Glossary

A/B Testing What is A/B testing? A/B testing, also referred to as split testing, is an experiment where two or more versions of the same webpage are shown to visitors. A statistical hypothesis is then used to determine which one performs or converts better. Both variations A and B are shown randomly […]

Ad Exchange What is an Ad exchange? An ad exchange is an online marketplace where advertisers and publishers trade digital ad inventory. These could include video, display, mobile, and in-app ads. RTB (real-time bidding) technology powers the auctions that determine which advertisers have the rights […]

Ad Network What Is an ad network? An ad network is a digital platform that lists ad inventories from publishers and matches them with advertisers looking for available ad space. The ad inventory is often referred to as remnant or non-premium. However, some ad networks today take a more strategic app […]

Affiliate Marketing What is affiliate marketing? Affiliate marketing is the process where an online store promotes another company’s products on its own website. In return, they get paid a commission per sale made. The concept of this marketing strategy is based on revenue sharing. If you have good […]

AIDA What is the AIDA model? AIDA is a marketing model that helps identify the stages a customer goes through during the process of buying an item or service. Marketers using AIDA can break down the customer journey and focus on each stage with a tailored marketing strategy and approach. Although th […]

B2C What is B2C ecommerce? Business-to-consumer – or B2C – ecommerce is the term used for sales transactions between a business and a customer. Before the digital age, this B2C was used to describe the process of selling goods directly to people, whether in-store or on the streets. But since the gro […]

B2B What is B2B? B2B (business-to-business) is a sales model in which transactions happen between two companies rather than between a company and an individual consumer (B2C). It’s common for manufacturers to sell to wholesalers or wholesalers to sell to retailers, often in large volumes and under n […]

Buyer Persona What is a buyer persona? A buyer persona is a fictional representation of a person who is most likely to buy your product or service. Businesses create personas based on market research and online data about their current buyers. The information that’s used to inform customer personas […]

Checkout Page What is a checkout page? A checkout page is a web page that an ecommerce store displays to customers as they go through the step-by-step checkout process. It can be regarded as an online alternative to a physical POS counter at a store. There are two popular checkout pages: multi-page […]

Click-Through Rate (CTR) What is click-through rate (CTR)? Click-through rate is a metric to calculate the number of times people clicked your ad, organic search result, or email vs. the number of times they viewed it (impressions). Most commonly, click-through rate is used to analyze the effectiven […]

Conversion What is a conversion? A conversion happens when a visitor to your website performs a desired action, such as making a purchase or subscribing to your email list. The desired action can vary depending on the objective of your business—it could be a file download, an email sign-up, or a pur […]

Conversion Rate Optimization (CRO) What does conversion rate optimization (CRO) mean? Conversion rate is the number of visitors who complete a desired action on your website—be it downloading an ebook, filling a registration form, or buying an item. Conversion rate optimization CRO is essentially a […]

Cost Per Action (CPA) What is cost per action (CPA)? Cost per action is a digital advertising payment method in which the advertiser pays only for a specific action taken by a potential customer. Nearly every action covered in the CPA model is related to conversion, be it newsletter signup or a link […]

Cost-per-click (CPC) What is cost-per-click (CPC)? Cost-per-click (CPC) is an online advertising metric used to measure the amount you pay for each click a user makes on one of your PPC ads. Monitoring your CPC is crucial to determine the ROI and success of your paid search campaigns. If you have a […]

Cost per thousand (CPM) What is cost per thousand (CPM)? Cost per thousand (CPM) is the price you pay to get one thousand views on a publisher’s webpage. CPMs vary based on the advertising platform you choose. Social media channels may charge a different CPM compared to the amount you pay for one th […]

Cross selling What is cross-selling? Cross-selling is a tactic through which businesses make more sales by suggesting an additional or complementary item to a customer who has already committed to a purchase. The best way to make sense of cross-selling is through the age-old but effective McDonald’s […]

