How to develop your online craft business

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The world is finally realising the worth in crafts and moving away from such a fast fashion culture. So how do you develop your online craft business?

Starting an online craft business

For some quick reference to other articles covering starting an online business using platforms like Etsy check out these posts :

Etsy Digital Downloads Top Tips

Collaborative post. I have been selling my digital cross stitch patterns on Etsy for the past five years. Over this time I’ve made mistakes, sales and lots of connections with other fantastic Etsy Sellers. So I thought I’d share my Etsy Digital Downloads Top Tips with you.

How I made my first 100 sales on etsy

After a pretty slow time with sales after Christmas, I am delighted to say that I hit 100 sales in my Etsy shop. For some this may seem insignificant as they stretch through into the 1000’s of sales but for me this has been a slow but determined hard slog.

* Make sure to read these before moving on if you haven’t yet created an online platform for sales.

How to ensure you are successful

Ask your target audience what they would like to see. Create a poll on your most popular social network and from their feedback create new products.

Good product photography is key. Get clear shots of your products, some lifestyle and some with white backgrounds. They don’t have to be amazing but the buyers need to clearly see what they are purchasing.

Work on your SEO (search engine optimization), think about the key words you would use when searching for your product. Work on improving your product description and tags.

Branding

Brand your products so customers recognise your products at a glance. There is nothing nicer than seeing your branding and products in real life.

Ways to brand:

• Stitched in labels
• Hang tags for the outside of products
• Gifts tied in your own printed ribbon
• Or even make your branding something your buyers want to wear as an extra like a wristband. It’s free advertising!

Printed ribbons, wristbands and Wunderlabel clothing labels are all available from Wunderlabel.co.uk

Ideas for development

Firstly can you offer more? A wider range of products, more variation, the option of customization.

Simple solutions that will attract a wider audience. It goes without saying that a store with 60 different products to sell will be seen by a wider audience than a store with 5.

Offer shipping internationally if you don’t already. Or, if like me you only currently offer digital products. Think about offering physical products as well. Just remember to factor in the extra shipping costs and the extras you would need.

Summary

• Offer a wider range
• Expand to ship internationally
• Brand your products
• Ask the audience
• Get picture perfect
• Improve SEO

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