Tips  submitted by :  Jewelry by Mingnon

1.  Get on Twitter and use hash tags to promote your online shop – but it is equally important to be sure you engage people in conversation and not just self promote.
2.  Get on Facebook.  You will be amazed at the sales you can get from interacting with friends you get reacquainted with and with new artisan friends you make.
3.  Follow through with your sale with good packaging, not expensive packaging, but good packaging.  Knitting a hat and throwing it in a flat rate envelope does not count as good packaging.
4.  If your item can be ruined by rain etc., then make sure it is inside a plastic bag inside of the mailer/box etc. you ship it in.
5.  Create a blog.  There may be times when you slack, but the key is to get where you can find a groove to update your blog regularly whether once a week or daily.
6.  It is highly unlikely you can create your shop, list your items, and sit back and let the sales roll in without you doing any promoting.
7.  Get business cards.  Tell everyone and anyone.  People won’t know you have a shop unless you tell them.
8.  Buy handmade.  We want to see that the sellers we buy from are also buying from other sellers.  This is an artisan community you have entered and we must support each other.  “I have no money” you say, well then, buy some of your supplies online from sellers of supplies on Etsy or Artfire or wherever you are.
9.  Get on both Artfire and Etsy.  The more places you can be found means the more likely you will be found.
10.  Consider doing what I call a Tupperware party, only not Tupperware…….it’s with your art/craft etc. pieces.  Have a reward system in place – thank you gift for someone having your art/craft party, say 15% credit to your shop for $100 in sales at the party and so forth for whatever amount gets sold at the party.
11.  Create a portfolio of your work, so people can see what you can do.  I’m working on mine now.
12.  Follow other artists on Twitter and not just in your craft/art area, but in any of the areas that can found on Etsy and Artfire etc.  They are your best source for information, help, guidance, suggestions, and friendship.

Tip submitted by :  Jewelry by Mingnon