Print-on-Demand Glossary: 50+ Essential Terms Every POD Seller Must Know

Whether you're just starting your print-on-demand journey or looking to expand your knowledge, understanding industry terminology is crucial for success. This comprehensive glossary covers all the essential terms you'll encounter when selling on Amazon Merch on Demand, Redbubble, Etsy, TeePublic, and other POD platforms.

A

ASIN (Amazon Standard Identification Number)

A unique 10-character alphanumeric identifier assigned by Amazon to every product in its catalog. ASINs are essential for tracking and identifying Amazon merch on demand shirts and other products.

AOP (All-Over Print)

A printing technique where the design covers the entire surface of a product, including seams and edges. All-over prints are popular for creating bold, eye-catching apparel and are offered by platforms like Printful and Gooten.

Affiliate Marketing

A marketing strategy where you earn commissions by promoting other companies' products. Many POD sellers combine their own products with affiliate marketing to diversify income streams.

B

Best Seller Rank (BSR)

A numerical ranking that indicates how well a product is selling relative to other products in its category on Amazon. Lower BSR numbers indicate higher sales volume. BSR is one of the most important metrics for finding trending Amazon merch on demand shirts.

BSR Ranges Explained:

• 1-1,000: Extremely high sales, very competitive
• 1,000-10,000: Strong sales, good opportunity
• 10,000-50,000: Moderate sales, less competition
• 50,000-100,000: Lower sales, niche opportunities
• 100,000+: Minimal sales, may indicate saturated or declining niches

Blanks

Unprinted products (t-shirts, hoodies, mugs, etc.) that serve as the base for print-on-demand designs. Quality blanks are essential for customer satisfaction.

Brand Registry

Amazon's program that helps brand owners protect their intellectual property and create a better customer experience. Essential for serious Amazon Merch on Demand sellers.

C

Conversion Rate

The percentage of visitors who complete a desired action (usually making a purchase). Calculated as: (Number of Sales ÷ Number of Visitors) × 100. A healthy POD conversion rate typically ranges from 1-5%.

Copyright

Legal protection for original creative works, including designs, artwork, and written content. Understanding copyright is essential to avoid infringement issues that can get your POD accounts terminated.

CTR (Click-Through Rate)

The percentage of people who click on your product listing after seeing it. Higher CTR indicates effective thumbnails and titles.

D

Direct-to-Garment (DTG)

A printing method where ink is applied directly to the fabric using specialized inkjet technology. DTG produces high-quality, detailed prints and is the primary method used by most POD platforms.

Dye Sublimation

A printing process where heat transfers dye onto materials like polyester. Produces vibrant, long-lasting colors and is commonly used for all-over prints and products like mugs and phone cases.

Dropshipping

A fulfillment method where the seller doesn't hold inventory. When a customer orders, the product is shipped directly from the manufacturer or supplier. POD is a form of dropshipping.

E

Evergreen Niche

A niche that maintains consistent demand throughout the year, regardless of seasons or trends. Examples include family-themed designs, pet lovers, and hobby-related products. Evergreen niches provide stable, long-term income.

EPS (Encapsulated PostScript)

A vector file format commonly required by POD platforms for high-quality print output. EPS files can be scaled without losing quality.

F

Fulfillment

The process of receiving, processing, and delivering orders to customers. In POD, fulfillment is handled by the platform or print provider.

FBA (Fulfillment by Amazon)

Amazon's service where they store, pack, and ship products for sellers. While not directly related to Merch by Amazon, some POD sellers use FBA for their own branded products.

G

Gig Economy

The labor market characterized by short-term, flexible, and freelance work. Many POD sellers participate in the gig economy, working independently on their own schedules.

Gross Margin

The difference between revenue and cost of goods sold, expressed as a percentage. In POD, this is your selling price minus the base cost charged by the platform.

H

Heat Transfer Vinyl (HTV)

A material used in heat press printing where designs are cut from vinyl and pressed onto garments. While not typical for large-scale POD, some sellers use HTV for small batches.

High-Resolution

Image quality measured in DPI (dots per inch) or pixels. Most POD platforms require designs of at least 300 DPI for optimal print quality. Higher resolution ensures crisp, professional-looking products.

I

Intellectual Property (IP)

Creations of the mind protected by law, including trademarks, copyrights, and patents. Respecting IP is crucial in POD to avoid account termination and legal issues.

Inventory

Stock of products available for sale. One major advantage of print-on-demand is that sellers don't need to hold inventory—products are created only when ordered.

K

Keywords

Words or phrases that customers use to search for products. Effective keyword research and optimization are essential for visibility on POD platforms and marketplaces.

KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing)

Amazon's self-publishing platform for ebooks and print books. Many POD sellers also create low-content books (journals, planners) through KDP.

L

Long-Tail Keywords

Specific, multi-word search phrases with lower search volume but higher purchase intent. Example: "funny cat dad birthday gift shirt" vs. "cat shirt". Long-tail keywords often convert better and face less competition.