Custom audience What is a custom audience? A custom audience is an ad targeting option that lets you target people who have already interacted with your business: those who have visited your website or bought something from your store. When you use this option, you can know exactly who’ll be seeing […]

Customer lifetime value What is customer lifetime value? Customer lifetime value (CLV) is a metric that indicates a customer’s value to a business over a certain period. CLV takes a customer’s revenue value into account and compares it with the predicted lifespan of their relationship with a company […]

Customer segmentation What is customer segmentation? Customer segmentation is the practice of dividing your customers into groups based on common characteristics, such as age, gender, hobbies, and spending habits. These groups help better understand customers in each segment and accurately tailor ma […]

Customer support Customer support Customer support is a business strategy where you offer assistance to your customers throughout their buying journey and later. Ecommerce businesses can offer support to their customers with a call center, live chat on the website, and other channels. Companies that […]

Customs fees Customs fees Customs fees are the taxes applied on products when they’re shipped across countries. Put simply, it’s the tax levied on the import of goods. Customs fees in ecommerce Growing your business in the international markets is a good way to get a diverse customer base. However, […]

Distribution What is distribution? Distribution is the process of both selling and delivering products from the manufacturer to the end customer. You can also refer to it as product distribution. With more and more companies going global, it’s become crucial to streamline distribution and ensure all […]

Double opt-in What is double opt-in? Double opt-in is when visitors subscribe via your sign-up form and then receive an email with a link to confirm they want to get emails from you. Only after they click the link will they officially be added to your email marketing list. Unlike a single opt-in, wh […]

Downselling What is downselling? Downselling is a sales tactic where you offer customers an alternative product or service that’s cheaper than the one they were initially considering. Let’s suppose you’re looking to buy a new car. You love the latest model, but the price is too high for your liking. […]

Eco-friendly What is eco-friendly eCommerce? Eco-friendly eCommerce, also known as green eCommerce or sustainable eCommerce, is the concept of brands conducting their operations in an environmentally friendly way. Brands selling online can create eco-friendly and sustainable products for their custo […]

Analytics What are analytics? Analytics is a broad umbrella term used to describe the process of examining datasets to develop conclusions about the information they offer. What are e-commerce analytics? E-commerce analytics is the process of gathering data from different areas that impact the opera […]

Facebook Pixel What is the Facebook Pixel? The Facebook Pixel is a snippet of code that you add to your website. It helps you measure conversions from Facebook ads by monitoring the actions visitors take on your web pages. The Pixel analyzes this data to place visitors into different audience segmen […]

Google Ads What is Google Ads? Google Ads is an advertising platform owned and operated by Google. It’s designed to help businesses reach audiences faster through its search engine and partner platforms. The ads system was first introduced in October 2000 as Google AdWords, but Google later rebrande […]

Heat map What Is a heat map? A heat map is a graphical representation of data where data values are depicted by colors. The colors indicate the level of visitor engagement on a web page or site. Website heat maps use a “warm-to-cold” color scheme to denote a web page’s performance, with the coolest […]

Influencer marketing What is influencer marketing? Influencer marketing is a type of marketing where a brand collaborates with an influencer having an established following and credibility to promote its products. The influencer typically does brand endorsements and mentions to drive interest in the […]

Landing page What is a landing page? A landing page is a conversion-focused web page designed to help visitors progress in the buying journey. It’s different from other web pages in that it’s designed with a single goal or focus (i.e., to convert visitors). It’s this focus that compels visitors to c […]

Logistics What is eCommerce logistics? Logistics is the process of managing the inflow and outflow of goods, including their storage and transportation. The process of storing and shipping inventory for an online store is called eCommerce inventory. It includes inventory management and picking, pack […]

Market research What is market research? Market research is the process of gathering, evaluating, and interpreting information for your business. The information can be about elements like the target market, customers, or the industry as a whole. Market research serves as the foundation of successfu […]

