When you have a talent, you need to put it out there in the world. Your art should not just be appreciated, either, but it should make you money. In some cases, your craft could be so popular that you can turn it into an entire career. The first step to realizing this dream, however, is to start thinking like a business. You need to brand and market yourself as a professional in order to be seen and trusted as one. You can sell exclusively on Etsy or other online marketplaces, but you still need to conduct yourself like a business, and here’s how to do it:
1. Create Branding
You need branding. This means having a logo designed (you can create simple ones yourself easily), and it means choosing a theme when it comes to your marketing. Don’t skimp out on your branding, since it is what you are going to use to price your creations at a fair price. Take the logo and branding you have created and make tags to add to your product, engrave your logo somewhere on your product (like the bottom, or otherwise a hidden location) and even add in a custom postcard from custom printing companies like DesignsNPrint. By doing so, you can advertise your products and talent, while reminding your buyers who you are. That way, if they want to buy something else, they can easily find your information.
2. Take Professional Photographs
When it comes to selling items, you need to put the effort in. Using poor lighting and an old phone camera isn’t going to do the trick, but you don’t need a DSLR either. Instead, create an at-home lightbox that will fit around your products, and bring in some LED lamps to light it all up. For many new camera phones, this will be enough to get a crisp, clear image.
Remember though, taking the photo is only half the effort! You also need to edit it, which you can do on any number of free apps from Adobe, to Apple, to Google.
3. Work on Your Customer Service
The better your service, the more people will buy from you. People trust reviews, and they will buy from you if a lot of people have been pleased with the product and with the service you have provided. Respond promptly, be fair about pricing and refunds, and try to be realistic and quick with shipping. If you ever have a bad review, make sure you respond to the customer and offer compensation as well as apologies. Ignoring them will only worsen your reputation.
While success won’t happen overnight, it can happen over time. The best part about starting your craft business through a marketplace is that you don’t have to invest; it means you don’t have to quit your job or take out a loan to start your craft business. Instead, you can grow your business as you gain more customers, and eventually work towards transitioning from your old desk job to your craft business, and benefit from creating, and being your own boss.