Creator merch that links fans to something real

Fans scan out of curiosity. Creator merch works when the page rewards it.

This desk is for musicians, visual artists, streamers, podcasters and anyone selling merch to people who already like their work. A code on a tour shirt can open an unreleased demo, a behind-the-scenes clip, a ticket presale or a members page. A code that opens a link-in-bio page with ten buttons usually gets scanned once.

We cover what to put behind the code, how to rotate it between drops with a redirect you control, how to keep exclusive content from leaking too fast, and how to run all of it without asking fans for their email just to see a video. We also look at the print side for small runs, where every unit costs real money.

Coming up: how to get started with creator merch, and the beginner advice we'd give a band ordering its first box of shirts.