You don't need wads of cash to promote you business - thank goodness. I've compiled this listing of ways for you to promote your handmade goodies on the cheap! Good luck and get yourself out there. I told you running a handmade empire is lots of work. Super, super fun work, but work nonetheless. :P
1. Submit your shop to established blogs in the handmade community. It’s free but your products, product photos, shop and overall work must be up to snuff and do some homework to single yourself out from the gaggle of requests they get on a daily basis.
2. Create a Facebook page and get on all the other loads of social media sites as well - Twitter, Google+, Linkedin page for your shop.
3. Create a blog. You've probably already done numbers 2 + 3, but there are newbies out there who are just starting and this article is for them too. :)
4. If you have a blog, you can submit your blog posts to other blogging sites with more traffic. This can do amazing things for you. Your post has the potential to get picked up any kind of media outlet.
5. Tutorials are another way to go. There are plenty of craft blogs out there who will run your tutorials and link back to your site.
6. Create a Youtube video of your art, or you and your art, or you doing a tutorial, showing how your art process or whatever.
7. Wear your work! I can't say how many times someone has asked me about my jewelry (back when I was making jewelry), my bags, my totes, etc., and I politely hand them a card and tell them I didn't buy it, I made it. It makes for great conversation AND and connects you on the spot with a potential customer.
8. Create a newsletter (Mailchimp seem to be the most popular choice to do this). It’s a fabulous way to keep in touch with your customers and let them know what you've got going on, new products, shop updates, what you're working on, discounts, giveaways, seasonal offers, etc.
9. Cross promote with other bloggers, online sellers (whether you have your shop on Etsy, Storenvy, (free), Tictail (free), Big Cartel, etc.)
10. Don't forget offline marketing. Hit the streets! Leave your card in places, post your cards and flyers in on bulletin boards in cafes, health food stores, all over college campuses (if you live in an area that has a local college), in grocery stores, etc.
WEBSITES THAT FEATURE HANDMADE
http://www.craftstylish.com/share
http://www.craftjuice.com
http://www.craftytips.com
http://thehandmadedirectory.com/directory
http://www.designstolove.com
http://tryhandmade.com/promote-handmade
http://coolmompicks.com/yourpicks.php
http://etsylush.com
http://www.hearthandmadeblog.com/
I’d love to hear about your experiences, suggestions and comments. How do you promote your shop? Leave comments below. :)
No comments:
Post a Comment