Amazon KDP

emmamillathompso · 01-03-2019, 02:37 AM

Ever feel like your print-on-demand products are shouting into the void? You’re not alone. In a market bursting at the seams with copycat designs and cookie-cutter slogans, standing out is more than a hope—it’s a strategy. And no one knows that better than Susan Miller. She’s not just making Lion King Shirt products. She’s building stories, crafting connections, and turning insights into items that don’t just sell—they stick. So, if you’ve ever wondered how to turn a good idea into a great product that resonates, this one’s for you.

This is the portrait of the female leaders in Product and Content Development.

Why So Many POD Products Flop (and What You Can Do Differently)

Let’s get real. Beautiful designs fail all the time. They look sleek, feel clever, and yet—zero traction. Why does that happen?

1. What Most Creators Get Wrong

Designing for yourself, not for your customer
Ignoring feedback or skipping research entirely
Launching too fast without testing

Sound familiar? You’re not alone. Even experienced sellers fall into the trap. Susan sees it all the time.

‘Design isn’t just art—it’s communication,’ she says. ‘If no one’s listening, it doesn’t matter how loud you shout.’

2. The Hidden Cost of a Misfire

It’s not just about unsold hoodies. It’s the Facebook ad spend that disappears into thin air. The time poured into designing a collection that no one adds to cart. And worst of all? Damaging trust in your brand. Just ask the team at Lion King Shirt—they learned this the hard way, until Susan stepped in.

3. What Works: From Guesswork to Groundwork

Susan flips the script. Her strategy? Listen before you create. She studies buyers like an anthropologist studies tribes. She doesn’t assume, doesn’t generalize, and certainly doesn’t rush—instead, she watches how people talk, what they post, what makes them tick, and only then begins to build something worth caring about. It’s that blend of observation and empathy that took the brand from okay to unforgettable. It worked.

Meet Susan Miller: Where Art Meets Understanding

Before diving deeper, let’s pause. Who is Susan, and why should you take her word for it?

1. From Design School to Customer Psychology

Susan’s creative roots run deep. She graduated from the Savannah College of Art and Design, then sharpened her insight at the University of San Francisco, earning a Master’s in Professional Communication.

In short: she knows what looks good—and what feels right.

2. In the Trenches, Not the Ivory Tower

With over five years in the POD space, she’s not just theorizing. She’s built real collections, trained teams, and worked hands-on with brands like Lion King Shirt. From mugs to tumblers to tees, her work connects across mediums.

3. Peer-Recognized and Proactive

Susan is not only an active member of both the American Marketing Association (AMA) and the Insights Association – two leading organizations in the fields of market research and strategic communications – but she is also a doer. She regularly conducts in-depth workshops and leads training sessions on product development, consumer behavior research, and design thinking. She is also the author of numerous industry-specific materials used in the marketing and POD communities. Most importantly, she is always willing to share what she has learned – no fluff, no fluff, just what really works.

Susan’s Signature Process: Insight + Action = Impact

You don’t need a degree or a design team to follow Susan Miller’s playbook. Just curiosity and a willingness to pivot.

Step 1: Listen First, Always

Before pen hits paper—or cursor hits canvas—Susan digs deep. She uses:

Short surveys
Review mining
Comment analysis on socials

With the POD T-shirt brand, she uncovered emotional drivers behind purchases: family bonds, faith, and funny personal truths.

Custom T-shirt products always look unique and have trendy designs.

Step 2: Design with Empathy, Not Ego

Once she has insights, she builds emotional maps—not just mood boards. Think beyond the visual. What feeling should this hoodie spark? Pride? Nostalgia? Solidarity?

Step 3: Make It Work for a Living

Designs can’t just be cute. They need to earn their keep. Susan aligns design elements with user intent. Fonts that feel nostalgic. Colors that tap into seasons or causes. Lion King Shirt saw success when she linked products to ‘moments that matter.’

Step 4: Always Be Testing

Perfection is the enemy of progress. Susan launches limited batches, tests names, and tracks clicks and conversions. She then refines—ruthlessly.

The X-Factor: How Susan Brings the Magic

If product development were a recipe, Susan’s got that secret spice. It’s in how she blends what’s old and makes it feel new.

1. Breathing New Life into Old Hits

Take stale heritage collection. Susan Miller: A Leading Figure in Product and Content Development reframed it around identity and belonging. The updated messaging struck a chord—and sales spiked.