Marketplace What is a marketplace? A marketplace is any location that facilitates the exchange of goods between sellers and buyers. An online marketplace could be an eCommerce website or app that connects buyers with vendors. You can find products across various categories on a marketplace, includin […]

Net promoter score (NPS) What is the net promoter score? Net Promoter Score (NPS) is a market research metric used to measure customer approval, loyalty, or enthusiasm for a brand. You calculate NPS by asking: How likely, on a scale of 1 to 10, are you to recommend this service/product? NPS provides […]

Open rate What is the open rate? Open rate is an email marketing metric used to calculate the percentage of opened emails in response to a marketing campaign. Analyzing your open rate can help you determine the effectiveness of your email subject lines and whether your emails landed in the recipient […]

Order history What is order history? Order history enables buyers to keep track of all existing and past orders and their status at any given time. It makes it convenient for shoppers to get updated information for every order they place online, including shipping updates and payment details. What i […]

Outsourcing What is outsourcing? Outsourcing is the practice of hiring a third party to handle operations, perform tasks, or serve customers for a business. In the world of eCommerce, tasks such as writing product descriptions, dealing with support tickets, developing websites, marketing, and techni […]

Payment gateway What is a payment gateway? A payment gateway is a technology that processes credit card payments, just like any retail outlet’s physical point of sale. It authorizes payment by the customer for an online retailer, physical store, and ecommerce business. The payment gateway secures th […]

Accessories Hundreds of accessories are available on different print-on-demand platforms. We’ve hand-picked the most promising ones to save you hours of research time. Top print-on-demand accessories When it comes to print-on-demand accessories, it can be overwhelming to decide which items to sell. […]

Product Description What is a product description? A product description is a piece of text that describes the benefits and specifics of a product. Its goal is to offer customers enough details to compel them to want to purchase the item immediately. To make a compelling product description, you nee […]

Product Display What is a product display? A product display is a custom fixture in your store that is used to attract and entice customers. The look of the fixture relies heavily on the visual merchandising strategy you adopt for your brand. A product display may also showcase details about a speci […]

Retargeting What is retargeting? Retargeting is a form of targeted online advertising to reach people who have already visited your online store. These can be people who already made a purchase and you want to upsell them on more items. You could also retarget those who haven’t bought from you based […]

Return On Investment (ROI) What is return on investment (ROI)? Return on investment, or ROI, is a financial ratio used to evaluate the efficacy of an investment. Generally, bankers and investors use it to compare the profitability of several different investments. However, entrepreneurs can also use […]

Shopping Cart What is a shopping cart? In ecommerce, a shopping cart is a part of the software that facilitates the customer in their purchase. It accepts the customer’s order and personal details, then relays the information to the merchant, payment processor, and other entities. Acting as the onli […]

SWOT Analysis What is a SWOT analysis? A SWOT analysis is a framework for identifying the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats to a business. It helps you see where your business stands today and how it might do in the future. You can perform a SWOT analysis annually to work on necessar […]

Target Market What is a target market? One of the biggest mistakes an ecommerce business owner can make is to try to sell everything to everyone. No matter how amazing your product or service is, you won’t go far unless you focus on a target market. A target market is a segment of consumers who are […]

Test What is A/B testing? A/B testing, also referred to as split testing, is an experiment where two or more versions of the same webpage are shown to visitors. A statistical hypothesis is then used to determine which one performs or converts better. Both variations A and B are shown randomly to use […]

Testimonial What is a testimonial? A testimonial is a statement made by a customer regarding a brand’s superior products or services. It’s a type of validation from someone who is satisfied with your brand and is willing to share their experience with others. Why are testimonials important? There ar […]

Trends Product trends Trending products sell like hotcakes. And there’s a good reason for this: they allow consumers to feel good and brag about their new purchase. Not to mention, many trending products are equipped with a unique feature or technology that helps them stand out in the marketplace. T […]

