How To Sell Your Art And Crafts

Offers expert advice on selling handmade creations online, covering such topics as building an online presence, creating a business plan, writing copy, developing a marketing strategy, and advertising through social media.

With over 400,000 sellers on Etsy, how can you make YOUR shop stand out and increase your sales? This is a key question for many crafters and artists who are selling online these days. Now here are all the answers and much more from author and Etsy seller Derrick Sutton. Based on Sutton's self-published guide, and drawn from his practical experience, you will learn how to boost your Etsy sales, attract more customers, and expand your online presence. He shares his proven online sales and marketing knowledge in an easily accessible format, complete with simple actions steps at the end of each chapter. Learn how to completely optimize your Etsy shop, website, or blog, and much more. Some of the topics covered include: -How to design a catchy Etsy banner -How to gain an instant analysis of your shop and where you need to focus your efforts -A crash course on photographing your items and key mistakes to avoid class -Fail-safe copywriting secrets -How to take advantage of Etsy's forums, Treasury, and more -The effective way to use Facebook and Twitter, and why so many people get it wrong A perfect gift for entrepreneurial artists, How to Sell Your Crafts Online offers crafters practical internet marketing techniques from an experienced Etsy seller that will pave the way for a profitable online business! Praise for Derrick Sutton's e-Guide Crafting Success: "This is really a great guide through the mind-boggling thicket of internet selling. It's so easy to follow and straight forward..." --- Etsy seller jenniferwhitmer "I definitely saw a difference in my sales after doing many of the things suggested." --- Etsy seller mishmishmarket "A true wealth of useful information." --- Etsy seller helixelemental "[The steps are] easily presented, so making changes to your shop can be done instantly as you are reading." -- Licky Drake, HappyGoLicky Custom Silver Jewelry "A tremendous amount of information. I learned more from [this book] than from anything I have purchased in five years." --- Etsy seller HandpaintedGifts

You are creative, you are an artist or a photographer, you have a hobby or craft, something you absolutely love to do, and you are good at it. But you may be asking yourself, How do I market my work? This book shows how to sell your artwork or crafts even if you have no experience with marketing and even if you hate to sell.

This practical and inspiring book will guide you through all aspects of selling your artwork and crafts online. Loaded with insider tips and expert advice to help you - from basics to in-depth aspects - including whether to get your own website, where else your work will fit; and how to market and advertise your art, use social media, and measure your successes and weaknesses. Also packed with creative ideas to zero in on what's holding you back, and how to get yourself moving. Heidi Rand sells her work on her website, Etsy, and ArtFire. She earns royalties through Zazzle, Smugmug, Lulu, and Amazon. Armed with the insider tips on selling and marketing art in this book that Heidi learned over several years, you'll have a big advantage over other artists still struggling to wade through it all on their own. Based on her knowledge of a broad range of art and craft sale venues, Heidi's book goes beyond other guides that focus only on selling on a few sites, or selling only traditional forms of art.

An essential guide for artist that teaches them how to skip the gallery system, find their niche, and connect directly with collectors to profitably sell their art. For years, galleries have acted as gatekeeper separating artists and collectors. But with the explosion of the Internet, a new generation of savvy, independent artists is connecting with buyers and making a substantial living doing what they love. How to Sell Your Art Online shows any artist how to make a successful living from their work. Cory Huff dispels the myth of the starving artist and provides the effective business strategies necessary to make artistic creations pay. He helps individual artists find their niche; outlines the elements essential for an effective website; and provides invaluable advice on e-mail marketing, blogging, social media marketing, and paid advertising—explaining how to tie all these online activities into offline success. Most importantly, he shares the secret to overcoming the biggest challenge artists face when self-marketing: learning how to tell their unique stories. Every artist has a reason for making art, but can’t always find the right way to express it. Huff provides exercises artists can use to clarify the intellectual and emotional process behind their art, and teaches them how turn that knowledge into stories they can tell online and in person—and expand their reach through blogs and social media to build their art business. Drawing from the stories of successful artists, thoroughly describing how art is sold today, and providing tips on how to build connections personally and electronically, How to Sell Your Art Online illustrates the countless ways artists can take control of their creative careers—and sell their work without selling out.

Are you creative? Do you have any artistic skills? Do you love to do crafting?. It's not unusual to turn a hobby into a business. If you have ever thought about selling your crafts or turning your crafting love into a part-time or full-time business, here are things to consider in how to start a craft business. If you're looking to start a craft business, make sure there's demand. This type of business does not require much capital or machinery moreover one can start and operate their business at home. It also offers employment to students, women, and housewives. So here are some great ideas for your craft business. Every creative individual who is somehow related to crafting has a dream of starting their own business. Some want to turn their hobby into a business, while others just like the idea of having their own company. Everyone loves being their own boss. This book is for those who want to make their dreams a reality.

Have you ever wanted to sell your handmade crafts or artwork at local craft fairs, but have no idea where to start? Or maybe you've taken the first step and have tried selling your art at a craft show or two, but now you're looking for ideas on how to sell more, how to make your booth more appealing to customers and where to find more venues to sell your handmade goods? You've come to the right place! I've been selling my own handmade creations, as well as the work of other artists, at a variety of craft shows and other events since 2004. I've learned a lot of lessons the hard way, and now I'm sharing them here with you so that you can learn from my experiences! In this book, I'll cover the basics of getting started selling at craft fairs, as well as how to design a great looking booth, how to give outstanding customer service & sell more and even how to find and create additional events at which to sell your handmade work. WHAT IT INCLUDES: - how to define your target market - where to find good shows - how much should I spend on a booth fee at a show? - how to make your booth look great - promoting your show & getting your customers there - my craft show tips & tricks - dealing with crazy weather & unexpected events - theft prevention - craft show supply checklist - how to give great customer service - how to use craft shows to create after-the-show sales - alternative venues to sell your work, beyond traditional craft shows - how to create your own events to sell at - tracking your inventory - how to create a personal & business spending plan - big hunkin' list of craft show resources WHO THIS BOOK IS FOR: This book will be most useful for someone new to selling at craft shows. I do cover more advanced topics as well though, including how to define your target market, visual merchandising, inventory tracking, and creating a business spending plan. The book includes worksheets along the way to help you. The information in this book is based on my experiences, selling in the United States, mostly in Louisiana. However, most of the information contained here is useful to anyone around the world who is interested in setting up a booth at craft shows, festivals or conventions. WHY I KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT: I did my first craft show in 2004. It was the Alternative Media Expo, put on by Antigravity Magazine here in New Orleans. I sold a few things, and learned a LOT of things. And I haven't looked back! I've done all sorts of events since then. I have sold regularly at the Frenchmen Art Market, and have done festivals around the New Orleans area including Bayou Boogaloo, Gretna Heritage Festival, Freret Market, New Orleans Earth Day Festival, and many, many more. As one of the founding members of the New Orleans Craft Mafia, I've even organized a variety of events, both with the group and on my own. As a group, we've created a monthly art market and the annual Last Stop Shop holiday market. On my own, I've also hosted home shopping parties, trunk shows and pop-up shops. In 2007, as one of the winners of Etsy's Upcycling contest, I even traveled cross-country to San Francisco to participate in Bazaar Bizarre at Maker Faire!