‘It wasn’t about the flag or the phrase—it was about what they meant to the buyer.’

2. It Feels Personal Because It Is

Susan doesn’t just design – she tells stories with lines, colors and words. Her products are not just T-shirts or cups of water, but pieces of memories and emotions that everyone has experienced. Sometimes it’s nostalgia for youth, like Friday nights filled with lights at an American high school stadium. Sometimes it’s the silence of a quote about faith, reminding people of their deep faith. Susan doesn’t create mass products – she creates moments that make people stop, feel and smile. A true writer – except she writes with images.

3. Emotion is the key

Susan believes that every design should evoke an emotion – whether it’s pride, comfort or connection. She doesn’t create products just to sell. Instead, she tells a story with images, colours and words. Like a song that reminds you of your childhood, the designs make the viewer feel something. It’s this subtlety that makes the difference – and keeps customers coming back, not just because the products are beautiful, but because they see themselves in them.

Innovative content production strategies contribute significantly to the success of POD products.

Want to Try Susan’s Method? Start Here

You don’t have to reinvent the wheel. Just steer it with intention. Try these practical tips, straight from Susan’s toolbox.

Tip 1: Build a Quick Insight Map

Ask your audience:

What do they love?
What bugs them?
What causes do they care about?

Use tools like Google Forms or Instagram Stories. Quick, easy, revealing.

Tip 2: Rethink a Dud Design

Pick a slow-seller. Now ask:

Who was this really for?
Does it spark emotion?
Can the story be reframed?

Susan took a generic fishing tee and added a legacy quote for Lion King Shirt—it became a Father’s Day hit.

Tip 3: Don’t Scale Until You See Signs

Before spending big, test small. Use:

Mockup ads
Short-run print batches
Email A/B tests

Let feedback guide your investment.

Susan Miller’s Advice to Young Creators Starting Out

Breaking into the print-on-demand world—or any creative field, really—can feel overwhelming at first. There’s so much noise, pressure to go viral, and constant comparison on social media. Susan knows that feeling well. Having mentored dozens of aspiring designers and marketers, she shares some heartfelt, practical advice that could make all the difference for young professionals carving out their path.

1. Don’t Just Follow Trends—Find Your Voice

It’s true that trendy designs may attract attention in the short term, but as Susan once said, ‘Trends fade, but identity never does.’ She always advises young designers not to get caught up in chasing what’s ‘hot’ today and forget what makes them truly different. It could be a unique personal story, a ‘weird but cool’ design style, or a community that you truly care about and want to serve. It’s the authenticity and consistency in your personality that creates lasting appeal – because customers can feel when a product is created with real passion.

2. Learn the Business Side Early

Many young creatives focus only on the art. But Susan reminds us that creativity without strategy is like a car without wheels. Learn basic marketing, understand margins, test pricing. Even if spreadsheets aren’t your thing, getting a grip on the business side helps you make smarter, sustainable choices. She often tells her mentees: ‘Make art that sells, not art that sits.’

3. Build, Fail, Repeat—But Keep Going

Lastly, Susan’s biggest piece of advice? Don’t fear failure. Every successful product she’s worked on started with rough drafts, rejected ideas, and lots of testing. The key is to treat every mistake as data. ‘The only true failure,’ she says, ‘is giving up too early.’ This mindset of resilience has helped Susan—and it can help you, too.

This game isn’t just about hitting numbers or chasing trends. It’s about showing up with meaning. In a world full of noise, real connection is your unfair advantage. Customers don’t just want to wear something cool—they want to feel seen. Heard. Valued. That’s where the magic happens. So instead of jumping on the next hype train, dig deep. What makes you stand out? What do your people care about? When you tap into that, you’re not just selling shirts. You’re building bridges. And trust me—brands built on heart and purpose? They go the distance.

HarryT · 01-03-2019, 03:36 AM

Moved to the "Kindle Formats" forum section, where you're more likely to get help.

Notjohn · 01-03-2019, 01:05 PM

The imprint is the declared publisher of the book, and Amazon will include that information on the store page for your book. It can be anything you like, within reason, but it's a good idea to do a web search for the term to see if you are breaking somebody else's rice bowl.

I have several imprint, but now I am buying my own ISBNs for print editions, I have settled on just one. (If you don't provide your own ISBN, Amazon will show the print edition as "Independently published," and that's not company I want to keep.)