Unique Selling Point (USP) What is a unique selling point? A unique selling point (USP) is the value or factor that makes your product or service better than competitors’ offerings. A unique selling point helps you define your unique position in the market. The advertising you run and the pitches yo […]

Upselling What is upselling? Upselling is a sales technique that persuades customers to buy an upgraded, expensive, or premium version of their chosen item or any add-ons that help make more sales. It is common for ecommerce businesses to combine both upselling and cross-selling techniques to increa […]

Bestsellers What are bestsellers? Every online store dreams of finding that set of products that sell well consistently. The ones that rake in a high return on investment. Bestsellers are such products. However, bestsellers cannot be predicted or planned for. Instead, they must be tracked and planne […]

Color Schemes What is a color scheme? A color scheme comprises a mix of colors used in a range of design disciplines, from fine art to graphic design. You can create endless color schemes by pairing two or more colors. Every color scheme has one or more of the twelve main colors present on the color […]

Custom designs What Are Custom Designs? A custom or customized design is something built to a specific order. A fitting example of custom design is a ‘custom-made wedding gown’ where the dress is created as directed by the bride-to-be. The client usually gives the directions or asks the designer for […]

Custom products What is a custom product? Custom products are unique items created individually by a craftsman, artisan, or tailor. Each custom product is designed to meet the client’s size, color, dimension, outlook, etc. These one-of-a-kind items bring the client’s idea to life, and their producti […]

Discounts What is a discounts strategy? A discounts strategy refers to the tactic of dropping the prices of your goods or services to increase sales. However, offering too many discounts too frequently can affect your bottom line. Consumers may think you’re offering low-quality items or are desperat […]

Integrations What is integration? In commerce, five major areas help control and run a business. These are: Integration is a means of unifying the different aspects of the business under a single input. Marketing Inventory Sales Accounting Customer Relationship Management (CRM) No business can opera […]

Print Providers What is a Print Provider? A Print Provider is the vendor actually responsible for printing designs onto the products. With their resources, a Print Provider will print, deliver, and abide by the client’s deadlines. It does not matter if your project is big or small; the Print Provide […]

Promotions What are promotions? Promotions refer to the communications that ecommerce stores attempt to influence people to buy their products. Online stores generally promote their brands by choosing a target audience and finding ways to get in front of them. A lot goes behind the scenes that lead […]

Sales Channels What is a sales channel? A sales channel is the path through which a product or service is sold and delivered to customers. It’s the route connecting the seller to the buyer. For example, a business might sell directly through its own website, app, or physical store, or indirectly thr […]

Sample Orders What are sample orders? Sample orders contain one or a few units of the items you are interested in buying in a large quantity. They’re a low-risk way to assess the quality of the products yourself. You might be surprised to know that most suppliers entertain requests for sample orders […]

Shipping Rates What are shipping rates? The amount you charge your customers in addition to the cost of products they order is called the shipping rate. Shipping rates are usually added to the customer’s order during checkout. You can charge your customers at various rates depending on different con […]

Clothing Line Clothing line A clothing line is a collection of apparel designed for a specific demographic and sold in retail or online shops. Want to start a clothing line ? Good idea. The online clothing industry is growing – and is expected to be valued at $153.6 billion by 2024. However, not man […]

Merchant What is a merchant? A merchant is a person or business that sells products or services to make a profit. Merchants can sell directly to customers (as retailers) or to other businesses (as wholesalers). Learn about becoming a merchant with Print on Demand and starting a print-on-demand busin […]

Mockup What is a mockup? A mockup is a realistic visual representation of how a product, design, or branding will look in real life. Designers, marketers, and product developers use mockups to present concepts, evaluate design choices, and preview final results before production. Why use mockups? Mo […]

Niche market What is a niche market? A niche market is a small, focused part of a broader market with its own specific needs. You can sell specialized products or services in a niche market to generate revenue for your business. For example, there is a huge market for computers, and there are niches […]

