8 Focus Vintage Camera Cards

Managing 3 Etsy shops keeps me pretty busy. Not only does it take time to photograph, list and then package my goods, I spend hours upon hours a week marketing my shops and trying to get my name out “there”. Like many other Etsy sellers, this is all on top of a full time job working for someone else. One of the most important tips I have for people who are marketing their handmade creations online is to focus their energy.

From spending time in the forums and chatting with other Etsy sellers, I can see that many people have the same problem I used to have, and that is where to focus their energy. Marketing your handmade products online can often make you feel like a dog chasing its tail. It’s an endless cycle of checking your email, responding to threads on forums, checking your email, tweeting out a link to a new product you have on Twitter, checking your email, listing a new product on Etsy or Artfire, checking your email. You get the point. A lot of this time and energy can be focused into creating and listing new items and finding more creative ways to get your items seen.

When you’re in a rut try some of these steps:

• Don’t waste your time replying to forum threads just to be seen. These responses add no value to the conversation and will often be overlooked my potential customers. Only respond when you have something interesting or of value to say. Don’t waste your time in threads where you can’t either a) learn something or b) teach something to someone else. When you are a valuable player in the forums, that’s when people will take the time to visit your shop and see what it is you sell.

• Check Craigslist. Creating an ad is free. List your item in your state and include pictures. Let people know they can contact you for more information.

• Look up relevant blogs. Is the blog owner willing to write a feature about you or your shop? You won’t know until you ask. This is a great way to get different people looking at your items. If they don’t want to do a feature, maybe they will sponsor a giveaway of one of your items for you. This will bring more traffic to their blog and will get potential buyers looking at your shop. Just make sure that the blog has a lot of followers and/or readers to make sure this venture is worthwhile for you too.

• Tweet, but don’t spend too much time on Twitter. Add new followers – find people who have similar interests and follow their followers. This will get new people looking at your shop as well. Tweet out new items you have in your shop with a link and tweet to a few people who are talking about things you can relate to. Then get off Twitter. {To follow me: @craftychick101}

• Most importantly, keep updating and improving your craft. Often we handmade sellers take so much of our time marketing our items, we can often forget to look for new and interesting ways to create. Look for inspiration in local stores, online, and around your house. It may be an interesting color combination you want to use, or even a new crafting technique. Just make sure you keep it new and interesting. This will keep people coming back to your shop and will make your marketing job a little easier!