4 Ways to Grow Your Creative Business

15. May, 2012 41 Comments

vintage butterflies

1909 Butterfly Print

Last week, I wrote a post about my number one piece of advice for new Etsy sellers.

This advice is how you cannot just set up your shop and wait.  You must be proactive by constantly improving and smart promotion.

When I first opened my Etsy shop, Acute Designs, it was a hobby.  I made a few things, took a few {not very nice} photos and expected sales.

And they didn’t happen.

So, I did my research and improved my designs and my photos and the sales started to trickle in.

Six months ago, I quit my day job and got serious about my business.  Once I got serious, my sales sky rocketed.

In less than six months, my sales more than tripled.

These are the key changes I made in order to promote my shop and be more present:

1. Twitter – I utilized Twitter to benefit my business and network.  When tweeting, don’t just talk about yourself.  Make connections with other people.  Treat Twitter like a two-way conversation, not an all-about-me platform, and you will see results.

2. Strategic advertising – Rather than buying ad spots on various handmade/indie business blogs, try a blog that caters to a different audience while still staying in your niche.  For example, if you sell handmade pillows, try advertising on a top home décor site.  Advertising in different circles will open you up to a whole new audience of potential buyers.

3. Be Present – Constantly review your shop {photos, tags, and descriptions} and find ways to improve.  Also, add more items and add different items.  Six months ago, I had about 50 items in my shop and I now have nearly 200.  Once I got past 100 items I saw a huge increase in sales.  The more variety you have, the more likely you are to be found.

4. Customer Service – Take customer service to the next level.  Every single sale I make, I treat as if it is my first sale ever.  I give each item and customer the same level of care.  If people are willing to spend their hard earned money on something you made, then they deserve a top level of customer service.  Go above and beyond.

My final bit of advice – this isn’t easy.  If it were easy, everyone would be doing it.

What tips do you have to improve sales?  Post them in the comments!

 Etsy Facebook App - Fanpageology

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...
Twitter Digg Delicious Stumbleupon Technorati Facebook Email
Small Business Tips

41 Responses to “4 Ways to Grow Your Creative Business”

  1. Kirsty Reply 27. May, 2011 at 10:22 AM

    Great tips :)

  2. Patricia Royal Reply 27. May, 2011 at 11:31 AM

    Great tips. I have been having such a hard time connecting to people on twitter for my crafts. My other twitter for my writing, I have tons of people that I interact with but tweeting about crafts falls silent.

  3. Peggy Reply 27. May, 2011 at 1:02 PM

    Thank you for the tips but, more importantly, thank you for the motivation I got from reading your post!

  4. A Cup of Sparkle Reply 27. May, 2011 at 1:30 PM

    Congratulations on your succes and thanks for sharing the tips.
    I find Etsy as a platform not only to sell but; also learn.. I have been putting effort everyday to use the right wording and have better pictures. I usually go back to my listings and try to look at it as someone else and improve as much as I can.
    I guess one other thing I can add to your list is stay positive and make it FUN, not stressful.

  5. Michelle L. Reply 27. May, 2011 at 3:01 PM

    Thanks much, all these things are great reminders! That’s interesting about more business with more items. Note to self: find time to list more!

  6. deb Reply 27. May, 2011 at 6:00 PM

    thanks for the advice! i wonder thou- how do u get people to follow u on twitter? most of my friends have no desire to tweet…and frankly I don’t either but i would if it would help me to get some sales…

    • Gina Reply 28. May, 2011 at 12:09 PM

      Hey Deb-

      The way I have gotten Twitter followers is by networking, retweeting things that I find to be interesting/useful.

      The more you connect with others, the more followers you will get. Good luck!

    • Meagan Reply 21. Sep, 2011 at 10:25 AM

      Another way is to write a blog post about being on Twitter. That way you’re actually letting your blog followers know you’re there. And including a twitter button in your sidebar!

