It’s no secret that I am a bigger fan of having your own real estate online but how can you do it and still stand out?
I’m glad you asked!
Regardless of whether you are a wall-flower or enjoy being the center of attention, you need your PRODUCT to get noticed when you are selling online. Today I have five suggestions with a bonus on how to do that.
Now, like anything in business, this is not an overnight-I-made-six-figures type of episode. It takes work to create a business and patience to grow one online. If you keep that in mind, what I’m about to share with you will make the process easier.
1. Create an eye-catching portfolio
You want to create an eye-catching portfolio or showroom to showcase your product. Be sure you are using good photos of your pieces and include reviews from customers who have purchased from you.
As a mental visual, think of the feeling you get when you walk into a Hobby Lobby and then compare that to a yard sale. Both have exciting possibilities but you may be missing a piece of something at the yard sale. The same feeling comes across when you don’t take time showcasing your product online.
2. Offer personalized services
Offer personalization or gift wrapping. One year I purchased a LOT of after season wrapping paper with the thought that I could use my shaved ice trailer as a wrapping location for people to go to. What I didn’t take into consideration was that I don’t like hauling my trailer out in the extreme cold that is our winter.
Besides the fact, who is going to BRING their items out in the cold just to have it wrapped?
NOT my best idea!
But I have also offered a personalized set of pillows for adopting families that actually did quite well and we used it as a fundraiser for our own adoption.
3. Connect with potential customers through social media platforms
Utilize Social Media with videos or at the very least images. It’s building the “Know, Like & Trust You” factor that is so important when you are online. I have suggested these in podcast episode 13 but Instagram is my current favorite with Pinterest being a close second.
I also have a Facebook group and page and have just started exploring TikTok but am not quite there yet.
Postoplan is the social post planner I use instead of going to each one.
4. Invest in high quality materials that reflect the uniqueness of your products
If I say Sock Monkey, most of you will know what it is and the sock it was made out of. You can get the pattern to make the same monkey out of any sock but it’s not that unique branding. They are also a quality sock just in general.
Same is true with Wilson Leather. Anytime my husband and I find a Wilson Leather, we go in for the smell. They use quality leather and their products last for a long time.
Both have products using specific materials that people relate to their brands.
On a more personal level, when I sewed pillows for our adoption fundraiser, I always used a heavier linen. I loved the way it looked and it was always nice to work with. It limited the color choice but the quality was what I was trying to obtain.
5. Keep up to date on industry trends
The fifth suggestion I have for you is to keep up to date on trends to make sure your products are relevant. Now I myself am not a trendsetter but I am a business owner and recognize that sometimes, the underdog craft is not going to sell.
At some point, sand art and loom bands have to be put away for treasure hunters to find them in 200 years. That’s probably how long they will both last anyway!
Bonus – Network with other crafters and look for collaborations opportunities
This is my favorite suggestion and here’s why…when I was starting out in the crafting world, people didn’t share ideas. No one shared the journey to building the business because they were afraid someone was going to come along and steal the idea.
No one.
It’s almost funny now when anyone says, “I can make that myself” but it was a serious business back in the day.
When I worked for JoAnn Fabric, it was (and could still be) part of the cutting table’s job to ask what the person was working on so we could suggest items they needed to buy. Quite frequently I would be told, “Oh, stuff for the craft show,” and I knew that was the end of the discussion.
So to me, the creatives who are not afraid to share ideas (like the Christmas wrapping stand) are so special. We are just a community trying to make our way in a BIG world with SO many opportunities. SO many talented people! We can even join forces! Maybe you make goat cheese and know someone who sells charcuterie boards! Put them together!
If you are looking for a community of like minded people, I have a Facebook group I would like to invite you to called Crafters Building Online Businesses. You can network and share ideas even if it’s a new loom band creation.
Don’t forget to get your free cheat sheet for marketing your crafts online.
Now go light your world, creatives! 💡 See you next time!
~ Kam
