Selling handmade products online is an amazing opportunity for crafters and artisans to turn their hobby into a successful business. As the handmade market continues to grow, more people are looking to sell their unique, handcrafted creations online to reach a wider customer base. But where do you start? This complete guide covers everything you need to know to start selling your handmade items online.
Choose a Handmade Product Niche
The first step is to decide on your niche. Choose a specific type of handmade product to focus on first when starting out. Some popular handmade product niches include:
- Jewelry
- Ceramics and pottery
- Textiles and sewing crafts
- Paper goods like cards, invitations, journals
- Candles and soap
- Woodwork
- Paintings and artwork
Picking a narrow niche helps you establish yourself as an expert in that category. You can always expand into more product types once your shop grows. Ensure there is sufficient demand for the products you want to make and sell. Use market research tools to validate your niche.
Set Up Your Handmade Shop on the Right Platform
You need an online platform to showcase and sell your handmade creations. Here are some top options for setting up your handmade shop:
Your Own Website
Having your own website gives you the most control and room to grow. You can customize your site and branding. However, you must drive your own traffic. Shopify and WooCommerce are popular platforms for DIY ecommerce sites. Consider investing in a domain name and quality hosting.
Etsy
Etsy is the largest handmade product marketplace with over 60 million active buyers. The audience is ready-made. However, competition is high so your shop needs to stand out. Optimize your Etsy SEO titles, tags, and descriptions. Offer competitive pricing and excellent customer service.
Amazon Handmade
Amazon Handmade allows you to tap into Amazon’s vast customer base. But strict requirements must be met for product quality and materials. You pay a 12% referral fee on each sale. High-quality photography is essential for conversions here.
ArtFire
Artfire is dedicated to handmade shops and has over 1 million members. Selling fees are low at just 3.5%. The platform offers built-in shipping integration and marketing tools to help sellers.
Capture Quality Product Photos
Great photos are absolutely critical for selling handmade products online. Invest in a good camera or smartphone lens kit. Take photos in natural lighting against clean, simple backgrounds. Shoot multiple angles and close-ups to showcase details. Optimize photos for each platform – Etsy has strict image standards.
Pro Photography Tips:
- Use natural lighting near a window
- Choose a clean, solid color background
- Take 3-5 photos per item
- Get close-up detailed shots
- Edit photos to improve brightness, contrast, cropping
Having professional quality product photos is key for selling handmade items online
Write Great Titles and Descriptions
Your product listing content has a big impact on driving sales. Make sure titles and descriptions are optimized for keywords that shoppers search for. List the materials used and any unique details about the item’s origins or construction.
Include key specifications like:
- Dimensions
- Weight
- Color options
- Care instructions
Tell the story behind the product and your process for creating it. This connection helps buyers appreciate the value of handmade.
Etsy descriptions should tell a compelling product story
Price Your Items Profitably
Finding the right pricing balance is important – too high and no one buys, too low and you miss out on income. Check competitor pricing on similar handmade items. Calculate your costs for materials + time + other overheads. Multiply by 2-3x to set your retail price. Offer a perceived value that reflects quality handmade production.
Don’t forget to factor in:
- Cost of materials
- Labor time involved in creating items
- Shipping costs
- Platform selling fees
Keep tweaking your pricing to find the optimal level. Discounts and promotions can help drive sales at certain times.
Smart pricing strategies are key for profitable selling of handmade goods
Market Your Handmade Shop
You have your beautiful handmade products all set up online – but now you need customers! Here are some top marketing tips for promoting your handmade shop:
- Leverage social media. Share products on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. Engage followers with giveaways, behind-the-scenes content, and UGC reviews. Hashtags help extend reach.
- Send free samples to influencers or bloggers in your niche. A related post, review, or product highlight from them exposes your items to new eyes.
- Optimize for SEO. Create content and blogs around your products and niche for organic search visibility. Include your important keywords in titles and content.
- Run targeted online ads. Facebook and Instagram ads can connect you with those interested in handmade products. Etsy and Amazon also have their own PPC platforms.
- Email marketing. Collect emails to build an audience to market to directly. Send occasional newsletters with new product updates, special promotions, and valuable content.
- Sell at local markets to raise awareness and meet potential online buyers. Hand out promotional cards or coupons.
Utilize diverse marketing channels to promote your handmade shop
Offer Excellent Customer Service
Providing exceptional service keeps buyers happy and returning to you for future purchases. Reply to messages and inquiries promptly – within 24 hours ideally. Package items carefully with nice touchpoints like thank you notes. Set accurate shipping expectations. Follow up after delivery to ensure satisfaction.
Handmade shoppers expect a personal, caring experience. Go above and beyond to provide that human connection that large companies lack. Service issues will inevitably arise – how professionally you handle them determines long-term success.
Delivering excellent customer experiences should be a priority
Selling online opens up so many possibilities to profit from your handmade creations. Just follow this comprehensive guide to set up your online handmade shop for success. The keys are choosing the right niche and platform, displaying products attractively, applying effective marketing tactics, and impressing customers with caring service.
What unique handmade products will you start selling online? The possibilities are endless for turning your artistic talents into an thriving ecommerce business.