    • Vanessa Morrison Reply 22. Sep, 2011 at 3:57 AM

      Deb, Twitter makes it easy to find people in your niche to follow. My niche is dolls and twitter is always suggesting people that I might want to follow. Once you start following people, you will see that people will start following you. I have a decent amount of followers and none of the are friends or family.

  7. Jacqueline Reply 28. May, 2011 at 5:11 AM

    Good tips. I can add one more. Get out into the public view. I’m starting to do craft fairs so that buyers can see and touch my jewelry rather than just deal with a photograph and type. I have my first craft fair today and am looking forward to meeting my new buyers.

  8. Joccelyn Friis Reply 28. May, 2011 at 5:48 AM

    Thanks for the great info. Having a conversation on Twitter is a mystery to me. I post mine and others listings there but not sure how to talk to anyone! More research needed I guess!

    • Gina Reply 28. May, 2011 at 12:13 PM

      Hey Joccelyn-

      What I mean by the two-way conversation is…don’t make it all about you.

      Imagine if you ran into an acquaintance and the person said “I have a blog – here is the link!” “This is my best selling item!” “This is what I ate for lunch!”

      And they never asked about you or responded to anything you had to say. You probably would walk away annoyed. We all want to be heard, so taking the time to hear and respond to others is the way to Tweet.

      Good luck :) .

  9. Bobbi helms Reply 28. May, 2011 at 6:44 AM

    Joccelyn- I so agree with you. I even try commenting and nothing happens. Another piece of advice- hold a party! Had my first one at my daughter,s house.invited neighbors and friends. Made it a wine and hors doeuvre thing. Had lots of fun and sold a lot!

  10. AhKriti Reply 28. May, 2011 at 9:24 AM

    I liked your tip on strategic advertising. Will try it. Thanks so much!

  11. Debra Reply 28. May, 2011 at 9:29 AM

    Thanks for sharing such great tips with us.

  12. Laurie Reply 28. May, 2011 at 9:42 AM

    Great Information, thanks! Do you have a favorite way to search for blogs?

  13. Laurie Reply 28. May, 2011 at 9:50 AM

    Wow, my previous comment disappeared! Thanks for sharing your info!

    Do you have a favorite way to search for blogs?

    • Gina Reply 28. May, 2011 at 12:18 PM

      Hey Laurie-

      I am a blogger and a reader of blogs. I tend to look at my favs and see what blogs they read and follow. Careful…you could get lost for hours doing this :) but it is fun and you will find so many fab blogs.

  14. Mark Reply 28. May, 2011 at 10:14 AM

    Great tips! Thank you! I found the tip about the number of items in your shop helped increase sales …. I’m gonna do just that.

    Thanks again!

  15. Carlin Davis Reply 28. May, 2011 at 10:25 AM

    These tips are wonderful!! I have positive feedback and encouragement in comments on Etsy but no sales. Maybe this will help. Don’t know how to twitter but am willing to learn.
    Thanks again!!

  16. Julie Reply 28. May, 2011 at 12:27 PM

    Super tips, I like the MORE is MORE idea, and have noticed MORE sales since I have listed MORE, but until I read your article I hadn’t put the two together, duh.
    I also am kinda dumb about twitter, I have an account but am NOT sure how to venture out and find, well, anything. I spend so much time with the other social media and email I am kind of reluctant to get into yet another computer time suckage but now I know I will have to do it, do it now.
    Thanks so much for your encouragement and tips, really helpful
    julie

  17. Quentin Eckman Reply 28. May, 2011 at 2:26 PM

    I’ve thought about advertising on blogs, but haven’t tried it yet. Thanks for giving me that push over the cliff. I’m going to give it a try now.

  18. Kelcey Reply 28. May, 2011 at 7:40 PM

    I like the motto “fake it till you make it”. I hum this inside my head whenever I start to fear that I am not going to make it to the capacity that I want to.

    I agree that connections of all sorts are highly important. Also, having the courage to believe in yourself & your product so that you are able to ask for help in promoting.

