- PPF Points
- 54
When I first started my online business, pricing was one of the hardest things to figure out. I was selling printed T-shirts and branded shoes, but I had no clue how to price them. At first, I just looked at what others were charging and copied their prices. I thought if I was cheaper, people would buy from me. But that strategy quickly backfired—I was barely making any profit, and sometimes I was losing money without even realizing it.
I eventually learned that pricing isn’t just about being cheaper than the competition. It’s about finding the sweet spot where your product is valuable to the customer and profitable for you. Here's how I figured it out.
The first thing I did was sit down and list out all my expenses. That included the cost of materials, packaging, shipping, platform fees, and even my time. I was shocked at how many little things added up. I realized that if a T-shirt cost me $8 to make and another $4 to ship and market, I couldn’t sell it for $12 and expect to profit. I needed a buffer.
Next, I chose a profit margin I felt comfortable with. For example, if my total cost was $12, I decided to price the shirt at $20, which gave me an $8 profit per sale. That was enough to cover unexpected expenses and still feel worth my time.
One thing I learned is that pricing can affect how people perceive your product. When I raised the price of one of my best designs from $18 to $25, I actually got more sales. It seemed more premium, and people trusted the quality more. That was a big eye-opener for me—cheap doesn’t always mean better sales.
I didn’t get it right the first time. I had to test different price points and see what worked best. I ran small promotions, bundled products together, and paid attention to which prices got more clicks and conversions. It took a few months, but eventually I found a pricing structure that worked.
I eventually learned that pricing isn’t just about being cheaper than the competition. It’s about finding the sweet spot where your product is valuable to the customer and profitable for you. Here's how I figured it out.
The first thing I did was sit down and list out all my expenses. That included the cost of materials, packaging, shipping, platform fees, and even my time. I was shocked at how many little things added up. I realized that if a T-shirt cost me $8 to make and another $4 to ship and market, I couldn’t sell it for $12 and expect to profit. I needed a buffer.
Next, I chose a profit margin I felt comfortable with. For example, if my total cost was $12, I decided to price the shirt at $20, which gave me an $8 profit per sale. That was enough to cover unexpected expenses and still feel worth my time.
One thing I learned is that pricing can affect how people perceive your product. When I raised the price of one of my best designs from $18 to $25, I actually got more sales. It seemed more premium, and people trusted the quality more. That was a big eye-opener for me—cheap doesn’t always mean better sales.
I didn’t get it right the first time. I had to test different price points and see what worked best. I ran small promotions, bundled products together, and paid attention to which prices got more clicks and conversions. It took a few months, but eventually I found a pricing structure that worked.