Product Catalog What is a product catalog? A product catalog is marketing collateral that features critical product details that help consumers make purchase decisions. Product catalogs list products by mentioning their features, dimensions, estimated weight, price, color, customer reviews, etc. If […]

Profit Margin What is profit margin? Profit margin is the percentage of revenue left after all costs have been subtracted. Production costs, taxes, fees, and wages are all deducted. What remains is how much a company is making per unit or sale. You can calculate your profit margin with the help of t […]

Supplier What is a supplier? A supplier is a business or an individual that provides goods or services to another entity. Suppliers in a business provide products from a manufacturer at a good price to a retailer for resale. Essentially, a supplier is an intermediary in business who acts between the […]

All Over Print ​​The newest trend to hit the world of print-on-demand apparel is All-Over-Print (AOP). It is not like regular printing and takes into account all parts of a given garment. Let us explain the technique in detail and give you some tips and tricks to ace your first AOP design. What is a […]

Inventory What is inventory? The physical goods and materials that a company owns are known as stock or inventory. A business owns inventory with the intention of future resale. We can divide the inventory into: Raw materials – the input materials or components used to manufacture products Work in p […]

Upfront Investment Upfront investment for ecommerce After deciding on a business idea, the question arises, “how much is the upfront investment to start an ecommerce business?” The answer could easily be “it depends” because ecommerce spans across a wide scale, from large retailers selling everythin […]

Branding What Is branding? Branding is the process of creating, identifying, and managing assets of a business that shape its perception in a stakeholder’s mind. In the online world, branding is a combination of elements such as mission statement, design, logo, and website theme. It’s important to k […]

Bulk Purchasing What is bulk purchasing? The concept of bulk purchasing is to allow a retailer to acquire stock at a reduced cost. The companies that provide this stock are known as wholesalers. This is because they sell greater quantities of stock at a lower price, otherwise known as wholesale. Thi […]

Cart Abandonment What is shopping cart abandonment? Shopping cart abandonment occurs when a prospective customer visits your ecommerce store, adds one or more products to the cart, and exits without completing the purchase. The products in the cart are considered ‘abandoned’ by the shopper. Shopping […]

Customer service What is customer service? Customer service is the support offered by a business to customers both before and after they buy your products. Supporting customers in their buying journey makes for a trustworthy and enjoyable experience. In today’s business world, customer service goes […]

Cut and sew What is cut and sew? Cut and sew is a new name given to a very old practice. It is a design process where you print a garment before it is manufactured instead of the other way around. Typically, brands and designers order t-shirts from wholesalers and then print their design on them. Bu […]

Digital printing What is digital printing? Digital printing is a modern printing method that uses computer technology to transfer high-resolution images directly onto a surface, such as a t-shirt, mug, hat, or tote bag. Instead of relying on physical plates or stencils, digital printers spray tiny d […]

Direct-to-garment printing What is direct-to-garment printing? Direct-to-garment printing or DTG is a printing method that involves spraying ink onto a garment, then waiting for it to soak into the fabric. It is just like printing on paper and allows you to put custom designs on various garments. Th […]

Dropshipping What is dropshipping? Dropshipping is a retail fulfillment method for eCommerce stores. It removes the need to keep the products you sell in stock. Instead, you buy the items from third-party suppliers and have them shipped directly to the customers. Dropshipping removes the need to han […]

eCommerce What Is eCommerce? eCommerce stands for electronic commerce, a business model wherein transactions happen online, over the internet. People can purchase products from an eCommerce store on a range of devices, from smartphones to laptops, by visiting online stores or apps. eCommerce sales c […]

Embroidery Embroidery is the process in which an image or design is stitched onto fabric. Using various types of threads, any image, word, or shape can be embroidered onto any material. Most often, embroidery is used to display business names or logos onto apparel for uniform purposes. Embroidery is […]