01-03-2019, 02:37 AM	#1
emmamillathompso Junior Member Posts: 1 Karma: 10 Join Date: Dec 2018 Device: ebook	Susan Miller on Product and Content Development That Drives Real Results Ever feel like your print-on-demand products are shouting into the void? You’re not alone. In a market bursting at the seams with copycat designs and cookie-cutter slogans, standing out is more than a hope—it’s a strategy. And no one knows that better than Susan Miller. She’s not just making Lion King Shirt products. She’s building stories, crafting connections, and turning insights into items that don’t just sell—they stick. So, if you’ve ever wondered how to turn a good idea into a great product that resonates, this one’s for you. This is the portrait of the female leaders in Product and Content Development. Why So Many POD Products Flop (and What You Can Do Differently) Let’s get real. Beautiful designs fail all the time. They look sleek, feel clever, and yet—zero traction. Why does that happen? 1. What Most Creators Get Wrong Designing for yourself, not for your customer Ignoring feedback or skipping research entirely Launching too fast without testing Sound familiar? You’re not alone. Even experienced sellers fall into the trap. Susan sees it all the time. ‘Design isn’t just art—it’s communication,’ she says. ‘If no one’s listening, it doesn’t matter how loud you shout.’ 2. The Hidden Cost of a Misfire It’s not just about unsold hoodies. It’s the Facebook ad spend that disappears into thin air. The time poured into designing a collection that no one adds to cart. And worst of all? Damaging trust in your brand. Just ask the team at Lion King Shirt—they learned this the hard way, until Susan stepped in. 3. What Works: From Guesswork to Groundwork Susan flips the script. Her strategy? Listen before you create. She studies buyers like an anthropologist studies tribes. She doesn’t assume, doesn’t generalize, and certainly doesn’t rush—instead, she watches how people talk, what they post, what makes them tick, and only then begins to build something worth caring about. It’s that blend of observation and empathy that took the brand from okay to unforgettable. It worked. Meet Susan Miller: Where Art Meets Understanding Before diving deeper, let’s pause. Who is Susan, and why should you take her word for it? 1. From Design School to Customer Psychology Susan’s creative roots run deep. She graduated from the Savannah College of Art and Design, then sharpened her insight at the University of San Francisco, earning a Master’s in Professional Communication. In short: she knows what looks good—and what feels right. 2. In the Trenches, Not the Ivory Tower With over five years in the POD space, she’s not just theorizing. She’s built real collections, trained teams, and worked hands-on with brands like Lion King Shirt. From mugs to tumblers to tees, her work connects across mediums. 3. Peer-Recognized and Proactive Susan is not only an active member of both the American Marketing Association (AMA) and the Insights Association – two leading organizations in the fields of market research and strategic communications – but she is also a doer. She regularly conducts in-depth workshops and leads training sessions on product development, consumer behavior research, and design thinking. She is also the author of numerous industry-specific materials used in the marketing and POD communities. Most importantly, she is always willing to share what she has learned – no fluff, no fluff, just what really works. Susan’s Signature Process: Insight + Action = Impact You don’t need a degree or a design team to follow Susan Miller’s playbook. Just curiosity and a willingness to pivot. Step 1: Listen First, Always Before pen hits paper—or cursor hits canvas—Susan digs deep. She uses: Short surveys Review mining Comment analysis on socials With the POD T-shirt brand, she uncovered emotional drivers behind purchases: family bonds, faith, and funny personal truths. Custom T-shirt products always look unique and have trendy designs. Step 2: Design with Empathy, Not Ego Once she has insights, she builds emotional maps—not just mood boards. Think beyond the visual. What feeling should this hoodie spark? Pride? Nostalgia? Solidarity? Step 3: Make It Work for a Living Designs can’t just be cute. They need to earn their keep. Susan aligns design elements with user intent. Fonts that feel nostalgic. Colors that tap into seasons or causes. Lion King Shirt saw success when she linked products to ‘moments that matter.’ Step 4: Always Be Testing Perfection is the enemy of progress. Susan launches limited batches, tests names, and tracks clicks and conversions. She then refines—ruthlessly. The X-Factor: How Susan Brings the Magic If product development were a recipe, Susan’s got that secret spice. It’s in how she blends what’s old and makes it feel new. 1. Breathing New Life into Old Hits Take stale heritage collection. Susan Miller: A Leading Figure in Product and Content Development reframed it around identity and belonging. The updated messaging struck a chord—and sales spiked. ‘It wasn’t about the flag or the phrase—it was about what they meant to the buyer.’ 