    I just found your blog and I love it!
    ~Kelcey
    http://www.etsy.com/shop/SeedandSky?ref=si_shop

  19. Shelley Reply 28. May, 2011 at 7:48 PM

    Thank you for the tips. I particularly agree with the find blogs to ‘advertise’ on that are outside, but still related to your niche. I find it hard to interact on Twitter, FaceBook seems a little more interactive. On Twitter, in order for there to be interaction, both parties have to be participating & so often, one of the participants isn’t really fully there, with so many bots & autotweets, etc. I haven’t noticed an increase yet, with more items, but I’m hoping this works. Thanks again for the tips!

  20. Judy Reply 02. Jun, 2011 at 8:01 PM

    Excellent advice & tips. I agree w/one other poster who wrote: ‘Thank you for the motivation’!! I second that!! It’s easy to get frustrated and wanna throw your hands up, but your article made me BELIEVE that I can do it. Thanks!!

  21. Marisa Reply 21. Sep, 2011 at 3:19 PM

    Thank you for the useful information!!

  22. Karen hornsten Reply 22. Sep, 2011 at 6:17 AM

    I always appreciate learning more. Thank you. I still relist on a regular basis on Etsy. I think rearranging your shop might also give it a fresh look. I spend a good portion of my day crafting. There are not enough hours in my day to keep up with ALL things internet. Most of my sales are customized, start from scratch sales. I have so many mobiles, paper flower boquets, etc., etc., around my little house that i don’t know where to put them anymore. Demanding, this Etsy business, to say the least. Thanks again.

  23. Tisha Reply 22. Sep, 2011 at 7:39 AM

    Such wonderful advice. Never thought about the increase of items in a shop helping sales.

  24. Debbie Shirley Reply 22. Sep, 2011 at 8:49 AM

    Great tips – thanks for the ideas and the motivation!

  25. Rachel-Hearts of Stone Jewelry Reply 22. Sep, 2011 at 2:20 PM

    I joined Twitter only last month, and am amazed! Wish I had done it earlier! But, all my networking efforts leading up to joining Twitter did help in creating a built-in following. Networking pays off; always.

  26. nancy ingvalson Reply 29. Dec, 2011 at 9:41 AM

    Great ideas, Ilove craft shows,in four or five every year here in town,sell a lot. I
    firmly believe if they can see and touch,it
    sells. I didn’t think of having a home party,trying that next. thanks for the idea.

  27. Anna Reply 02. May, 2012 at 12:15 PM

    Where can I find your blog?

  28. Story Tellers Vintage Reply 16. May, 2012 at 3:17 AM

    Love, love this post! Great advice!

  29. Teena Stewart Reply 16. May, 2012 at 7:35 AM

    This article gave me new courage to keep at it. I have seen a slight increase as I keep adding and then it dropped off but now I will continue on. Plus I worried about having too much variety but sounds like I am okay with that too. Thanks so much.

  30. Katie Reply 16. May, 2012 at 4:57 PM

    Thanks for these really great tips – just realised it isn’t all out of reach, it’s just a series of small, manageable steps to success! I’ve been figuring out Twitter these past few days, and I’ve really really seen a huge (positive!) difference to the traffic I’m getting to my site, and the different people I’m connecting with. Most of all right now, I need to work on creating new products and updating my shop. I’m in the process of designing new pieces, and I’m really excited to put this all into action! Katie.

  31. Sarah Reply 16. May, 2012 at 10:39 PM

    Thanks so much for this post! When I first tried Etsy a couple years ago, I had the same results (not very good ones either). I then started my present shop, this past September, I actually put work into it. Not easy and long hours. But proper photos, tags and titles really made a difference for me. I also noticed after hitting the ’100 item’ mark, my sales increased also…….I have also noticed having a variety of items draws more people in :)

  32. Tiffany Reply 22. May, 2012 at 7:47 PM

    Very good advice!!!

    I like to constantly be open minded to changing anything about my products or store that could be beneficial, it’s really helpful to stay open minded and try new things

  33. Julia A. Reply 02. Jun, 2012 at 12:45 AM

    Great article, helpful and timely. Sigh… Now I have work to do.

Leave a Reply

Web Analytics