you need some professional photos taken for your website; offering free clothes for kick butt photos is worth it! You will have to gauge when it is appropriate for your budget.
Learn to Sleep Less – For every minute you want to sleep in that is one minute less you could be building your brand. That doesn’t mean you have to sleep two hours per day but your clothing brand will not build itself. If you launch your business when you have a day job you will absolutely have to wake up early in the morning and stay up late working to get things done. You have to hustle, work hard and eat, breathe and sleep your clothing brand. Businesses do not build themselves! You can sleep when you retire… until then it is balls to the wall!!!

ladyumbrella · October 1st, 2009

Excellent post man...pretty much summed it all up there in a nutshell..

BostonKnucklehed · October 2nd, 2009

Thanks for the kind words! I think this is really just scratching the surface but it is a good start to what you need for the online portion.

jimmi · October 2nd, 2009

Hi...I am total new to website design & learning how to make website that draw traffic and generate $...may be some of us have read this article called " Make Your Content Presell" by Ken Evoy the founder of Site Build It! ... I am sure this article will give us valuable info...click Make Your Content PREsell!

Anyone has used Site Build It! ?

All the best...Jimmi

curiousity · October 4th, 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by BostonKnucklehed


	There is no doubt about, times are tough right now. It seems like whenever you fire up your laptop or even the TV there is some sort of broadcast of a new business or organization crumbling that will somehow affect your daily life or business. With today’s economy owning or starting a clothing line could get tricky and require bringing in the big guns. Don’t worry though! There is a lot you can do as a clothing line owner to really market yourself. There are many different ways to really bring new website visitors to your brand you just have to think outside the box and sleep a little less. Here are some sure fire ways to further your reach online.

11. Use a font and font size that people can read easily online... otherwise they will just click through your website/content.

Just kidding, kinda.

AeresClothing · October 4th, 2009

Hire Professionals

Too many times I see people who don't know anything about web design or graphic design building their own website. HORRIBLE idea. It usually ends with a crappy website that they refuse to change because they are proud of it. When it comes down to it, this is a business. Use professionals to do your website or your business will suffer dramatically. I guess people like to do it themselves because they are either:
1. Stingy
2. Don't realise the consequences
3. Want the satisfaction of doing it themselves
A sense of accomplishment for making your own website is great, but it doesn't make sales.

Be Humble/Take Advice

When 10 people tell you having an all flash e-commerce site, a splash page, and music playing on your website is a bad idea, listen. Don't act like a big shot. You're just starting out. Nobody knows who you are. Regardless of how good your designs are, don't charge a ridiculous amount even if you think you are the reincarnation of Monet because you "don't use clipart" (heh heh heh). I've seen some AMAZING paintings in my day that probably sold for $100 if that. Meanwhile Jackson Pollock crap goes for 100 million. Why? Because he's well-known.

Know The Law, Respect The Law

Read up on copyright and trademark infringement. Know what you can and can't sell on a t-shirt. Don't steal. Stealing ranges anywhere from simply using someone elses design verbatim to using Google Image Search and using found images as part of a t-shirt design. If you steal, you will be found out and your image and brand will be ruined. If you don't design the shirts yourself, make sure the artists you commission are legit. Some dude emailed me the other day asking why one of my shirts looks almost exactly like his logo. I said "Well that shirt is a parody of the Yo! MTV Raps logo. Your logo is too." He had no idea.

Just a few tips off the top of my head.

Javiergil1910 · 4 Weeks Ago

Quote:

Originally Posted by AeresClothing


	Hire Professionals Too many times I see people who don't know anything about web design or graphic design building their own website. HORRIBLE idea. It usually ends with a crappy website that they refuse to change because they are proud of it. When it comes down to it, this is a business. Use professionals to do your website or your business will suffer dramatically. I guess people like to do it themselves because they are either: 1. Stingy 2. Don't realise the consequences 3. Want the satisfaction of doing it themselves A sense of accomplishment for making your own website is great, but it doesn't make sales. Be Humble/Take Advice When 10 people tell you having an all flash e-commerce site, a splash page, and music playing on your website is a bad idea, listen. Don't act like a big shot. You're just starting out. Nobody knows who you are. Regardless of how good your designs are, don't charge a ridiculous amount even if you think you are the reincarnation of Monet because you "don't use clipart" (heh heh heh). I've seen some AMAZING paintings in my day that probably sold for $100 if that. Meanwhile Jackson Pollock crap goes for 100 million. Why? Because he's well-known. Know The Law, Respect The Law Read up on copyright and trademark infringement. Know what you can and can't sell on a t-shirt. Don't steal. Stealing ranges anywhere from simply using someone elses design verbatim to using Google Image Search and using found images as part of a t-shirt design. If you steal, you will be found out and your image and brand will be ruined. If you don't design the shirts yourself, make sure the artists you commission are legit. Some dude emailed me the other day asking why one of my shirts looks almost exactly like his logo. I said "Well that shirt is a parody of the Yo! MTV Raps logo. Your logo is too." He had no idea. Just a few tips off the top of my head.

I agree, taking advice is very important. I have posted on here several times asking people to review my site and various things and I always listen to their feedback and take it very seriously. The great thing about this forum is you don't know anyone personally, so no one here is going to suck up to you like your friends and family will. They will be sure to tell you straight up what they think looks dumb or doesnt make sense. So really listen to the advise and feedback you get.

muneca · 4 Weeks Ago

Wow Bean-town good post. How do I save this as a favorite? Thanks for the info.

taboot · 4 Weeks Ago

Very good post. These are the steps that we have been working on to help establish ourselves in the industry. Good to know we are on the right track!

krylonking · 4 Weeks Ago

Quote:

Originally Posted by AeresClothing


	Be Humble/Take Advice When 10 people tell you having an all flash e-commerce site, a splash page, and music playing on your website is a bad idea, listen. Don't act like a big shot. You're just starting out. Nobody knows who you are. Regardless of how good your designs are, don't charge a ridiculous amount even if you think you are the reincarnation of Monet because you "don't use clipart" (heh heh heh). I've seen some AMAZING paintings in my day that probably sold for $100 if that. Meanwhile Jackson Pollock crap goes for 100 million. Why? Because he's well-known. Know The Law, Respect The Law Read up on copyright and trademark infringement. Know what you can and can't sell on a t-shirt. Don't steal. Stealing ranges anywhere from simply using someone elses design verbatim to using Google Image Search and using found images as part of a t-shirt design. If you steal, you will be found out and your image and brand will be ruined. If you don't design the shirts yourself, make sure the artists you commission are legit. Some dude emailed me the other day asking why one of my shirts looks almost exactly like his logo. I said "Well that shirt is a parody of the Yo! MTV Raps logo. Your logo is too." He had no idea.

Oh my god this should be what you read before you post in the 'review my design forum'