2. It Feels Personal Because It Is Susan doesn’t just design – she tells stories with lines, colors and words. Her products are not just T-shirts or cups of water, but pieces of memories and emotions that everyone has experienced. Sometimes it’s nostalgia for youth, like Friday nights filled with lights at an American high school stadium. Sometimes it’s the silence of a quote about faith, reminding people of their deep faith. Susan doesn’t create mass products – she creates moments that make people stop, feel and smile. A true writer – except she writes with images. 3. Emotion is the key Susan believes that every design should evoke an emotion – whether it’s pride, comfort or connection. She doesn’t create products just to sell. Instead, she tells a story with images, colours and words. Like a song that reminds you of your childhood, the designs make the viewer feel something. It’s this subtlety that makes the difference – and keeps customers coming back, not just because the products are beautiful, but because they see themselves in them. Innovative content production strategies contribute significantly to the success of POD products. Want to Try Susan’s Method? Start Here You don’t have to reinvent the wheel. Just steer it with intention. Try these practical tips, straight from Susan’s toolbox. Tip 1: Build a Quick Insight Map Ask your audience: What do they love? What bugs them? What causes do they care about? Use tools like Google Forms or Instagram Stories. Quick, easy, revealing. Tip 2: Rethink a Dud Design Pick a slow-seller. Now ask: Who was this really for? Does it spark emotion? Can the story be reframed? Susan took a generic fishing tee and added a legacy quote for Lion King Shirt—it became a Father’s Day hit. Tip 3: Don’t Scale Until You See Signs Before spending big, test small. Use: Mockup ads Short-run print batches Email A/B tests Let feedback guide your investment. Susan Miller’s Advice to Young Creators Starting Out Breaking into the print-on-demand world—or any creative field, really—can feel overwhelming at first. There’s so much noise, pressure to go viral, and constant comparison on social media. Susan knows that feeling well. Having mentored dozens of aspiring designers and marketers, she shares some heartfelt, practical advice that could make all the difference for young professionals carving out their path. 1. Don’t Just Follow Trends—Find Your Voice It’s true that trendy designs may attract attention in the short term, but as Susan once said, ‘Trends fade, but identity never does.’ She always advises young designers not to get caught up in chasing what’s ‘hot’ today and forget what makes them truly different. It could be a unique personal story, a ‘weird but cool’ design style, or a community that you truly care about and want to serve. It’s the authenticity and consistency in your personality that creates lasting appeal – because customers can feel when a product is created with real passion. 2. Learn the Business Side Early Many young creatives focus only on the art. But Susan reminds us that creativity without strategy is like a car without wheels. Learn basic marketing, understand margins, test pricing. Even if spreadsheets aren’t your thing, getting a grip on the business side helps you make smarter, sustainable choices. She often tells her mentees: ‘Make art that sells, not art that sits.’ 3. Build, Fail, Repeat—But Keep Going Lastly, Susan’s biggest piece of advice? Don’t fear failure. Every successful product she’s worked on started with rough drafts, rejected ideas, and lots of testing. The key is to treat every mistake as data. ‘The only true failure,’ she says, ‘is giving up too early.’ This mindset of resilience has helped Susan—and it can help you, too. This game isn’t just about hitting numbers or chasing trends. It’s about showing up with meaning. In a world full of noise, real connection is your unfair advantage. Customers don’t just want to wear something cool—they want to feel seen. Heard. Valued. That’s where the magic happens. So instead of jumping on the next hype train, dig deep. What makes you stand out? What do your people care about? When you tap into that, you’re not just selling shirts. You’re building bridges. And trust me—brands built on heart and purpose? They go the distance. Last edited by emmamillathompso; 07-07-2025 at 11:31 PM.

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01-03-2019, 03:36 AM	#2
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Moved to the "Kindle Formats" forum section, where you're more likely to get help.

01-03-2019, 01:05 PM	#3
Notjohn mostly an observer Posts: 1,519 Karma: 987654 Join Date: Dec 2012 Device: Kindle	The imprint is the declared publisher of the book, and Amazon will include that information on the store page for your book. It can be anything you like, within reason, but it's a good idea to do a web search for the term to see if you are breaking somebody else's rice bowl. I have several imprint, but now I am buying my own ISBNs for print editions, I have settled on just one. (If you don't provide your own ISBN, Amazon will show the print edition as "Independently published," and that's not company I want to keep.)

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