Is Adding your URL tacky?

[grizzlebeans]

I was just curious--is there a general consensus on placing shop URLs on designs? Not the extended Printfection ones--but main domain names that you register for on your own.

Is this tacky? Does it increase sales enough to make up for the people who might be "put off" by the addition of your URL?

I know BEFORE I became involved in internet marketing and selling products online I thought this practice was kinda annoying whenever I was shopping for things like t-shirts. It made me feel like I was being used as a walking billboard. But now that I'm working in the trenches I can see how this kind of marketing could be very effective.

I know everyone's situation is probably a little different--but I'd just like to hear some different opinions. I would assume the more subtle the better. Just trying to figure this all out before I go "gung-ho" uploading images and setting up products in my shop(s).

Thanks :)

[PF_Gavin]

At another place that I used to sell at, I did a little experiment. I put the same design on the same base shirt twice to create two seperate items. One of them had the url and logo of my store, one didn't. The one that had the logo and URL, I made $1 cheaper than the one without. I never sold any of the logo imprinted ones, only the more expensive non branded sold well.

My two cents,

Cheers

Gavin

[Pussycat]

I refuse to wear any clothing that has the brand name on it. Especially because for well known brands you pay more per item, only to advertise the firm. I don´t believe in doing that!

And I don´t put my URL on my designs. If the cussies like my stuff they´ll bookmark my store(s).

[PatrioticTees.com]

I don't think it's a problem putting a url on a product, so long as it's subtle. I generally don't do it.... but I DO place it on all of the products that I buy for myself and my family. People do notice it, and it DOES seem to work for me.

I have seen people incorporate it in a fine font, at the bottome right corner of a square or rectangular design, I have seen people have it track up the side of a design. I have seen people place it curly within the contour of a design. I think there are a lot of ways to do it, where it doesn't interfere. If you do it smaller, it may not be AS effective... but remember, t-shirts generally have several lives, sometimes passing from person to person. I can't even tell you how many ex-boyfriend tees I have floating around in my life. Some of them my husband now wears... and he doesn't even realize it. Some of them are over 15 years old. Having a url can bring in customers for a long long time. The more people that wear it, the more eyes see it and question the shirt's origin.

Sometimes I feel that we, as artists, are a bit full of ourselves. Sometimes we take our art too seriously. A lot of people just buy stuff cause they think it's cool. I do think that you don't want to make people feel like a walking billboard, with a logo across their back... that almost makes it look like the shirts you get from the beer companies for free sometimes when you're out. But if it's done in a tasteful, small way, that doesn't interfere with the feeling of the shirt... I think people kind of expect that.

I have a few basic stores at the other place, that I sort of forgot about... but lately some of them are getting a lot of activity. I think something is wonky with the marketplace.... but anyway, I have sold several shirts with urls in the passed couple of weeks. I'd say at least 7 shirts with urls in maybe 5 weeks. Now.... keep in mind that maybe 5% or less of my overall products have urls on them... I placed some awhile back, and just never removed them. So even with this new price increase over there... I still sold them. And my guess is they sold because for some reason they floated to the top in the marketplace, and the designs without urls that are similar... did not get the same kind of exposure. What's even stranger about it is that the urls are the extended company ones, not my own domain. I only have two domains, the patriotic tees here, and one over there.

So I guess like anything else. You never know. Couldn't hurt to offer some product with it on there somewhere.... and when you place orders for your friends and family... absolutely put it there.... they owe you man!

[gp1628]

It turns me off personally.
And I have often recommended that if you are going to do it then do it on one version of the item with a cost break.

[LoungeActor]

I would not post my url either on shirts...
Unless....
1. I was wearing my own design
or
2. It was placed on a shirt I was giving free to a friend with the understanding that it was helping me advertise.

LoungeActor

[grizzlebeans]

Wow--this is great information everybody! Lots of things to take into consideration here. I never thought of offering two design options. That's an interesting idea.

Anybody else want to add their two cents?

[Cartesian Bear]

Yeah ... me.

I won't wear blatantly branded stuff either. My blue jeans have a back label I don't remove, and my sandals are obviously "brand name", but that's about it.

I won't put blatant advertising on my shirts, either.

However ... I do add a small copyright: © 2007 Cartesian Bear (often curved to blend into the design, but large enough to be legible) Any one who enters Cartesian Bear in a search engine will see my shop come up at or near the top. So, though the intent isn't to advertise my shirts, people who are interested enough can find me after seeing the design.

--Liz

[Michael Moore]

Here's a different slant. I've been buying motorcycle t-shirts for 35 years now (and it looks like I've got about 150 of them that fall into that "too nice/special to actually wear more than every couple of years so they don't get used up" category and I'm working on a number of my own designs. I don't want to "open the store" until I have at least 20+ designs to put into it, so I'm still probably a month away from that point.

Motorcyclists are just as tribal as any other group, and while people certainly buy event shirts, they also buy shirts with their favorite brands, riders, bikes, etc on them, pretty much all of which can be looked at as "advertising for someone else".

