{"id":4803,"date":"2008-11-23T14:52:29","date_gmt":"2008-11-23T09:22:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/?p=4803"},"modified":"2026-10-28T13:43:56","modified_gmt":"2026-10-28T08:13:56","slug":"girl-in-your-shirt","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2008\/11\/girl-in-your-shirt\/","title":{"rendered":"T-Shirt Marketing: How to Promote Your Brand with Custom T-Shirts"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>T-shirt marketing<\/strong> is one of the oldest ways to get a brand noticed: put your logo or message on a good shirt and let people carry it around for you. In 2008 we covered &#8220;Girl in Your Shirt&#8221;, a paid service where a video blogger wore sponsors&#8217; T-shirts on camera for $75 a day. That service is gone, but the idea grew into influencer merch, branded swag and print-on-demand shops. Here is how to use custom T-shirts to promote a business, blog or channel in 2026.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-60331\" src=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/girl-in-your-shirt.jpg\" alt=\"Branded T-shirt worn for T-shirt advertising\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/girl-in-your-shirt.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/girl-in-your-shirt-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/girl-in-your-shirt-150x113.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/girl-in-your-shirt-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong>Quick answer:<\/strong> T-shirt marketing works when people actually want to wear the shirt. Design something simple and appealing (not just a giant logo), print on comfortable fabric, and give shirts to customers, staff, event attendees and creators who match your audience. Use print-on-demand to sell merch with no stock, and if you pay creators to wear your shirt, make sure they label it as an ad.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_89 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6ae7478fe1b61\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"ez-toc-cssicon\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #1a202c;color:#1a202c\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #1a202c;color:#1a202c\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6ae7478fe1b61\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2008\/11\/girl-in-your-shirt\/#Why_T-shirt_marketing_still_works\" >Why T-shirt marketing still works<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2008\/11\/girl-in-your-shirt\/#7_ways_to_promote_your_brand_with_T-shirts\" >7 ways to promote your brand with T-shirts<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2008\/11\/girl-in-your-shirt\/#Design_tips_for_shirts_people_will_wear\" >Design tips for shirts people will wear<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2008\/11\/girl-in-your-shirt\/#Print-on-demand_sell_T-shirts_without_stock\" >Print-on-demand: sell T-shirts without stock<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2008\/11\/girl-in-your-shirt\/#Paying_someone_to_wear_your_shirt\" >Paying someone to wear your shirt<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2008\/11\/girl-in-your-shirt\/#What_changed_since_2008\" >What changed since 2008<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2008\/11\/girl-in-your-shirt\/#FAQ\" >FAQ<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2008\/11\/girl-in-your-shirt\/#Is_T-shirt_marketing_effective\" >Is T-shirt marketing effective?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2008\/11\/girl-in-your-shirt\/#How_much_does_it_cost_to_make_branded_T-shirts\" >How much does it cost to make branded T-shirts?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2008\/11\/girl-in-your-shirt\/#Can_I_sell_T-shirts_with_my_blog_or_channel_name\" >Can I sell T-shirts with my blog or channel name?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2008\/11\/girl-in-your-shirt\/#Do_creators_need_to_disclose_paid_shirt_promotions\" >Do creators need to disclose paid shirt promotions?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_T-shirt_marketing_still_works\"><\/span>Why T-shirt marketing still works<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Long life:<\/strong> a shirt someone likes gets worn again and again, showing your brand each time.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Real-world and online reach:<\/strong> shirts appear at events, in photos, videos and social posts.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Belonging:<\/strong> fans and staff enjoy wearing merch from brands and creators they support.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Low cost per view:<\/strong> compared with many ads, a well-made shirt is a cheap way to stay visible.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"7_ways_to_promote_your_brand_with_T-shirts\"><\/span>7 ways to promote your brand with T-shirts<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Staff and team shirts:<\/strong> make your team easy to spot at events, stores and video calls.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Event giveaways:<\/strong> hand out shirts at conferences, meetups, college fests and sports events.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Customer rewards:<\/strong> send a free shirt to loyal customers, reviewers or newsletter subscribers.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Creator collaborations:<\/strong> send shirts to YouTubers or Instagram creators in your niche. If you pay them or give free products in return for a post, they must disclose it clearly.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Sell merch:<\/strong> fans of blogs, podcasts and channels often buy shirts, turning marketing into extra income.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Contests:<\/strong> run a design contest and print the winning entry. It creates buzz and a design people care about.