Listing Optimization

The process of improving product titles, descriptions, images, and keywords to increase visibility and conversions on marketplaces.

M

Marketplace

An online platform where multiple sellers can list and sell products. Amazon, Etsy, and eBay are examples of marketplaces where POD products are sold.

Merch by Amazon (MBA)

Amazon's print-on-demand platform where approved sellers can create and sell apparel directly on Amazon.com. Also known as Amazon Merch on Demand.

Mockup

A digital preview showing how a design will look on a finished product. High-quality mockups are essential for product listings and marketing materials.

MOQ (Minimum Order Quantity)

The smallest number of units a supplier will produce in a single order. Traditional manufacturing often requires high MOQs, while POD has no minimum—you can sell one item at a time.

N

Niche

A specialized segment of a market with specific interests, needs, or demographics. Finding profitable niches is key to POD success. Examples include "dog mom," "nurse humor," or "vintage camping."

Niche Research

The process of identifying and analyzing market segments to find profitable opportunities. Effective niche research involves analyzing trends, competition, and demand.

O

Organic Traffic

Visitors who find your products through unpaid search results, as opposed to paid advertising. Strong SEO and keyword optimization drive organic traffic.

Oversaturation

When too many sellers compete in a particular niche, making it difficult to gain visibility and sales. Identifying oversaturated niches helps you avoid wasted effort.

P

PNG (Portable Network Graphics)

A raster image format that supports transparency, commonly used for POD designs. Most platforms accept PNG files with transparent backgrounds.

POD (Print-on-Demand)

A business model where products are manufactured only after a customer places an order. This eliminates the need for inventory and upfront investment in stock.

Print Provider

A company that prints and fulfills orders for POD sellers. Examples include Printful, Printify, Gooten, and platform-integrated services like Amazon's or Redbubble's fulfillment.

Profit Margin

The percentage of revenue remaining after all costs are deducted. In POD, profit margin = (Selling Price - Base Cost - Platform Fees) ÷ Selling Price × 100.

R

Raster Image

A digital image made up of pixels. Unlike vector images, raster images lose quality when scaled up. Common raster formats include PNG, JPEG, and TIFF.

Redbubble

A popular print-on-demand marketplace where independent artists sell their designs on various products. Known for its artist-friendly community and wide product selection.

Royalty

The payment a seller receives for each product sold. On platforms like Merch by Amazon and Redbubble, sellers set their royalty amount above the base cost.

S

Screen Printing

A traditional printing technique where ink is pushed through a stenciled mesh screen. While not typically used in POD (due to setup costs), it's important to understand for comparison.

SEO (Search Engine Optimization)

The practice of optimizing content to rank higher in search results. For POD sellers, SEO applies both to marketplace listings and external websites/shops.

SKU (Stock Keeping Unit)

A unique identifier assigned to each distinct product for inventory tracking. Even in POD, SKUs help organize your product catalog.

Sublimation

See "Dye Sublimation" above.

T

Tags

Keywords or labels attached to products to improve discoverability. Platforms like Etsy and Redbubble allow multiple tags per listing.

Tier System

Merch by Amazon's ranking system that limits how many designs sellers can upload. New sellers start at Tier 10 (10 designs) and progress to higher tiers (25, 100, 500, 1000, etc.) based on sales.

Trademark

A legally registered symbol, word, or phrase representing a company or product. Using trademarked terms in POD designs can result in account termination and legal action.

Trend Velocity

A metric indicating how quickly a product or niche is gaining or losing popularity. Positive trend velocity suggests growing demand, while negative velocity indicates declining interest.

Trending

Products or niches experiencing rapid growth in popularity and sales. Identifying trending items early offers competitive advantages.

U

UGC (User-Generated Content)

Content created by customers, such as reviews, photos, and social media posts. UGC can boost credibility and sales for POD products.

Upload

The process of submitting designs and product information to a POD platform. Each platform has specific upload requirements for file formats, dimensions, and metadata.

V

Vector Image

A digital image created using mathematical formulas, allowing infinite scaling without quality loss. Formats include SVG, AI, and EPS. Vector files are ideal for logos and designs that need to work at various sizes.

Vintage

A popular design aesthetic featuring retro or aged appearances. Vintage-style designs consistently perform well across POD platforms.

W

White Label

Products manufactured by one company but sold under another company's brand. POD products can be considered white label since the print provider manufactures them.

Workflow

The sequence of steps in a process. An efficient POD workflow includes niche research, design creation, listing optimization, and marketing.

Conclusion

Understanding these terms is fundamental to your success in the print-on-demand industry. Whether you're researching trending Amazon merch on demand shirts, optimizing your Etsy listings, or expanding to new platforms like Redbubble and TeePublic, this glossary provides the foundation you need.

Bookmark this page and refer back to it as you grow your POD business. As you gain experience, these terms will become second nature, and you'll be better equipped to make informed decisions about your products and strategies.

Ready to put your knowledge into action? Use our free Niche Research Tool to discover trending products and profitable niches today!