I'm definitely going to be having my domain name on the shirts as I'm making that part of the "branding" logo that every shirt is going to carry. Part of the shirts' intent is to drive people to my website, and the website (and the listserves that I host) will be hopefully driving people back to the shirt store.

I'm trying to make my shirts very different from the "run of the mill" stuff, and I want to eliminate any possibility of someone replying "yes, it is a pretty cool and unusual shirt but I don't remember where I got it, someplace on the Internet I think".

I think Harley Davidson (TM) makes as much or more money on branded apparel and trinkets than it does selling motorcycles, and you can be sure that every bit of that merchandise "advertises for Harley". Once you get someone on that in group/out group "hook" it looks to me that you've got a repeat customer.

I am going back and downsizing the domain name on the designs I've already done as I've decided it was competing with the major design on each shirt. But it will still be pretty easy to spot, right above the little catchphrase I decided to couple with it for all the shirts.

It is interesting how it works, because I have ZERO interest in advertising clothing companies on my clothes. I don't want "swooshes" on my clothes or a big "DKNY" or "Jordache" or even a little polo player on them. But obviously huge numbers of people DO want that stuff as it seems to be everywhere I look. So if I can manage to fall into that "it's OK, it is the company and they have such a cool website etc" category, I'll learn to live with it.

YMMV,
Michael

[aart]

I'm trying to make my shirts very different from the "run of the mill" stuff, and I want to eliminate any possibility of someone replying "yes, it is a pretty cool and unusual shirt but I don't remember where I got it, someplace on the Internet I think".
My thoughts exactly. I have my web site and store name on the back of every shirt and tote. It is small and not at all in your face. If someone gives it as a gift, the recepient will know where they can get more. To each their own.

[TwilightRealm]

I'm definitely going to be having my domain name on the shirts as I'm making that part of the "branding" logo that every shirt is going to carry. Part of the shirts' intent is to drive people to my website, and the website (and the listserves that I host) will be hopefully driving people back to the shirt store.

I was starting to feel silly reading this thread, until I read that. On the back of each of my shirts I have a 1.42" horizontal oval with the name of TwilightRealm Design inside, which is what I call my website and my services. I would like people to know who made their shirts (or designs at least), and I try to put it at the very top so that it doesn't gain too much attention (so that the wearer can feel comfortable about having the shirt). I think another reason I put my logo on the shirt is I feel if I don't, someone might feel it's free domain and take and use the design for their shirts or something else. Not all of my shirts are just text, there are some I spend a lot of time drawing.

However, after some thought, I've decided to remove the logos from my shirts, because they just aren't selling. Maybe this'll help make people want to buy them.

[DavidR]

I put the copyright on mine as well, and also the URL, in very small letters (but where it can be seen). Not because I'm worried about those that have purchased one (obviously they know where they got it) but because if someone else sees it, and likes it, I want them to be able to ask or see it if they look closely. This has led to a small number of additional sales (I've only recently gotten started), especially from guys that are deployed. I say put it on there, but as was suggested before, do it so it's not "in your face".

[thomascarlson]

My Opinion...
You should not advertise on the product you are trying to sell. I think if you tried the same expierment that Gavin tried alot of you may see the same results.
Sure some "Companys" can get away with it like Nike, Addias, Levi, and so on but these are big companys who used t-shirts to advertise another product. Nike started as shoes, Levis sold jeans, and so on. They used t-shirts to advertise those products and branched out from there.
We are not a big company, at least I am not anyway! I have around 100 designs and not one of them have my website name on the design or the product anywhere.
I do put it on shirts that I purchase for myself or family members. And I even have a page that is live and anyone can purchase these shirts, but at a discount. That section is new and no one even looks at it. It is on my "other" company store front page.
Anyway I vote no for the web address on products for sale at retail price to guests of our websites.....

Thomas

[gp1628]

I have more domains that I manage, than I do shops. So the purpose of the shirts is often very different. I often have an URL but thats the purpose of the shirt.

However, for those who might be purposely doing a shirt to pitch a site or a cause or favorite hobby... here is a fun thing.

In the "upper corner" of the image put "for more information CLICK HERE" and give them a "button" they can tap you on the shoulder letting them know that its OK to ask about it. Not everyone actually taps but they tend to smile at it and still get the point that its ok to ask.

Something like:
I want your witty one-liners for PrintFection
for more information <click here>

Gandalf Parker

[DocTrauma]

I think a lot of it comes down to branding. And how in your face the logo is. Life is Good gets away with the little logo or smiley guy in the back because people have grown an affinity for that brand.

Personally I may eventually introduce the ability to get the logo on the back, but for now my brand is unknown and I think it is an added expense that I can't justify the ROI on.

And considering how many times I have not bought a shirt because they pimped themselves on their design (although the copyright thing doesn't bother me as much since so many large corporations, Coke, DC, Lucasarts, do that as well) I have chosen to just let people who buy my designs enjoy their shirts and pimp me only if they want to.

Whether that is the smart or business savvy thing to do, we'll see...