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Cause campaigns:<\/strong> limited-edition shirts that support a charity or local cause get shared widely.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Design_tips_for_shirts_people_will_wear\"><\/span>Design tips for shirts people will wear<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Keep it simple:<\/strong> a clever line, icon or small logo usually beats a huge logo on the chest.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Make it about the wearer:<\/strong> inside jokes, a niche slogan or a design that fits their hobby get worn more.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Choose good fabric and fit:<\/strong> a soft shirt in a popular colour lasts longer in someone&#8217;s wardrobe.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Check readability:<\/strong> test how the design looks in photos and from a few metres away.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Use free design tools:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.canva.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Canva<\/a> has T-shirt templates, and our guide on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2010\/10\/logo-design-creation\/\">how to design a logo<\/a> covers the basics of a clean mark.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Print-on-demand_sell_T-shirts_without_stock\"><\/span>Print-on-demand: sell T-shirts without stock<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Print-on-demand services print each shirt only when someone orders it, and handle shipping. You upload a design, set your price and share the link. Popular options include <a href=\"https:\/\/www.redbubble.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Redbubble<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.printful.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Printful<\/a> and Spring (formerly Teespring), which can also connect to YouTube&#8217;s merch shelf for eligible creators. Margins per shirt are lower than buying in bulk, but there is no upfront cost or leftover stock.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Paying_someone_to_wear_your_shirt\"><\/span>Paying someone to wear your shirt<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Paying creators to wear and mention your brand is now a normal part of influencer marketing. Choose creators whose audience matches your customers, agree on what they will post, and require a clear disclosure such as &#8220;Ad&#8221; or &#8220;Sponsored&#8221;. See what creators typically <a href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2009\/12\/kim-kardashian-10000-tweet\/\">earn per sponsored post<\/a> and the disclosure rules.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_changed_since_2008\"><\/span>What changed since 2008<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>In November 2008, a site called Girl in Your Shirt offered to wear a sponsor&#8217;s T-shirt for a day and feature the brand on Twitter, Flickr, YouTube and other video sites, at $75 for a random day, $100 for a chosen day and $150 for a holiday. Blogger ShoeMoney ran a similar &#8220;Free Shirt Friday&#8221;. Those services have ended and their links have been removed. Today the same idea lives on as influencer marketing with clear ad labels, and as print-on-demand merch that any blogger or small business can launch in an afternoon.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"FAQ\"><\/span>FAQ<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Is_T-shirt_marketing_effective\"><\/span>Is T-shirt marketing effective?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Yes, when the shirt is good enough that people choose to wear it. Low-quality shirts with big logos usually end up unused.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_much_does_it_cost_to_make_branded_T-shirts\"><\/span>How much does it cost to make branded T-shirts?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>It depends on quantity, fabric and print method. Bulk orders lower the cost per shirt, while print-on-demand has no upfront cost but a higher price per shirt.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Can_I_sell_T-shirts_with_my_blog_or_channel_name\"><\/span>Can I sell T-shirts with my blog or channel name?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Yes. Print-on-demand services let you sell merch with your own designs. Avoid using other brands&#8217; logos or copyrighted characters.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Do_creators_need_to_disclose_paid_shirt_promotions\"><\/span>Do creators need to disclose paid shirt promotions?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Yes. If they are paid or given free products, they should clearly label the post as an ad or sponsored.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>T-shirt marketing is one of the oldest ways to get a brand noticed: put your logo or message on a&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":60331,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"_kad_post_classname":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[43],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4803","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-advertising"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4803","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4803"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4803\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":68521,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4803\/revisions\/68521"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/60331"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4803"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4803"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4803"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}