You’ve always loved knitting or making jewelry or some other type of craft, and people have always said things to you like “You should really sell your stuff!” You probably smiled and thanked them and didn’t think much more about it, or if you did think about it, you may not have really known how to move forward. Or maybe someone admired your work at a local craft fair, but you never took it any further. However, now that you’re a mom home with your kids, you’ve started thinking about how you could make some extra cash. The tips below can help you set up a craft business online.
Think About Branding
One of the best ways to be successful in this sector is to create an appealing brand. Traditional advertising often aims to sell a particular lifestyle; this is what modern-day branding does as well. Think about what you want your niche to be and how you want to convey that to your potential customer base. If you are a mom living in a rural area, you might set up social media accounts and a blog that showcases a simple, peaceful country lifestyle. Look at some examples online, especially of those who are selling crafts similar to yours to get some ideas about how you could position yourself differently from the competition.
Consider Your Funding
Too often, moms in your position do not think of themselves as a small business and thus do not realize that they may be eligible for capital and other benefits. With a small business loan, you could hire someone to design a website for you, help you with your social media, or purchase supplies. A loan that supports small business owners who often do not have access to other types of financing could also connect you to support networks and more.
Set the Right Price
Another common error that people make when they are creating a craft business is failing to account for the labor required to create each item. Be sure that you consider this along with the cost of materials when you are setting your pricing, and don’t make the mistake of paying yourself only a couple of dollars an hour for your hard work. If you are doing quality work and branding yourself effectively, people will want to pay the higher price for what you are creating even if it pushes it over into the luxury category.
Determine Your Strategy
There’s a lot to think about here. First, will you be selling from your dedicated website, or will you use one of the marketplaces online? You can make money selling on eBay, but there are terms to consider. Whichever you choose, think about how to make the whole process as clear and frictionless as possible. It’s great if you are responsive to customer questions, but many people won’t even get that far. They’ll simply abandon the purchase process if something seems confusing or complicated, so be sure that you include as much information as possible. This includes great photos, a thorough description, and information on shipping and how quickly they can expect to receive the item.