Fulfillment status What is fulfillment status? Fulfillment status in Printify shows the stage an order is in, from the moment it’s placed to final delivery. Each stage reflects where the order is in production, shipping, or delivery. Pre-production statuses On hold – The order is paused before produ […]

Fulfillment What is order fulfillment? Order fulfillment refers to the steps a supplier, wholesaler, or dropshipper takes between getting a new order and placing that order at the customer’s doorstep. It covers everything from stocking goods, receiving products, packing and shipping, and finally not […]

International Shipping What is international shipping? International shipping is the process of sending goods to foreign countries via air, road, or ocean transport. It’s a complex chain involving freight over borders, combined with various regulations and compliance requirements. To succeed with in […]

Manufacturing What is manufacturing? ​​Manufacturing is the process by which raw materials and parts are converted into finished products. These products are then sold to wholesalers or retailers, who then sell them to the end consumer. Manufacturing as an industry makes up roughly 15% of the US’s e […]

Merchandise What is merchandise? Merchandise (or merch) refers to any product intended for sale. It can include physical goods like clothing, electronics, books, or packaged food, as well as custom merchandise , such as branded items created to promote a business, an event, or an artist. For example […]

Merchandising What is merchandising? Merchandising is a marketing tactic employed to increase the sale of goods by involving special offers, display signage product placement techniques, and other methods known to influence consumer purchase decisions. The core of merchandising is to present the rig […]

Merchant protection What is merchant protection? Merchant protection is an important part of any eCommerce business. Credit card chargebacks happen daily due to rising cases of online fraud. When you look at the alarming numbers of cases of chargebacks, it becomes clear that protecting yourself can […]

No minimum No minimum in eCommerce In the early days of your print-on-demand business, you probably won’t have a large order to fulfill. Although there are ways to secure a large inventory, it’s best to start gradually rather than ordering a large quantity and not being able to move it. Fortunately, […]

Order tracking What is order tracking? Order tracking is a process of monitoring and tracking orders placed online and delivering real-time order status updates to customers. It helps customers learn where exactly their order is, when they should expect it to arrive, and whether there has been a del […]

Personalization What is personalization? Personalization is the method of tailoring a product, message, or experience based on information a business has about an individual. In other words, it is the act of designing something that meets a person’s requirements. What is online personalization? Onli […]

Pricing Pricing for eCommerce Selecting the right pricing strategy is key to eCommerce success, and store owners will need to run a few tests before finalizing which pricing method to adopt. When it comes to eCommerce pricing, you need to analyze what appeals to your target audience and offer pricin […]

Screen Printing What is screen printing? Screen printing is a printing method where you use a mesh screen, ink, and a squeegee to manually transfer a design onto a flat surface. The person creates a stencil on the screen, then pushes ink through it to imprint the design onto materials like fabric, p […]

Sublimation Printing What Is sublimation printing and how does it work? Sublimation printing is the process by which an image is transferred onto a product. By using special inks and purpose-built machines, designs can be printed onto a wide variety of items, such as shirts, mugs, or bags. Sublimati […]

UV Printing What is UV printing? UV printing is a modern printing technique that uses ultraviolet (UV) light to cure, or dry, specially formulated ink directly on the printing surface. Unlike traditional printing methods that rely on heat or air drying, UV curing hardens the ink immediately, resulti […]

Warehousing What is warehousing? Buying goods from a manufacturer and storing them before they are shipped to another location for order fulfillment is known as warehousing. You can store the goods at any physical location like a warehouse, a spare room, or a facility. The space of storage is direct […]

Wholesale What is wholesale? Wholesale is a business model where a company buys products in bulk from a manufacturer or authorized reseller at a discounted price and sells them to other businesses. Wholesalers focus on buying, storing, and distributing products rather than manufacturing them, helpin […]

Wish lists What are wish lists? Wish lists are personalized collections of products that buyers create to inform what they’d like to buy in the future. Once the customer saves an item in their wish list, it is saved in their account for future reference. Wish lists show a customer’s interest in your […]